Michelin, Valeo Partner on Hybrid Systems
Valeo and Groupe Michelin are combing efforts to develop electric and rechargeable hybrid vehicle systems. The pair will work on such systems as drive train, engine and battery cooling management, climate control, lighting, energy management and tyres. “Michelin and Valeo are convinced that by joining forces they will help to accelerate the emergence of electric vehicles in France and worldwide,” the companies said in a statement. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Fleet & Leasedrive Velo Extend Relationship
Kwik-Fit Fleet’s association with the Leasedrive Velo Group continues with the signing of a new three-year contract to provide a range of fast fit services to the vehicle management group. The independent fast fit operator has maintained a relationship with the company since the days before Leasedrive and Velo merged in 2007, and this latest contract replaces the initial 12-month agreement signed following the merger.
Continue ReadingReports: Schaeffler Could Now Get State Aid
According to Reuters, Conti shares grew 6.7 per cent on Friday (13 February 2009) after Renate Schmidt, member for the SPD in the German Bundestag, reportedly declared that state aid for Schaeffler may be possible under certain conditions. The news follows potential investor Abu Dhabi-owned IPIC denying it was interested. Pirelli also ruled itself out of any possible deal earlier in the week.
Continue ReadingFirst Michelin Exelagri Centre Appointed on Isle of Wight
ATS Euromaster’s centre in South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, has been appointed as a Michelin Exelagri Centre through the tyre manufacturers’ national accreditation scheme for agricultural and construction specialists. In joining this select group of accredited Exelagri Centres, ATS Euromaster becomes the first tyre dealer on the Isle of Wight to be recognised by Michelin for its ability to supply a high quality service to customers in these two key business sectors. Paul Murtha, manager of ATS Euromaster in Newport, says: “Over the last three years our sales in the agricultural and construction sectors have risen to represent nearly 40 per cent of our overall turnover, from an original base of less than 10 per cent.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Ecopia Launched in North American Aftermarket
Bridgestone has chosen the Chicago Auto Show as the venue for the North American replacement market release of its low rolling resistance Ecopia range. The first tyre in the line-up to arrive on American shores is the Ecopia EP100, a summer tyre fitment for vehicles such as the Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Versa and Toyota Corolla. Available in H- and V-speed ratings, the Ecopia EP100 has a UTQG of 400AB and will be offered in six different sizes ranging from 14 to 16 inches. The tyre will be available in March in the first phase of a two-phase rollout during 2009.
Continue ReadingMagna M/S To Represent Italmatic In UK
Derbyshire-based Magna M/S Ltd has been appointed to represent the interests of Italmatic Srl, of Italy, in the UK market. Italmatic has a long association with the UK, stretching back to 1969, when the company exhibited a buffer at the London Motor Show. Today the Italmatic product portfolio includes retreading equipment, such as autoclaves, or even complete turnkey retreading installations, a range of retreading accessories (bladders, curing envelopes, buffing blades etc) and tyre shop consumables and accessories. A recent addition to the product range is a series of Comfort, superelastic industrial tyres. Director of Magna M/S is Ian Smith, who has many years technical and hands-on experience in the tyre industry, in both new tyre manufacturing and retreading. Speaking of the new arrangement, he said: I have a long association with Italmatic and as such understand their products and their market, having been a customer in the tyre manufacturing and automotive wheel and tyre assembly industries. The agreement between Italmatic and Magna, he says, shows Italmatics commitment to the UK market.
Continue ReadingPirelli Plan to Focus on Cost Rationalisation & Green Solutions
As part of its 2009-2011 Industrial Plan, Pirelli Tyre reports it is continuing with the cost cutting strategy it commenced last year. The goal of this plan is to save more than 300 million euros over a three-year period through the rationalisation of manufacturing structures and staff in Europe, the renegotiation of raw material purchasing agreements in order to take advantage of falling prices, and savings from lower energy and logistics costs. Manufacturing capacity in emerging markets is to be expanded so as to take advantage of increasing demand in these regions, coupled with their lower manufacturing costs. In the commercial tyre sector 87 per cent of Pirelli’s total production is already located in low-cost countries, compared with an average of 50 per cent for the company’s four major competitors.
Continue ReadingFirst Stop Launches Consumer-Facing Website
First Stop has launched a brand new website (www.firststop4tyres.co.uk) designed to help customers get more from their local tyre dealership. The website features a UK-wide dealer locator as well as detailed information on Bridgestone’s tyre range and – currently – details of the network’s free fuel competition. In parallel with the launch of the updated web site, a brand new dealer locator text service and phone-line is also running. To be put in touch with their nearest dealer, customers simply need to text or call the dedicated number which will be featured in a First Stop advertising campaign being rolled out across the UK.
