Pirelli UK Alters Pay Arrangements?
Managers at Pirelli’s Carlisle facility have reportedly told unions that they want to keep workers’ annual pay increase below the rate of inflation. Pirelli’s Wolfgang Meier, who replaces previous UK industrial director John Nixon, is said to have argued that workers must accept lower pay rises to keep the site competitive. He also suggested that some manufacturing functions would have to be outsourced. However, Pirelli representatives downplayed The News & Star coverage, saying that Meier’s comments were taken out of context.
Continue ReadingContiTech Buys Conveyor Belt Operation
The ContiTech Conveyor Belt Group, Northeim, is buying the conveyor belt operations of the Danish company Roulunds Tech A/S, Odense, subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities. In the special conveyor belt sector, Roulunds Tech A/S posted sales of approximately 10 million euros in 2005. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Continue ReadingViking International Appoints Call Centre Manager
Viking International recently appointed Claire Deane as divisional call centre manager covering the South. Deane will be working alongside Don McIntyre, divisional call centre manager for the North, both based at a central call centre in Liverpool. Claire Deane’s experience in customer service began after university when she initially worked in the hospitality industry before going onto work for Sitel, an international provider of outsourced customer interaction services, in January 2002.
Continue ReadingPro-Align Promises Revolutionary Products at ATS
Pro-Align is promising an action packed stand, at this years Automotive Trade Show. The ‘Alignment Show Live’ presentation, synonymous with Pro-Align, returns for a third year. “We have seen our sales of digital imaging aligners increase to over 50 per cent of wheel aligner sales - workshops purchasing the imaging system find its quick, accurate easy to use and easy to charge on” explained Pro-Align’s Paul Beaurain.
Continue ReadingSherbrook To Market Kosei Alloy Wheels
Japanese premium wheel brand, Kosei is to be exclusively marketed in the UK by Sherbrook International. The Kosei name will join the existing brands in Sherbrook’s portfolio, which includes Rondell, Outlaw and DJ. The Kosei brand will be available in sizes of up to 22 inches. “Kosei is an established worldwide brand with a unique position in the top segment of the market,” said Sherbrook International CEO Peter Whitehouse. “The wheels are incredibly stylish, fashionable and of the moment. The appeal of Kosei is individual and exclusive and we are delighted to add it to our product portfolio.”
Continue ReadingViking’s Record Online Growth
Viking International, the largest tyre, exhaust and battery wholesaler in the UK, is pleased to report a record number of visitors using its Internet and web based services. Continuous development ensures that the online information and sales service is constantly updated, providing the latest Viking news, offers and information for its users. With 18 months of consecutive year-on-year growth, the website has surpassed all expectations. There are approximately 500 customers with access to the password protected trade area, with figures constantly growing.
Continue ReadingCooper Recall Details
(Akron/Tire Review) The voluntary tyre recall launched by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. on 13 February includes Cooper, associate and private brand tyres it produced as far back as February 2004, according to documents found on NHTSA’s web site. Cooper itself has issued no public information about the recall. Of the approximately 288,000 tyres Cooper is recalling, some 183,000 were produced between February 2004 and 21 January 2005. These tyres – predominately designed for light truck/SUV applications – were being recalled due a slow leak that may be caused by a “contaminant in the upper sidewall,” according to an Associated Press report.
Continue ReadingAdvanced Compound Fillers Increase Fuel Economy
Fuel prices have been increasing across the board since 1988. Drivers today have to spend more than twice as much per litre of petrol used than at that time. And the trend is set to continue. In fact, the International Energy Agency (IEA, Paris) expects demand for all types of fuel to significantly increase – by as much as 50 per cent over the next 25 years. So much for the bad news. But there is also good news –chemicals company Degussa AG (Dusseldorf), intensified the work in its Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit aimed at improving the properties of truck and car tyres alike. This work has led to fuel consumption reductions of up to eight per cent – depending on how figures are compared. Based on an average of 150,000 kilometres per truck, this could result in annual fuel savings of approximately 2,500 litres – a substantial amount.
Continue ReadingGreenville Michelin Plant Gets $26 Million Investment
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) plans to spend some $26 million on improvements to its Greenville, South Carolina, passenger and light truck/SUV tyre plant. The capital program will boost capacity there by 20 per cent, said MNA.
Continue ReadingMichelin Achieves Profit Growth Through Price Rises
Michelin has reported an operating income of 1,368 million euros for 2005, up 5.1 per cent on a year earlier. According to Financial Times Deutschland, this is well above financial analysts’ estimates and reflects the higher prices that Michelin has been able to achieve, more than compensating for raw material cost increases.
Continue ReadingBandag Dealer Opens in Andalusia
Owner Leocadio Alcaide (38) founded his company in 2000 in Alcalá de Guadaíra, on the outskirts of Seville, as a retailer of premium new tyres such as Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone and Dunlop. He also sold Bandag retreads manufactured by a Bandag Dealer in Andalusia and soon realised that opening his own Bandag shop would be an important contribution to the transport sector in the area.
Continue ReadingFour Drivers Named Goodyear Highway Hero Finalists
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has named four truckers as finalists in its annual North America Highway Hero Award. The winner will be announced at next month’s Mid-American Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Mar. 22-24. “We are indebted to truck drivers across the United States and Canada who keep America rolling,” said Steve McClellan, Goodyear’s vice president for commercial tire systems. “In this, the Goodyear Highway Hero Award’s 23rd year, it was especially difficult to select just four truck drivers who placed themselves in harm’s way to save someone else.”
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Group Shows Growth
The Trelleborg Industrial Group has published its financial results for 2005. Net sales were 24,170 million Swedish Kronor (SEK) or 2.57 billion euros, compared with the 2004 figures of SEK 22,912 m (2.43 bn euros). Net profits for the year, excluding restructuring costs, amounted to SEK 1,177 m (125.3 m euros); five per cent higher than the 2004 figure of SEK 1,122 m (119.4 m euros).
Continue ReadingRace Your Way To Monte Carlo
The Dunlop Race Academy is pulling up to the starting grid once again as the 2006 contest opens to applicants. Over 8000 people applied to enter last year and Dunlop is expecting even more this time round as budding racing stars compete to race in a televised championship race at Donington, before jetting off to Monaco to sample the life of a racing driver. Seven regional finalists will be chosen to undergo training at Donington from experts such as Le Mans 24 Hour racing driver, Calum Lockie, as they endeavour to learn the skills needed to be a star on the track.
Continue ReadingRMA Adds 100 Green Dealers
The Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) has expanded the membership of its Green Dealer Scheme for tyre retailers who stock retreaded tyres. Following an in-depth research and recruitment campaign, the Association has added over 100 new outlets to its list of passenger retread stockists, bringing the total number of retail outlets listed under the scheme is 319.
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