Michelin to Close Kitchener Plant
Michelin North America (MNA) has announced that it will close its Kitchener, Ontario, tyre plant in July with the loss 1100 jobs. Michelin cited overcapacity in its broadline products as the reason for the closure. The news comes six months after the manufacturer closed its Poitiers, France, plant with the loss of 500 jobs and is believed to be part of a global cost-cutting programme. “We believe that Michelin will accelerate restructuring measures in coming quarters, using the opportunity of the progressive attrition of one third of their workforce (or 25,000 people) in Western Europe and North America in coming years,” Deutsche Banks analysts said in a report shortly after the news broke.
Continue ReadingBridgestone R249 Voted Spanish Truck Tyre of the Year
Bridgestone’s R249 steer-axle radial has been voted commercial vehicle ‘Tyre of the Year 2006’ in Spain. The award, promoted by ‘Neumáticos y Mecánica rápida’ magazine, is now in its seventh year. Winners are selected by a group of more than 50 independent professionals, ranging from tyre workshop technicians to distributors, representatives of the media and members of several associations. Bridgestone reports that it conducted extensive testing in nine countries, including Spain in the course of producing the R249. The manufacturer designed the product based on user requirements identified in a long-term study covering almost 1000 European fleets.
Continue ReadingSuperior Industries Restructures Van Nuys Facility
Superior Industries International, Inc is restructuring its manufacturing facility in Van Nuys, California, laying off approximately 375 employees, out of 635 manufacturing employees. Superior’s corporate offices and 125 corporate staff, which also are located at this facility, will not be affected by the downsizing. The company reports that manufacturing will continue despite the job cuts.
Continue ReadingPierce Selects SmarTire to Supply TPMS
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced that Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Truck Corporation company, will include the SmarTire’s active TPMS as an option for new and existing fire-fighting vehicles. Pierce Manufacturing is North America’s leading manufacturer of fire and safety apparatus.
Continue ReadingBIPAVER Relocates Secretariat
BIPAVER, the European Retread Manufacturers Association has announced that it has relocated its offices and made several changes to its operational structure. The Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) has administered BIPAVER in the United Kingdom since 2002. Now the Association has decided to relocate its offices to Leiden in the Netherlands, where the Dutch Trade Association, VACO, will administer it.
Continue ReadingGroup Tyre Lands Exclusive Federal Distribution Deal
Group Tyre (UK) Ltd. has signed a deal with Taiwanese manufacturer Federal whereby the wholesaler will exclusively handle the distribution of Federal tyres in the UK. Commenting on the development, Group Tyre (UK) Ltd Chairman, John Church said: “The announcement of our exclusive distribution partnership with Federal in the UK tyre market further supports our goal to offer the market total support. The Federal brand is totally committed to developing a strong product range, with compounds and tread patterns for almost every driving application. Constant R&D has aided the development of this product offering, which has recently been strengthened with a number of race-bred motorsports tyres including the 595 Competition Series and Couragia Adventure Series.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone RFT OE on New Mazda Miata
Bridgestone Potenza tyres will be original equipment on Mazda’s redesigned 2006 MX-5 Miata. Bridgestone will supply the roadsters with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT Run-Flat tires and will offer its Blizzak winter run-flat tyres as aftermarket replacements for the model. Bridgestone has been supplying tyres to Mazda since it brought the Miata to market in the United States in 1990. The redesigned MX-5 Miata features a larger interior and exterior and a new 2.0-litre DOHC aluminium 4-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower.
Continue ReadingBrityrex Does the Business for Beissbarth
Brityrex International 2007 received a big boost in the new year when Beissbarth UK reserved a stand area of 85 square metres – the largest exhibition stand in the companys history. Philip Hodges, MD of Beissbarth UK, explained that 2007 will see the UK launch of the Beissbarth Touchless wheel aligner in the UK. As the name suggests, this is a completely no-contact alignment system – the first of its kind in the world – and one which Philip believes will have a major impact on wheel alignment in the UK. Certainly, when the system had its world premiere at Autopromotec in Bologna, it drew large crowds throughout the show.
Continue ReadingCooper Expected to Report Disappointing 4Q
Deutsche Bank analysts are expecting Cooper to announce losses of $0.14 per share when the company releases its fourth quarter results. The analysts are already describing the period as “another weak quarter.” Cooper is said to have under-performed the market in recent times. According to the Deutsche Bank analysts, Cooper’s third quarter North American (NA) volume declined 6 per cent compared with a drop of 1 per cent across the market.
Continue ReadingKumho Joins RubberNetwork
Philip J Ringo, chairman and CEO of RubberNetwork LLC, named Kumho Tire as the 10th member-owner of the global Tire and Rubber Industry Consortium. “We welcome Kumho Tire to RubberNetwork. They join nine of the Industry’s largest and most successful companies, Continental Tire, Cooper Tire & Rubber, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Pirelli Tire, Sumitomo Rubber, Toyo Tire and Rubber and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. in what we believe is the most successful industry consortium. The addition of Kumho is both a validation of their stature in the Industry and the wisdom of RubberNetwork’s founders in forming the Company in 2000” Ringo said.
Continue ReadingGoodyear, Cooper Share Values Drop
Goodyear Tire & Rubber shares fell by as much as 17 per cent yesterday after the company warned raw-material costs will hit its bottom line harder than it originally expected. A number of analysts decreased their stock ratings, with at least one (Deutsche Bank) changing its recommendation to “sell.” Goodyear shares ended the trading day down $3.12 at $15.64 after rising to $19.31 on Monday. Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. also took a blow, loosing $1.30 or 8 per cent, to finish at $14.99.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein Names New CFO
Amtel-Vredestein has named Antonius (Ton) Tholens, as its new Chief Financial Officer. Tholens, who also serves as a member on AV’s executive board, replaces outgoing CFO, Victor Nekrassov. “Ton is already one of our group’s most valued executives. We are delighted that he will now be at the financial helm of Amtel-Vredestein NV,” said CEO, Alexei Gurin.
Continue ReadingMNA Expansion Plan May Not Get Government Aid
(Akron/Tire Review) As Michelin North America (MNA) prepares to pour $80 million into expanding truck tyre production at its Waterville, Nova Scotia, plant, the recent national elections in Canada threaten to derail the plan, according to reports by CBC. As part of the expansion deal, the Liberal Party-led Nova Scotia government committed to giving MNA some $9.4 million in interest free loans. With the Conservative Party now in control, there are questions whether the loan offer will be met.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Supply Super Aguri F1 Team
Bridgestone Motorsport has announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with the Super Aguri F1 Team for the supply of Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres. The agreement will commence immediately and the team is expected to run for the first time on Bridgestone F1 tyres at a shakedown test in February.
Continue ReadingSuccessful Debut For IQPC “Intelligent Tire Technology“Conference
At the end of last year the International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC) organised its first conference dedicated to tyre related topics. As the name of the event suggests, it mainly dealt with intelligent tyre technologies - meaning run-flat tyres and tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Participants were invited to take part in a day-long workshop immediately before the two-day conference with the first day completely focusing on new developments. The second conference day featured information about a wide range of different topics like for example tyre/road noise, chassis control and the design of alloy wheels.
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