Bridgestone Receives President’s Award at Podio Ferrari 2006
Bridgestone received the President’s Award at the Podio Ferrari prize-giving ceremony in Maranello, Italy, on 7th June. This annual awards programme recognises and rewards suppliers and technical partners who have excelled in innovation, technology and product development whilst working with Ferrari. Mr Luca di Montezemolo, President and CEO of Ferrari, presented the prestigious award to Mr Takashi Urano, Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone Europe, in recognition of Bridgestone’s “major contribution to ensuring cutting-edge performance from the Formula 1 cars and transferring this experience to our GT cars”.
Continue ReadingHercules Tire & Rubber to Acquire Wholesaler
The Hercules Tire & Rubber Company (Hercules), the marketer and distributor of private label and branded tyres, announced that it is acquiring Tire Distributor Inc., USA (TDI), a tyre wholesaler headquartered near Miami, Florida. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We are very pleased to bring TDI and its management team and employees into the Hercules family,” said Larry Seawell, president and chief executive officer of Hercules. Seawell added, “We had targeted the Southeast region for expansion given the opportunities for growth in that market, and it was important for us to find a strong operating platform in Florida that would allow us to expand our sales and distribution capabilities throughout the Southeast and into Latin America.”
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres “Disappointed at Misleading Story”
A story in the Business Standard in India, and mentioned on this website yesterday, has provoked a reply from Mr. Sunam Sarkar Chief, Corporate Strategy & Marketing for Apollo Tyres. The headline was Apollo Tyres to Stop Making Radials in India and Mr. Sarkar has written to the publication, saying he was quite disappointed in the story, which he describes as misleading in the way it represents the facts and with a headline that is completely erroneous. Mr Sarkar goes on: There is no plan to stop making radials in India, rather we are increasing capacity. The specific fact that we discussed was the possible sourcing of low volume products from our South African facilities, so that our plant in Baroda can produce more of the high volume sizes. The quote that Apollo currently manufactures 200 radial tyres a month is completely untrue. We are currently manufacturing more than 7,000 radials per day, with plans to increase to 10,000 radials per day very shortly. While it is correct that we are exploring the replacement of South African manufactured cross-ply tyres with Indian ones, the important aspect of that strategy that does not come through in the story is that this production in South Africa will be replaced with increased production of truck radial tyres.
Continue ReadingRecord Number of New ArvinMeritor Aftermarket Parts
2006 has seen ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Aftermarket embark on a major new parts development programme. During the first quarter of the year 55 exhaust and 30 catalytic converter references were added to an already market leading range, providing a further 100 model applications. With plans in place to accelerate the development programme, by year end the company aim to have added a total of 400 new references.
Continue ReadingNew Goodyear Blimp Named
Its official, Goodyear’s newest blimp will be called “Spirit of Innovation.” And Goodyear chairman and CEO Bob Keegan reportedly said he could not have been more pleased with the name that Matthew Harrelson (a teacher from Ohio) suggested. “Innovation has been a critical part of our evolution as a company, from innovation of our new product offerings to innovation in everything we do, Keegan told an audience of several thousand people at the companys airship base southeast of Akron. The fact that the American public agreed with their votes is further proof that innovation is becoming synonymous with Goodyear.
Continue ReadingKYB Teams-up with Aston Martin Racing
KYB has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Aston Martin Racing team to supply its Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system. The Prodrive-run team, which returned to international motor sport last year, will run two DBR9s in the GT1 class for the 2006 Le Mans 24 hours race. Two further DBR9s will be competing, run by other Aston Martin Racing Works and customer teams. KYBs EPS system – specially designed for racing use – is fitted to all four cars and, says KYB, it provides more energy-efficient steering than conventional hydraulic power steering systems.
Continue ReadingDiablo Corsa III – Equally at Home on Track and Road
As the official tyre supplier to the World Superbike Championship (SBK), Pirellis latest tyre, the Diablo Corsa III, owes its development to Pirellis vast racing experience. As such, the new tyre is equally at home on the racetrack, motorways and ordinary roads. The tyre boasts no fewer than three different compounds, with separate compounds for the front and rear tyres and the rear tyre itself further divided into three zones. The front tyre incorporates rigid, high hysteresis compounds, designed to dissipate energy efficiently. This provides fast warm up, more grip, thanks to a balanced silica/carbon black compound and good traction and braking. Stability at high temperatures is provided by utilising new structural materials.
Continue ReadingMNA and TCI Launch Disaster Response Service Unit
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) and its subsidiary TCI Tire Centers unveiled a new disaster response service unit that will be used in areas hit by natural disasters. The Michelin Disaster Response Unit is a fully equipped 53-foot trailer – a “Tire Center on wheels,” according to MNA. It features six air stations for mounting, dismounting, repairing and balancing tires. The office area of the trailer offers satellite communications capability and sleeps up to six people.
Continue ReadingTigar, Goodride Prices Reduced
Viking International has realigned its pricing structure for the Tigar economy brand in response to strong demand. With trade prices starting from as little as £10 the tyre is certainly a competitive choice. The sales support package includes information leaflets for your customers, stickers and reception/window posters. Viking has also reduced the prices it is charging for the Goodride budget tyre brand. Again trade prices start at just £10 and there are said to be a variety of sizes available.
Continue ReadingBandag Introduces New Spread Axle Trailer Tread
(Akron/Tire Review) Bandag Inc. has introduced a new Trailer Linehaul-Spread Axle (BTL-SA) tread to the North American market. Designed for spread axle and multi-axle trailer applications, the tread “offers tough shoulders for tyres that twist, scrape and scrub as lateral stress is created when trailers corner,” said Bandag. BTL-SA offers a 16/32” tread depth and is now available in 210-, 220- and 230-mm sizes.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres to Halt Indian Radial Production
Apollo Tyres is planning to import radial tyres for luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen from the companys manufacturing facility in South Africa, rediff.com has reported. The local business news source reports that Indian radial production could halt at some point in the coming months.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Exiting ‘Certain Segments’ of Private Label Business
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced that it is withdrawing from certain segments of the private label tyre business in North America. Approximately 10 private label brands currently manufactured by Goodyear and sold by wholesale customers to tyre retailers will be affected by the decision. In 2005, this segment represented approximately $300 million in sales and about 8 million units manufactured in five North American plants, or approximately one-third of the company’s overall private label business.
Continue ReadingRam-Rod Launches Trakta Agri-Bead Braker
Ram-Rod Manufacturing Ltd has launched its new ‘Trakta’ bead breaker, designed for agricultural, earthmover and small plant applications, it is Ram-rods fourth product, all of which answer specific problems associated with tyre and wheel handling. At the same time the company also announced it is looking for companies to distribute its products across Europe.
Continue ReadingDouble Celebration for New First Stop Dealership
York-based Moss Tyres is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a move to Bridgestone’s First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships. Managing director Richard Stow believes joining First Stop will enable his team to build on a successful base and continue upholding values of honesty, hard work and professionalism for many more years to come.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Confident About Nokian Prospects
Nokian Tyres’ new HP 5 winter tyre has been well received in the market and pre-season sales have started well. According to a Deutsche Bank report analysts believe this and price increases are good signs for the company’s performance in the second, third and fourth quarters. Nokian is reported to have stirred up the market by taking market share by aggressive pre-season sales in the second quarter of last year before being “hit by competition” in subsequent quarters. “However, it seems the biggest pressure is now behind us due to the sharp increase in raw material prices. Management commented that most competitors have announced price hikes for the winter season and that these look likely to stick,” the report concluded.
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