Cooper Vice President To Retire
Mark Armstrong is to retire in May as Vice President of the Cooper Tire and Rubber Co., after 26 years service. Chairman, President and CEO Tom Dattilo described his contributions as crucial to the development and implementation of the companys strategy and in providing direction for the company. Armstrong joined Cooper as a Territory Manager and held various sales and marketing positions until his appointment as Vice President, responsible for global sales and marketing.
Continue ReadingPirelli To Increase Prices In Europe
Pirelli has announced that it is to increase prices of tyres in all European markets, due to considerable and unexpected increases in the cost of raw materials. The increases will be between four and five per cent and will come into effect by June this year.
Continue ReadingUK Police Pick Goodyear Dunlop
Goodyear Dunlop has been chosen as tyre supplier to UK police forces for the next three years. Goodyear first secured the contract in 1994 and the new deal means that around 100,000 Goodyear and Dunlop tyres will be fitted to police cars, vans and motorbikes for each of the next three years.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Net Income Reduced
Goodyear has said that its net income figure for the past six years will be reduced by $65 million, due to improper accounting and other reasons. The improper accounting figure - most of it in Europe, and for which several senior managers have been disciplined - comes to $10 million and the remaining $55 million is attributed to workers compensation claims, product liability, profit elimination in inventory and other items.
Continue ReadingAffordable High Performance For US Market
When it comes to the Boy Racer sector, the American model differs little from his European counterpart - both want a tyre that looks good, performs well but is affordable. To cater for this, Michelin in North America has introduced the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport. It will be available in 21 sizes for wheels up to 18, although larger wheel sizes are planned.
Continue ReadingGood Figures From Alliance
Alliance Tire has reported a 6.6 per cent rise in turnover in 2003 to US$99.7 million. Gross profits were $20.4 million (2002: $3.1 million) while the operating profit was $1.23 million, following three years of losses, including a deficit of $14.9 million last year. Alliances net loss in 2003 was $13.1 million, which is half the 2002 figure and largely attributable to currency differentials. President Joseph Anglister said that the company had achieved a major break-through in South America, with sales up 158 per cent.
Continue ReadingObituary – Sakip Sabanci
Sakip Sabanci passed away at 6:00 am on Saturday 10th April, following a long battle against cancer. He was 71. As head of the Sabanci group, he presided over the establishment of Lassa in 1974 and the later joint venture with Bridgestone in 1988, as a result of which the company name changed to Brisa. A new factory was built at Izmit and production began in November 1990. Married with three children, he was the author of 13 books and, during his lifetime, was awarded no fewer than 11 honorary doctorates by Turkish and US universities. Other awards include the Crystal Globe by the European Economic Institute and the Turkish State Distinguished Service Medal. In 1999 Sakip Sabanci was elected Businessman of the Year by the FABSIT foundation in New York and was given the Award for promoting Turkey by the Turkish-American Businessman Association. With an estimated fortune of 2.65 billion Euro, he was reckoned to be Turkeys richest man.
Continue ReadingFirestone Pulls Through
An article in the Detroit News holds up Firestone as a prime example of the never say die school. At the time of the tyre recall, the Firestone brand was considered by many to be dead in the water, but the companys latest research shows that theres life in the old dog yet. First quarter replacement market sales are up 15 per cent for passenger car and 28 per cent for light trucks against 1Q 2003 figures. Market share has stabilised at 7.2 per cent, which is lower than the 1999 figure of 10.2 per cent, and the company says it is gaining consumer sales. As an indication of this new sense of optimism, the advertising budget has been quadrupled to $18 million and the first brand campaign in four years - including TV slots - is running. The adverts feature Firestones memorable where the rubber meets the road slogan (last used in 1988) and include an appearance by the famous racer Mario Andretti.
Continue ReadingBridgestone extends motorsport involvement
Bridgestone Corporation has announced plans to supply tyres to competitors in a sweeping range of motorsport events in 2004. Bridgestone technology has helped the worlds best racing teams win in Formula One and in other motorsport series, and we are determined to help them keep winning, declared the companys CEO, Shigeo Watanabe. Winning ways continued for Bridgestone in Formula One in 2003. The companys Potenza tyres carried Michael Schumacher and Ferrari to the drivers and constructors season championships. Bridgestone tyres have now been first across the finish line in a total of 79 F1 races. In the 2004 F1 season, Bridgestone will again supply tyres to world champions Ferrari and to three other teams. That means that eight machines will be racing on Bridgestone Potenza tyres. The 2004 season got under way on March 7 with the Australian Grand Prix. This years F1 calendar features 18 races, culminating in the Brazilian Grand Prix on October 24. IndyCar control tyre Bridgestones Firestone brand will again be the sole tyre brand in the IndyCar Series, formerly known as the Indy Racing League. That racing series will include the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 Mile at Japans Twin Link Motegi circuit on April 17. Altogether, the 2004 IndyCar Series will comprise of 16 races. Domestic series too Japans premier open-wheel racing series, Formula Nippon, will be another showcase for Bridgestone tyres in 2004. This years Formula Nippon series will consist of nine events, including a race at Malaysias Sepang Circuit. Teams race on tyres from multiple manufacturers in the Japan GT Championship. But competitors equipped with Bridgestone tyres won seven of the eight races in the GT500 class of that series in 2003. The 2004 Japan GT Championship series will comprise of seven races. Bridgestone will also supply tyres for other Japanese auto racing series, including the Japan Gymkhana Championship, the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship, and the All Japan Rally Championship. And on two wheels Motorcycle racing also remains an important emphasis in Bridgestones motorsports program. At the pinnacle of motorcycle racing is the MotoGP series, and Bridgestone began supplying tyres to competitors in that series in 2002. The company will concentrate its support for grand prix motorcycle racing exclusively on MotoGP competition in 2004. A Bridgestone-equipped rider mounted a MotoGP victory podium for the first time in 2003. That was when Makoto Tamada achieved a third-place finish in the 12th race of the season. After supplying tyres on just one MotoGP works team in 2003, Bridgestone will provide tyres to three works teams in the 2004 season. Those teams will be racing a total of five machines. In motorcycle racing besides grand prix events, Bridgestone will furnish tyres for the All Japan Road Race Championship, the All Japan Motocross Championship, and the AMA Supercross/National Series.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Asia Review
The highlights and headlines from Tyrexpo Asia. The show hit the headlines in the Far East as it signalled the rise and rise of the Chinese tyre market. The show has grown by 25 per cent since the previous event and there is every sign of it growing further still. Singapore has long been at the crossroads of international trade, it seems set to retain that role form many years to come.
