Far Reaching Consequences
Following negotiations that lasted some three years, on December 18, 2006 the Council of the European Union unanimously adopted the REACH (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) Regulation. With the stated key objectives of REACH being the registration of chemical substances and to transfer a measure of responsibility for the safe use and handling of chemicals and hazardous substances from EU member states to those companies producing and importing such substances, this is a piece of legislation that the tyre industry cannot ignore. And it comes into effect on June 1. As a tyre wears the chemicals contained within are released back into the environment, and while research indicates that the pollution created by tyre wear particles accounts only a small proportion of traffic pollution, there are numerous substances involved. According to the 2006 annual report released by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), the European tyre and rubber industry utilises approximately 4,000 raw materials, of which 90 per cent are preparations. Therefore it is perhaps not surprising that the report also indicates the industry has been identified as belonging amongst the five downstream users to be most heavily affected by the REACH provisions.
Continue ReadingUS Court Backs Goodyear in Pay Discrimination Case
A ruling handed down by the US Supreme Court has set a precedent limiting employees’ ability to sue an employer for pay discrimination in cases relating to decisions made years earlier. The court decided in a 5-4 ruling on a case centred upon the application of deadlines for complaining about discriminatory pay decisions that it would become too difficult for employers to mount a defence against any claims “arising from employment decisions that are long past.” The plaintiff, Lilly Ledbetter, instigated legal action against Goodyear Tire & Rubber based upon her claims that after 19 years of employment at the company’s facility in Gadsden, Alabama she was earning US$6,000 a year less than the lowest-paid male employee performing the same work. Ms Ledbetter argued that her gender was the primary causal factor for this pay inequality, which she claimed been ongoing for a number of years. A jury initially made a decision in Ledbetter’s favour and awarded her $3.8 million, later reduced to $360,000.
Continue ReadingTyres & Vehicles Stolen from Kent Dealer
About 500 tyres and four vans were stolen during a break-in at a branch of Watling Tyres over the May bank holiday weekend. The thieves smashed through a wall at the Grove road, Northfleet branch of the independent tyre dealer some time between the evening of May 27 and May 29. After disabling the building’s alarm system the thieves ransacked the premises and loaded tyres into four company vans, two of which were later recovered. Gravesend Police have appealed for any person with information about this incident to contact them on 01474 565091.
Continue Reading‘The Acid Test is Quality’
When Peter Gaster is not acting as NTDA chairman, the other hat he wears is as group managing director of Kings Road Tyres (for details of his first speech in this role see this month’s TAFF awards coverage). On this occasion the conversation focused largely on KRT’s product range, the recent influx of OTR products and why many manufacturers failed to turn out at this year’s event. With more tyres than any other stand at the show, Kings Road Tyres’ Brityrex exhibit marked itself apart from the rest. The majority of what was on show came from the company’s wide range of quality private and exclusive brand commercial vehicle tyres, but KRT also had selections from its passenger 4x4 ranges (including Cooper products) on show.
Continue ReadingTRIB Changes Name
(Akron/Tire Review) From now on, the Tire Retread Information Bureau will be known as the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau. The acronym TRIB will not change. The move was designed “to better reflect the fact that tyre repairing is a large part of our industry,” said TRIB.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Launches Ringbuilder 3000
For Marangoni Retreading Systems, innovation Ringtread retreading technology is guided by the concept of a “production island”, i.e. a highly automated multi-purpose work centre with input of raw materials (compounds and tyre for retreading) and output of the end product (the retreaded tyre). The result of this philosophy is the new generation of “Ringbuilder” building machines, in version 3000 for large retreading firms and 2500 for medium-sized retreaders. Taking up from where the previous RB2500 left off, the RB 3000 further develops the concept of high-level automation and throughput.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein COO Resigns
Less than three months after stepping into the role of Amtel-Vredestein Group COO, Sergei Bokhanov has tendered his resignation, effective as of June 1. According to the company Mr. Bokhanov is leaving Amtel-Vredestein to accept a position with a company unrelated to the tyre or automotive sectors. “Sergei played an important role in helping the company complete its transformation into a premium passenger car tyre manufacturer and leading tyre retailer, and he has been a valuable member of our management team during the numerous acquisitions and disposals the company completed over the past year,” said CEO Alexei Gurin. “We wish him every success in all his future endeavours.”
Continue ReadingBuy-Out Points to Far Eastern Expansion for Dunlop Aircraft Tyres
Private equity business ABN Amro Capital, part of Dutch group ABN Amro, has acquired a 74.6 per cent stake in Dunlop Aircraft Tyres. Royal Bank of Scotland will provide senior debt facilities, according to local news sources. Growth plans are now envisaged with expansion planned both in the US, where where Dunlop Aircraft has some retreading business, and particularly in the Far East, where a new satellite operation is envisaged. China is seen as the most likely site fro any such satellite operation, but the exact location of that has yet to be decided. However, the proposals are expected to come to fruition in the next 12 to 18 months.
