Copeland Named to Head Goodyear Australian JV
(Akron/Tire Review) Joseph Copeland, senior vice president of business development, strategy and restructuring, for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co has been named CEO of Goodyear’s South Pacific Tyres subsidiary. Goodyear owns a 50 per cent share in the Australian joint venture. Mr Copeland will report to the South Pacific Tyres board of directors, as well as to Pierre Cohade, president of Goodyears Asia/Pacific tire business. Darren Wells, Goodyear’s vice president and treasurer, was promoted to senior vice president of business development and treasurer, reporting to Richard Kramer, executive vice president and CFO. Mr Wells will assume Joseph Copelands business development responsibilities as well as additional oversight responsibilities for the investor relations and tax functions.
Continue ReadingShareholders Move to Ditch Directors
(Akron/Tire Review) According to a report by Queensland Newspapers, Bridgestone Australia shareholders failed in a bid to oust members of the company’s board of directors at the firm’s annual meeting 9 May. Meanwhile, Bridgestone Australia chairman and CEO Makio Ohashi told shareholders that the financial situation wasn’t going to get better, warning of continued lower profits because of escalating raw materials costs and competition from imports.
Continue ReadingPirelli Earns Ford Honour
(Akron/Tire Review) Pirelli Pneumatici SpA received Ford Motor Cos Gold World Excellence Award, recognising the manufacturer’s performance in quality, cost and delivery. In all, Ford honoured 52 suppliers from 21 countries, but only 17 received the Gold World Excellence Award, according to Pirelli.
Continue ReadingPAX Launch Earns PR Award
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America’s launch of its PAX System run-flat tyres on Honda Odyssey minivans last year earned it the Silver Award for outstanding achievement in a new product launch from the Automotive Public Relations Council. The nationwide media PAX/Honda launch reached more than 30 million Americans via television, radio, newspaper, magazine and Internet reports, according to Michelin, as well as live driving demonstrations in New York, Detroit and Los Angeles.
Continue ReadingAlcoa Gets Patent For Rim Flange Wear Product
(Akron/Tire Review) Alcoa Wheel Products said it has been granted a US patent on its Dura-Flange aluminum wheel surface treatment, a product that the company said: “Guards against excessive rim flange wear on commercial vehicle wheels.” Alcoa said it developed the treatment “trucking applications where loads are heavy and prone to shifting, such as logging, tanker and heavy hauling.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Approves Arnco Flatproofing Product
(Akron/Tire Review) Sweden’s Trelleborg Wheel Systems has approved Arnco’s SuperFlex and RePneu flatproofing fill for use in its branded agricultural tyres. Arnco European Sales Manager Andrew Elliot said the results of extensive laboratory and field testing conducted by Trelleborg were a major factor in the decision. Commenting on the testing, Trelleborg field engineering manager Bo Lenander said: “The end-user specially pointed out the positive side of being spared the expensive tire repairs, wrecked tires and the difficult and expensive down time. It was also noted that they were let off the continuing tyre pressure checks and the otherwise constant concern for air leakage.”
Continue ReadingChinese Tyre & Rubber Exhibition Goes Annual
Tyres & RubberTech China was first staged in 1998 and has been held every other year. Now, in response to demand from exhibitors and visitors, it has been decided to stage the show annually and the next event will take place in Shanghai from 9 – 11 November. The organisers estimate that the 2005 show will cover 10,000 square metres.
Continue ReadingKayaba Wins OE Contracts
Kayaba has increased its original equipment business with PSA Citroen and Toyota, supplying shock absorbers for the Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 and the Toyota Aygo. All three vehicles share the same platform and will be manufactured at the Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobiles (TPCA) plant at Kolin in the Czech Republic. Initially, the shock absorbers will be supplied from Kayabas factory near Pamplona in Spain, but this will switch to a purpose-built factory in the Czech Republic. This plant is due to begin production in February 2007.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Director In Charity Bike Ride
Kwik-Fit Fleet corporate accounts director Nigel Davies was one of a group of 15 cyclists who took part in the 180-mile ride from Brussels to Rotterdam in May, raising more than £6,000 in aid of a specialist palliative care centre in West Sussex.
Continue ReadingNew Off Road Tuning Wheel
Size does matter. Well that’s what Cobra Technologie & Lifestyle say. And in keeping with this philosophy the company now offers the new Cobra Sahara 10Jx22 light-alloy wheel for premium off-road vehicles such as the BMW X5, the Mercedes M-Class, the Mitsubishi V60, the Porsche Cayenne, the Volvo XC 90 and the VW Touareg.
Continue ReadingApril New Car Registrations Fall Four per cent
179,457 new cars left showrooms last month, down 4.0 per cent on April 2004, according to figures released today by the SMMT. The diesel market rose 6.6 per cent in April, up 4.5 per cent over the year-to-date. “On five of the last six occasions, new car registrations have received a boost immediately after a general election”, commented Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. “However, March figures showed that the market had already started to pick up after a disappointing start to the year. April’s dip has largely been dominated by MG Rover but it seems that the crisis has not had a significant effect on consumer confidence across the wider industry. The market remains healthy with registrations expected to hit 2.45 million units by the end of the year.”
Continue ReadingJK Tyre Tops JD Power India Survey
JK Tyre has received the highest ranking in a customer satisfaction survey of tyres purchased in India. Moving up from third position in 2004, JK Tyre topped the 2005 JD Power list with a satisfaction score of 781 index points on a 1,000-point scale. The industry in general performed marginally better growing one percentage point year-on-year.
Continue Reading1,500 Already Onboard for 2005 SEMA Show
(Akron/Tire Review) SEMA has reported that some 1,500 companies have already registered as exhibitors for the 2005 SEMA Show, which runs from 1 – 4 November in Las Vegas. For the second consecutive year, exhibit space registrations have been handled online through SEMA’s show coordinator ConvExx Show Management. Space is still available, and details can be found at www.semashow.com.
Continue ReadingCorghi Sets Its Sights on Australia
(Australia/Australian Tyre Dealer) Corghi, the world’s largest Italian manufacturer of tyre service equipment, is aiming to increase its presence in Australia. After a number of years in the doldrums, Corghi brand wants to play a major role in the Australian tyre market again. Under newly-appointed general manager, Jonathan Gant, Corghi is looking to replicate the success it has enjoyed in New Zealand, where its Italian-made wheel balancers and tyre changers enjoy more than 60 per cent market share.
Continue ReadingBAR and Button Get Temporary Ban
Jenson Button and the BAR team will miss both the Barcelona and Monaco races, the FIA decided that the team had run an underweight car at Imola. The Formula 1 ruling authority also stripped BAR of the 10 points won by its two cars during the race. The BAR team has stated that it was not cheating and vowed to contest the penalty.
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