Pirelli Signs Swedish Rally Supply Deal
Pirelli has added another set of supply dates to its famed calendar in a new three-year deal struck with Swedish motorsport, making the Italian giant the exclusive tyre supplier to the Swedish Rally Championship. In signing up for this exclusive supply deal, Pirelli restates its commitment to single tyre competitions, a subject currently debated in Tyrepress.com’s Question of the Month. Pirelli states in its release that the agreement represents a vindication of the companys decision to concentrate on the single-tyre philosophy in both racing and rally championships. This direction was set down by the FIA and has been fully supported by Pirelli, which has introduced a range of products designed to offer top performance whilst reducing overall costs: a move that makes sense in the current economic climate.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Names New Head of Europe Headquarters
There is a new man at the helm of Hankook’s European operations. On November 13 the South Korean manufacturer announced the appointment of Mr. Jin-Wook Choi, executive vice president and member of the board of Hankook Tire Co, Ltd. to the position of Head of Europe Headquarters. Mr. Choi brings to the position more than 33 years of international business experience with Hankook, including more than eight years at top management level.
Continue ReadingBeru Sales, Profits Down
In the first nine months of 2008 the Beru Group posted revenue of 324.2 million euros, a decrease of 2.2 per cent of the corresponding period of the previous year. Profit from ordinary activities (EBIT) amounted 18.8 million euros, equivalent to an EBIT margin of 5.8 per cent. In 2007 this figure and margin were 34.2 million euros and 10.3 per cent respectively. This includes one-time special items, which reduced EBIT by approximately EUR 9.8 million. Excluding those special items, adjusted EBIT amounted to EUR 28.6 million, equivalent to an adjusted margin of 8.8 per cent per cent.
Continue ReadingMichelin Develops Lunar Wheel For NASA Moon Rover Vehicles
NASA intends to return to the moon, with both manned and unmanned missions planned for the coming decade. To meet the unique tyre requirements presented by a no-atmosphere operating environment, Michelin has developed a new lunar wheel for the next generation of NASA moon rover vehicles. The structurally supported tyre and wheel assembly, made from composite materials, was jointly developed at Michelins European and North American research centres.
Continue ReadingMichelin Ballymena Staff Told: Extend Christmas Break
The Belfast Telegraph has reported that Michelin has told its staff at the French giant’s Northern Ireland facility to take an extended Christmas holiday due to the economic downturn. The factory usually remains running except on Christmas and Boxing Day, but this year will not produce anything for ten days between 23 December and 2 January. Michelin Ballymena employs 1,000 people, producing heavyweight truck tyres for North American and European markets. The paper confirmed that workers will need either to use up holidays or take unpaid leave, though those who are most in need of the money will be able to clock on to clean the factory during the winter break. This follows the news today that the EU is reporting that the eurozone area is in recession.
Continue ReadingCeva to Run Pirelli Distribution Centre
Ceva Logistics has opened a distribution centre in Westland, Michigan which it will run for Pirelli Tire North America. The centre will handle tyres for two of Pirelli’s US-based OE customers, General Motors and Ford Motor Company, providing dedicated transportation and warehousing services for the tyre manufacturer. “We estimate to move one million tyres through the facility in 2009,” said John Godfrey, Pirelli Tire North America’s Director of Logistics.
Continue ReadingIndustrial Director to Leave Pirelli Carlisle
The Cumberland News reported today that the boss at Pirelli’s Carlisle plant will leave early next year to take up a position at the company’s plant near Frankfurt, Germany. Mr Carducci-Agostini has worked at the Carlisle plant for four years, spend the first three as production manager before landing the top job last year. His new position will also be heading up the Frankfurt factory. The paper also understood that the person to take the reigns at Carlisle has been appointed, though further details were as yet unavailable. The change of personnel will not – the News understood – have any impact on operations at the facility.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Supplies New Hill Climb Tyres
More power requires different tyres. After winning three Italian hillclimb titles (2004, 2006 and 2007) and one European championship (2005) in this speciality with 2000 cc Osella cars and Marangoni Zeta Linea tyres, Simone Faggioli’s team were looking to go the next level. “With the adoption of the 3000 cc engine, the horsepower almost doubled, from 250 to 450 HP”, Simone Faggioli explained. “We needed tyres that had to be completely different in terms of size, compound and casing. Once again, the Marangoni racing department responded enthusiastically, providing the support we needed to work on a completely new project.”
