Michelin Achieves Profit Growth Through Price Rises
Michelin has reported an operating income of 1,368 million euros for 2005, up 5.1 per cent on a year earlier. According to Financial Times Deutschland, this is well above financial analysts’ estimates and reflects the higher prices that Michelin has been able to achieve, more than compensating for raw material cost increases.
Continue ReadingBandag Dealer Opens in Andalusia
Owner Leocadio Alcaide (38) founded his company in 2000 in Alcalá de Guadaíra, on the outskirts of Seville, as a retailer of premium new tyres such as Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone and Dunlop. He also sold Bandag retreads manufactured by a Bandag Dealer in Andalusia and soon realised that opening his own Bandag shop would be an important contribution to the transport sector in the area.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Profits up 58 per cent
Bridgestone Corp’s full-year 2005 figures show that the company’s net profit surged 58 per cent last year to 180.7 billion yen (£877 million, 1.283 billion euros). In the 12 months ended 31 December annual sales rose 11 per cent to 2.69 trillion yen (£13.072 billion, 19.123 billion euros). The majority of the corporation’s turnover came from its tyre business, which contributed 2.156 trillion yen (£10.474 billion, 15.311 billion euros) a 12 per cent increase on the 1.931 trillion it generated in 2004.
Continue Reading“Good Alternative to Vehicle Breakdown“
Its not just new tyre manufacturers and retreaders that are benefiting from booming OTR tyre sales. Businesses such as Stahlgruber’s Tip Top division have benefited from the recent increase in demand. The demand for tyre repair systems has multiplied over the last year, export manager Maximilian Spenger says. Today it is an absolute priority for users of OTR tyres everywhere to “keep the tyres going somehow.” At Tip Top’s headquarters near Munich those in charge are reacting quite calmly to the current situation because the market changes did not go unforeseen.
Continue ReadingRossi’s 16-Inch Rear
During testing for the Sepang MotoGP test, world champion Valentino Rossi has been spotted with a special 16-inch rear Michelin tyre, as opposed to the usual 16.5 inch tyre that can be found on his factory M1. “We worked very well with Michelin and with one or two new tyres that they brought we made some good improvements to the vibration (chatter),” Rossi told crash.net, without making any specific mention of a different tyre size.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Group Shows Growth
The Trelleborg Industrial Group has published its financial results for 2005. Net sales were 24,170 million Swedish Kronor (SEK) or 2.57 billion euros, compared with the 2004 figures of SEK 22,912 m (2.43 bn euros). Net profits for the year, excluding restructuring costs, amounted to SEK 1,177 m (125.3 m euros); five per cent higher than the 2004 figure of SEK 1,122 m (119.4 m euros).
Continue ReadingRace Your Way To Monte Carlo
The Dunlop Race Academy is pulling up to the starting grid once again as the 2006 contest opens to applicants. Over 8000 people applied to enter last year and Dunlop is expecting even more this time round as budding racing stars compete to race in a televised championship race at Donington, before jetting off to Monaco to sample the life of a racing driver. Seven regional finalists will be chosen to undergo training at Donington from experts such as Le Mans 24 Hour racing driver, Calum Lockie, as they endeavour to learn the skills needed to be a star on the track.
Continue ReadingRMA Adds 100 Green Dealers
The Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) has expanded the membership of its Green Dealer Scheme for tyre retailers who stock retreaded tyres. Following an in-depth research and recruitment campaign, the Association has added over 100 new outlets to its list of passenger retread stockists, bringing the total number of retail outlets listed under the scheme is 319.
Continue ReadingWRAP Forum Focuses on Landfill Ban Legislation
The impact of new legislation banning tyre shred from landfill sites was the main discussion topic during the second WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) Tyres Stakeholder Forum. Over fifty representatives from organisations involved in both new and recycled tyre markets gathered in London in January to receive updates on WRAP’s progress since the first Forum, held last June, and continue to provide views and guidance to WRAP on its activities under the programme.
Continue ReadingDunlop Bike Tyre Tops Test
The new Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier scored a decisive victory in its first major international comparative tyre test, being declared as awesome by top test riders. The test, carried out by US magazine, Sport Rider, compared the top road tyres on the market in a gruelling assessment of traction, braking, steering response and general handling qualities.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Reports Q4 Net Loss Despite Record Sales
Goodyear has reported a fourth quarter net loss of $51 million for 2005, compared with the previous year period’s net income of $125 million. This year’s lower result was put down to losses caused by the sale of the company’s farm tyre unit. Despite the losses the company recorded sales of $4.9 billion in the fourth quarter and a full-year sales record of $19.7 billion. According to the company, sales benefited from improved pricing and product mix and higher volume in the international tyre businesses, while the effect of currency translation reduced sales by approximately $107 million in the quarter.
Continue ReadingMechanics More Expensive than Doctors
What Car? has continued its criticism of the UK garage business by publishing an investigation into car servicing costs at 200 UK dealers. The research shows it can be cheaper to employ a barrister or a doctor than a mechanic. According to the magazine, consumers frequently pay more than £100 per hour for labour at franchised dealers. Hourly rates vary across the country, from £49 for Vauxhall in Scotland to £140 for BMW in London. A locum doctor charging between £350 and £500 per day is cheaper. Even a criminal law junior barrister will charge as little as £30 per hour.
Continue ReadingCooper Declares 136th Straight Dividend
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on common stock. It is the company’s 136th consecutive quarterly dividend.
Continue ReadingFour Drivers Named Goodyear Highway Hero Finalists
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has named four truckers as finalists in its annual North America Highway Hero Award. The winner will be announced at next month’s Mid-American Truck Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Mar. 22-24. “We are indebted to truck drivers across the United States and Canada who keep America rolling,” said Steve McClellan, Goodyear’s vice president for commercial tire systems. “In this, the Goodyear Highway Hero Award’s 23rd year, it was especially difficult to select just four truck drivers who placed themselves in harm’s way to save someone else.”
Continue ReadingConti Announces Commercial Tyre Price Hike
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) has announced a price increase of up to 6 per cent on all of its medium truck, heavy truck and OTR tyres, effective 1 March. The increase covers all Continental, General, Semperit and private brand commercial tires produced by the company. The increase, said the company, was due to raw material and operating costs.
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