Continue ReadingMG Rolls Off Production Line at Longbridge
The 130 or so workers who were able to return to work at Longbridge may have found it a relief, but market watchers and union representatives are similarly sceptical about the long-term prospects for Nanjing Automobile-produced MGs in Birmingham. Nanjing has not confirmed how much of the new (bright orange) MG was actually built in Britain. According to reports, its engine was definitely made in China. Nanjing originally said it plans to build 15,000 cars a year at Longbridge in the first phase.” This compares with 200,000 MGs that the corporation is planning to build at its plant in China. And as long as production remains at 15 per cent of its pre-closure levels the prospects for factory suppliers remain similarly uncertain.
Continue ReadingSiemens Says Continental AG Bid is Low
(Akron/Tire Review) According to European news reports, Gerhard Cromme, supervisory board chairman of Siemens, said Continental AG’s $13.4 billion bid for Siemens VDO, the company’s automotive electronics unit, is not high enough. Various sources say that TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has also made an indicative bid and that private-equity firms are also interested.
Continue ReadingMichelin Enjoying Strong European Truck Volumes
Michelin could report a pre-tax profit (EBIT) increase of up to 40 per cent for the first half of 2007, according to Deutsche Bank analysts. The positive performance has been supported by strong truck replacement market sales. Truck replacement markets are reportedly up by a 14 per cent in Europe (+3 per cent year-to-date) and down 7 per cent in North America (-5 per cent year-to-date). Michelin’s advantage here comes in the fact that it has a better country mix for this scenario with 50 per cent of sales being generated in Europe and only 35 per cent in North America (55 per cent of these are passenger car tyres, with 33 per cent truck tyres). Add to that the fact that selling prices are up to 50 per cent higher in Europe than in North America, and analysts expect strong first half EBIT increases.
Continue ReadingSolideal Factory in China achieves ISO 9001 Certification
Solideal is pleased to announce that Solideal Rubber Products (Qingdao) Co. Ltd has achieved the ISO 9001: 2000 Quality management certification from Lloyds Shanghai on April 25th 2007. After one year working on the project, the factory was audited by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance and has officially been granted the certification for quality management, aligning itself on all the other Solideal factories worldwide. Since 1996, Solideal has strived to achieve and maintain ISO certification for its factories and research and development facilities. Through its global network of manufacturing, distribution and service centers, the Solideal group supports the Forklift and Tire dealers throughout the world. The Solideal group employs over 7000 people in 20 countries.
Continue ReadingNew Look for N.E. Wholesale
For N.E. Wholesale looking good isn’t the most important attribute they like to shout about but it certainly helps when operating in such a competitive industry. You may have read in a previous edition, N.E. Wholesale who’s head office is based in Middlesbrough have undergone a revamp in bringing their brand into the new decade and have opted for a simple yet classy look for their new logo.
Continue ReadingMichelin Foot-Pump Wins Auto Express Product Honour
Auto Express, Britain’s largest circulation motoring weekly, has recognised the outstanding quality and value for money of the Michelin Twin-Barrel foot pump with one of its twenty annual Product Honour awards. The Michelin Twin-Barrel pump scored a maximum 5-star Best Buy rating in a multi-brand product test carried out by Auto Express to check the accuracy, pumping power and ease of use. Whilst the Twin-Barrel foot pump takes the important Product Honour, the Michelin Single-Barrel foot pump took the “Recommended” award in the same group test making it an impressive one-two for Michelin auto accessories range. The Auto Express Product Honours list is respected throughout the aftermarket industry with retailers and consumers recognising the relevance of the distinctive labels. Tests on the pumps included assessments on how many psi each pump delivered after 30 pumps, the accuracy of the gauge calibration, footplate grip and stability.
Continue ReadingCut Out the Waiting With Harvie
Harvie Tyres’ attendance at Brityrex coincided with the release of the company’s brand new 84 page catalogue. This new and larger catalogue reflects Harvie’s ongoing commitment to expanding their product range, and the 2007 edition contains more than 1,300 items with many new offerings including wheel aligners, balancers, tyre changers and alignment lifts. A number of these products are the fruit of a recent supplier partner arrangement deal negotiated between Harvie and Pro-Align, and make a valuable addition to the Prema range of tyre repair equipment and kits that Harvie has become so well known for, plus a wide selection of Trax lead free balance weights, valves, bead lubricants, air line equipment and tools of every description.
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