Nokian Tyres Records 149 million euros of Net Sales
Nokian Tyres has recorded pre-tax profits of 10.1 million euros in the first quarter, compared with 13.7 million a year ago. In the period January to March 2006, Nokian Tyres Group recorded net sales of 149.4 million euros, an increase of 15.4 per cent on the corresponding period a year earlier. Net sales in Nordic countries increased by 6.9 per cent, in Russia and other CIS countries by 35.2 per cent, in Eastern Europe by 8.7 per cent and in North America by 25.4 per cent from the previous year.
Continue ReadingUnion says CTNA Lied About Charlotte Plans
(Akron/Tire Review) Claiming they were lied to by Continental Tire North America (CTNA) management, the United Steelworkers (USW) blasted the tyremaker’s decision to end tyre production early at its Charlotte, North Carolina plant. “They flat-out lied to us,” USW executive vice president Ron Hoover said. “It’s now apparent that Conti never intended to keep making tyres in Charlotte,” he continued, accusing the company of pillaging active and retired members.
Continue ReadingNexen to Build Chinese Plant
Nexen is to break ground on the building of its new Chinese tyre factory on 12 May. The site, situated in Qingdao is expected to begin production by early 2008. The new plant will have a capacity around 5 million units and will increase the company’s total capacity to 20 million tyres. Nexen is reported to have budgeted $80 million dollars for the plant.
Continue ReadingCooper to Close Athens, US Retread Plant
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has taken the first steps toward closing its Athens, Georgia, retread rubber and racing tyre plant by the end of summer. The news comes after the yremaker filed paperwork with the Security and Exchange Commission outlining the write-down it expects to take as a result of the action.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Produce Car Tyres in Europe
Yokohama is planning to establish a passenger car tyre production plant in Europe in 2008. The news came in the context of a dealer presentation by the German distribution company Yokohama Reifen GmbH. Observers suggest that the move is likely to be a way of strengthening ongoing OE projects and relationships. Yokohama did not specify which locations are being considering, give details of which tyre lines might be produced, or suggest how much would be invested.
Continue ReadingJohn O’Groats to Land’s End on Flat Tyres
Goodyear has set eccentric British challenger Lloyd Scott, a new challenge – drive the length of the nation on flat tyres. Lloyd, 48, from Essex, who has previously cycled across Australia on a Penny Farthing bicycle and completed this year’s London Marathon in a full suit of armour, has agreed to take the wheel throughout May for Goodyears RunOnFlat Rally. The RunOnFlat Rally will see Lloyd drive the more than 1600 miles in distance across the British Isles, from John OGroats, where he started yesterday, to Lands End in a Mini with flat tyres.
Continue ReadingMRF Drivers Win Asia Pacific Rally Stage
Katsuhiko Taguchi and co-driver Mark Stacey of Team MRF Tyres recently won the New Caledonia round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), which consisted of two super special stages and rough stages. Their Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII finished a remarkable six minutes and 26 seconds ahead of the second-placed Mitsubishi of Rifat Sungkar, from Indonesia.
Continue ReadingUnipart Promotes Nick Rayner
Aftermarket logistics specialist Nick Rayner is to head up Unipart Automotive as part of senior management changes at Unipart Automotive. Nick has been running Unipart Aftermarket Logistics for the past nine years, which handles the entire global Jaguar aftermarket parts supply chain as well as logistics for Unipart Automotive. In his new role, Nick will report directly to Unipart Group Chief Executive John Neill as Chris Etherington is leaving Unipart.
Continue ReadingLaser Transport Claims it Gets More Miles With Michelin
A Volvo FH12 4x2 tractor unit operated by Kent-based Laser Transport International reports to have clocked-up 630,000 kilometres on the same Michelin Energy drive-axle tyres, before they needed replacing. The tyres were fitted as original equipment when the Volvo was delivered new in February 2003, and have been replaced with a set of Michelin Energy RemiX tyres. Commenting on the impressive performance, Jon Palmer, Fleet Engineer at Laser Transport International, explains: “We have only just fitted the RemiX tyres, and these should see the vehicle through its fourth and final year’s service on our fleet.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Aircraft to Land in North Carolina
Bridgestone Aircraft Tire has announced that it will open a plant in Rockingham County, North Carolina, creating 95 new jobs and investing $13.5 million over the next three years. Bridgestone will move operations to Rockingham County from its Miami, Florida facility. The company will manufacture tyres for commercial jets at a new, 160,000-square-foot building in Mayodan. While wages will vary by job function, the expected average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $680 plus benefits, according to Governer Mike Easley. The Rockingham County average weekly wage is $547.
Continue ReadingViking Appoints Business Development Director
Viking International is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Walsby as Business Development Director for division three covering the South. Jim has been with Viking for 10 years in various sales and operations roles before securing his current position where he will be focussing on building and maintaining customer relationships in the Desborough area.
Continue ReadingLease 360 Evolution Signs with Kwik-Fit Fleet
Established contract hire, leasing and fleet management company lease 360 evolution plc has signed a new three-year solus tyre management and fast-fit services contract with Kwik-Fit Fleet. Wakefield-based lease 360 evolution, which was launched almost four years ago, now has 3,500 vehicles on its books. Kwik-Fit Fleet, which already supplied a raft of fast-fit services to lease 360 evolution customers through both its nationwide centre network and mobile operation, will additionally now supply fixed monthly cost tyre management under the terms of the new contract, which went live in April.
Continue ReadingLiberia Gives Firestone Management 90-day Ultimatum
Liberian labour minister, Kofi Wood, has given managers at Firestone’s Harbel, Liberia rubber plantation 90-days to improve workers’ living conditions. “We have asked the Firestone management to improve the living conditions of the workers,” Wood told Reuters by telephone. “We have given them 90 days.” The minister did not say what the consequences of failing to meet the deadline might be.
Continue ReadingFree Michelin Pressure Gauges
Michelin is running a consumer promotion offering a free digital alloy pressure gauge worth £19.99 to anyone purchasing a pair of its Pilot Power tyres from 1 June. Dealers wishing to take part need to buy a minimum of five pairs of Pilot Power tyres and will get their name and contact details on Michelin’s website. During July and August there will be supporting advertisements in the September issues of Fast Bikes and Superbike Magazine telling readers to visit the website for details of participating stockists.
Continue ReadingPirelli and Schrader to Develop New Tyre “Check-Up” Sensor
Pirelli and Schrader have agreed to join forces to take “intelligent” tyre production a step further. The new system, based on a mini-sensor capable of generating its own power, can for the first time be located within the tyre itself and allows the tyre identification data and its temperature and pressure to be monitored in real time and transmitted to the car and driver. Schrader took on 100 new staff at its Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland facility at the beginning of April. This move was supported by £3.5 million of funding from Invest NI and brings the total number of staff at the plant to 160.
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