Thunderbird Fits Pirelli As OE
Pirelli P Zero tyres have been chosen as standard OE fitment on the Saleen Thunderbird Bonspeed Edition Concept Car. The car was originally planned as a one-off for the Sema show, but such was the reaction that it was decided to go into production with the vehicle. Saleen Inc. has a reputation for the design of high-performance speciality vehicles and, for the past five years, has exclusively chosen Pirelli tyres.
Continue ReadingKumho UK Appoints Sales Director
From 1st December, Steve Tidmarsh will be the new Sales Director of Kumho UK. He has a wealth of experience in the UK tyre industry, having spent some 29 years with Goodyear UK in a series of senior positions, most recently that of Sales and Marketing Director, Consumer Tyres. He takes up his new post with the company in a planned move from Kumho UKs exclusive Marshal brand distributor, Bond International, whom he joined earlier this year to gain experience of the wholesale market in the UK.
Continue ReadingMike Wise Takes Charge Of Kwik-Fit Fleet And FTM
Mike Wise has been appointed to the new post of Fleet Sales Director, following the sale of the Kwik-Fit group to CVC. Kwik-Fit Fleet MD Ron Bambra has retired and Mike Wise will now head up both Kwik-Fit Fleet and FTM. He will also join the newly-created Kwik-Fit UK management team, headed by recently-appointed CEO Tim Parker.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Run-flats OE on BMW Z4
Bridgestone is to supply its Potenza RE050 RFT run-flat tyres as OE on the new BMW Z4 roadster. Four sizes will be offered, to accommodate different engine sizes and vehicle configurations.
Continue ReadingNew Plant For Bridgestone
Bridgestone Corp, Japans largest tyremaker, said on Tuesday it would spend 17 billion yen to build a third tyre plant in Thailand to meet growing demand for truck and bus tyres, particularly in Asia. The development, first notified in December 2000 by T&A, could also take Bridgestone to the number one position in the global tyre market. Bridgestone said in a statement that the new plant, located in Chonburi, 60 km south of Bangkok, would produce and export tyres to the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and other Southeast Asian countries. The new plant is a move to provide a multilateral, global response to the growing worldwide demand for truck and bus tyres, said a spokesman for Bridgestone.
Continue ReadingAndreas Niegsch Replaces Marco Molinari At Goodyear Dunlop UK
On December 1st, Andreas Niegsch will be appointed General Manager of Goodyear Dunlop UK, replacing Marco Molinari, who is leaving the company to pursue other interests. Molinaris current position of Group Managing Director will be eliminated. Niegsch will report to Robin McKnight, MD of Goodyear Dunlop sales countries, western Europe. Niegsch originally joined Dunlop Germany in 1998 as manager, sales countries, western Europe and was appointed director the following year. In 2001 he assumed his current position as director of marketing and sales for Goodyears Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The UK manufacturing operations at Wolverhampton and Washington will report directly to the European regional manufacturing HQ in Luxembourg, as part of the current policy to centralise product sourcing to obtain maximum efficiencies.
Continue ReadingAsbestos Claims Fears Hurt US Auto Stocks
The shares of US auto parts retailers fell sharply this week on the news that hundreds of companies, including the Big 3 car manufacturers, are facing lawsuits from plaintiffs who have been exposed to asbestos, which was once widely used in brake manufacturing. An argument is on-going whether those outlets that performed repairs should face greater liability than the manufacturers of the products.
Continue ReadingCord Deal At Michelin
The Hyosung Corp. has announced that it has won a $350 million order from Michelin to supply tyre cords and has also agreed to acquire a U.S. cord plant from Michelin for an unspecified amount. Hyosung, which is the worlds largest polyester tyre cord maker, said its U.S. unit, Hyosung America Inc, would acquire Michelins tyre cord plant in Virginia. The acquisition would enable Hyosung to secure a production point to enter the North American market.The South Korean company said in the statement it expected to increase its North American market share of tyre cords to 20 percent from the current 13 percent, while global market share would rise to 24 percent from 20 percent.
