USW Files Complaint With State Department Against Continental
(Akron/Tire Review) The United Steelworkers (USW) has filed a complaint with the US State Department against German tyre and auto system maker Continental AG, alleging breaches of the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Continue ReadingBridgestone OP down 8.7 per cent
Bridgestone Corp. has reported that first half operating profit fell 8.7 per cent to 84.11 billion yen (£382 million) on account of raw material costs. Net profit dropped 67.7 per cent to 32.82 billion yen (£146.6 million), partly due to a one-off pension-related gain of 80.8 billion yen in the year-earlier period.
Continue ReadingYokohama OP down 64.6 per cent
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., posted an 11 per cent increase in net sales, to 106.8 billion yen (£486.7 million), in the three months ended 30 June. The increase resulted primarily from robust growth in overseas tyre business, according to the company. Tire sales also benefited from increased shipments to automakers in Japan. However, the rising prices for raw materials offset the sales growth in the Tire Group, and operating income in the group declined 64.6 per cent, to 1 billion yen (£4.56 million).
Continue ReadingGPX South West Expands into New Warehouse
GPX Tire has moved into a new 143,000 square foot warehouse in Fairbanks Industrial Park just outside of downtown Houston, Texas (9700 W. Wingfoot Drive). According to the company, the larger facility allows GPX to meet the growing demand for GPX tyres in the region.
Continue ReadingManbat Releases Numax Application Guide
Manbat, the UK’s largest battery distributor, has launched its new Battery Specification and Application Guide for its Numax brand. The 78-page publication covers essential information on the supply, sale and handling of batteries and is divided into 20 relevant sections.
Continue ReadingSafety Seal Repair Tests on Run-Flat and High Speed Tyres
Safety Seal recently conducted high speed tests on Run Flat and High Speed Tyres that had been repaired with Safety Seal tyre repair material. The repair of Run Flat tyres has been the subject of much discussion and there have been different positions taken by manufacturers depending on the type of construction and performance ratings of the tyre.
Continue ReadingCanadian Service Providers Gaining on Dealerships
(Akron/Tire Review) According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Canadian Customer Commitment Index study, after five consecutive years of losing market share to dealerships, aftermarket service providers have stabilized their share of service occasions. Fountain Tire ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction among Canadian automotive service providers.
Continue ReadingMBE Winner Praises Fundraising Efforts of First Stop Dealers
The founder of a charity improving life for handicapped and impoverished African youngsters has praised the efforts of six First Stop tyre dealerships for helping her receive an MBE. Sister Elizabeth Dawson was awarded the honour last month (July) for her work with the Zambia Project, a cause she championed in the late 1990s to provide education, accommodation and amenities for young people living in the Lusaka region of Zambia.
Continue ReadingStamford Tyres Continues Global Expansion
(Akron/Tire Review) In line with its business plan focused on global distribution, Stamford Tyres Corp. of Singapore has recently expanded into China, India, South America and the US. In March, Stamford announced that its 50 per cent owned joint venture company, Tyre Pacific (HK) Ltd, has incorporated a 100 per cent owned subsidiary company, Orizz (Shanghai) Ltd in Shanghai, China.
Continue ReadingNew Warehouse and Distribution Centre for Sherbrook
Sherbrook International – whose wheel ranges include DJ, Outlaw, Rondell and Kosei – have announced the opening of a major new Wheel Storage and Distribution facility at Burntwood, Staffs. It will handle the entire warehousing and distribution operation for all four product lines, and with its exceptional transport and road links including the M6 toll motorway, will enable Sherbrook to deliver an enhanced service to distributors and trade customers alike.
Continue ReadingRMA: US Tyre Shipments to Decrease
(Akron/Tire Review) US tyre shipments this year are expected to decrease by 2.8 per cent compared to 2005, reflecting an overall slowdown in the US economy, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). While GDP growth was 5.6 per cent in the first quarter, second-quarter growth slowed substantially to 2.5 per cent, said the RMA. “Slower growth and higher energy costs appear to be forcing consumers to prioritise spending including postponing tyre replacement,” the organization said.
Continue ReadingNokian Sales Grow 18.3 per cent, pre-tax profits down 10.8 per cent
Nokian’s net sales grew to 349.4 million euros (18.3 per cent) in the first half of 2006. During the same period operating profit amounted to 48.6 million euros (2005: 46.1 million), up 5.4 per cent. However profits before tax fell 10.8 per cent to 42 million euros in the period. Nokian Renkaat shares soared 18 per cent higher in response to the news.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein to Acquires Russian Tyre and Auto Part Distributors
Amtel-Vredestein’s (AV) AV-TO retail subsidiary has announced that it is to buy Nizhny Novgorod-based motorfactor, Pigma, and tyre distributor Megashina. With over 10 years in the market, LLC Trade House Pigma (Pigma), is reportedly a dynamic company that sells more than 27,000 auto components from approximately 40 producers to over 1500 customers throughout Russia and CIS. Pigma also built a network of seven tyre service retail centres in Nizhny Novgorod – which it sold to Amtel-Vredestein in March 2006.
Continue ReadingPirelli Workers to Strike on 25 August
Pirelli workers at the company’s Carlisle and Burton production facilities have voted to strike for 24 hours on 25 August, according to the Transport & General Workers Union (T&G). The industrial action will be the first time Carlisle workers have walked off the job for over 30 years, local news sources reported. The strike will be followed by an overtime ban. The Birmingham Post reports that the Castle Bromwich Jaguar plant could face “production disruptions” as a result of the strike. The Pirelli workers’ action follows the rejection of both 1.1 per cent and 2.2 per cent pay rise offers tabled by company executives. Managers reportedly wanted to freeze pay rises at 1.1 per cent, because of soaring energy costs, however they doubled this to the rate of inflation following talks with workers.
Continue ReadingTruck Fleet is Newest TRIB Member
APL Ltd., a trucking company based in Oakland, has joined the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB). We are very pleased to have APL Ltd. in the TRIB family under our new category recently created for trucking companies, said Harvey Brodsky, TRIBs managing director.
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