Batteries for All Applications
The Delphi Corporation is one of the worlds leading technology companies, with substantial business in the automotive and transportation industries as well as other high-technology sectors, such as telecommunications and computers. Its world headquarters are at Troy, Michigan and the corporation has regional headquarters in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. The global workforce numbers 188,000 and Delphi operates 53 customer service centres and 32 technical centres, has 167 manufacturing facilities and 42 joint ventures. Sales in 2002 were $27.4 billion (£14.8 billion) By any standards, Delphi is a big company, so it is not surprising that its involvement in the battery business is on a large scale, with manufacturing carried out at eleven factories worldwide and a product range that covers 98 per cent of the vehicle parc. Delphi is active in both the aftermarket and in original equipment sales, where it supplies many leading manufacturers in Europe, the USA and Japan – a recent success was the winning of a contract to supply batteries worth $22 million for the Renault Megane II, Scenic II and Clio. In Europe, battery production is at a factory in Sarreguemines, France. The plant was built in 1980 and covers 35,000 square metres on 18 hectares of land. It is certified QS 9000 and VDA (quality), OHSAS 18001 (safety) and ISO 14001 and EMAS II (environment) and production this year will top 5.4 million batteries. Worldwide, Delphi produces more than 30 million batteries.
Continue ReadingNew BMW to fit Goodyear Runflats
The new BMW 1-series, is the latest vehicle to be fitted with Goodyear runflats and is due to be launched across Europe in mid-September. According to media reports the 1 series is the first volume car to be fitted with runflat tyres as standard. The BMW series will have 16 inch Goodyear Eagle NCT5 EMTs as standard, which will be supported by a tyre pressure warning system. BMW claim the tyres will enable the car to be driven safely for up to 145 kilometres (90 miles) at up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour, with all the tyres punctured. Goodyear Dunlop Europe OE director, Jean-Jacques Wiroth, said: “This is a significant move by BMW as they expect the new model to do well - it’s also their first entry into the compact hatchback market. Apart from the OE contract our replacement business will benefit through the high volume anticipated”. The company already supplies runflat tyres to BMW for the 5 series, the 6 series, the Z4 and the Mini.
Continue ReadingAnnual Meeting of “Auto-Kompleks”
Within a couple of weeks of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Polish government abandoned its centrally planned economy and replaced it with a liberalised system based on free market thinking. Today, 14 years after those first steps towards a western economic system, Poland and most of its business sectors are dominated by change. This progression is true of the tyre business too. In early June, the members of the new Polish tyre retail association, Auto-Kompleks, met in Bogumilow in order to discuss its plans for the future and to correct the mistakes of the past. Since its foundation in 1999, the 40 or so members of Auto-Kompleks have met once a year in south-west Poland. After five years in existence, the association is still searching for a fundamental direction. Although Auto-Kompleks calls itself an “association” it is not entirely clear whether the title means the same as it would in the UK. For example, one legacy from the organisation’s foundation period is that two members from the same town are prohibited from joining. This kind of territory protection, which is usually bestowed upon retailers or wholesalers by the industry, suggests that Auto-Kompleks was initially formed in order to act as a retail co-operative that could strengthen the individual members’ buying power. Indeed the initiator and founder of Auto-Kompleks, Kazimierz Mazurkiewicz, who was elected as the group’s president in June, told Tyres & Accessories that the foundation was formed as a reaction against the attempts of Polish wholesalers to sell directly to the end-consumer. Auto-Kompleks was perceived to be the smaller and less powerful retailers’ best defence against the price dictating power of the tyre industry. Although the organisation was originally conceived to represent the interests of independent tyre dealers in Poland Mr Mazurkiewicz has to admit that Auto-Kompleks’ efforts have only been halfway successful. We are learning through experience, the new vice president Ryszard Maguder added. Although still “in discussion”, explains the tyre dealer from Kruszyn; a change of Auto-Kompleks’ admission policy is just a matter of time.
Continue ReadingAmcast Finalises its Assets Sale
Amcast Industrial Corporation has completed the sale of its Aluminum Components business assets. The sale, which was made to Park-Ohio Holdings Corp, included the companys Wapakoneta Ohio, Richmond Indiana and Cedarburg Wisconsin plants. The manufacturer’s remaining businesses now include Aluminum Wheels, Squeeze-Cast Components and Lee Brass.
