8,000 Jobs Go At Alcoa
Alcoa is to cut 8,000 jobs after posting a fourth quarterly loss of 223 million dollars. The loss included charges of 95 million dollars for restructuring of operations serving the aerospace, automotive and industrial gas turbine sectors. The restructuring mainly affects Europe and South America. Alcoa has also announced that it is to sell its non-core speciality chemicals and packaging equipment businesses.
Continue ReadingWaste Tyres A Global Problem
Sarawaks Natural Resources and Environment Board claims that there is no market for the recycled products from the scrap tyres and that retreading was not economically viable. Crumb rubber which can be used for many purposes has a market value of only 75 per cent of its production cost. Sarawak, has no system developed or legislation formulated to promote and regulate scrap tyre disposal and recycling issues. Malaysia produces about 14 million pieces of used tyres per year and the number is increasing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent.
Continue ReadingMaxiprest Issue Warning
Motor tyre group Bridgestone/Firestone Maxiprest (South Africa) announced last Friday that its expected full-year earnings would not be achieved, due to pressure on margins and the effect of the stronger rand on its export trading operations. The group said it was however confident that the areas of concern are being addressed and that the group will continue to show earnings growth. It also said its board had decided to make provision for the non-recoverability of a debt due by an associate company in which the group has a 40 percent equity stake. It releases its annual results in mid-February. The groups shares were unaffected by the release of the trading update, trading four cents higher at 1.84 rand by close on Friday, from 1.80 rand on Thursday.
Continue ReadingNew Trailer Tyre From Goodyear
Goodyear is to use its stand at the Commercial Vehicle Show to launch its new LHT or Long Haul Trailer Tyre. The company says the new tyre range will be a valuable addition to its already wide range of CV tyres.
Continue ReadingSmithers Scientific Reorganises
Smithers Scientific Services Inc. has reorganised as a result of its acquisition last March of a company specialising in environmental toxicology and analytical studies. The reorganisation brings three independent companies under the umbrella of the Smithers Group with worldwide headquarters in Akron, Ohio.
Continue ReadingAnother Ford-Firestone Settlement
Once again Ford and Firestone have settled a roll-over claim. This case attracted an even higher level of interest as two of the victims of the crash were high profile people. Earl Shinhoster, a veteran NAACP civil rights official in Atlanta, died in the 2000 Ford Explorer crash which also injured Samimah Aziz, a goddaughter of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the driver, Ademah Hackshaw. The Explorer was in a motorcade with the first lady of Liberia and a state patrol escort making this an unusual case. Ruby Shinhoster speaking for herself and two other survivors said Im relieved .... but they still havent admitted they did anything wrong. Bridgestone/Firestone spokesman Dan MacDonald said the company was pleased to resolve the case without a trial. Although the tire line involved in this case has an excellent safety record, protracted litigation is in no ones best interest, Firestone has now settled some 700 such cases. Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes said the company believes the Explorer is a safe vehicle and statistics back up the claim. Ford and the tire maker had said the accident happened partly because the tire was 7 years old and the motorcade was travelling at least 80 mph in a 70 mph zone.
Continue ReadingMcConechy takes Over Hi-Q
Scottish fast fit McConechys Tyre service has taken a giant leap in corporate development by buying 33 outlets from Goodyear and Dunlop.
Continue ReadingMobile Fitting Saves Costs
AA Tyre Fitting general manager David Goodyear says that using a mobile tyre fitting service can save a 500-vehicle strong fleet up to £20,000 a year. Estimates suggest that the average hourly cost of employment to a company for a fleet driver is £28.50 and that the average fleet car has 1.4 tyres replaced every year. On average, a visit to a fast-fit centre to have a tyre change lasts 90 minutes, it is claimed. For a fleet of 500 vehicles, this would cost employers almost £20,000. Over a large fleet, that wasted time mounts up and the figures that we have compiled show it to be considerable cost. But its a cost that can be saved through mobile fitting. Most tyre replacement can be done by mobile fitters while a driver continues to be productive working in their office, or even relaxing at home during the evening, he added.
