Trio of US Tyre Makers Raising Prices
Bridgestone, Continental and Yokohama have become the latest tyre suppliers in the US to announce price rises for consumer products. All three companies’ new prices are valid as of January 1, 2010.
Continue ReadingWheel Weight Maker Wegmann Automotive Grows in Down Market
The establishment of Wegmann Automotive in October 2009 saw some of the world’s leading wheel weight brands (Hofmann, Franken, F-Ecoline and Perfect [US]) reorganised into a single unified group. Now united under the Wegmann umbrella brand, sales and marketing director Thorsten Thom reports that the company is facing the current market challenges well and in certain cases actually gaining market share. Thom also praised the positive impact made by recently appointed UK sales manager, David Peacock. According to Thom, 2009 UK market sales have experienced double-digit growth compared with 2008.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug's Congratulates “World Class Plant Manager”
Brian Barron, plant manager at Lincolnshire-based Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Limited, recently graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a degree in World Class Manufacturing Management. Barron’s success comes as a result of a three-year day-release/self-study course which has been supported by Vacu-Lug as part of its commitment to ensure the company and its staff remain at the leading-edge of their industry.
Continue ReadingBandvulc Wins Carbon Reduction Category at 2009 Environmental Business Awards
Bandvulc won the Carbon Reduction category at the recent DEBI 2009 Environmental Awards. Held on 26 November, the awards ceremony took place at the Met Office, Exeter and were presented by Paul Gompertz of Devon Wildlife. Previously overall DEBI Awards winner in 2006, Bandvulc has built on its early success and has put carbon reduction at the forefront of its strategy. This has been achieved with an enthusiasm and determination that is apparent throughout all areas of the business. The 2009 Carbon Reduction award recognises Banvulc’s: Good environmental practices; Encouraging wider interest in the adoption of best environmental practice; Promoting the development of novel solutions to environmental problems.
Continue ReadingNexen Tire America Announces Price Increase
Nexen Tire America has put an 8 per cent price hike on all of its South Korea-produced tyres, according to Tire Review. Additionally, Nexen reportedly said it is shifting moulds for its SB702 line from its plant in China to its home plant in South Korea. The move, in reaction to the new 35 per cent added tariff on China-produced passenger tyres, will also necessitate a price increase for that line, Nexen said, but the exact amount had not yet been determined. Nexen reportedly said the 8 per cent increase is due to increased raw material costs.
Continue ReadingAge Interest Magazine Honours Ledbetter
The US based non-profit organisation AARP caters to the interests of people aged 50 plus, and one of the services it directs at its mature support base is AARP The Magazine. This publication, which AARP describes as the “definitive voice for 50+ Americans”, is claimed by the organisation to be, with 35.7 million readers, the world’s largest-circulation magazine. For the last eight years it has held an annual ‘Inspire Awards’, which salutes ten individuals in the aforementioned age bracket who “are using their energy, creativity, and passion to make the world a better place.” The 2010 list of honourees includes one name that may have a familiar ring to those at one Akron, US based tyre manufacturer – Lilly Ledbetter.
Continue Reading40 Years at the [Tip] Top
Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon, Concorde made its inaugural voyage; The Archies topped the charts with "Sugar, Sugar" and Cliff Jones joined Rema Tip Top. The year? You guessed it - 1969. Cliff Jones began life at Rema Tip Top as a fledgling sales representative selling tyre repair materials to the two-wheel and automotive trade. Since then Cliff Jones has risen to the top in his time with the company. Now in the position of managing director of Rema Tip Top Automotive UK Ltd colleagues recognise that he leads by example, driven by an “inextinguishable passion and burning desire for success, unfazed by hard work, excited by challenge and resilient in adversity.”
Continue ReadingUK Company Offering Tyre Scrubbing Technology
In motorsport, the scrubbing of tyres – running the tyres for a couple of laps and leaving them to cool and cure – is a fairly common practice used to improve dynamic performance, grip, tyre life and lap times. UK firm Tyre Technology Ltd. already supplies machinery that can replicate this process to motorsport teams. For the first time, however, the company is making its Black Frequency system available for rental to any interested party.
Continue ReadingRecession-hit Motorists Skimp On Maintenance, Says Survey
Motorists may be neglecting essential vehicle maintenance in an effort to reduce their expenditure during the recession, according to research. Car expert Glass's has conducted a survey which reveals that 46 per cent of those polled have chosen to put off servicing their car or paying for repairs to tyres or bodywork. In addition, many are now choosing to avoid other car-related expenditures such as purchasing satnavs or alloy wheels.
Continue ReadingHankook’s Cho Hyun-Shik Appointed Honorary Hungarian Consul
Hungary has named Hankook Tire vice president Cho Hyun-Shik its honorary consul to South Korea in recognition of the company’s contribution to the country’s economic development and growth. Hungarian vice Foreign Minister Laszlo Varkonyi appointed Cho to this position on November 30 during a visit to Seoul in conjunction with Hungarian president Laszlo Solyom's four-day state visit to South Korea.
Continue ReadingApollo Bottom Line Expected to Grow 29% CAGR to 2011
According to Mumbai based private equity advisory and investment banking services provider Firstcall India, the top and bottom line at Apollo Tyres is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15 per cent and 29 per cent in the financial years from 2008 to 2011. This is one of the reasons Firstcall is currently recommending a ‘buy’ on Apollo shares, with a price target of Rs 64 (£0.83) as against the November 25 market price of Rs 52.05.
Continue ReadingFederal Distributes Motorsports Product Catalogue
Federal Tires has released a new specialty motorsports guide that demonstrates its tyre range in terms of its street, track, and off road applications. The latest catalogue not only showcases the Taiwanese manufacturer’s complete product line; the usage each tyre is best put to is also outlined. Tyres covered in the guide include the Corsa FZ-101 for time trial events and high-level competition use, the semi-slick Corsa FZ-202, Federally G-10 for dry and damp gravel surfaces and the 595 RS-R high performance tyre for time attack, club sprint, lap dash, professional drifting and street legal competition.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Battlax BT-023 Offers a ‘Wider Range for Larger Bikes’
From February 2010 onwards Bridgestone’s latest “full spec” sport touring tyre will be available in European markets. The Battlax BT-023 replaces the BT-021, and the Japanese manufacturer reports that the new tyre offers a significant upgrade in mileage and wet performance compared with its predecessor, as well as by meeting the handling expectations of the most demanding sport riders. All in all, adds Bridgestone, the BT-023 provides a wider range of choices for larger bikes by delivering consistent high-level touring and sport riding performance.
Continue ReadingCave Completes an “Incredible” Year with Yokohama
Yokohama-supported rally driver Tom Cave has ended his 2009 rally season in 44th place overall, having attained a third in class during the Rally of Great Britain and eighth overall and first in class in the Rally of Scotland. The latter, notes the tyre maker, marked the best result for a Ford in the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge and would have netted him a championship point had the marque been registered for the series.
Continue ReadingTyrepress.com e-Newsletter Readership Breaks the 10,000 Barrier
Tyrepress.com is celebrating the fact that more than 10,500 individual tyre industry email addresses now receive the trade publication’s leading e-Newsletter email product. The unique collection of industry news and analysis, which is produced by the experienced and award-nominated team at Tyres & Accessories and sent every working day, has seen the number of email subscribers virtually double from 5750 in December last year. To get yours free of charge, simply register for a free, no obligation 7-day trial of the website using the "Subscribe" link in the main toolbar above. No credit cards are needed and no payment will be taken.
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