MRF net profit soars
India’s MRF Limited has reported a significant increase in year-on-year net profit for the quarter ending 30 September 2011. The company reported a net profit of Rs 3,954.5 million (£48.4 million), an increase of 413 per cent on the same quarter of last year. This growth occurred even though income rose only 24.3 per cent to Rs 26,197.9 million (£326.6 million) and can in part be attributed to a change in the company’s policy of accounting for depreciation.
Continue ReadingCam Systems commercial module adopted by All Fleet Services
Cam Systems has announced that its third party integration module for the commercial vehicle market - 3PI - is being adopted by All Fleet Services, provider of the Goodyear Dunlop ActionLine. After implementation, the AFS call centre will be able to take an inbound call, issue the SMR job via 3PI directly into Cam’s UniSerV Call Logging module, creating a service record and reducing double handling in log management between AFS and Actionline service providers.
Continue ReadingSKN and Marangoni present "Tuning Car 2011" at the Essen Motor Show
Marangoni is partnering tuner SKN with its "Motor Show Tuning Car 2011” featured at the Essen Motor Show, from 26 November to 4 December 2011. At the show tuning enthusiasts have embarked on a complete transformation of a VW Golf GTI (2.0 TFSI 200 HP). The Golf V project car will be equipped with Marangoni M-Power 225/35R19 tyres.
Continue ReadingHGV wheel safety debated at Westminster again
In a Private Members’ Debate on Tuesday 29 November, Paul Goggins MP continued to raise the issue of commercial vehicle wheel safety with Parliamentary under-secretary of State for Transport Mike Penning, asserting “I am not going away on this issue.” The outcome of the debate was that the MPs will meet again soon, to discuss the outcome of Goggins’ meetings with industry representatives and trade associations. The MP, in conjunction with MWS, is setting up meetings with the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association; a process that the latest Westminster action will have eased, company representative Matthew Wells told tyrepress.com/Tyres & Accessories.
Continue ReadingEx-finance minister to open Reifen 2012
On 5 June 2012 Peer Steinbrück, former German federal minister of finance, will open the popular Reifen 2012 organised by Messe Essen. Once again Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkaniseur-Handwerk e.V. (BRV, the German tyre dealers vulcanisers association) will be the show’s “ideal partner.” Both parties will thus emphasise the significance of Reifen. Show organisers Messe Essen have billed the 2012 event as “the number-one worldwide meeting place of the tyre sector.”
Continue ReadingGoodyear shoots sponsorship goal with Juventus deal
Goodyear Dunlop has made its debut on the football sponsorship pitch by signing an agreement with Italian team Juventus. On 24 November the tyre maker entered a deal with the Serie A team that covers the current season.
Continue ReadingConstruction begins on Conti’s ‘leadership securing’ Kaluga plant
Work on Continental’s Kaluga passenger tyre factory in Russia is underway. On 29 November the tyre maker held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site and signed an investment contract with the Kaluga regional government. Continental says first stage work at the Kaluga plant will cost approximately 240 million euros and provide for a four million tyres a year capacity, with the first passenger car tyres scheduled to roll of the production line towards the end of 2013. Further expansion of the facility in the short-term is also planned, the company adds.
Continue ReadingHigh commercial tyre demand to continue in North America, says Yokohama’s Phillips
Looking back on 2011 and forward to the coming year, Rick Phillips, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s director of commercial sales, states that the tyre maker expects the strong demand it has experienced in the North American market this year to continue. “Demand has continued to outweigh supply so we have literally sold everything that we are able to build,” he commented. “As an industry, we will go into 2012 with very little beginning inventory, much like we did in 2011…we see the demand continuing to be greater than supply, at least through next summer. Despite reports on the economy being on the brink of another recession, the trucking industry remains strong.” Phillips believes that high levels of demand, particularly within the OEM segment, may lead to further pressure upon the replacement market.
Continue ReadingCasumina to construct new pcr plant
Vietnam’s Southern Rubber Industry Joint Stock Company, or Casumina, has reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a US partner and will erect a new passenger car tyre factory. Work on the new plant should begin before the end of the year and the project’s stated total cost is VND3.7 trillion (around £112 million), including an investment of some £19 million from the US partner. The factory is expected to enter operation late in 2012 and have an annual output of 1.5 million tyres per annum. Two thirds of the new factory’s output is said to be earmarked for the US market; other named export markets are Canada and Australia.
Continue ReadingFleet account system helps Bridgestone win Alltruck contract
In announcing details of its recently-signed fleet agreement with contract hire and direct rental firm Alltruck, Bridgestone UK comments that securing the deal was not achieved solely on cost. Rather, the combination of a state-of-the-art account system and the durability of its products were the major factors in helping land the contract.
Continue ReadingSurveys suggest winter tyres a minority plan despite winter mobility needs
A survey by online retailer in the UK mytyres.co.uk, part of Delticom, found that staying mobile in winter was important to an overwhelming majority of motorists (82 per cent). Almost two thirds of respondents rated staying mobile as “very important” or “critically important”, the company says. However, the company contrasts this desire to stay on the roads in winter conditions with the results from another independent survey from vehicle auction company Manheim. According to the results from their survey, only five per cent of motorists are planning to purchase winter tyres this year.
Continue ReadingCar transporter signs Goodyear tyre supply deal
Goodyear has announced the first fleet deal involving its new 275/70R22.5 Marathon LHT II trailer tyre. One of the largest car transporter companies in the UK, ECM Ltd, fit the tyre to one of its vehicles at a 25 November event in Carlisle to mark the deal. ECM Ltd has an existing partnership with TruckForce, Goodyear’s truck tyre service and breakdown assistance support network. The tyre has been specifically introduced to the Goodyear range for ECM, with the product to be made available to the wider market later. Robert Mason, Goodyear’s regional business manager said: “I am delighted that we are able to strengthen the partnership that we have maintained with ECM Ltd over the last eight years.
Continue ReadingProjex launches new Storm van alloy fitments
Projex Design UK Ltd recently launched the latest addition to its Italian-made commercial van alloy range. The Storm wheel is now available for the Toyota Hi-Ace and Hyundai I-Load. The company has been producing this wheel for more than 18 months and it now reportedly caters for every model of commercial van in Europe.
Continue ReadingConti partners MLS in US schools Solar Project
Continental Tire has joined Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to provide a $50,000 solar installation to a school in the community of MLS Cup 2011 winner, the LA Galaxy, as part of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation Solar 4R Schools program, reports Tire Review. “We are thrilled to be working with MLS W.O.R.K.S and BEF to put a solar installation in a school in the hometown of the LA Galaxy, MLS Cup champions,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing, Continental Tire.
Continue ReadingOnline retailer sees UK winter tyre sales “comparable to Denmark”
A new online tyre retailer in the UK has reported that sales and enquiries about winter tyres have exceeded its expectations, with “sales that are comparable to Denmark”. Goodgrip.co.uk launched in the UK market in October and is a trading name of Bythjul Norden AB, which has a presence in the Nordic markets dating back to 2001 selling over half a million tyres, and recently launching in Germany.
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