MAM to Target Tyre Market With Appointment
MAM Software is aiming to target the tyre market following the company’s appointment of Graham Dunford as a new Senior Sales Manager for its Autopart ERP solution. Dunford will spearhead the companys drive into the tyre market, with a focus on increasing its penetration of the retail, wholesale and fast-fit sectors. MAM Software is reportedly the largest provider of distribution and retail ERP solutions into the automotive aftermarket and has already established a significant user base in the tyre, fast fit and repair sector. As well as supplying national chains such as Formula 1 Autocentres, Mr Clutch, Wilco Fastfit, LSUK and Just Car Clinics, MAM also supports several well-known regional tyre companies and exhaust distributors including CES, Goodtread and Cooper Brothers.
Continue ReadingApollo Drops Hungarian Factory Plans
A question mark now hangs over Apollo Tyres’ future direction in Hungary following the company’s decision to withdraw its application to establish a facility in the city of Gyöngyös. Apollo planned to build a greenfield operation to house its European Manufacturing and High Technology Centre, however delays and local opposition has dampened the company’s enthusiasm for the project. This news comes barely a fortnight after Apollo admitted production at the facility would not feasibly begin before 2010 because of hold-ups in the land acquisition and regulatory clearance process.
Continue ReadingGreen Tyres Mean Business
The tyre industry definition of a ‘green tyre’ is taking on a new meaning. Ever since tyres have been mass produced these two words have referred to the semi-finished un-vulcanised tyre product. Now the tyre industry is taking on an increasingly ecological focus and ‘green tyre thinking’ is giving retreaders the opportunity to ‘sell’ the uniquely environmental benefits they offer over and above new tyres. With this in mind, Tyres & Accessories interviewed Patrick O’Connell, director of one of the UK’s leading independent retreading operations, and learnt that retreads are not only the greenest tyres on the market, but that they make sound business sense too. Everyone knows that retreads are greener than new tyres, but now it seems retreaders are making a concerted effort to shout about the eco-benefits of their tyres. The first step has been commissioning new research demonstrating, once again, the environmental soundness of retreads. Numerous reports have been conducted by organisations such as WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and recently Best Foot Forward, who were commissioned by the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse. This independent life cycle analysis was carried out to compare the relative carbon footprints of new tyres and retreaded tyres and concluded that the manufacture and distribution of a retreaded tyre results in significantly less carbon emissions than the production of a new tyre.
Continue ReadingHalf-Year Profits Down at Beru
Germany’s Beru Group have posted sales revenue of 230.4 million euros in the first half of 2008, a 2.77 per cent growth on the corresponding period of 2007. The main sources of revenue, the company reports, were the Aftermarket segment and the Electronics and Sensors division. Profit from ordinary activities (EBIT) reduced 35.2 per cent due to one-time special items and amounted to 15.8 million euros. Excluding the special items, adjusted EBIT amounted to 23.1 million euros, equivalent to an adjusted margin of 10.0 per cent. Beru’s profit of 12.3 million euros during the period was also lower than in the first half of 2007, when profits of 18.5 million euros were achieved.
Continue ReadingWith Chinese input Prices on the Up Could there be a Retread Renaissance?
Raw material price increases affect every part of the tyre production and distribution chain. At the moment all the new tyre manufacturers (from the largest to the smallest) are feeling the raw materials pinch, which has been reflected in a run of less profitable financial reports. Even the Chinese manufacturers that were able to offer the “economic option” for so long are being forced to restructure their prices. Prior to this the low price of new Chinese made truck and bus radials had been hindering sales of quality retreads, so now that the price differential appears to swinging back against the Far Eastern budget producers, will this provide the opportunity for a resurgence in retread sales? Take Qingdao, Shandong province-based Aufine Group Co Ltd. In August Tyres & Accessories received notification that the company was bringing in a second “unfortunate” price increase in three months, brought on by the “not small” (23 per cent) increase in Aufine’s natural rubber costs. The fact that the Chinese government clamped down on production in regions adjacent to Qingdao during the last quarter has also affected the distribution of these products. Furthermore, in addition to pressures mentioned above, the supply of Chinese tyres is also described as “inconsistent” since the pound’s value has fallen against the Euro. As a result Chinese manufacturers are increasingly ‘cherry-picking’ sales in the most lucrative international markets.
Continue ReadingAiming for Zero
OHSAS 18001 is the internationally recognised assessment specification for occupational health and safety management systems developed by leading trade bodies, international standards and certification bodies. The specification enables organisations to establish an occupational health and safety management system and improve performance through eliminating or minimising risk to employees. One tyre industry company that has recently obtained the globally acknowledged OHSAS 18001 for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems certification is Malaysian retreading compound and materials supplier Goodway Rubber Industries.