Continue ReadingTyre Industry Update
Continental has reintroduced its annual industry review and we will bring you a full report on where Continental sees the state of the UK tyre industry and its role in the market.
Continue ReadingMobiles make an impact; mobile phones that is …
On the truck side, and doubtless on the fleet car side in future, tyre management has become king in controlling ppk and fixed price tyre contracts. The computerised analysis of data is not an uncommon concept and many firms have been utilising computer data management for their tyre contracts for some time. The weak link in the chain has always been at the data collection end of the chain. Fitters or inspectors checking and recording tyre data with clipboards is a slow process, subject to much error and the vagaries of the weather. Once the data is collected it then needs to be keyed into the database, a laborious and tedious process subject to much potential for error. There are systems available where electronic data gathering is made possible with wireless connections from tyre depth gauges to PDAs thence to the computers back at base. However, there is a reluctance to buy into, or use, electronic data gathering equipment. Conventional tyre depth gauges and pressure gauges are still the tool of choice. This leaves the main element (manpower excluded) in data collection the point at which the data is actually collected. InfoRoute had what it believed to be the answer to tyre management software, but time and time again fleet tyre management people would listen keenly and respond to any presentation with the statement that “it is the data collection that is the weak point.” InfoRoute realised that the challenge to be faced was not so much one of selling the software but creating and perfecting the data collection link to improve the collection and flow of tyre inspection data. This was the challenge InfoRoute faced. Truck Tyre Manager, a powerful tyre management PC program had already been developed but data input had to be automatic with no delays. The traditional data collection route could give information as much as six working days out of date. What was needed was a simple to use, readily accessed, cheap, weatherproof system. InfoRoute found the ideal solution was already in use by every tyre fitter in the country: a mobile phone. Everyone already knows how to use a mobile phone, so that immediately removes acceptance, training, support and cost issues. One hand operation lets you check tyres and enter details at the same time. InfoRoute calls the system Inspector Link. InfoRoute developed special programs to receive and send vehicle and inspection details between Truck Tyre Manager on the PC and the phone. Working closely with tyre fitters and managers InfoRoute designed single key input routines to guide the tyre inspector. First of all a vehicle is selected by entering the start of the registration or fleet number. The wheel configuration displays and the speedometer reading is entered. Then the front off side tyre is highlighted. Select the make, enter the depth and if there are no faults move on to the next tyre. If the tyre has a problem simple menus allow the inspector to pick a fault and select the action needed. At any time the inspection can be reviewed and altered. A “view actions” menu highlights vehicles needing attention. At any point the inspection can be completed and details transmitted back to the office. Vehicles not yet checked remain on the phone to be checked later. The phone operates off line, so there is no connection charge while you are inspecting vehicles and it does not depend on having a signal. Inspector Link can be used anywhere. Protected by a weather proof case, fastened to the inspector wrist by a cord the unit can’t fall to the ground. So far InfoRoute has not had any equipment failures or breakages. It doesn’t need any special computer equipment to transmit data, it is just like sending a text. In about a minute you can send and receive details of hundreds of vehicles.
Continue ReadingCommercial Vehicle Show Review
Once again we visit the Commercial vehicle Show and meet the movers and shakers and try to uncover the latest developments and offers from the commercial tyre sector.
Continue ReadingPirelli Tops Tyre Test
Pirellis P Zero Nero has emerged as the winner of a summer tyre test carried out by the German magazine auto motor und sport. Ten well-known brands in tyre size 225/45 R17 Y were tested. The Pirelli tyre was top points scorer in seven out of ten categories tested and performed particularly well in wet testing, scoring 99 out of a possible 100.
Continue ReadingTitan Europe admitted to trading on London’s AIM Exchange
Titan Europe Plc, previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Titan International, has been admitted to trading on the AIM market in London. The placing shares have been priced at 125 pence, with 26,775,000 shares offered.
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