Easy Tyre and Autocentres introduces mobile fitting
Midlands-based member of the HiQ network Easy Tyre and Autocentres has announced the introduction of a new mobile tyre fitting service. Emma-Jane Kisby, marketing manager from Easy Tyre and Autocentres explains: “We have introduced our mobile tyre fitting service for those customers who just cannot find the time to visit a centre.
Continue ReadingFirenza offers patterns for numerous positions and applications
The Firenza brand has been established in the UK truck market for a number of years now and the range, which is produced by Sumo Tires, is steadily growing. Firenza commercial vehicle tyres are said to be backed by the latest production technology and include design features such as a solid shoulder area construction, a zero angle steel band that prevents irregular wear plus a tread groove to combat casing damage and stone retention.
Continue ReadingWork on Kumho US plant tipped to start mid-2012
Almost two years ago Kumho Tire announced it would delay construction of its new factory in the US state of Georgia, with a start to work pushed back until late 2013. Now local news sources say construction of the new plant may commence sooner than anticipated. According to Middle Georgia NBC network affiliate WMGT-TV, Bibb County officials who are working together with Kumho on the project anticipate a summer 2012 start to work on the new plant.
Continue ReadingEvonik carbon black becomes Orion Engineered Carbons
Evonik Corporation’s divestiture of its carbon black business is expected to be complete by 1 August 2011, but with it will also come a name change. Announced earlier this year, Evonik divested itself of it Carbon Black Business Unit and sold it to affiliates of Rhone Capital and Triton. According to the company, the new business will be known as Orion Engineered Carbons. All of the silica-based products (Aerosil, Aeroxide, Acematt, Sipernat) will continue to be manufactured and sold by Evonik Inorganic Materials.
Continue ReadingDick Anderson dies
Well known tyre wholesale stalwart Dick Anderson died suddenly on Saturday 16 July. The news was confirmed by RH Claydon group business development manager, John Parker who wrote to Tyres Accessories: “It is with great sorrow that I must inform you of some sad news in that Dick Anderson unfortunately passed away.” Anderson, who retired just over a year ago, was apparently working alone in the garden at his old home in Welnetham when he suffered a massive heart attack.
Continue ReadingChat with the Michelin Man
Those wishing to exchange online pleasantries with a 113 year old can now do so, thanks to a bit of help from Michelin. The French tyre maker has introduced a new feature on its corporate website, a ‘chatbot’ feature that enables visitors to engage in a tête-à-tête with none other than Bibendum, the iconic Michelin Man. The feature, created by VirtuOz, appears on the michelin.com website’s home page and provides a human-like interface between users and the Michelin brand. In announcing the feature’s launch, the tyre maker comments that Bibendum is the first world-famous brand icon to interact with users in this way.
Continue ReadingNorth American launch for Versado Eco
Toyo Tire USA has launched the Versado Eco range in North American markets. The new tyre is described as being an all-season, low rolling resistance luxury performance tyre designed for hybrids and other environmentally-friendly vehicles; Toyo says it has used a combination of innovative technology and environment-friendly materials to deliver low rolling resistance without sacrificing tread life, luxury or performance.
Continue ReadingHankook signs on as What Car? Awards sponsor
To some, they’re the motoring world’s equivalent to the Oscars: Each year the What Car? Car of The Year Awards serve as a key influencer for consumers in their car buying decision making process, and manufacturers take pride in selection for the various categories. Involvement with the Awards thus has its benefits, and Hankook Tire is pleased to announce it will act as an Associate Sponsor at the 2012 awards and also sponsor one of the 16 award categories.
Continue ReadingDemand may exist for new US plant, says Yokohama
Yokohama is considering switching some of its existing tyre production from an undisclosed location to North America. In a mid-year company/industry report released by Yokohama Tire Corporation, senior vice-president Dan King stated: “We’re always looking at matching our supply and demand, and that means evaluating capacity increases and allocation changes. We’re looking at all those possibilities, including pulling allocation from one area of the world and bringing it to North America.” King commented that further consumer capacity increases are still under evaluation at Yokohama, and a new US plant may result from this. He did not specify what sort of tyres would be produced in a new North American plant, however the senior vice-president noted that despite higher production costs in the US, the company would have the advantage of being close to the market and be able to service its accounts in a “more efficient” way. “It’s a balancing act between costs and benefits, but our plan is to constantly evaluate building new plants for the future,” said King.
Continue ReadingMoU for Conti’s Russian plant signed
In conjunction with the Russia-Germany summit held in Hannover on July 18 and 19, Continental’s CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart and the governor of the Kaluga region in Russia, Anatoly Artamonov, signed a memorandum of understanding on the new passenger tyre plant Continental is to build in Kaluga. The tyre maker intends to invest some 220 million euros in the Kaluga factory; construction will get underway before the end of the year and the factory is expected to be ready for production in late 2013. The Russian government has pledged to support the new site.
Continue ReadingTitan establishes mining services company
Off-road tyre specialist Titan International has formed a new company, Titan Mining Services. The initial location where this company will operate is Fort Mackay, in the Canadian province of Alberta; Titan Mining Services will offer complete tyre, wheel and track services for end users.
Continue ReadingNexion introduces new Corghi tyre changer
The Nexion Group’s Corghi brand has introduced its new tyre changer line, named Master Code. Corghi explains the name was chosen “to recall that Corghi has the tyre changer evolution in its DNA”. Master Code was presented in Bologna at Autompromotec 2011, as a worldwide preview, and the company was encouraged by the interest shown by attendees. It will next be exhibited in Paris at Equip’auto and in Las Vegas’s SEMA show, the latter being its North American debut .
Continue ReadingFras-le North America hires two for light vehicle sales
Veteran aftermarket executives, Kevin Judge and Cory Cheever have been hired by friction manufacturer Fras-le to help boost the company's North American light vehicle aftermarket business. Judge will serve as the company's East Coast sales manager for the light vehicle aftermarket, while Cheever will be responsible its West Coast aftermarket sales. Judge and Cheever will report directly to Randy Mordue, who consolidated the light and commercial vehicle sales aftermarket divisions as director of sales and marketing.
Continue ReadingConti360° launched in Austria; roll-out to continue in 2011/12
As of July 2011, Conti360° Fleet Services has extended its European coverage into Austria. This is the first addition to the German tyre maker’s service portfolio following its launch in eight core European markets – Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic – and Continental now has plans to further expand the network into other regions.
Continue ReadingConti truck tyre prices to rise
On July 23 Continental released a statement outlining price increases of up to eight per cent for its truck tyres. These new prices will be introduced on August 1 and the exact amount of increases will depend upon product and region. Continental states that the price rise applies to all of its brands and to its entire commercial vehicle sector product portfolio.
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