Continue ReadingConti Schaeffler Deal Could be Concluded This Weekend
The month-long hostile takeover battle between Continental AG and Schaeffler Group could be over this weekend…or not. According to news reports, Conti and Schaeffler are negotiating a “friendly agreement.” Various sources are speculating that this means Jurgen Geissinger, Schaefflers chief executive, has tabled a new offer of 75 euros per share. However, both the Financial Times and Euroweek point out that it is not over till its over and if Continental shareholders refuse the offer Schaeffler will have to either convert all the swaps it holds in Conti into shares or terminate them all. 12 days of Schaeffler’s offer period remain.
Continue ReadingPirelli Joins Price Hike Round
Pirelli Tire North America is increasing prices in the US up to 7 per cent as of November 1. The increase will cover all of Pirelli’s passenger and light truck/SUV lines. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein Delivers $222 Million Loss in 2007
Despite net sales rising 29.4 per cent to $994 million in the full 2007 year to December 1, Amtel-Vredestein has recorded a pretax loss of $222 million for the year. The company states that its strong sales were boosted by its core passenger car tyre business, as well as good trading in other tyre segments. Sales from the company’s Russian operations grew 30 per cent to $439 million, while sales from European operations via the Company’s Vredestein Banden subsidiary rose 18 per cent to $402 million.
Continue ReadingConti & Evonik Seek Olympic Gold
Continental AG claims that experts at German specialty chemicals company Evonik Industries have improved Germany’s outdoor Olympic cycling team’s chances of taking gold at the Beijing Olympics. Conti applications technician Wolfgang Arenz says that Evonik has helped Continental reduce the energy loss experienced by its tyres by 26 per cent through optimally interacting three rubber filler components: carbon black, silica, and organosilane. The filler system reduces rolling resistance, which means a cyclist increases speed for the same energy input, and improves grip on wet roads.
Continue ReadingSport Maxx Tyres Help Hollamby in Time Attack
Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup driver Shaun Hollamby, took on one of the most breathtaking circuit phenomenons of the year performing in the Time Attack at Circuit Park Zandvoort, Holland. Time Attack is said to be the next ‘big thing’ in automotive lifestyle and brings full throttle excitement to the track. It puts drivers under pressure with one lap against the clock. Street legal cars are let loose on tracks across Europe to achieve the fastest lap possible and the best from each track meet in the final later in the year. Shaun Hollamby, a race winner, in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup was invited to race Milltek’s Audi R8 at the legendary race circuit in Holland. The R8 proved to be quite a different experience from Shaun’s usual winning car the Sport SEAT Leon Cupra 2.0T. Only the Sport Maxx tyres were the common element to the two cars.
Continue ReadingPirelli Foundation to Study Eco-Tyres With Shandong University
The Silvio Tronchetti Provera Foundation and the University of Shandong in Jinan (China) have signed a research agreement that will see the two parties cooperate on research into “the new generation of ecological tyres.” University researchers will work together with Pirelli Group’s R&D department in China with a view to producing advanced low rolling resistance tyres. Pirelli Group has been involved low rolling resistance research for some culminating in the production of “eco-compatible” products such as the new “Cinturato”, presented in Europe at the beginning of 2008. The Italian-Chinese agreement also includes two joint research initiatives, which aim respectively at realizing more consistent compound mixtures and the study of low-temperature tyre vulcanization.
Continue ReadingGoodyear EM Tyres Accredited by Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc has awarded Goodyear with its “Supplier Quality Excellence Process Certification” bronze certificate in recognition of the quality of its earthmover tyres. The award recognises the achievement as well as the “know how” of Goodyear with regard to the quality of their earthmover tyres and their ability to supply to the customer. Goodyear earthmover tyres are produced in Luxembourg and distributed for use across Europe. The Luxembourg plant produces a top quality product for use as Original Equipment for Caterpillar and other leading manufacturers as well as replacement tyres for the construction industry.
Continue ReadingMichelin Suspected of Market Abuse in France
The French Ministry of Finance is looking into the possibility that Michelin has abused its market power in its home market. According to the daily newspaper Le Figaro, the Ministry has given the case to the nation’s competition council regulator. The paper says Michelin informed its distributors in late 2007 that it would cut commercial advantages to distributors retaining direct or indirect links to a rival tyre manufacturer. Tyre distributor Vulco, a subsidiary company of Goodyear, reportedly complained to the DGCCRF (the General Directorate for Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control), a unit of the Ministry of Finance.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Launches Health and Safety Plan After Accident
Goodyear Dunlop has announced the launch of a global health and safety plan after a worker was injured in an accident at the company’s Wolverhampton plant. Goodyear Dunlop pleaded guilty to breaching the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act in a hearing before Birmingham magistrates at the beginning of August. The manufacturer was fined £13,500 and ordered to pay £2,888.04 in costs plus £4000 in damages. Goodyear Dunlop’s main response has come in the form of it new “No one gets hurt” plan, which includes safety awareness training, and risk assessments that are designed to lead to improvements in processes and equipment usage. “[Goodyear Dunlop] has a positive commitment towards health and safety and continues to strive towards a culture and environment in which all its employees can work safely. We will learn from the findings of this case and continue to improve towards achieving our objective of No-one Gets Hurt,” a company spokesperson said in a statement.
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