US Tyre Recall Saga Could Be Over
Foreign Tire Sales Inc.s quarter-million US recall of Hangzhou Zhongce-produced tyres will end on 25 October, according to US news sources. At the same time US and Chinese regulators are expected to sign a cooperation agreement that could help resolve disputes like this. However, according to media reports, this is not the first time such an approach has been taken. The Consumer Product Safety Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with its Chinese counterpart three years ago. This week’s Sino-U.S. Consumer Product Safety Summit brings together the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Chinas General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, as well as representatives of American companies that import toys, fireworks and cigarette lighters from China. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a $63 million budget and a full-time staff of about 400 people to monitor billions of dollars worth of goods. Legislation is in the works to strengthen the agency.
Continue ReadingSibur Seeking Nylon Cord Supplier
Gazprom subsidiary SIBUR Holding has announced it is holding an open one-stage tender for a contract to supply nylon cord. The deadline submission date is 16 October, with a planned for delivery of the products in November or December. Further details regarding the tender, supplier selection criteria and bidding procedures can be found in the basic (official) notification and tender documentation, which has been posted on the company’s website.
Continue ReadingUS Trade Group to Visit Bridgestone HQ
The US state of Ohio is keen to let Bridgestone know that they are welcome in its part of the world. Lieutenant Governor of Ohio Lee Fisher is heading a delegation of almost 50 business and financial development leaders to Japan in order to foster relationships that will create new jobs and investment in the state. The delegation’s itinerary includes a visit to the headquarters of the world’s largest tyre major. Bridgestone already has a strong presence in the city of Akron and adds much to the local economy. Anyone who is here already, we want to thank them for being here and assure them of the states commitment to them, said Carin Rockind from Team NEO, one of the organisations participating in the visit. Rocksin added that if Bridgestone, or indeed any other company, is looking to expand their US presence, we want those new investments to come our way.”
Continue ReadingConti Tyre on M-B C-Class for Driving Events
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG’s ContiSportContact 3 has been named the “official tyre” of Mercedes-Benz USA’s C-Drive national ride-and-drive series, featuring the automaker’s redesigned C-Class sedan. The ride-and-drive events began last month and continue through October, hitting major cities like New York, Washington, Atlanta, Miami and Dallas. “We are very pleased to be a part of the Mercedes-Benz C-Drive series,” said Ed Marohn, director of automotive aftermarket sales, Continental Tire North America. “The ContiSportContact 3 is our premier performance tyre, and is a perfect fit with the sporty, agile performance of the Mercedes C-Class.”
Continue ReadingConti OE for Low CO2 VW Golf
Volkswagen’s new Golf Blue Motion, part of the German manufacturer’s special range of high fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emission vehicles, is making its debut at the Frankfurt show. The cars low-resistance tyres from Continental – alongside a host of other technical features – play a big hand in making for earth-friendly motoring. Conti supplies the Volkswagen assembly line with both the ContiEcoContact 3 and the ContiPremiumContact 2 for this vehicle model. The designers of the Golf Blue Motion decided ultra-low-resistance tyres were an essential component, and approached Continental for supply of the key 195/65 R 15 T and 205/55 R 16 H sizes. And Conti is confident that, in the ContiEcoContact 3 and the ContiPremiumContact 2, Volkswagen is fitting more than just a tyre that reduces fuel consumption. Volkswagen was looking not only for low rolling resistance. It was just as much interested in a high measure of safety in the form of short braking distances on wet and dry roads, excellent handling features and good riding comfort, explains Nikolai Setzer, head of the car original equipment business unit, underscoring the main components of the performance specification. Both products, which we are delivering to VW as sole supplier for the Golf Blue Motion, have been able to completely satisfy these high expectations.
Continue ReadingBBC Top Gear Presenters Race on Dunlop Tyres
The BBC Top Gear team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will make their endurance racing debut this weekend at Silverstone in the annual Britcar 24 Hour race. The team will be joined in their BMW 330Dti race car by the mysterious ‘Stig’ and will be tackling Britain’s biggest race event on Dunlop race tyres, reportedly made at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham. Their attempt at the race, which features a vast array of sportscars from Porsche GT3s, Ferraris and Aston Martins to BMW M3s and Honda Civic Type-Rs, will be the feature of a forthcoming BBC Two programme. Dunlop are delighted that the team are tackling their first endurance race on their race tyres, according to spokesman James Bailey: “Dunlop has won more Le Mans 24 Hour races than any other tyre manufacturer and are dominating many saloon and sportscar racing championships around the world. No-one knows much about The Stig, but we do now know that when it comes to gripping performance, he chooses Dunlop.”
