Goodyear Truck Force Full Service Supplier For Ewals
Ewals Cargo Care is a Dutch Fleet Company with around 2,000 trucks. Now the just in time specialist, which supplies parts to car manufacturers factories, has signed a contract whereby Goodyear Truck Force becomes the exclusive partner in tyre support and tyre service. In this way new tyre sales, retreading and (breakdown) service will be sourced from a single supplier.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Sells Chemical Business
Goodyear has sold its speciality chemical business to Littlejohn & Company, a Connecticut-based private company, for an undisclosed sum. The chemical business is based in France and had sales of over $120 million in 2000; its sale is part of Goodyears strategy to dispose of non-core assets and reduce debt.
Continue ReadingManagement Buy-Out At National Tyre Service And Viking
A double management buy-out of former Conti-owned tyre retailer National Tyre Service and wholesaler Viking International was announced today. The buy-outs, which were for an undisclosed sum, were led by Chairman and Chief Executive Alan Revie. The two companies will continue to trade as separate businesses, under the umbrella of a new holding company, Axle Group Holdings Limited. In addition to National and Viking, the group includes a property company.
Continue ReadingOE Contracts For Kumho
Kumho has announced that it will supply 200,000 tyres in 2002 for VWs new Polo. This follows another OE contract awarded last October, which saw the Korean manufacturer supply tyres for VW Beetles, produced at VWs factory in Mexico. Kumho says it will supply 250,000 tyres for the Beetle in 2002.
Continue ReadingNew Polish Factory For Tenneco Automotive
Tenneco Automotive has officially opened a new factory in Gliwice, Poland, to supply shock absorbers to European-based vehicle manufacturers. The facility is 21,000 square metres in area and will make six million units annually by the year 2005, eventually employing 120 staff. Tenneco says that the $20 million investment is the latest stage in the companys strategy to expand in Eastern Europe.
Continue ReadingMulti-Million Investment For Pirelli UK Plant
Pirelli is to spend more than 11 million Pounds on extending its factory at Carlisle in the UK to manufacture tyres for 4WD vehicles. For some time, Carlisle has been Pirellis centre of excellence for SUV tyres and the factory produced 530,000 SUV tyres last year. The new investment will see this figure rise to 1.1 million next year and eventually to 1.6 million. 80 per cent of these will be exported to Europe and the USA. Carlisle also produces high performance tyres and total unit production at the plant will reach 4.25 million units in 2002.
Continue ReadingBuy-Out At Just Tyres
On 10th November it was announced that 38 Just Tyre outlets had been sold to a team which includes three Just Tyres managers. Major shareholder in the buy-out is Ian Grant, who was Chief Executive of the Just Tyres Holdings group. The purchase price was not revealed, but it is understood that around 100 jobs have been secured by the deal. The group called in the Administrative Receiver in mid-October and 40 Just Tyres outlets were closed immediately. A further 12 were closed last week, leaving the most profitable 38 depots in the chain. Ian Grant said he was encouraged by discussions with suppliers.
Continue ReadingRacing Agreement Between Michelin And Porsche
Michelin and Porsche have signed a partnership agreement with Porsche for the exclusive supply of racing tyres, effective from the first of January 2002. It concerns all Porsches competition activities, the national Porsche cups, plus the current and future official entries of Porsche Motorsport. The Porsche Super-Cup, which traditionally runs alongside several Formula 1 Grands-prix, including the Indianapolis GP, will henceforth be known as the Porsche Michelin Super-Cup. The German Porsche Carrera Cup will also be run under Michelin colours. Michelin, as the official partner, will be involved in all future motorsport development for Porsche.
Continue ReadingKormoran EKOPRO Tractor Drive Axle Tyre
Michelin has launched the new Kormoran EKOPRO agricultural drive tyre to replace the AN-21. Designed for use on low to medium horsepower tractors, the EKOPRO is a standard profile radial, which will initially be available in 13 sizes from 9.5.R 24 to 18.4 R 38 with further sizes up to 20.8 R 38 available in 2002.
Continue ReadingNew Board Member For Continental
Continental AG is set to expand its management board by creating a new post covering finance, controlling and legal matters. These are currently handled by Klaus Friedland, who is also responsible for Human Resources. Recent developments, such as the acquisition of Temic, has pushed Contis payroll up to 68,000 workers and increased the necessity for a full-time HR officer. No specific candidates are being considered for the Financial post at the moment, according to Conti.
Continue ReadingLogistics Centre For Continental?
There are reports in Romania that Continental is going to invest one million Euro in establishing a logistics centre and warehouse in the country. This month should also see the millionth tyre produced at Continentals Romanian factory roll off the production line.
Continue Reading“ZE-512” By Falken
Successor to the ZE-502, which proved a major market success in Europe, Japanese tyre manufacturer introduces its new product, ZE-512, to the European market. The tyre shall set new standards in friction resistance, aquaplaning and handling on wet surfaces. The development of the ZE-512 focused on comfort-oriented, well-balanced properties. The two and one profile block and the side profiles 5-phase shifted random pitch variation minimise noise and maximise steering precision throughout the entire life of the tyre. The ZE 512 will appear in 41 dimensions.
Continue ReadingNorth American Autos – Report Paints Two Scenarios
Industry consultants Autopolis have produced a report on the US Auto industry. The terrorist attacks in September make forecasting difficult, so Autopolis has developed two scenarios. The first assumes that the US economy moves back to pre-September 11th levels fairly quickly, resulting in only a typical US recession with auto sales falling 14 per cent in 2002. Scenario number two is described as bleak and presumes a prolonged war on terrorism, problems with oil supplies, rising inflation and a fall in the value of the Dollar. In this case US sales and production would fall by one third, and fall for two years before stabilising. The reality is likely to lie somewhere between these two extremes, says Autopolis, and flexibility is the key for businesses to survive and prosper.
Continue ReadingHankook Becomes OE Supplier For Renault
The Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook is developing three tyre sizes for Renault. These are 155/65-14 and 165/70-14 reinforced for the Twingo and size 185/65-15 for the Kangoo. First deliveries will start at the end of next year. At present the major OE-suppliers to Renault are Michelin, Continental and Dunlop.
Continue ReadingWheels and Brake Applications by Titan Europe
For this years Agritechnica, Titan Europe is focusing interest on its two main agricultural product areas: high speed wheel and tyre systems and brake applications for high speeds. The newly developed Titan Relocator wheel for high speed road use, will take centre stage at the show along with the new range of wedge ramp brakes, developed by the Italian Sirmac division of Titan, and which have made a significant impact on tractors of the power range 60 to 300 HP.
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