Bridgestone steelworkers talks break down
Talks between the United Steelworkers of America and Bridgestone/Firestone broke off in St. Louis yesterday. We told them the offer that was on the table is not something we could work from, said Chuck Armstrong, co-ordinator for the unions Bridgestone/Firestone Council. The companys offer sought concessions on pension and health-care benefits and did not address key items found in the Steelworkers labour agreement reached with Goodyear Tire and Rubber this past summer. Bridgestone/Firestone spokes-man Dan McDonald declined to go into details but said the company and the union faced many hard issues that needed to be discussed to reach a consensus.
Continue ReadingPirelli Calendar 2004 overshadowed by events in Iraq
Whilst presenting the new Pirelli Calendar 2004 in London yesterday evening, Pirelli’s chairman and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera asked the guests for a minute’s silence in commemoration of the victims from a bomb attack on an Italian military base in Iraq in which 15 Italian soldiers and others were killed. The new 2004 Calendar that was then presented by photographer Nick Knight and art director Peter Saville, takes getting used to. Star model of the evening was undoubtedly the Sudanese Alek Wek, who enjoys large reputation also because of various social commitments.
Continue ReadingTom Dattilo: “The customer is king”
US tyre maker Cooper is a phenomenon. During the last ten years it achieved the – relatively speaking – best profits with an operating profit of clearly more than ten percent. But today this is different. The difficult American market, as well as higher raw material prices, have had an effect on Cooper’s operating profit too. But, during this year, and in particular during the recent months, Cooper has made good progress. Cooper is rather successful in the retail business because the company is only engaged in the replacement market and does not have its own sales chain. Talking to TYRES & ACCESSORIES at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Cooper’s chairman Tom Dattilo explains the key to success: “We treat our clients well, the customer is king and we deliver the best products with a consistent product and brand strategy.” Dattilo confirms again that Cooper will sell up to 4.5 or 5 million tyres extra during next year. While competitors like Goodyear and Continental close plants in the US or reduce their production capacities, Cooper only has one problem: where can we produce the additional quantity of tyres?
Continue ReadingBandag Increase In Quarterly Dividend
The Board of Directors of Bandag, Incorporated, (NYSE: BDG and BDGA) today declared an increase in the regular quarterly dividend from $.32 per share to $.325 per share on the Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of the Company payable January 16, 2004 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 19, 2003.
Continue ReadingFederal-Mogul Opens Technical Training Institute in Germany
Federal-Mogul Corporation has opened a training centre and three satellite learning facilities at manufacturing locations in Germany for aftermarket employees and customers.
Continue ReadingBAR-Honda 2004 On Michelin Or Bridgestone Tyres?
May BAR-Honda switch from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres in 2004 or not? F1 driver Jenson Button doesnt know anything about that at the moment,“ he told As far as I know theyve just talked about it.“ Bridgestone and BAR have a contract for another Formula One season.
Continue ReadingScott & Scott, LLC Announces Class Action Against Goodyear
Scott & Scott, LLC a law firm with offices in Connecticut and California, announced a securities fraud class action against The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The complaints filed by the law firm have cited various individual defendants including Samir G. Gibara, Robert W. Tieken, Robert J. Keegan, and Stephanie W. Bergeron.
Continue ReadingHwa Fong plans listing on Thai Stock Exchange
Hwa Fong Rubber manufacturer and distributor of Duro and Dunlop tyres, will list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Dec 15.
Continue ReadingTrackday tyre from Cooper-Avon
Trackday driving is a growing phenomenon and Cooper-Avon has introduced the ZZR; a road-legal race tyre with a racing compound. Developed by Avon racing, the ZZR is available in sizes from 15 to 18.
Continue ReadingEllerbrock fire finally extinguished
After more than 40 hours, the fire at the Ellerbrock factory in Henstedt-Ulzburg, north of Hamburg, has finally been extinguished. The manufacturing plant has been totally destroyed, with the cost of damage running to more than 10 million Euro. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Continue ReadingBridgestone OE on PT Coupe
Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position tyres are OE on the new Chrysler PT Coupe Concept, which was on show at the SEMA show. The vehicle is based on the PT Cruiser, with various additions such as custom large wheels. The tyre size for the new vehicle is 245/45 R19.
Continue ReadingUS privacy campaigners attack RFID
RFID chips proposed for use in tyre identification and TPMS are coming under attack in the USA as an invasion of privacy, as campaigners say that the information recorded can be collected and used to monitor the car drivers activities. As the price of RFID chips drops, tagging individual items will become the norm. According to Katherine Albrecht of the New Hampshire-based privacy rights group Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering, tagging individual items only becomes helpful if you want to register individual items to individuals. She contends that the RFID chips Michelin is already embedding in its tires, to help in product recall cases, someday could be used to track people as they drive past chip readers on highways or in parking lots. In California, a state senate subcommittee in August held the first-ever public hearing on RFID and privacy, and more hearings are planned for later this fall. Legislation is expected to be introduced early next year that could influence policies in other states.
Continue ReadingSolberg is World Rally Champion
Norways Petter Solberg was crowned World Rally Champion after winning the Wales Rally in his Pirelli-shod Subaru Impreza. He finished ahead of Sebastien Loeb, who was under orders from Citroen to make sure that he finished safely, in order that Michelin-shod Citroen could capture the Manufacturers title in their first full year. In the end, Loeb came second, over 42 seconds behind Solberg, to take second place in the WRC. Carlos Sainz (Citroen) took third place in the overall drivers championship.
Continue ReadingBrembo and DaimlerChrysler to establish joint venture
Brembo and DaimlerChrysler are to set up a joint venture to manufacture ceramic brake discs. Each company will hold a 50 per cent share in the JV, which will be called Brembo Ceramic Brake Systems SpA and will be located at a new Science and Technology Park in Stezzano, Italy.
Continue ReadingMichelin to increase spend in China
Michelins Asia-Pacific president Jean-Marc Francois is quoted in the press as saying that the company will invest heavily in the Chinese market, to the tune of several hundred million Dollars over the next ten years. Michelin already has joint ventures in Shenyang and Shanghai, which would benefit from the cash injection, although some may go towards establishing new factories and in marketing the brand.
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