Continue ReadingDeldo Completes Warehouse Expansion
This summer Belgian wholesaler Deldo completed an 8000 square expansion of its Antwerp central warehouse. As a result of the building work the companies warehouse now covers approximately 60,000 square metres and has a stock capacity of more than 2 million tyres. According to the company the move further underlines the company’s vision of having “everything under one roof.” Deldo offers a complete range in premium brands as well as a mix of exclusive brands, with 50,000 tyres being “handled” at the warehouse each day. Deldo representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the recent enlargement will result in improved internal logistics and greater efficiency. The company also expects the move to further its position as a winter tyre specialist, explaining that “winter tyre require a comprehensive stock.”
Continue ReadingKirkby Tyres Adds to Storage Capacity in Eire
Kirkby Tyres has set up a new storage facility in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, as part of the company’s ongoing expansion plans, online news sources have reported. Over the past few months the company has been building up stock at the new facility, with a view to increasing its over-all stock holding and reducing delivery times to the trade. Kirkby Tyres now offers a wide range of Agri, Industrial, MPT, Earthmover ad Forklift tyres from the Tipperary facility. The expansion is believed to have been prompted by the growth of the company’s wheel and tyre business.
Continue ReadingNet Sales, Net Loss Up for Hayes Lemmerz in Q2
Hayes Lemmerz reported on September 6 that its sales for the fiscal second quarter ended July 31, 2007 were US$570.3 million, up 19 per cent from $480.8 million in the corresponding quarter of 2006. The sales increase came from strong international steel and aluminium wheel sales, metals cost recovery and favourable currency fluctuations, the company said. For the fiscal second quarter, the company reported adjusted EBITDA of $48.5 million, up $6.6 million from $41.9 million a year earlier, and a loss from operations of $4.8 million, compared with year earlier earnings from operations of $7.4 million. We continue our strategy of restructuring our business, executing our operating plan, and extending the lead in our global wheel business, said Curtis J. Clawson, president, CEO and chairman of the board. As part of the companys ongoing restructuring efforts, Hayes Lemmerz reached “important milestones” in the second quarter that it believes significantly improve its long-term outlook, while imposing one-time transaction costs. We greatly strengthened our balance sheet by raising $193.1 million through an equity rights offering and a direct equity investment, and paying down $130.8 million of long term debt, said Clawson. The balance sheet restructuring, which included the rights offering, new senior credit facilities totalling approximately $495 million, and 130 million euros of 8.25 per cent senior unsecured notes issued by a European subsidiary, improved our liquidity by $80 million, will generate interest cost savings of approximately $24 million annually, and extends all significant debt maturities until 2013 or later.
Continue ReadingTiger Auto Mauls a 19 Per Cent Headline Earnings Increase
Tiger Automotive has thrived since its unbundling from Tiger wheels last December, and the company’s latest financial bear testimony to the wheel and tyre distributor’s good health. Tiger Automotive reports that in its first full year as a company listed with South Africa’s JSE stock exchange in its own right, it has achieved a 19 per cent increase in headline earnings, to Rs 1.242 (£0.085) a share. Revenue has risen 17.3 per cent to Rs 1.1 billion (£75.3 million). The company reports that these results counter the typical pattern of lower earnings in the second half. At the half-year stage, headline earnings were 15.2 per cent up at Rs 0.61 (£0.042), and the forecast was for a slight increase in full-year earnings. “This pleasing rise in earnings was achieved because we were able to rectify – although not completely – problems that impacted on the first half,” said group managing director Keith Rivers. Pre-tax profit (for the year to 30 June) increased 15.5 per cent to Rs 101.3-million (£6.9 million), while attributable profit was up by almost Rs 10 million to Rs 73.7 million (£5.04 million). In lieu of an annual dividend, the company is making a capital distribution of Rs 0.49 (£0.03) a share.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Build Factory in Romania
Romania’s national press agency Rompres has released information that indicates Yokohama Rubber intends to establish a factory in the nation’s Calarasi region, east of Bucharest. CEO Fumiro Nishi announced during a meeting on September 6 that the Japanese tyremaker is seeking a site close to the capital that offers easy road and rail access plus the added bonus of transportation via waterways. Calarasi is situated between the Danube and the motorway linking Bucharest with the Black Sea port of Constanta. We suggested sites that are available in the region, and the Japanese now need to draw up an investment plan if they want to set up in Calarasi, said Cornel Coman, deputy head of the regional administration.