Continue ReadingIPIC Refutes Schaeffler/Conti Acquisition News
The Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) denied on February 12 it was negotiating to acquire a share in Schaeffler or its 49.9 per cent owned subsidiary Continental. In a statement, IPIC managing director Khadem al-Qubaisi said “this speculation has surfaced recently in the German media. We are quite surprised that this has arisen at all.”
Continue ReadingApollo to Lay Off 1,500
The downturn in the automotive industry has seen Apollo Tyre’s OEM demand drop 43 percent in terms of value during the last financial quarter, and according to company chairman and managing director Onkar S Kanwar, “car sales have plummeted [and] tyre sales have also gone down proportionally.” During the last quarter commercial vehicle tyre sales have also experienced “a serious drop”, he added. In light of this decreased demand for the company’s products, the Hindu Business Line reports that Apollo is considering laying off 1,500 workers.
Continue ReadingRösler Software Prevents Over or Under-Vulcanisation
Temperature and time are both crucial factors for the vulcanisation of rubber during both the mould and pre-cure retreading processes. For this reason, in October 2008 Germany’s Rösler Group founded an R&D department to work on developing specific software for accurately determining these two factors during vulcanisation. Rösler reports that its software has helped improve the quality and consistency of the products made by its two major retreading brands, Rodos and Schelkmann. The mould cure process used by Rodos in the retreading of OTR tyres takes several hours to complete, and it is particularly important to precisely determine the curing time in connection with the curing temperature, as any unnecessary prolongation of the time will result in the rubber becoming over-vulcanised.
Continue Reading“Export Markets an Integral Part of Our Business” – Apollo’s Kanwar
In these froward economic times, it is difficult to make plans. Apollo Tyres, however, appears to be pressing ahead with its inroads into European markets. The company’s chairman and managing director Onkar Singh Kanwar recently spoke to India’s largest financial daily, The Economic Times, and explained why exports are so important for Apollo at present. “The passenger car segment (in India) has been badly impacted,” related Kanwar. “As car sales have plummeted, tyre sales have also gone down proportionally. Apollo Tyres however has managed to maintain a growth of 22 per cent despite the overall scenario, as exports have helped in tiding over this period so far.” He added that, in this most recent financial quarter, exports grew by 37 per cent year-on-year.
Continue ReadingChampion Drifter Joins Team Toyo
Toyo Tire USA announced today that Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen has become the newest member of Team Toyo. Millen will compete for the Formula Drift championship in a 550-horsepower, 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe equipped with extreme performance Toyo Proxes R1 tyres. In addition to the Formula Drift series, Millen plans to compete with the car in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb as well as Redline Time Attack events. Since its release in 2007, the Proxes R1R has won two Formula Drift championships, the D1 GP championship and the Street Touring S class championship during the 2008 SCCA Solo National Championships as well as many time attack competitions.
Continue ReadingBridgestone: ‘Think Before You Drive’
Bridgestone Americas has officially unveiled its new online driver safety program at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. With the launch of the new website, all of Bridgestone Americas’ consumer road safety programs are unified under a single banner — Think Before You Drive — a driver education initiative of the global Bridgestone Group. While the site is designed to educate all passenger vehicle drivers, it has a special focus on younger drivers, incorporating all of Bridgestone’s consumer safety and education programs under one comprehensive umbrella to further reinforce the importance of smart driving, the company said. The company said that ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org provides tyre safety lessons and driving skills to help reduce preventable tragedies on the road. The site highlights the variety of consumer safety and education programs the company runs or sponsors, such as SafetyScholars.com, Mario Andretti’s Real Information On Safety, Driver’s Edge, Car Care Academies and TireSafety.com. The site offers visitors a variety of interactive services including video games, quizzes, videos, vehicle maintenance tips and more, according to the company. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingTyrFil Maker Adds Staff, Facility
Despite the current economic situation, Pathway Polymers, marketers of TyrFil Recycling Systems, claims that it has expanded its sales force and opened a new facility.The new 6,000 sq ft development, processor training and machine demo area is at Pathway Polymer’s production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The development, processor training, and machine demo area is fully equipped with TrioFil, AutoFil, Graco, Electric TyrFil, and LiteFil tire fill systems for use by Pathway’s development staff and customer processors. The three new territory managers include Kevin Carr, based in Henderson, Nevada, who covers the western US; Ben Parish, from Chicago, who covers the Midwest; and Pat McKinney in San Antonio, who is responsible for the southwest. (Tire Review/Akron)
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