Continue ReadingSmarTire Making an Exhibition of Itself
SmarTire Systems has embarked on a new marketing programme that will see it participating in leading industry trade shows in North America and Europe. The company intends to showcase its product line of tyre monitoring systems in conjunction with its distributors and dealers at various international events. The company has already made its exhibition debut at an event sponsored by the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). The 72nd International Convention was held in Redmond, Oregon and attracted 20,000 attendees in more than 4,500 motor homes from the North American recreational vehicle market. John Taylor-Wilson, VP Sales and Marketing, SmarTire Systems Inc, said: SmarTire is exhibiting its innovative tyre monitoring products at the most successful trade shows in North America and Europe this fall. These trade fairs have evolved into international marketing events that play an invaluable role in expanding new product awareness and achieving sales performance. Next on the company’s list are Intermot and Automechanika, both scheduled to be held mid September in Germany.
Continue ReadingBF Goodrich Workers Accept Michelin Deal
The associated press is reporting that workers at the Michelin-owned BF Goodrich plant in Ontario, Canada voted 94 per cent in favour of an offer from the tyre manufacturer, ending a strike of nearly three-months.
Continue ReadingSelf-Inflating Tyres
At Automechanika, SKF will be presenting a so-called ‘air wheel bearing’ through which air-pressure can be filled into the tyre. The bearings are used within the Tire Intelligent Pressure Management (TIPM) system, which was developed under the leadership of Michelin. TRW Automotive and WABCO are involved in this tyre pressure control improvement project.
Continue ReadingSumitomo to Invest £25 million in capacity
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (SRI) is going to invest £25 million into the increase of production capacities in several of its factories. According to a German online service, Sumitomo, the second biggest tyre manufacturer in Japan after Bridgestone, wants to respond to growing demand for their products. £15 million will be invested in SRI’s factory in Japan, the remaining £10 million will be allocated to factories in China and Indonesia. The tyre manufacturer says the production capacity will go up by 12 per cent although the time scale in which this will happen is not clear. In Japan Sumitomo Rubber produces Dunlop brand tyres.
Continue ReadingLoeb wins German Rally
Sebastien Loeb won the German Rally on Sunday to increase his lead in the World Rally Championship to 29 points. The Frenchman, driving for Citroen, recorded a total time of four hours one minute 57.4 seconds to beat his nearest rival, Ford driver Francois Duval, by 29.1 seconds. Loebs Citroen team-mate, Carlos Sainz, was third with the second Ford of Markko Martin in fourth. After 10 rounds Loeb leads the overall standings on 76 points, with Martin on 47 and Sainz a point further back. World champion Petter Solbergs hopes of retaining his title were hit when he crashed out on Saturday. Solberg has slipped from second in the overall standings to fourth and now trails Loeb by 32 points.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Reports Fire at its Largest Plant
Reuters news agency is reporting that there has been a fire a Bridgestone’s largest tyre factory. The news of the blaze comes less that a year after a huge fire at the Tochigi factory north of Tokyo dealt a significant blow to the firms earnings.
Continue ReadingMichelin Reach Agreement with USWA
The labour dispute between the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) and Michelin appears to have come to an end as the two sides have reached a tentative agreement.
Continue ReadingPirelli to be Removed from Leading Index?
When the leading Italian stock index, the MIB-30-Indexes, updates its listing on the 20 September the “utility” company Terna will be taken as a new member, the Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung writes. According to the newspaper, when Terna joins the renowned index it will probably replace tyre and cable manufacturer Pirelli C. & S.p.a.
Continue ReadingMichelin Man in the Running
Michelin’s infamous icon, the Michelin Man, is in the running for America’s ‘prestigious’ Favourite Ad Icon Award. The nationwide campaign launched by the American Association of Advertising Agencies has set globally renowned icons such as Tony the Tiger, Pillsbury Dough Boy and Energizer Bunny against each other in a bid to discover the country’s favourite advertising icon and slogan. The winners will be unveiled on 20 September, day one of Advertising Week, at a ceremony on Madison Avenue, New York. The city’s advertising campiagn marks the largest-ever gathering of Americas most influential image-makers. More than 25 leading advertising and media trade associations will be participating in the week long event, which runs from 20-24 September 20-24.
Continue ReadingMatador Establish UK Base
Slovakian tyre manufacturer Matador Puchov has opened an administration and sales development office in Wales. The opening comes as part of Matador’s plans to further develop its association with the UK market. Under the day-to-day management of managing director, Miroslav Plevak, Matador UK will provide additional support and promotional back-up to the producer’s established UK distributors.
Continue ReadingBringing in the Harvest
Goodyear have announced that, with the fruit and grape harvesting season not far away, it is launching its Optitrac DT812 DT818 in an expanded range of sizes.
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