Negotiations at Nokian Concluded
The statutory negotiations between Nokian Tyres and labour union leaders regarding possible lay-offs ended in a mutual agreement the day after they began. Both parties agreed that a maximum of 700 staff in the car tyre production segment of the business would be gradually laid off during this year and next.
Continue ReadingBosch Plans Major Chinese Expansion
At the opening of a new development and manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China, Franz Fehrenbach, the Chairman of the Bosch Group Board of Management, announced intentions to significantly expand activities into the region. The number of Bosch manufacturing facilities in the Peoples Republic of China has doubled to 20 in the past five years. At the end of 2004, Bosch had invested some 550 million euros in the establishment and expansion of activities. The company now plans to invest a further 650 million euros during the next two years across the country. Bosch has a strong focus on China. We see it as a core country for our business in the entire Asia-Pacific region explained Fehrenbach.
Continue Reading2006 Pirelli Calendar Launched in Paris
The Pirelli Calendar has become a cult object over the past 40+ years and the 2006 Calendar was launched in Paris on Friday 18th November. Shot by the British-Turkish duo of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who specialise in womens portraits, the Calendar stars six beautiful women in 27 shots. The six are: Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen, Guinevere Van Seenus, Kate Moss, Karen Elson and Natalia Vodianova and the photographs are mainly black and white, except for some subtle splashes of colour on the cover and in the months of March and November.
Continue ReadingContinental AG Could Cut 10 per cent of its Hanover Tyre Workforce
Continental AG will make a decision in the next fortnight about whether to cut 10 per cent of jobs (320 positions) at its tyre factory in Hanover-Stoecken, chief executive Manfred Wennemer told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. “The fact is we have an over-capacity of tyre (production),” Wennemer said. “The costs at Stoecken are higher than at any other plant in Western Europe. We are not talking 10 cents higher, but more than a euro higher per tyre produced,” Wennemer said.
Continue ReadingDegussa to Embark on Chinese Joint Venture
Degussa AG, Dusseldorf, and Rizhao Lanxing Chemical Industry Co, Ltd (Lanshan-Rizhao, Shandong Province) have agreed to establish a joint venture for the manufacture of sulphur-functional silanes for rubber applications. This agreement represents the successful conclusion of negotiations that followed a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies in July. Degussa will own a 50 per cent share in the new joint venture, and Lanxing 40 per cent. An unnamed financial investor will assume the remaining 10 per cent. Degussa is the worldwide leading manufacturer of silanes for rubber applications. Lanxing has operated as a well-established local manufacturer on the Chinese market since 1998. The new joint venture company will begin operating under the name Degussa Lanxing (Rizhao) Chemical Industrial Co, Ltd, following approval by the responsible bodies, and having obtained all licenses from the Chinese authorities. The company is scheduled to produce sulphur-functional silanes in liquid form and as a blend with carbon black.
Continue ReadingTIC: ‘Part Worn Tyres a Cause for Concern’
The sale of part-worn tyres is still a cause for concern, the Tyre Industry Council has reported. These concerns are backed-up by the environmental protection services at Glasgow City Council who found in checks at tyre dealerships, that a high percentage of the second-hand tyres checked did not meet the legal requirements and therefore could have posed a risk to an un-suspecting motorist.
Continue ReadingT&A Expands Global Consortium
Canada’s Tire News and Pneu Mag, published by Publications Rousseau & Associes, have joined the global tyre publication consortium formed by Europe’s Tyres & Accessories and Neue Reifenzeitung with America’s Tire Review nearly a year ago. With the addition of the Canadian magazines, which cover all aspects of Canada’s tyre industry from coast to coast, the consortium now encompasses eight highly respected tyre publications. Besides Tire Review, Tyres & Accessories and Neue Reifenzeitung, the group includes Southern Africa Treads (South Africa), Rubber Asia (India) and Australian Tyre Dealer (Australia).
Continue ReadingContinental Ends Hanover Passenger Tyre Production
Continental AG has announced that it will reduce the number of staff working at its Hanover-Stöcken plant by 10 per cent, by the end of 2006. The job losses will affect 320 tyre production employees. “The unexpectedly weak growth in passenger tyre sales…left us no other choice in the end but to schedule discontinuation of passenger tyre production in Stöcken as of 31 December 2006 and to demonstrate cost-optimised flexibility at other plants by cutting back the number of shifts,” said Manfred Wennemer, chairman of the executive board of Continental AG and board member responsible for the Passenger and Light Truck Tires division.
Continue ReadingBattery Stocks Warning from Varta
Varta has warned that recent mild winters could lead to an air of complacency in the trade and that severe weather conditions could have a marked effect on aftermarket battery stocks. The warning comes as the Meteorological Office is predicting the coldest UK winter for at least a decade and Vartas managing director Paul Matarewicz believes that many independent and franchised workshops may not have sufficient stocks to meet increased demand, saying: “Even though improved battery technology and a succession of mild winters have had the effect of lessening peaks and troughs in battery sales across the year, there can be no doubt that the return of a hard winter would lead to a substantial surge in battery failure, especially in older cars.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone UK Appoints Marketing Agency
After a four-way agency pitch, Bridgestone UK has appointed Gloucestershire-based Clear Communications to provide above- and below-the-line marketing support. The agency’s remit includes helping to build Bridgestones brand equity in the UK and providing tactical initiatives and support for dealers, including the First Stop network. In addition, Clear Communications will help Bridgestone to promote a road safety campaign in the UK, in conjunction with the FIA Foundation (Federation Internationale de lAutomobile). The campaign is entitled “Think Before You Drive.”
Continue ReadingBandag Ups Prices
(Akron/Tire Review) Retreading material manufacturer Bandag Inc has increased prices by 7 per cent on some of its tread stock and tyre repair products sold in the US. The 1 November increase does not impact other markets.
Continue ReadingGM Says It Will Cut 30,000 NA Jobs
(Akron/Tire Review) Struggling General Motors Corp announced this morning that it would close nine North American production and assembly plants and cut 30,000 manufacturing jobs by 2008 as part of an effort to get production in line with demand. Rick Wagoner, chairman and CEO of the world’s largest automaker, announced the closures during a speech to employees from GM’s Detroit headquarters. Wagoner has repeatedly denied that GM would file for bankruptcy.
Continue ReadingToyo to Bump Up Prices by 8 per cent
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. said it would increase prices on all of its passenger and light truck/SUV tyres by up to 8 per cent, effective Jan. 1, 2006. No pricing announcement was made regarding Toyo’s commercial tyres.
Continue ReadingUral Tire Plant to Produce Winter Tyres
The Sibur-owned Ural Tire Plant Ltd in Yekaterinburg, Russia has launched the production of the new Tunga and Tunga-Master winter tyres. A special rubber mixture with enhanced elasticity is reportedly used in the production of the new generation of branded tyres. Sibur launched Tunga in March this year alongside its Cordiant passenger tyre brand. The first Tunga tyres will be available in size 175/70 R13, while Tunga Master will be released in 185/60 R14. Several new sizes, including Tunga Master 13 and 15 inch variants are planned for next year.
Continue ReadingSumitomo/TBC Acquisition Closes
(Akron/Tire Review) Sumitomo Corp. of America (SCOA) announced today that its purchase of TBC Corp, for approximately $1.1 billion, has been closed. TBC will operate as a subsidiary of SCOA and continue to be led by TBCs current senior management team, the company said. “We are excited to add TBC to our growing family of companies,” said Susumu Kato SCOA president and CEO. “TBC complements our existing portfolio, and we look forward to working with them on the successful implementation of their long-term business strategy.”
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