Group 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 ReadingMarangoni Makes Sales and Marketing Appointments
Marco Mandrioli, will assume responsibility for Marangoni Retreading Systems and Materials sales and marketing in Europe, Middle East and Africa effective 1 February 2006. Marco Mandrioli, joined the Marangoni Group after 11 years of experience in marketing and product management at Olivetti and six years as marketing director of the Passini Group. In his new position Mandrioli will coordinate and oversee both Marangoni Tread and Ellerbrock commercial activities in Europe and will assume the position of managing director sales and marketing for the German subsidiary of the Italian Group.
Continue ReadingMaxxis Moves up a Gear
For nearly three decades, the East Anglian company Bickers has been developing the Maxxis brand in a number of niche markets, including motorcycles and scooters, Moto-X, ATV and lawn care. Now, following the establishment of a joint venture between Maxxis and Bickers (Maxxis International UK plc), a concerted effort will be made to develop the brand – especially in the passenger car tyre and LCV markets.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to Announce Record Sales, Analysts Say Sell
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company says it anticipates record sales of almost $20 billion (£11.27 billion) for 2005, with more than $4.9 billion for the fourth quarter. Despite this market analysts, Deutsche Bank, have downgraded their stock rating for the company to “sell.” In addition to record sales, segment operating income is expected to be up between 20 and 25 per cent from 2004. The manufacturer says it expects fourth quarter segment operating income “to approximate the $238 million achieved in the prior year period.” After deducting $20 million in corporate and general expenses Deutsche Bank estimates consolidated EBIT will come in at “roughly $218 million, well below their $283 million estimate.”
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.
Continue ReadingCITExpo Can Celebrate Successful Breakthrough
When the China International Tire Expo (CITExpo) opened its gates for the second time in 2004, it was already considered to be the potential Chinese tyre show of the future. It appears these estimations were well founded now that the third show in December has reached a size, which makes it the biggest show of its kind in East and South-East Asia. CITExpo even had to move into a different venue in order to accommodate its 150 exhibitors. Overall more than 5,800 visitors have registered with the organisers; two thirds came from abroad and the growing number of foreign exhibitors emphasises the increasingly open Chinese tyre market. To the organisers of the China International Tire Expo the positive developments of the show have been much more than just good luck. “Most industry experts know our exhibition by now,” says Wilko Fong. The managing director of Reliable International Exhibition Services Co., Ltd., the organising company from Beijing, firmly believes that many of the current exhibitors have already taken part in earlier shows as visitors in order to find out how the land lies. Only now this wait-and-see-approach has actually paid off for the Shanghai CITExpo, with the latest event taking place in the Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center in downtown Shanghai.
Continue ReadingMarco Molinari Becomes Executive Vice President, HNI Corporation
Marco V Molinari has been appointed executive vice president, HNI Corporation. Mr Molinari will continue as President, HNI International, responsible for international business, including HNI International, HNI Asia and the announced the acquisition of Lamex. Mr Molinari is responsible for driving aggressive profitable growth outside of the United States and Canada and will report to Stan Askren, chairman, president and CEO.
Continue ReadingNew Role for Bridgestone Analyst
Bridgestone UK’s sales force in the Midlands has been boosted by the appointment of Sally Whittall to the role of area sales manager, replacing Simon Davies who recently took up a new role as national account executive. Whittall has worked at Bridgestone for the past five years as a pricing analyst in the marketing department, and is planning to use her marketing skills to bring a fresh approach to the sales team.
Continue ReadingThe Widest Possible Niche
The history of Balkrishna Tyres, a company that is probably better known by its initials - BKT, began with its incorporation in 1988. The production of off-highway tyres followed in 1995. Since its foundation BKT has made its mark in the niche segments and offers tyres for agricultural, construction, industrial and earthmover applications. Now, with £39 million (Euro 56 million) being invested, the cumulative production capacity at all three of BKT’s plants is set to almost double, from 60,000 to 100,000 tons per annum. Part of this investment will go towards the introduction of a radial earthmover tyre range later this year.
Continue ReadingStamford Tyres Adjusts Its Plans For China
For Stamford Tyres the Chinese market is not new. There they have a local partner that produces some of Stamford’s private brands such as the Sumo truck tyre. Also, the new PCR private brand “Sumo Akina”, which will be launched by the end of this year, will be manufactured in China. China is becoming more interesting not only as a production base, but also as a potential sales market. China the giant is taking centre-stage for many wholesalers, including Stamford Tyres from Singapore.
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