Continental Ends Talks With MAG Over Clairoix Plant
Talks between Continental AG and MAG, a Dubai-based potential buyer of the company’s tyre technology and passenger/light truck tyre manufacturing facility in Clairoix, France, have ended. According to Continental, the talks “mutually ceased” with no agreement reached. The parties held intensive discussions, but finally concluded that it was not possible to reach common ground on pursuing further negotiations. “We would have liked to have become involved in the tyre manufacturing business as an extension to our value-chain activities which are strongly focused on the trade sector. Using the knowledge we have at present we shall continue to examine this approach. We specifically thank the French government for its commitment and support while we were deliberating on the matter, and we shall keep France in our minds as a key location for future business plans”, said Dr Fawaz Sabri vice chairman of MAG Dr Bernhard Trilken, responsible for Continental`s global passenger and light truck tyre production, added: “It was not possible to enter into concrete negotiations on the basis of jointly defined framework conditions. The two parties reached the same conclusion and, at that point, agreed to terminate the sales talks.”
Continue ReadingThumbs-Up for Michelin’s Diversity
Its tyres may all be black and round but the team at Michelin are a far more diverse group, and this has been acknowledged by a group of French organisations specialising in issues related to diversity. On October 1, Michelin was awarded a Trophée de la Diversité 2009 in recognition of its commitment to innovative methods of promoting diversity.
Continue ReadingDutch Student Wins 2009 Bridgestone Journalism Contest
Dutch student Tim Biesbrouck has been selected overall winner of the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter contest. Biesbrouck, aged 21, was one of eleven finalists this year. He was given the opportunity to show the world, and Bridgestone, his reportage skills at the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July, and his “natural flair for journalism” sufficiently impressed the media and motorsport representatives making up this year’s judging panel.
Continue ReadingQuestion of the Month: October 2009
tyrepress.com has a new question of the month – visit the homepage at www.tyrepress.com to join the debate: What do you think will be the direct result of President Obama’s Chinese-manufactured tyre tariffs? 1) The European market will take the excess product and prices in the budget segment will fall 2) Nothing except more Chinese-made tyres coming to Europe 3) The market will remain the same
Continue ReadingBF Srl Launches New Website
At the beginning of September BF Srl introduced customers to its new website: www.bfwheelweight.com. The site was recently upgraded to offer all visitors an easy way of identifying the product they are looking for. “With a few clicks you can gain access to the whole range,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories. The system is updated directly from the BF’s head office, advising all customers of the latest news relating to the company and the automotive field. A new page dedicated to the technical department, is designed to meet particular customer requirements.
Continue ReadingViking International Making Operational Improvements
Viking International says that it has made a number of positive developments over the last year to streamline efficiency and improve customer service. Kevin Parker was appointed as Group managing director at the start of the year, and has been entrusted with heading the Viking brand as well as retaining responsibility for sister company, National Fleet. Parker believes that the companies have the potential to deliver a fruitful collaborative effort, providing an increased service offering to customers, from wholesale tyres and automotive parts, right the way though to fleet solutions for its dealers.
Continue ReadingMaxxis-Sponsored Driver Wins British Drift Championship
Maxxis has been heavily involved in the spectacular sport of drifting in the UK this year, so it must be gratifying for the manufacturer to have experienced the success of Steve Biagioni from Maxxis-sponsored Team Japspeed, who was crowned British Drift Champion for 2009.
Continue ReadingVenezuelan Retreader Improsa Joins TRIB
Improsa, (Venezuela) has joined the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), bringing TRIB’s membership to nearly 500 members in 50 countries. “TRIB continues to add members…TRIB is the only international retread industry association representing new tyre manufacturers, retreaders, suppliers to the retread industry and tyre repair companies,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s managing director.
Continue ReadingChem-Trend Release Single Application Curing Envelope Treatment
Chem-Trend recently launched a single application curing envelope treatment aimed at the retreading industry. Mono-Lube 2006 is designed to increase curing envelope life, while providing “easy release from the cured tyre.” A typical life for a tyre retread curing envelope is 40 – 60 tyres, however according to the Chem-Trend Mono-Lube 2006 can extend life by between 33 to 100 per cent. In addition to providing good release from a cured tyre, it also provides good slip, enabling accurate positioning over the next, uncured tyre.
Continue ReadingNorth Hants Tyres: Specialist Niche Sees Little Change
Classic car tyre provider, North Hants Tyres says that the past year has yielded a rise in classic radial sizes such as 125x15, 145x15 and 165x15 as the major manufacturers ceased their production. The small niche market for specialist tyres has, according to the company, seen little fluctuation and, in spite of undoubtedly difficult market conditions, there has been an increase in sales over the past year.
Continue ReadingUSW OKs Four-Year Deal With Bridgestone
(Tire Review) The last of the major tyre-makers has a new contract with the United Steelworkers.Union workers at Bridgestone Americas’ tyre plants ratified a new four-year master contract with the tyre-maker Saturday, brining the 2009 master contract negotiations to a quiet end.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Launches DT818 High Speed
Goodyear UK and Ireland has launched its DT818 High Speed to the market. Part of the very popular Optitrac radial drive farm tyre range, the tyre comes in 13 sizes. According to the company, High Speed (HS) means that the tyres are D-rated and can operate at speeds up to 44mph (70kph) or at inflation pressures as low as 9psi. Even at lower operating speeds and for tractors that have a top speed of 25mph (45kph) or 30mph (50kph) these tyres provide performance advantages being able ton carry up to 9.5% more load at same inflation versus the conventional DT818 tyre. Furthermore, DT818 HS can carry the same loads as DT818 at lower inflation pressure thereby, elongating the footprint generating more traction and pull so that work gets completed faster and at lower cost as well as reducing soil compaction. The tyre has a tuned and modified casing and the rubber compounds required to overcome the increased strains and forces on the tyres at 44mph. However, DT818 HS features the popular and proven Optitrac tread design concept including identical external dimensions and tread depth making it easy to convert from regular tyres to the new DT818 HS ones.
Continue ReadingNewsweek: Goodyear Among "Greenest Big Companies in America"
Newsweek Magazine has recognised Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as one of “The Greenest Big Companies in America.” Companies were scored on factors that included environmental impact, green policies, and overall reputation as an environmentally conscientious company. The rankings were determined by Newsweek in conjunction with KLD Research & Analytics, Trucost and CorporateRegister.com. The rankings were published in the September 28 edition of the magazine. “The evaluation was based on specific criteria such as greenhouse gas emissions, water usage and ‘green’ programs,” stated Don Stanley, Goodyear’s vice president of product quality and plant technology. “We pride ourselves on the progress we’ve made over the years on these and other fronts. However, we also recognize the fact that environmental stewardship requires continuous improvement across a broad spectrum of opportunities, and at Goodyear we are committed to getting better each and every day.”
Continue ReadingRicciardo Wins First Cooper Tire British F3 International Title
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company’s first year of sponsorship of the British Formula 3 International Series has been completed, with Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo becoming the first driver to win the prestigious championship. The Cooper Tires brand took over title sponsorship of the series in 2009 as part of a three-year deal, and also took over the role of sole tyre supplier to the series from associate brand Avon Tyres.
Continue ReadingJones Brothers Clinch Avon Tyres British GT Title
The 2009 Avon Tyres British GT Championship was decided by a single point in a title fight that went down to the very last lap of the 14-race season. Identical twin brothers David and Godfrey Jones clinched the honours, sharing the driving of an Ascari KZ1R in the series they first entered nine years ago.
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