TIA to Sponsor Pavilion at Reifen 2006
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) will sponsor the United States Pavilion at the next Reifen show, which will be held 23-26 May 2006, in Essen, Germany. This year´s Reifen, held 8-11 June, exceeded organisers´ expectations, drawing more than 400 exhibitors from 41 countries and 16,000 buyers.
Continue ReadingTop Technician 2005
The search continues to find the top British garage technician of the automotive aftermarket. There is less than one month left to nominate candidates for the award and judges are looking for a technician with the right skills, knowledge and attitude to approach any job.
Continue ReadingContinental and USWA Bargain Over Severance Package
Continental and the USWA are in the process of negotiating a severance agreement for the workers affected by the closure of the company’s Mayfield plant. The two sides are at loggerheads over the package, which the company sees as generous, but the union calls an insult. The union is unhappy about the company’s proposals. These include a lump-sum severance payment of up to $8,000 per worker, a maximum 30 day health insurance cover and a special fund of more than $1.1 million to help displaced workers find jobs, retraining, health care, relocation and other transition expenses. Continental plans to cease production by 31 December and shift work elsewhere, leaving 60 workers in tyre mixing and warehousing and hundreds unemployed.
Continue ReadingYokohama Doubles Thailand Site Area
Yokohama Rubber Co has announced that, by the end of December, it will have purchased 193,327 square metres of land adjacent to Yokohama’s Thailand manufacturing plant. When the newly purchased land is added to the existing site, this means that the Thailand subsidiary will more than double in size, growing to 418,427 square meters. Upon completion of the expansion plans, Yokohama Thailand will have a larger site area than any other Yokohama rubber subsidiary.
Continue ReadingYokohama Establishes Chinese High-pressure Hose Subsidiary
Following the news that it will double the size of its Thailand production plant, Yokohama has also announced that in December it will establish Yokohama Hose & Coupling (Hangzhou) a subsidiary for assembling and selling high-pressure hoses and their metal fittings in China. The subsidiary’s plant will be located in the Economy and Technology Development Zone, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province and commence operation in April 2005. The new company will be capitalized at $350,000. In China, the demand for construction machinery has been rapidly increasing because of consecutive large-scale projects associated with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the Shanghai Expo in 2010. High-pressure hoses are a indispensable components for hydraulic devices used in construction machinery. At least for the time being, the new company will concentrate on the OEM business with Japanese construction machinery makers. At the same time, however, the company says it will “proactively conduct market research” in connection with the demand for replacement high-pressure hoses. It also plans to begin local production of metal fittings as soon as possible.
Continue ReadingThe Pirelli 2005 Calendar
Pirelli has launched its much awaited 2005 calendar. Rio de Janeiro provided the backdrop for both the calendar shoot and the world premiere of the renowned event. This year French photographer, Patrick Demarchelier, was responsible for casting his artistic license over models such as Naomi Campbell.
Continue ReadingContinental Wins Chrysler Contract
Continental AG has reportedly won the lions share of a large order to supply Chrysler with its ESP anti-rollover system for (SUVs), according to the German automotive supplier. The deal means Continental will now supply all of the ‘big three’ US carmakers after winning an order from General Motors, said company spokesman Hannes Boekhoff.
Continue ReadingThorite’s New Website
Compressed air, pneumatics and process control product supplier, Thorite has launched a new website which brings a host of benefits to online buyers. The redesigned website is easier to navigate, has more features, lists more products and includes a huge range of regularly updated special offers, with savings exclusive to users of Thorite’s new online shopping service “Thorite Direct”. The website’s main content comprises sections on industrial and workshop products, backed by useful information on services, product news, head office and regional sales and service centre staff and recently published Thorite sales literature. There is also a search facility, details of vacancies within the organisation, a company history and a “FAQ” section. Referring to the new website, Thorite’s marketing director, Ross Gowler, said: “We were determined to create a colourful and involving on-line presence, which would reflect the vitality and high levels of product choice and service which Thorite now embodies. I’m delighted that our customers will now benefit from both a vastly enlarged content and worthwhile savings when ordering via the web.”
Continue ReadingFirestone Helps Keep America Tidy
Firestone Tire & Service Centers helped to collect 1.2 million scrap tyres, fit for recycling, as part of Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) Great American Cleanup. “We wanted to build on last year’s success by helping Keep America Beautiful reach the 1 million tyre mark and continue increasing the recycling of used automotive batteries and engine oil,” said Larry Magee, CEO and president of BFRC. “Through the involvement of our teammates across the country, we not only met but surpassed this year’s goal. Firestone is proud to be a part of Keep America Beautiful’s efforts, and of our company’s track record in protecting the environment and helping strengthen our communities.”
Continue Reading2005 NTDA conference heads to Harrogate
Following its annual conference held in Marbella in September, the NTDA has decided to hold its 2005 follow up event in Harrogate alongside Brityrex next spring. As reported in November’s Tyres & Accessories the association felt it would be beneficial to hold an interim event to provide an opportunity to up date the industry on how the many actions arising from the September event were progressing.
Continue ReadingSapphire Invests in Shredding Machines
Sapphire Energy Recovery has bought two additional Columbus McKinnon tyre shredding systems to add to its existing machines. With the two new machines in operation, the company says it now has the capacity to supply not only the LaFarge plants located in Cauldon, Dunbar and Hope, but has also signed contracts to supply tyre chips to Castle Cement and will shortly be supplying tyre chips for test burns at Rugby Cement. The two new CM Tyre Shredders feature a new Multi-Stack knife system. This new system allows the operator to re-sharpen the knives in the machine twice, and it is claimed that it lowers the associated maintenance costs by nearly 60 per cent. The plant now has the capacity to process more than 200,000 tonnes of tyres per year.
Continue ReadingRunflats in Europe from Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany
In the middle of November Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany in Hanau inaugurated a new manufacturing facility for runflat tyres. The company has invested approximately 250 million euros into its German locations over the last three years. In Hanau Goodyear Dunlop can produce about 3,000 runflats a day, a similar production facility is in Fulda factory. Goodyear Dunlop produces 26 million tyres per year and sells about 40 million. 14 million of the German produced Dunlop tyres are exported to sister companies. This year alone, the company in Europe sold 1.3 million DSST (Dunlop Self Supporting Technology) and Goodyear EMT (Extended Mobility Technology) tyres, making it market leader in this segment.
Continue ReadingNew year New Price Increases
Continental Tire North America has announced that it will raise prices of its commercial and off-the-road tyres, from the 1 January 2005, as a result of rising raw material and other costs. The increase, which will be between three and six per cent will affect all of its truck and off-road brands including Continental, General and Semperit.
Continue ReadingFuture of Conti’s Moscow Venture Remains Open
Continental expects a decision regarding its joint venture with the Moscow Tyre Plant to be made by the end of the month, a company spokesman told a press conference in Hanover. The conference also saw the company present its latest Transportation Analysis. Negotiations on the future of the business enterprise are on going and an official decision has not yet been taken, reports Continental. Continental says a decision on whether or not to go ahead with its plans will be made by the end of this year.
Continue ReadingContinental Plans Repayment of a Bond Loan
The German tyre manufacturer Continental plans to use its current financial capabilities and liquidity for the repayment of a 500 million euro bond loan. Continental Rubber of America, (Wilmington, Delaware), which is an indirect subsidiary of Continental AG, invited all holders to submit a sales offer. “By these means Continental practices active balance management using additional liquidity in order to redeem our debts. This repayment shows the improved financial situation of Continental,” explains Dr Alan Hippe, CFO and member of the board.
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