Continue ReadingAffinia Complete China Buy
Affinia has completed the acquisition of 85 per cent of Chinese brake component maker HBM Investment Ltd., owner of Longkou Haimeng Machining Co. Located in Shandong, China, Longkou Haimeng produces brake drums and rotors, and has a strong OE and aftermarket presence in Asia and Europe. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Fleet Counters Winter Dangers with Safety Checks
Road casualties peak in the winter months, and a causal factor in many instances is that at least one of the vehicles involved is not maintained to the best possible level. For this reason Kwik-Fit Fleet is once again offering free safety checks. Company car and van drivers can call in at any of Kwik-Fit’s 670 High Street centres for the free five-point safety check, which covers:
Continue ReadingYokohama Income Declines in H1 2008
Yokohama Rubber has announced experiencing a 53.7 per cent decline in operating income for the six months to September 30, 2008 in comparison to the same period of the previous year, to 5.6 billion yen (£37.7 million), despite a 1.3 per cent increase in net sales, to 256.6 billion yen (1.7 billion). Net income for this first half of the current financial year declined 95.7 per cent, to 554 million yen (£3.7 million). For the three months ending September 30, 2008, net sales were 133.5 billion yen (£898.8 million), an increase of 1.8 per cent. Operating income decreased 81 per cent to 1.5 billion yen (£10.1 million) and net income dropped from 29.5 million yen (£198,600) in 2007 to a loss of 7.03 million yen (-£47,000) in the recently concluded quarter of this year.
Continue ReadingTIA Readies Commercial Event, Retread Contest Back
Fresh off the 2008 SEMA Show, TIA has turned its focus on the the 2009 Commercial Tire, Retread & Recycling Conference (CTRRC), which will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando on Feb. 9-11. The CTRRC will again be held in conjunction with the American Trucking Associations Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) annual meeting. As part of the CTRRC, TIA is bringing back the Retread Appearance Contest, which will be held at the TIA Retread Pavilion. In a twist from previous years, this years Retread Appearance Contest will be voted on by the TMC fleet attendees. Details on the Retread Appearance Contest are available at TIA’s Web site at www.tireindustry.org. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingBrisa Celebrates Anniversary of Bridgestone-Sabanci Partnership
On the evening of November 7 Turkish tyre manufacturer Brisa commemorated its 20th anniversary. The company was established through a partnership between Sabanci Holding and Bridgestone in 1988, and senior management from both firms were in attendance at the Four Season Hotel in Istanbul to mark the occasion with a gala dinner. The Sabanci Holding and Brisa management team, along with Bridgestone Corporation executives hosted a wide range of guest, including representatives from the business world, Brisa’s business partners, company employees and members of the press. Ms Güler Sabanci, chairman of Sabanci Holding, Mr. Shoshi Arakawa, Bridgestone president and CEO and Mr. Bülent Savaş, president of Brisa, shared the history of their partnership and the various successes the 20 years together have yielded.
Continue ReadingColumbian to Close US Carbon Black Plant
Due to softer demand for carbon black in North America, Columbian Chemicals announced on November 12 that it will close its production facilities in Marshall, West Virginia, on or around January 31, 2009. Approximately 55 jobs will be lost as a result of the closure.
Continue ReadingQuebec Introduces Compulsory Winter Tyre Law
Contrary to the infamous South Park song, it seems that everything’s gone right since Canada came along; at least for winter tyres. The province of Quebec makes it compulsory for drivers to fit the seasonal rubber to vehicles by 15 December, a deadline decided upon last winter. The law was introduced when data gathered by a provincial road safety task force suggested that 38 per cent of winter accidents involved vehicles relying on all-season rubber. Only ten per cent of (or around 500,000) vehicles in Quebec at the time were found to be running on all-season tyres, rather than specialised winter products. Meanwhile, winter radials have proved to be “hot commodities” in 2008, according to Canada East and other North American news sources. However, there has been at least one negative reaction to the new law: fifty winter tyres were stolen from a Trois-Rivieres dealership, halfway between Montreal and Quebec City. Increased demand and shortages are being reported across Canada, as head of the Automobile Protection Agency, George Iny, told national journalists: “There are already shortages, spot shortages of certain sizes for SUVs. Were convinced by the time the Dec. 15 deadline rolls around there will be certain tires out of stock. This used to happen before. Itll just be exacerbated by the additional demand this year.”
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