Continue ReadingViking International Strengthens Senior Management Team
Viking International, one of the UKs leading tyre, exhaust and automotive wholesale companys, has appointed Mike Curry as National Sales Manager. As part of the senior management team, Mike will be responsible for eleven business development managers that cover the country from nine strategically positioned regional warehouses. He will also play a leading role in key national account expansion.Mike Curry has over twenty years sales experience working with blue-chip companies in a variety of senior positions. His most recent appointment was as sales and marketing director with Tenneco Automotive who manufacture Walker exhaust systems and Monroe shock absorbers.
Continue ReadingNew Bridgestone Production System
Bridgestone has unveiled a new tyre production system which automates the entire manufacturing process from initial materials processing to final inspection of finished tyres. Called Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development (BIRD), the system consists of three elements. First is Bridgestones Automated Tyre Manufacturing Synchronised System (ATMSS) technology covering materials processing to vulcanisation. Second is Automated Inspection Modular System (AIMS) for automatic inspection of finished tyres and the third element is the Flow Oriented Approach (FOA) implementation of autonomous information processing for managing the system. Among the advantages claimed for BIRD include flexibility, quality improvements, smaller plants (a unit can produce up to 350,000 car tyres a year), occupying one-third of the space of a conventional plant, smaller lot production and reduced environmental impact.
Continue ReadingTyre Dumps Hit During Fire Dispute
Hundreds of homeowners were warned to remain indoors and keep their doors and windows shut after clouds of black smoke from a blaze at a scrap tyre depot in Levenshulme, Manchester swept across the area.Thirty military personnel and five Green Goddess tenders were sent to tackle the blaze at the tyre depot in, Levenshulme, late last night, and they were still dealing with the incident more than twelve hours later.Loudspeaker warnings for people in Levenshulme and Gorton to remain inside and keep doors and windows closed, to keep out fumes from the burning rubber, were relayed by the Greater Manchester Police helicopter. And motorists were being urged to avoid the area completely. A further four Green Goddesses were despatched to another blaze in nearby Stockport to tackle a tyre dump fire.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Relocates HQ
Kwik-Fit’s HQ is to be relocated but will remain in Scotland. The head office will move from Corstorphine Road to Broxburn, West Lothian. 50 of the 60 workers based at Corstorphine Road will be transferred to Broxburn, formerly the head office of its UK subsidiary, between now and the end of March.A Kwik-Fit spokesman said there would be around 14 redundancies, mainly among Roseburn-based staff. The spokesman added: “Tim Parkers (The CEO) immediate goals are to increase profitability, simplify the management structure and keep staff informed about the progress he is making.”Parker, is now looking for two executive directors to join Kwik-Fits management - a finance director to replace John Houston and another senior manager.
Continue ReadingFord And Firestone To Co-Sponsor Race Series
Following the rift between Ford and Firestone, caused by the tyre recall, the two companies are to co-sponsor the CART racing series. Banners at the event will read Bridgestone presents the Champ Car World Series powered by Ford. This move, which is still in the early stages, has created speculation that it could be the first step in a rapprochement between the two companies.
Continue ReadingShares Drop On Carbon Black Probe
Share values at Cabot Corp and Phelps Dodge fell dramatically after the worlds largest suppliers of carbon black said regulators were investigating whether they conspired to fix the price of the substance used to make tyres. ”Weve been approached by the European Union and Department of Justice and we are co-operating fully, Bruce Richardson of Phelps Dodge said. Artificially high prices for carbon black would increase costs for tyre manufacturers which use it to strengthen their products. Cabots shares fell $1.50, or 5.8 percent, to $24.17 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Phelps Dodge dropped $2.18, or 7.5 percent, to $26.72.
Continue ReadingTyre Show For London Next Autumn
Hot on the heels of the demise of InterTyre comes the news that a new UK exhibition for the tyre and related trades has been organised for October at Earls Court in London. To be called Tyre World, the show will be run by London-based conference and events organisers Idex Media. The arrangements were confirmed only yesterday and, as such, few details are available at this time.
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