Apollo Tyres Ltd signs MoU with Tamil Nadu Government
Onkar S Kanwar, chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres Ltd, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to acquire 135 acres of land, in the Oragadam Industrial Park, 11 kilometres from Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The company says that it plans to build a radial tyre production facility. The factory will initially produce 75 tonnes of tyres per day, rising to 250 tonnes or more over time, according to the company.
Continue ReadingTyres on the Information Superhighway
The way Tyres & Accessories sees it, even virtual motorways need tyres. However not every business that could is taking advantage of the potential opportunities available online. In the course of the year T&A has detected a fair amount of scepticism about the real benefits of this kind of business, relative to the supposed costs and threats. That’s why next month’s magazine will feature practical advice on how to make the most of the virtual world, filling you in on the latest news from this segment.
Continue ReadingPioneers for Nearly Eighty Years
Bosch has been a major player in the automotive battery sector ever since the company began its pioneering work as far back as 1927. Things are very different nowadays from nearly eight decades ago; the addition of electric windows, sunroofs, ABS, air conditioning, other in-car equipment such as DVD players and satellite navigation has resulted in increasing demand on the modern power supply and a reduced battery life. However, continuing investment in research and development ensures that Bosch batteries continue to consistently meet market requirements, with little or no increase in overall size or weight.
Continue ReadingNorth America’s Largest Independent Tyre Exporter
Hercules Tire International, based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, is the largest independent tyre exporter in North America, with warehouses in Canada, the USA and China. The companys export lines cover a vast range of different brands, prices and grades of tyre, from passenger car and light truck tyres to very large off-the-road and speciality tyres. Hercules own brands include Hercules, Merit, Electra and Ironman – all of which are manufactured in the USA and China.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Africa – The Signs are Looking Good
The inaugural Tyrexpo Africa exhibition will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 12 – 14 September and is the latest event in the portfolio of ECI International, following on from Tyrexpo Asia (based in Singapore) and Brityrex International (UK).
Continue ReadingSamir Kumar Paul Appointed Dunlop India MD
Samir Kumar Paul has been appointed as the new managing director of Dunlop India. Following the acquisition of the company from the Chhabrias, company owner, Ruia, had brought Ashok Jajodia, Dipak Rudra, Narayan Prasad Agarwalla, and Sajid Khan onto its board. The company has taken steps to compile and reconcile accounts for 2001-02, after getting access to statutory and other relevant records from its erstwhile registered office at Dunlop House.
Continue ReadingDunlop Zimbabwe to Receive Distress Fund Lifeline
Dunlop Zimbabwe, the countrys largest tyre manufacturer, is set to receive assistance from the local government’s Z$5 trillion Distressed Companies Fund. Industry and International Trade Minister Obert Mpofu revealed this week that the company was one of over 300 companies that applied for assistance from the fund. He said: Dunlop is a very strategic company that we, as government, will not watch to the time it folds. On the part of government, we have resolved to make it one of the companies that will benefit from the Z$5 trillion facility that we unveiled for distressed companies.
Continue ReadingMotorcyclist Magazine selects Dunlop Qualifier as Best New Product
Motorcyclist, the US-based magazine for motorbike enthusiasts, has announced that the Dunlop Qualifier, Dunlops latest motorcycle tyre designed specifically for supersport and hypersport motorcycles, has been named the Best New Product of 2006. “When we first sampled Dunlops excellent new Qualifier sport radials late last year, we figured we might have our Best New Product nailed down early,” said Mitch Boehm, Motorcyclist editor.
Continue ReadingPirelli UK Promotes Truck Tyre Business
The role of introducing Pirelli’s “Truck Tyres in Revolution” slogan fell to UK managing director, Dominic Sandivasci. “When you think of Pirelli, truck tyres is not the first image that comes to mind. That’s about to change,” he explained. Why now? “Because we’re ready,” comes the reply. According to Sandivasci the company known as the “Giorgio Armani of the tyre industry” is now poised to attack the truck replacement market and go for growth. In short the Italian manufacturer is looking for “ways of working that go beyond existing partnerships.” And this basically means rejuvenating its position in the truck tyre market. One way the company is seeking to achieve this is by transferring the success of its Pirelli driver scheme into the truck arena, while another is the launching a new online tyre management system – B2Fleet.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Sets Quarter and Half-year Sales Records
Godyear Tire & Rubber Co today reported second quarter sales of $5.1 billion (up 3 per cent on 2005), a record for any quarter. Segment operating income reached $267 million, with net income amounting to $2 million. According to the company, the sales growth reflects improved pricing and product mix driven by demand for the companys branded tyres in the consumer replacement markets, and the favourable impact of currency translation. Revenue per tyre increased 7 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2005.
Continue ReadingGraham Hutchison to Lead Pirelli UK Truck Tyre Business
Pirelli Tyres Ltd has appointed Graham Hutchison as director of its Truck Business Unit. Hutchison has held various positions during his 15 years at Pirelli including most recently five years as UK field sales manager. Graham will lead the continued development of the Pirelli truck tyre business in addition to maintaining his current UK field sales responsibilities. Hutchison will report directly to managing director, Dominic Sandivasci. The appointment is described as one of a number of actions Pirelli is implementing in order to strengthen its position in the UK replacement truck tyre market.
Continue ReadingCooper Increases Sales, But Posts Loss for Half
(Akron/Tire Review) On the same morning that its chairman, president and CEO resigned, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. released its first half and second quarter 2006 financial results. For the first half, the company posted sales of $1.2 billion, up 19 per cent over the same period last year. But Cooper posted a net loss of $26 million for the half. Second quarter sales of $625 million were up 22 per cent year-to-year, and were driven largely by Cooper’s business in China, the company said. Cooper acquired Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Passenger Tire Co. and Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Co. in February.
Continue ReadingTom Dattilo Leaves Cooper
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company chairman, president and CEO, Tom Dattilo has resigned to pursue another position elsewhere. The board of directors has announced that Byron O. Pond is to serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a replacement. In the last year Cooper’s share price has fallen around $11 and the company has reported a string of unimpressive quarterly reports. First half 2006 results showing a 19 per cent sales increase and $26 million of losses were published in parallel with the news of Dattilo’s resignation.
Continue ReadingPakistan Bans Indian Retread Imports
Pakistan has published a list of 38 items, which are banned from being imported into the country from India. Interestingly retreaded tyres and part-worn tyres feature on the list alongside a string of unsavoury items including: Cannabis, Opium, tanks, machine guns, automatic rifles and armoured vans! A number of more innocuous items including lambs, rabbits and freezers also feature on the list. The 2006 Import Policy Order issued by the Pakistani Ministry of Commerce lists 773 items that can be imported into Pakistan during the 2006/07 financial year. India has complained that the law is against the letter and spirit of the South Asia Free Trade (SAFTA) agreement, which came into force on 1 January 2006.
Continue ReadingOver a Billion Tune in to Maxxis British MX Championship
With a TV audience estimated at over a billion people, the Maxxis British Motocross Championship is attracting a huge following around the world, according to the company. The series is currently seen in almost 500 million homes throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas, according to a report from Greenlight Television, which signed a TV deal with the Auto Cycle Union in February.
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