ECI International – Three Shows, One Company
ECI International are regular exhibitors at Essen and this year the company had no fewer than three of its own shows to promote – Tyrexpo Africa (Johannesburg, September 2006), Brityrex International (Manchester, May 2007) and Tyrexpo Asia (Singapore, September 2007). So how was the Essen exhibition? ECI International managing director Paul Farrant was delighted with the response, saying: “Reifen 06 was tremendous for us, as it always has been in the past, but this time, with three shows to promote, we were kept busy from start to finish.”
Continue ReadingSmarTire Gains First Major European Bus Manufacturer
SmarTire Systems Inc. has announced that Van Hool NV has selected SmarTire to supply its tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) on its buses and coaches. Van Hool is Europes largest independent bus manufacturer. The company exports 85 per cent of its buses and coaches, 60 per cent of them to Europe and an average of 600 coaches a year to the US.
Continue ReadingFederal Corporation Launches Three Websites
Taiwan-based Federal Corporation has launched three new websites - www.federaltire.com, www.herotire.com and the company’s corporate site www.federalcorporation.com. All are available in English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions. Federal Tire has a brand new look and Hero Tire now has its own independent site, emphasizing its focus on this stand-alone brand. Viewers are now able to browse the latest product offerings from Hero and Federal, download the branded screensavers, and shop from the company’s latest merchandise collection.
Continue ReadingNew Audi Q7 to Sport Bridgestone Tyres
The wait is nearly over for one of the most eagerly anticipated new car models of the year, as Audi prepares to deliver the first UK specification versions of its Q7 sport utility vehicle (SUV) next month. The striking newcomer is the company’s first-ever large off-road vehicle, and will be the first car on UK roads to be fitted with Bridgestone’s new Dueler H/P Sport tyres.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Voted ‘Best Investor’ in Poland
For the second year running, Bridgestone Poland has won the ‘Best investor in Poland’ award from Poland’s Rzeczpospolita newspaper, the country’s respected business and political daily. The award was received by Mr Hiroyoshi Takigawa, President of Bridgestone Poland Sp z o.o., from the Polish ministers of Finance and State Treasury at a ceremony on 25 April 2006. Rzeczpospolita is renowned in Poland for its annual ranking and review of the country’s top 500 companies, including both locally-owned firms and subsidiaries of foreign companies. At the same time, a jury appointed by the newspaper makes awards to outstanding companies across several categories.
Continue ReadingNew Recruit at Viking
Don McIntyre has joined the Business Development team at Viking International. McIntyre has been appointed as Business Development Manager for Manchester, where he will be responsible for developing new business leads and maintaining relationships with existing customers.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Steer Tyres Clock Up 266,000 Miles
A truck driver from well-known UK haulier Stan Robinson Ltd has been named Britains top driver by Goodyear after managing to achieve a remarkable 425,000 kilometres (266,000 miles) on the same set of Goodyear steer tyres. Nigel Brown took delivery of his new Scania in April 2003, fitted with Goodyear Marathon LHS 385/65R22.5 steer tyres. Three years later, he had clocked up a mileage equivalent to driving ten times around the Equator and the set of Goodyear steer tyres had yet to be changed.
Continue ReadingServices for Edouard Michelin
Michelin staff from China, South America and of course France have held memorial services in honour of Edouard Michelin. The staff independently organised and held the services in order to pay their respects to Michelin who died in a boating accident two weeks ago. At the same time workers at Michelin’s Homburg truck tyre plant have used their anniversary celebrations to rename the site “Platz Eduoard Michelin.”
Continue ReadingRubber Queen’s Tyre Art
The thing that makes Chakaia Bookers post-industrial sculptures stand out is that theyre all made from recycled tyres. The US artist scours city streets, highways and even junkyards trying to find her muse. Pushing the boundaries has earned Booker much critical acclaim. Shes hailed as the “rubber queen” by the art world. And her use of societys throw away objects led to her current exhibition at the national museum of women in the arts. The eco-feminist says shes not just creating art but making the public think more about the environment. While her work is unlikely to make any kind of dent into the global tyre arising totals, she certainly has found a way of making tyre mountains look more attractive.
Continue ReadingFirst Signs of Unrest at Clermont Ferrand
Michel Rollier’s repeated assertions that he will remain the one and only Michelin managing partner, for the time being, have led to the first signs of unrest amongst staff at Clermont Ferrand. At the same time there are reports that René Zingraf, who only retired a few weeks ago, will not reverse this decision. Instead he will continue to advise the company from time to time. As a result staff fear that there will be a fundamental change in leadership style. But on the other hand, what other option is available to Rollier at the present time? Answering the leadership question in any other way than he is at the moment would only lead to continued unrest and a barrage of questions from journalists, analysts and business partners.
Continue ReadingGP Automotive Endorses Brembo OE Initiative
GP Automotive has extended its range of Brembo brake discs and is firmly backing the brand’s new OE initiative, which will provide matching quality part numbers that conform to original equipment specifications. The initiative – OE Code to Specification (OCTS) – has been launched following the tradition of vehicle assemblers (VAs) to create new part numbers for discs that fit the same vehicle application types on shared platforms. In response to this and to counter the misconception of quality in aftermarket parts, Brembo will create a new part number for such applications. This, Brembo believes, will strengthen the aftermarket’s position in supplying OE quality braking products, fit to specification.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz Reports OP of $7.4 Million in 1Q 2006
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. has reported that sales for the fiscal first quarter ended 30 April 2006 totalled $572.8 million, down 2.8 per cent from $589.2 million a year earlier, with approximately 56 per cent of sales from international markets. Earnings from operations for the fiscal first quarter were $7.4 million, down from $13.2 million a year earlier.
Continue ReadingTyre Machinery Suppliers Enter Russian Joint-Venture
Hannover-based Berstorff and Munich-based Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik have set up a joint subsidiary under Russian law. The new company is called BKM O.O.O. (the legal form of a German GmbH) and is registered in Moscow. With the foundation of the joint subsidiary, both companies intend to extend and improve the range of services for their customers in Russia and the neighbouring states. BKM will concentrate on services, like assembly and commissioning as well as modernisation and repairs. Berstoff produces rolling cylinders, extrusion products and other rubber related equipment.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Point to Boom in Brazilian Vehicle Production
Brazilian motor vehicle production is on a roll, with both output and export figures reportedly at all time highs in May 2006, according to the Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Association, Antavea. The exact figures have not yet been published but they must be higher than April’s 182,481 passenger car registrations to break the record production figures. In 2005 the Brazilian vehicle manufacturing industry produced 2,009,494 cars, 365,648 light commercial vehicles 153,158 commercial trucks and buses.
Continue ReadingHistory Made on Dunlop Bike Tyres
The reputation of Dunlop as a full road race tyre received a huge endorsement recently as Morecambe based John McGuinness, riding factory prepared HM Plant Honda machinery, moved into the list of TT Hall of Fame with eleven Isle of Man TT victories. First to congratulate McGuinness as he crossed the line was 10 times winner Giacomo Agostini.
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