Continue ReadingPanther Fined £19,000 Plus Costs
Panther Tyres Limited, Aintree, admitted three offences covering thousands of waste tyres. And was fined a total of £19,000 and was also ordered to pay £1,125.45 costs to the Environment Agency. Panther Tyres Limited is owned by father and son Ronald and Stephen Callow, and neither have a Waste Management Licence authorising the deposit or storage of waste.The company said it ran a recycling operation for remoulded tyres. The company estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 were stored on the land, and that about one third of them were unusable. Panther Tyres Limited admitted keeping waste tyres without a Waste Management Licence, permitting waste tyres to be deposited on land without a licence, and failing to take reasonable measures to prevent the escape of waste from the site.
Continue ReadingPirelli Selected for Ford’s 2003 SUV and Pickups
Fords Excursion 4x2 and Super Duty F-250 and F-350 Models will run on Pirelli Scorpion STRs as OE fit in 2003. Powertrains are at the heart of doing what SUVs and trucks are designed to do. A wide range of engines give these vehicles incredible power and torque, including the all new 6.0-litre, turbocharged, Power Stroke V8 diesel. Pirellis Scorpion STR is designed to cope with the torque and towing potential. The LT265/75 R 16 radials will be available with either black sidewalls or raised outline white letters.The Pirelli Scorpion STRs destined for 2003 Ford Excursions and Super Duty pickups will be manufactured in Pirellis factory in Brazil. The technical specification of the STR includes the combination of steel belts and nylon wrap for which Pirelli is famous, being the core technology behind Pirellis high-speed performance tyres. Tyres will be shipped to Ford assembly plants in Louisville, Kentucky and Cuautitlan, Mexico and vehicles produced will be distributed in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Continue ReadingBekaert Grows In Central Europe
NV Bekaert SA (Kortrijk/Belgium) has announced that it has made an agreement with Penta Investments Limited and Majetkovy Holding a.s. to acquire 100 % of the shares of Drotovna Droty a.s. and Drotovna Kordy a.s. in the Slovak Republic. Both Drotovna Droty a.s. and Drotovna Kordy a.s. were incorporated in 1999 as a result of a restructuring of Drotovna at Hlohovec, 75 km North East of Bratislava. The present owners have been going through a rationalisation process which will give Drotovna Droty a.s. a capacity of approx. 60,000 tonnes of various steel wires for the Central European market and Drotovna Kordy a.s. a capacity of approx. 9,000 tonnes of tire cord and approx. 8,000 tonnes of bead wire. The acquisition of both companies will increase Bekaerts market share and strengthen its competitive position in the fast growing Central European market. The completion of the purchase is subject to the approval of the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic and the full implementation of the rationalisation programme.
Continue ReadingInsurance – A Change Of Policy?
Insurance for all in the tyre industry is fast becoming a major problem. Legislation and an increasingly litigious society make it advisable to have the best cover you can, but its not always that easy. Premiums have shot through the roof as insurance companies are affected by the downturn in the stock market - it seems that the tyre industry is one sector whose business the insurance companies dont want. Insurance was one of the topics debated at last years NTDA conference, but if retailers think its difficult to get cover, spare a thought for the poor retreader.
Continue ReadingUK Motorcycle Tyre Market
The motorcyclist has long been regarded as being knowledgeable about his tyres, much more so than the car driver. The motorcyclist is also more likely to be fussy over which brand of tyre he puts his trust in. We take a look at whats on offer.
Continue ReadingCompound Interest
Tread rubber and compounds are continually changing, in order to meet changing needs. The motorcyclist wants superb grip, the truck haulier wants long mileage and the ordinary motorist wants both. Developments such as silica compounds and precure treads that are axle-specific help to achieve these objectives. Whats next on the horizon - using reclaimed rubber perhaps?
Continue ReadingBrakes And Clutches
Does your depot offer a brakes and clutch service, or do you regard yourself as a tyre supplier pure and simple? If you dont offer such a service, you could be missing out on profits.
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