Amtel-Vredestein Buys Russian Retail Stores
(Akron/Tire Review) Amtel-Vredestein, the new company formed to manufacture and market Vredestein and Amtel tyres throughout Russia, has purchased 40 retail tyres stores in that country. In an interview with Tire Review in August, Alexi Gurin, CEO of Amtel-Vredestein, hinted that the company might pursue a retail strategy, saying it would make sense there. Amtel-Vredestein reportedly plans to own as many as 300 retail outlets. The recently purchased outlets come under a variety of banners. No new name has been decided by Amtel-Vredestein, but the company is looking to consolidate all of its stores under one market name.
Continue ReadingSiemens Offers Aftermarket TPMS Program
(Akron/Tire Review) Siemens VDO’s Service & Special Solutions group has developed a new aftermarket program for TPMS replacement and service parts. The program helps technicians service vehicles equipped with TPMSs made by Siemens VDO, the company said.
Continue ReadingDexel Tyre Appoints Gary Bird as MD
Dexel Tyre Co Ltd has appointed Gary Bird as its new managing director. In his new position Bird will have responsibility for overseeing the company’s thirteen tyre sites. Bird joined the Dexel group from ATS some five years ago, initially to run City Tyre Experts. Paul France, the retiring managing director will assume the role of chairman. The former managing director said he “welcomes the opportunity of taking things easier, after fifteen years at the helm.”
Continue ReadingContinental Teves Launches ATE PremiumOne Brake Rotors
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Teves has introduced its ATE brand PremiumOne disc brake rotors for European vehicles. According to the company, ATE PremiumOne rotors are unique because each design is application specific and based on OE design. The rotors also feature MetaCote, a protective coating that prevents rust and corrosion and provides an attractive finish.
Continue ReadingSenior Developer Appointed at Cam Systems
Cam Systems has appointed a new Senior Developer to join its management team to strengthen both its product development capability and assist with the career progression of its in house team of software developers. Karyn Boots joins the company’s Gloucestershire head office from Atkins Management Consultants, a leading provider of technology-based consultancy and support services to major clients in the public and private sectors. As an IT Consultant with the £1 billion turnover company, Karyn worked with organisations including the Welsh Assembly, Swindon Borough Council and the Welsh Development Agency.
Continue ReadingToyo Adds 24-inch Sizes to Proxes 4 Line
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. is introducing two 24-inch sizes of its Proxes 4 ultra-high performance tyre. The new sizes – 255/30R24 and 275/30R24 – are made with Toyo’s “Generation S” silica-reinforced tread compound and the tyremaker’s T-Mode design technology and are “ideal for even or stagger fitments,” Toyo said. The Proxes 4 tyre features a unidirectional “w-shaped” tread design, curved centre rib for water evacuation and a five-variable pitch tread design for reduced noise, said Toyo.
Continue ReadingFast-Fit Receives Pirelli Accreditation
Fast-Fit, a leading East Anglian tyre and exhaust specialist with branches across the region, has become one of the largest fast fit companies to achieve the Pirelli Driver accreditation. All eleven branches of Fast-Fit, which sells and fits batteries, tyres and exhausts, have achieved the ‘Driver’ standard from the world famous Pirelli brand, after successfully meeting all elements of the technical audits.
Continue ReadingBandag Increases Quarterly Dividend
The board of directors of Bandag, Incorporated, has announced an increase in the regular quarterly dividend from $0.33 per share to $0.335 per share on the Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of the company. The dividend is payable 20 January 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 20 December 2005.
Continue ReadingBridgestone ‘Model’ First Stop Store
Bridgestone Europe has opened its first European First Stop “Model Store” in Zaventem, Belgium in the presence of Francis Vermeiren, Mayor of Zaventem; Minekazu Fujimura, chairman, CEO and president of Bridgestone Europe; and Günther F Unterhauser, senior vice president sales and marketing.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Expands Dunlop Direzza Brand
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co is expanding the Dunlop brand Direzza tyre line by launching two new Direzza race tyres and new sizes of the Direzza DZ101.
Continue ReadingContinental Agricultural Presents SuperVolumeTyres
Continental agricultural tyres has presented a new tyre concept at Agritechnica. According to the company, the SuperVolumeTyre is an innovation aimed at more demanding machinery. “SuperVolumeTyre: We designate tyres with this name which have a larger volume than standard tyres” explains Ralf Krieger, manager of research and development for Continental agricultural tyres. “The larger volume is achieved through a larger tyre width or a smaller rim diameter with the same tyre diameter,” he added.
Continue ReadingBFNAT Canadian Plant Gets Capital Boost
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s Canadian operation and the Quebec government will invest $53.3 million (Canadian) on improvements to the company’s 40-year-old Joliette, Quebec, tyre plant. The deal was announced last Friday, and is intended to preserve some 1,250 jobs at the plant. Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc will contribute $49.8 million and the provincial government will add $3.5 million. Most of the funds will go toward new equipment and facility reorganization.
Continue ReadingCrypton Tuning is Relaunched
‘Crypton Tuning’ is a well-known phrase within the garage equipment industry. One unique aspect of the ‘Crypton Tune’ is that car drivers went to garages and actually asked for a Crypton Tune. As part of the long term marketing strategy Crypton is re-launching this ‘Crypton Tune’ phrase. Therefore if drivers have faults with their cars or just feel they are under performing they can seek out a ‘Crypton Tune’ by a garage that uses Crypton’s latest diagnostic or service equipment. This will in-turn help garages to ‘sell on’ their diagnostic and service capabilities to their customers.
Continue ReadingHankook Has Net Gains Despite Cost Increases
(Akron/Tire Review) Hankook Tire Co saw profits increase 16 per cent in the third quarter, reaching $51 million against sales that rose 7 per cent to about $450 million. The South Korean tyremaker said the results were due to increased sales to automakers and price increases. “Sales rose as Hankook raised prices of tyres in the US two times this year and once in Europe,” said Suh Min Chul, assistant manager of Hankook’s investor relations department. Hankook Tire, he noted, paid 11 per cent to 15 per cent more for raw materials compared to previous periods.
Continue ReadingCGS Promotes New Semperit Brand
CGS Tyres has presented a new tyre brand for agricultural products at the Agritechnica, exhibition in Hanover. In effect the moves equates to the re-branding of its Uniroyal products under the Semperit moniker. According to CGS, the Semperit brand is characterised in particular by an excellent price/performance ratio.
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