Old Fords Remind Kumho of its Humble Start
(Akron/Tire Review) Few people know that South Korea’s Kumho Tire started as a taxi company back in 1946. To celebrate its humble beginnings, Kumho recently purchased two 1933 Ford sedans, similar to those that the now international firm began with. The cars are on display at Kumho Asiana Group’s headquarters in Yongin.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz Appoints ArvinMeritor Director
Hayes Lemmerz International has appointed Christine M. Sweda as director of taxes, reporting to James Yost, vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Sweda comes to Hayes Lemmerz’ from its competitor ArvinMeritor where she worked as director of domestic tax. Prior to her seven year tenure at ArvinMeritor, Sweda worked as a tax manager for T&N Industries Inc., and in various positions at Arthur Andersen LLP.
Continue ReadingThe German Motoring Press Awards Pirelli
Pirelli has won several summer tyre tests carried out by German motoring publications. Products ranging from the ultra high performance sector to the balanced performance ranges were put through their paces. In particular, Pirelli’s UHP tyre, P Zero Nero, fitted to BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz C 320 Sport Coupé, Audi A3 and Audi TT and the P Zero Rosso fitted to Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 returned performances of “extremely high levels,” says the manufacturer, winning tests on both wet and dry asphalt. Pirelli’s SUV Scorpion STR tyre, tested on a Jeep Cherokee, also received recognition, as did the high performance P6 on a Volkswagen Golf V and P3000 Energy on a Ford Fiesta.
Continue ReadingSteelworkers and PACE Agree to Merger
(Akron/Tire Review) Members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) have voted overwhelmingly to merge. The votes were held yesterday at concurrent national conventions of the two unions, both being held in Las Vegas. The new union will be called the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International or USW for short, according to the USWA. The merger creates North America’s largest labor union, with a combined total of 850,000 members.
Continue ReadingUSWA, PACE Vote on Proposed Merger in Las Vegas
(Tire Review/Akron) Delegates from the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) International Union will vote on a proposed merger between the two at each of their annual conventions being held this week in Las Vegas. The USWA convention is being held 11-14 April at the Las Vegas Hilton Conference Center, and the PACE International convention is being held at the Las Vegas Riviera Hotel 12-14 April. A combined convention of 5,000 delegates from both unions will meet on 14 April at the Hilton, subject to approval of the merger. The merger will reportedly create the largest industrial union in North America.
Continue ReadingInvestcorp Acquire American Tire
Investcorp, investment group, has officially acquired American Tire Distributors, one of the leading distributors of tyres in the United States. American Tire has 71 distribution centers and a fleet of 700 trucks providing coverage to 36 US states. It offers 60,000 products serving an average of 35,000 customers each month says the investment company. Annual revenue is $1.4 billion giving the company an approximate six per cent share of the total $24.3 billion market for replacement tyres in the US.
Continue ReadingTyre Companies Invest in China
According to a report from Bloomberg, foreign direct investment in China rose by 9.5 per cent in the first quarter. It attributes this to companies such as Avon Products and Goodyear Tire & Rubber that are expanding in the market and furthering their attempts to tap rising demand in Asias second-largest economy.
Continue ReadingAnd Then There Were Three
The live finals of the Top Technician 2005 competition were held at the Automotive Trade Show last week. The event saw 12 finalists competing in three challenges under the eyes of ReMIT assessors Terence Smith and Melvyn Morgan and chairman of judges, Dave Garratt. The three finalists were Clive Atthowe AMIMI, of Clive Atthowe Tuning, Iain Kershaw MIMI, of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and John Tinham CAE AMIMI, of John Tinham Motor Engineer. They will each go forward to the award ceremony, which takes place in London next month, but only one can win the £2000 cash prize. “The level of skill and knowledge exhibited by finalists was incredible and marks were very high across all twelve,” said Dave Garratt.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Constructs New Retread Factory
Goodyear Canada has announced that it will construct a new truck retreading factory in Beloeil replacing the existing facility Ville St-Laurent. The move represents a “strategic choice for Goodyear Canada” said Mr Bernard Plante, general manager for Goodyear Canada. 5.2 million Canadian dollars will be invested in the project, which will produce a 69,000 sq ft building.
Continue ReadingMarch Car Registrations Down
European passenger car registrations amounted to 1,709,616 units in March this year. The figure represents a decrease of 4.7 per cent compared to March 2004. According to the ACEA the statistics were affected by the Easter break falling in March this year, adding that there had been a, “sluggish economic environment in the first quarter of 2005.” The UK felt a decrease of 5.1 per cent, along with Germany (-0.4%), Spain (-3.6%) and Italy (-8.6 %). France was the only country that posted a national increase, of 2.5 per cent. The UK recorded 442,940 passenger car registrations in March compared with 466,954 last year.
Continue ReadingDr. Schieben Leaves Goodyear Germany
Dr. Rainer Schieben (42), managing director of Goodyear GmbH & Co. KG, the German distribution leg of the tyre manufacturer, has left the company “by his own decision,” writes Goodyear Germany in a press release. During the 10 years Dr. Schieben worked for the Goodyear-Dunlop group, he has held several executive positions. He took up the position of managing director as of June 2001. Gerd Grünenwald, chairman of the managing board of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany GmbH, and Dr. Schieben’s superior, praised the former managing director as somebody who has delivered “a positive contribution” to the success of the organisation. A successor will be proclaimed soon, according to Goodyear’s press release.
Continue ReadingBMW goes on the “Attack”
BMW has chosen the Continental Road Attack as original equipment for its R1200RT motorcycle. The sports-touring tyre is the first OE contract for the new radial. The tyre was developed “hand in hand” with BMW to achieve the contract and was specifically tailored to the R1200RT performance requirements, says UK distributor Cambrian Tyres. BMW has also extended homologation to fit the tyre to the R1100S, R1150R and K1200RS models. Continental is also original equipment supplier to BMW’s GS range in the form of the “world conquering” TKC80 enduro tyre, that fitted to the bikes of Charley Boorman and Ewan Mcgregor in their “Long Way Round” project.
Continue ReadingEIB Lend a Hand to Conti Brazil
The European Investment Bank is providing a loan of 40 million euros to Brazil so that the development of a new Continental production facility can be put into operation. Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda will manufacture passenger car tyres of which the majority will be exported to the NAFTA market to satisfy the growing domestic demand. The site’s annual capacity will be more than 4 million tyres. The project will create some 600 jobs and is to be completed by the end of 2007.
Continue ReadingMontupet Invest in North Irish Wheel Production
Automotive supplier Montupet S.A. (France) felt a recession of around three to four per cent in sales in 2004, or 423 million euros. However the company’s annual general meeting has reported a net profit of 17.72 million euros, but more importantly reduced its debts to 22 million euros. Investments including that into Renault engines, a Canadian plant for Chrysler/USA and the modernisation of a Belfast aluminum cast wheels factory, were valued at 26 million.
Continue ReadingMichelin to Exploit F1 Advantage
Williams and Michelin are working to “exploit” their advantage having experienced “minimal” tyre wear in the opening three races of the season, reports Planet F1. The team spent three days testing at Barcelona where they covered a total of 533 laps. “We worked through a comprehensive test on tyre compounds, aerodynamic parts, traction control and general set-up,” technical director Sam Michael said. “The tyre wear that we have is far from the limit, as it has been in the first three races with the FW27, and we are working with Michelin to exploit this further.”
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