Goodyear Says Asia Sales to Rise in 2006
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. says it expects sales in Asia to rise 6 per cent this year compared with an 8.5 per cent increase in 2005, Asia Pacific President Pierre Cohade told Reuters. “We anticipate the industry in Asia to grow 5 per cent this year and we are aiming to gain 6 per cent,” Pierre Cohade said on the sidelines of an American Chamber of Commerce event in Shanghai. Cohade said the forecast was based on a mild slowdown in growth in the China market, one of its major growth drivers.
Continue ReadingMitch Schneider Joins Babcox Publications
(Akron/Tire Review) Mitch Schneider, nationally recognized automotive service professional, author and lecturer, has joined Babcox Publications as a senior contributing editor. Beginning in July, Schneider’s popular commentary will appear monthly in Babcox’s Tech Group publications, including Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service. In addition to frequent exclusives on AftermarketNews.com and Autocarepronews.com, another column written specifically for store professionals will appear regularly in Counterman magazine.
Continue ReadingMaha Doubles it Projects Team
Maha UK is in the process of doubling its project team. Extensions to their existing offices are under way to cope with the work load and the increase in staff. The project and planning team lead by Neil Ebbs has many years experience in this field and offers workshop planning for small extensions of up to 30+ bays including all the services and infrastructure that may be required.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Launches Studless Tyre For ‘Europe’s Worst Winters’
Bridgestone has launched the Blizzak Nordic studless winter tyre range. According to the company the line has been specifically developed to meet the toughest performance demands of Northern Europe’s winter climate. This new-generation design replaces the existing WS-50 series, and Bridgestone says brings with it enhanced capabilities under most adverse weather conditions.
Continue ReadingDrive to Succeed
The National Tyres ‘Branch Manager of the Year 2005’ award has been won by Michael Gough of the Farnborough branch – along with a brand new Mini Cooper. Michael (53) came in top place for branch manager of the year, achieving record sales and receiving excellent feedback for customer service in the branch. Tony Neill, managing director presented Michael with his award.
Continue ReadingNew High Performance Viking Pattern
The Viking tyre range has been extended to include the new Protech II pattern, replacing the current Protech 500. Exclusively available from Viking International, the Protech II’s advanced asymmetric pattern is the perfect combination for wet and dry conditions. The outer pattern consists of stiff shoulder blocks and two circumferential ribs to ensure lateral stability and precise steering, as well as optimised grip for excellent braking to give all round excellent dry performance. The inner pattern with its combination of numerous block edges and sipes provides superb grip and handling in wet weather conditions.
Continue ReadingCooper Names Sheng to Head China Operations
(Akron/Tire Review) With its operations in China growing quickly, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. brought in an outside expert to head that business. Margaret Sheng was named vice president of Cooper’s China operations and will be based in Shanghai, China. Most recently, Sheng was regional executive director for Lear Corp. in central and southern China, and she has worked as director, general manager and operations manager for automotive manufacturers in China, Spain, the Philippines and US.
Continue ReadingTitan International Announces 1Q Dividend
Titan International’s board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $.005 (one half cent) per common share for the first quarter of 2006. The cash dividend is payable 17 April 2006, to stockholders of record on 31 March 2006.
Continue ReadingNizhnekamskshina to Build Truck Tyre Factory
Radik Ilyasov, CEO of Russian tyre maker Nizhnekamskshina, has described the company’s plans to build a $180 million new truck tyre manufacturing plant. Iiyasov told CentreInvest analysts that the company will build the plant by 2009 and it will be capable of producing 600,000 radial tyres a year. The project will involve foreign participation, either through a JV or via a licensing arrangement. In line with this, Nizhnekamskshina intends to complete its reconstruction of a $180 million rubber mixing line by 2007.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Appoints Pecorelli VP/General Manager
Goodyear Engineered Products has appointed Jim Pecorelli as vice president and general manager of its North America region. Pecorelli had been director of global manufacturing since 2003. Prior to that, he held general manager positions for Goodyear’s industrial power transmission product, hose and conveyor belt businesses over an eight-year span. Pecorelli joined Goodyear in 1982. “Jim’s expertise and leadership skills strengthen the link between our sales and marketing, manufacturing and supply chain operations to support continued sales growth,” said president Tim Toppen. ”Externally, he knows our customers and understands the markets and channels. Internally, he has led our commercial and manufacturing teams.”
Continue ReadingPro-Cut to Launch First On-Truck Brake Disc Lathe
Pro-cut International (with a UK base in Cheltenham), will launch the truck market’s first On-Truck Brake Disc lathe at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show. The TD502 is a new addition to the existing Pro-Cut on-car brake disc lathe range and is a unique product being introduced into the UK market. Pro-Cut sales director Guy Carter said: “The need for this type of brake lathe has been identified after extensive research. The London Bus Company has already implemented this new lathe and are seeing excellent returns in time and money, whilst having the added advantage of reduced vehicle downtime, critical to any bus, truck or coach business.”
Continue ReadingSmithers Names New VP, COO
Jay H Lutz has been named vice president and chief operating officer of Smithers Scientific Services Inc., responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s independent testing, research and consulting activities. He replaces Raymond B Farmer, who has left the company. Mr Lutz brings to Smithers 30 years of experience in operations management, R&D and engineering. He has held management positions with Kelsey Hayes and Allied Signal and most recently was director of research and development at Raybestos Products Co. in Crawfordsville, Ind. Prior to that, he served as vice president of operations and general manager within a unit of Kett Engineering in Brighton, Michigan.
Continue ReadingDayton Upgrades D110 General-Use Range
Bridgestone has upgraded its Dayton range, introducing the T-rated D110 general-use tyre. It replaces the D100, which is being phased out across Europe from January 2006. Designed and manufactured with Bridgestone technology, Dayton is aimed at value-conscious buyers. According to the company, the Dayton D100, launched in 2000, has performed well, but the new product gave Bridgestone engineers the opportunity to retain D100’s wet and dry performance, while extending wear life, a key feature in this segment.
Continue ReadingProfit Opportunity? – Update
So far 50 per cent of those who answered Tyres & Accessories’ question of the month say they are simply too busy to sell wheels. This month’s question asks readers about their preferences when it comes to selling alloy wheels. Do you sell them or are you busy enough moving tyres to worry about the extra expense and hassle of selling wheels? The next 30 per cent of respondents said they order-in wheels as and when. Only 20 per cent say they actively try to sell wheels. The majority may have said they do not have time for wheels, but the strongest comments came from those who order-in wheels. “I do not believe that there is one tyre dealer nowadays that has no time to sell alloy wheels. Albeit selling alloy wheels through a regular tyre shop would not provide millionaire success,” one reader told T&A. Keep your answers and comments coming (please include your name and contact details) clicking here.. The complete results and report will be published in the April magazine’s wheel report.
Continue ReadingPensler Apparently Out of the Running on Bryan Plant
(Akron/Tire Review) Pensler Capital Corp. is out of the running to buy Continental Tire North America’s (CTNA) OTR tyre plant in Bryan, Ohio, sources told Tire Review. Titan International now appears to be the front-runner to obtain the giant tyre facility. Pensler, said sources, held a number of negotiating sessions with the United Steelworkers and USW Local 890 to facilitate the purchase, but the union rejected each offer made. Pensler, which owns Denman Tire Corp, came into the bidding in January and had signed a letter of intent to buy the plant on 16 January.
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