Truck 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.
Continue ReadingConti Adds Sizes to General Exclaim Line
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America has broadened its General Exclaim UHP ultra high performance tyre line with additional sizes. The line extension includes sizes 195/50R15 82V, 205/50R15 86V, 195/55R15 85V, 205/50R16 86V, 205/55R16 91V, 215/55R16 93W, 275/40R18 99W, 245/35R20 95W and 245/40R20 99W. Two additional sizes, the 225/50R16 92W and 275/40R17 98W will be available in October, the company said.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Americas Closing Tyre Plant in Chile
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Americas Holding’s Bridgestone/Firestone Chile S.A. (BFC) unit said it is closing its Coquimbo, Chile, plant at year’s end. The company said that because of “intense competition from low-cost producers, the plant is not globally competitive and is projected to begin losing significant amounts of money with no viable strategy to reverse the losses.” The plant produces mass market and bias ply tyres and bias tyres.
Continue ReadingSRI Breaks Ground of Thailand Factory
Construction work for Sumitomo Rubber (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s Thailand factory officially got underway following a groundbreaking ceremony on 1 August. Approximately fifty people including government officials, police representatives and other guests as well as Thai president Tetsuharu Mino attended the ceremony. The factory is due to start production early in 2007. It will produce high quality tyres under a new efficient production system named Taiyo. Capacity is expected to reach 8,000 units per day by the end of 2007. SRI told local news sources that it is aiming for a 10 per cent market share in the ASEAN nations in the coming years.
Continue ReadingConti Has 3 Billion Euros to Invest, CFO Says
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG’s chief financial officer claimed yesterday that the German tyre and auto system maker has at least 3 billion euros in a war chest to finance future acquisitions. Company CFO Alan Hippe, who is also president of Continental Tire North America, made the remarks in an interview with Handelsblatt newspaper.
Continue ReadingSumitomo Opens Moscow Office
Sumitomo Rubber established Moscow Office in Russia’s capital in April to support tyre sales activities in the country. The Russian economy is projected to grow further after it became a WTO member and the automobile market is already rapidly expanding. The Moscow office will support market survey and other sales activities in Russia, according to a company statement.
Continue ReadingHoyer Group Sign European Tyre Contract with Michelin
Bulk transport logistics specialist Hoyer is in the process of switching its tyre procurement to Michelin contracts in a number of major European countries, following the success of its Michelin-fitment policy in the UK. Hoyer UK Ltd has been fitting Michelin tyres across its 1,200-strong tanker fleet since 1997, managed through ATS Euromaster. The success of this arrangement has seen the adoption of a ‘pence per kilometre’ (PPK) contract in the Republic of Ireland, supported by Haughton & Son Tyres Ltd. It has also seen similar contracts set-up for Hoyer Group fleets in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Holland and Luxembourg.
Continue ReadingButton Wins First Grand Prix
Jenson Button scored his first Formula One victory last weekend in what Michelin called a “topsy-turvy Hungarian Grand Prix.” Michelin’s partners dominated the early stages of the rain-affected race and Button swept to the front of the field on lap 52, when world championship leader Fernando Alonso stopped with a rear wheel problem.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres Ltd signs MoU with Tamil Nadu Government
Onkar S Kanwar, chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres Ltd, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to acquire 135 acres of land, in the Oragadam Industrial Park, 11 kilometres from Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The company says that it plans to build a radial tyre production facility. The factory will initially produce 75 tonnes of tyres per day, rising to 250 tonnes or more over time, according to the company.
Continue ReadingTyres on the Information Superhighway
The way Tyres & Accessories sees it, even virtual motorways need tyres. However not every business that could is taking advantage of the potential opportunities available online. In the course of the year T&A has detected a fair amount of scepticism about the real benefits of this kind of business, relative to the supposed costs and threats. That’s why next month’s magazine will feature practical advice on how to make the most of the virtual world, filling you in on the latest news from this segment.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Sets Quarter and Half-year Sales Records
Godyear Tire & Rubber Co today reported second quarter sales of $5.1 billion (up 3 per cent on 2005), a record for any quarter. Segment operating income reached $267 million, with net income amounting to $2 million. According to the company, the sales growth reflects improved pricing and product mix driven by demand for the companys branded tyres in the consumer replacement markets, and the favourable impact of currency translation. Revenue per tyre increased 7 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2005.
Continue ReadingPioneers for Nearly Eighty Years
Bosch has been a major player in the automotive battery sector ever since the company began its pioneering work as far back as 1927. Things are very different nowadays from nearly eight decades ago; the addition of electric windows, sunroofs, ABS, air conditioning, other in-car equipment such as DVD players and satellite navigation has resulted in increasing demand on the modern power supply and a reduced battery life. However, continuing investment in research and development ensures that Bosch batteries continue to consistently meet market requirements, with little or no increase in overall size or weight.
Continue ReadingNorth America’s Largest Independent Tyre Exporter
Hercules Tire International, based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, is the largest independent tyre exporter in North America, with warehouses in Canada, the USA and China. The companys export lines cover a vast range of different brands, prices and grades of tyre, from passenger car and light truck tyres to very large off-the-road and speciality tyres. Hercules own brands include Hercules, Merit, Electra and Ironman – all of which are manufactured in the USA and China.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Africa – The Signs are Looking Good
The inaugural Tyrexpo Africa exhibition will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 12 – 14 September and is the latest event in the portfolio of ECI International, following on from Tyrexpo Asia (based in Singapore) and Brityrex International (UK).
Continue ReadingSamir Kumar Paul Appointed Dunlop India MD
Samir Kumar Paul has been appointed as the new managing director of Dunlop India. Following the acquisition of the company from the Chhabrias, company owner, Ruia, had brought Ashok Jajodia, Dipak Rudra, Narayan Prasad Agarwalla, and Sajid Khan onto its board. The company has taken steps to compile and reconcile accounts for 2001-02, after getting access to statutory and other relevant records from its erstwhile registered office at Dunlop House.
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