Continue ReadingBendPak/Ranger Introduces New Truck Tyre Changer
Ranger Products has given the new R2600HD its US launch. The super-duty truck tyre changer is designed for servicing truck, bus and other commercial and OTR tyres and wheels. The addition of the R2600HD greatly extends Rangers market presence from general tyre repair to larger, more specialized commercial truck garages and service outlets. Features include an electric-hydraulic drive system, multi-directional, self-centring hydraulic clamp chuck, quick positioning mount/demount arm, hydraulic sled and a single piece frame for superior rigidity. Hydraulically operated spreader-type jaws ensure secure clamping of virtually all rims and off-road style wheels.
Continue ReadingNTDA Supports Tyre Safety Month
NTDA chairman Peter Gaster has called on members to support the TyreSafe tyre safety month. According to an article on the association’s website Gaster said: This initiative is a fantastic opportunity for all retailers to promote the tyre safety message and encourage motorists into their depots for free tyre checks. NTDA is right behind this exciting initiative and we hope that all our members will use the excellent array of posters and leaflets which are available to promote the campaign.” Independent tyre retailers, garages and franchise dealers are being encouraged by TyreSafe to offer their customers free tyre safety and pressure checks. According to TyreSafe, almost 25 per cent of cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one badly worn or illegal tyre and tyre safety checks are an excellent way for retailers to encourage motorists to visit their premises.
Continue ReadingVancoWinter 2 Launched in the UK
Continental Tyre Group is pleased to announce the launch of its latest cold weather van tyre to be sold on the UK market - the VancoWinter 2. Available from October, VancoWinter 2 features an advanced sipe concept meaning the sipes spread when braking. This creates an ice scraper effect on the road surface allowing shorter braking distances on winter roads. Open shoulders on the tyre with wide lateral grooves give excellent water drainage leading to a high level of protection against aquaplaning on wet roads. The VancoWinter 2’s optimum tyre footprint coupled with a unique cold weather compound gives the VancoWinter 2 as much as 30 per cent extra mileage potential in the winter months compared to a conventional van tyre. According to a Continental statement heralding the release, the winter tyre market is becoming “increasingly important for van drivers and fleets who realise the safety benefits of fitting cold weather tyres to work vehicles.” Continental’s van OE approval success continues with the VancoWinter 2 approved by Mercedes for the popular Sprinter van and the Iveco Daily. Currently one in three vans leaves a European factory on Continental tyres.
Continue ReadingS.drive OE for Beefed up Smart
Yokohama’s S.drive tyres have been approved by smart-Brabus GmbH as OE for the new smart fortwo Brabus - just as similar tyres have been used since 2002 on the model it replaces. The current tyres are the latest additions to Yokohama’s sport-oriented S.drive series, and are being supplied in 175/50R16 77T for the front and 225/35R17 86Y (reinforced) for the rear. The smart fortwo Brabus was developed by smart-BRABUS GmbH, a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler AG and leading German tuner Brabus GmbH, on the basis of the already unique smart fortwo. The Brabus version, with its brand-new 98hp/72kW turbo engine, is the high-end model and combines outstanding driving dynamics and low fuel consumption. It will be available in Europe, Australia and Japan as of October 2007. Yokohama, who has been in a technical partnership with Brabus GmbH since 2005, states it is proud to have met the high technical standards required in the process of development with smart-Brabus GmbH. The new generation fine-tuned S.drive tyres for smart-Brabus offer outstanding kinetic performance and improved wet grip.
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