Hippe Expects CTNA Losses Again in 2006
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG expects its U.S. operations to continue losing money at least through this year, according to an interview by Euro magazine with Alan Hippe, Continental’s CFO and president of Continental Tire North America (CTNA).
Continue ReadingBandag Signs Up New Partner at Reifen ’06 in Essen
At the Reifen ‘06 exhibition in Essen, Germany, Bandag has announced a strategic partnership with one of Austria’s best-known tyre companies, Reifen Wondraschek. The agreement with the tyre specialist from Linz reinforces Bandag’s penetration of the region, bringing its tyre products and services much closer to the existing and potential customer base.
Continue ReadingJohn Nevin Dies
John Nevin, the former CEO of Firestone, died suddenly on Tuesday at his home in Illinois. He was 79.
Continue ReadingBurst Tyre Causes Plane Fire
A British Hercules C-130 aeroplane, carrying the new British Ambassador to Afghanistan, Stephen Evans, was completely destroyed when a tyre burst on landing, sending debris into the engine, which then caught fire. Everyone escaped safely from the aircraft and there were no casualties.
Continue ReadingNZ Green Party Slams “Misleading” Environmental Booklet
A New Zealand Government-produced booklet on the state of the countrys environment has been dismissed as complacent pap by a spokesman for the Green Party.
Continue ReadingMAHA UK Expands
MAHA moved into their new 12,000 sq ft purpose built factory and warehouse in June 2000 with a staff of 14. Extensions to the service stores started in March 2006 and which has increased the service stores area from 650 sq ft to almost 2,000 sq ft. Bob Smith joined MAHA UK in May 2006 as an experienced parts manager to maintain and expand MAHA’s service to all their customers throughout the UK.
Continue ReadingNew Footpaths from Old Tyres
Research in the USA has led to the development of a footpath surfacing material, made from scrap tyres. The new surface is said to be both cheap to produce and provides a joint-friendly surface for pedestrians and joggers.
Continue ReadingConsultant Fired Over a Year Ago, Cooper Says
(Akron/Tire Review) Recent television news reports concerning Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. using an ex-con to conduct accident site investigations were more than they appeared to be, according to Cooper. According to a Cooper spokesman, the tyre maker did employ Frank Ruggier to investigate vehicle accidents on its behalf, but fired him “over a year ago” when the company discovered Ruggier had previously been convicted of insurance fraud and grand theft.
Continue ReadingRMA Says Scrap Study Shows Tyre Age Not a Performance Issue
(Akron/Tire Review) A study undertaken in the USA by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) claims there is no correlation between the end of a tyre’s “safety performance” and its chronological age. RMA released its study data earlier this week after examining some 14,000 scrapped P-metric and LT-metric tyres late last year, comparing each tyre’s date of manufacture to the date it was examined.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Building Carbon Black Plant in Mexico
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Corp. confirmed May 22 that it would build an $81 million (63 million euros) carbon black plant in Mexico to service its worldwide tyre plants. The new site would be Bridgestone’s third carbon black plant; the others are located in Japan and Thailand. The new facility is scheduled to begin production in June 2008, and will have an initial annual capacity of 35,000 tons.
Continue ReadingContinental Makes Forbes “Global High Performers” List
Business analysts Forbes have published their Global 2000 High Performers list, featuring companies that stand out among the rest. Germanys Continental AG is featured in the consumer durables section and makes the list at number 403. It is the only European company in the top six of this category.
Continue ReadingCEAT to Commission Sri Lankan Radial Plant in July
Tyre manufacturer CEAT has said that it will commission its radial tyre factory – the only radial plant on the island – this July and be supplying radial tyres to the local market in August, with exports beginning in October. The factory cost 350 million rupees (six million euros) and will produce two ranges of tyres; one for cars and one for vans. Initially the range will comprise the most popular sizes, with others added at a later date.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Run-Flat Seminars for Technicians
Bridgestone is responding to the fitment of run-flat tyres on a growing number of vehicles by giving expert guidance to technicians at BMW dealerships. To date 15 franchises comprising 22 individual outlets have completed the tyre manufacturer’s comprehensive Run-Flat Certificate Programme. It follows the fitment of Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 RFT and Potenza RE050 RFT tyres as original equipment on BMW models such as the 1-Series, 3-Series, 5-Series and Z4.
Continue ReadingNew Managing Director for Watts Industrial Tyres
Watts Group of Lydney has announced that Mr. Jean-Paul Mindermann, who has managed the European subsidiaries for the past ten years, will succeed Mr. Doug Pearson as Managing Director of Watts Industrial Tyres PLC on 1st June 2006.
Continue ReadingHankook Supplying Tyres for Ford Focus in USA
(Akron/Tire Review) Hankook’s Optimo H725 all-season touring tyre will be OE on the 2007 Ford Focus, Hankook Tire America Corp. announced. The tyre will be fitted in size P195/60R15.
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