New “Fuzion” brand from Bridgestone/Firestone
At the SEMA show, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) unveiled a new project vehicle, the Fuzion Civic Si, as a showcase for a new brand of tyres aimed at the tuner market. The new brand is called Fuzion and the tyres on the Civic Si project vehicle are size 225/45 ZR17. The car also incorporates a tyre pressure monitoring system, from SmarTire USA.
Continue Reading25″ tyre from Pirelli
Pirelli has introduced a new tyre, aimed specifically at the Hummer H2 tuner market, the Pirelli Scorpion Zero 315/40 VR25 XL. As well as looking good, Pirelli says that the XL rating means that the tyre can safely take the weight of vehicles such as the massive Hummer SUV. The standard OE size tyre for the Hummer is 315/70 R17.
Continue ReadingGM plans further Chinese expansion
GM is to extend its factory at Shanghai to increase capacity from 500,000 units to 760,000 by 2006. No cost has been revealed, but press estimates are around $241 million. Another GM joint venture, manufacturing light trucks, is also set to more than double capacity by 2006, to 336,000 units.
Continue ReadingPirelli Driving Experience delights dealers
In the US, the Pirelli Driver Experience, in conjunction with the Panoz Racing School and Audi Driving Experience is being used to entertain and educate dealers. Up to 80 dealers a day undergo expert instruction from professional drivers on vehicles fitted with Pirelli high performance tyres, thus increasing their product knowledge and appreciation.
Continue ReadingContinental to expand production in Romania
Continental has laid the foundation stone for a new plant at Sibiu, Romania, for its subsidiary Continental Temic, part of Continental Automotive Systems. The site will also include an R&D department, employing 170 staff, and the total investment is 20 million Euro. Production of vehicle electronics components will start in summer 2004.
Continue ReadingBridgestone seeks deal from union
According to the website of the United Steelworkers of America, Bridgestone Firestone is seeking major wage and benefit concessions from the union. Furthermore, the company says that it cannot and will not follow a pattern agreement like the one recently agreed with Goodyear. A spokesman for Bridgestone Americas said that the company would not negotiate in the media.
Continue ReadingTitan Europe seeks London listing
Earthmover and agricultural tyre and wheel specialist Titan Europe is to be listed on the AIM market in London, creating a separate public company from owner Titan International. The value of Titan Europe will be 30 million Pounds Sterling (US$50 million) and Titan International will remain the largest stockholder.
Continue ReadingRubber prices hit new high in Indonesia
Reduced supply and increased demand - notably from Chinese companies - have pushed Indonesian rubber prices to a record high. Bad weather has restricted the amount of rubber tapped in Indonesia and other producing countries such as Thailand. Tyre grade rubber price is around 66.75 cents/lb, compared with last December, when the price was at a low of 39 cents/lb. A trader said that most deals tended to be for small quantities and short delivery. There has also been increased demand from Bridgestone and Goodyear.
Continue ReadingGoodyear global sourcing appointment
Chris W. Clark (52) has been appointed to the newly-created post of senior vice president of global sourcing, responsible for activities from procurement to manufacturing to global sourcing. He will head a new organisation that links all of Goodyears global manufacturing and supply chain activities directly to improved customer service and business results. Clark joined Goodyear in 1973 and his most recent post before the current promotion was as president of the companys Latin American region.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz factory re-opens
The Hayes Lemmerz wheel factory at Huntington, Indiana, which was closed after an explosion on October 29th, has re-opened. Three workers were injured - one fatally - in the accident, the cause of which is still being investigated.
Continue ReadingHankook DynaPro AT
A new hybrid pattern tyre from Hankook - the DynaPro AT - is designed for optimum on-road performance, combined with good off-road traction. In interlocking shoulder rib gives excellent traction, and is flexible, yet stable, for optimum handling. Circumferential grooves provide efficient water evacuation, while zig-zag grooves promote traction on snow and off-road.
Continue ReadingRoger Hicks new MD of Charles Lawrence International
Roger Hicks, formerly MD of retreaders Vacu-Lug, has been appointed managing director of recycling company Charles Lawrence International. He has been a consultant to the company for two years and became adirector this January.
Continue ReadingTitan International 3Q results
Titan Internationals 3Q turnover was $111.2 million; 6.2 per cent higher than for the same period last year. The quarterly loss before tax was $12.6 million (3Q 2002: -$21.9 m). The negative impact of high raw material costs and increased employee benefit costs was estimated at around $2.1 million. There was also a figure of $1.7 million as a cost incurred when Titan consolidated all its tyre manufacturing into its plant at Des Moines, Iowa.
Continue ReadingNew VP, Business Development for Goodyear
Rick Navarro has been appointed vice president, business development, responsible for developing and co-ordinating strategies to achieve business growth and profitability through acquisitions, divestitures, mergers and joint ventures. He joins Goodyear from Solectron Corp., where he was senior vice president of corporate development. Before that, he worked for Honeywell International.
Continue ReadingWilliams criticises FIA investigation
Williams Technical Director Patrick Head has criticised the FIA for its investigation into Ferraris Bridgestone tyres, used at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The FIA took away a left front tyre and a right rear tyre and Head says that, due to the conditions at Monza, these tyres require a harder compound, while a softer compound would be an advantage on the left rear and right front. Had Ferrari been mixing compounds, this would not have become apparent, says Head, who described the investigation as not very useful.
Continue Reading
