Beru – Quarter Figures Show Mixed Results
Tire Safety System (TSS) manufacturer Beru AG has posted total sales revenues of 116.8 million euros for the first quarter of the 2007 financial year, nearly equalling the sales revenues (117.4 million euros) of the prior-year period. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached 14.8 million euros, slightly down from last year’s 17.3 million euros and equivalent to an operating margin of 12.6 per cent. The company’s Electronics and Sensor Technology division maintained its status as growth area during the quarter, with first quarter sales revenues of 38.8 million euros recorded during the quarter, an increase of 16.6 per cent over the previous year. Beru report that their TSS system was largely responsible for driving this growth.
Continue ReadingCeat Ltd Joins TRIB
CEAT, Ltd. has joined the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), bringing TRIB’s membership to 470 members in 46 countries. “TRIB continues to grow internationally as more and more companies in the new tire and retread industries throughout the world realize that TRIB is the only international retread industry association representing new tyre manufacturers, retreaders and tyre repair companies,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s Managing Director. “We especially appreciate the support we receive from new tyre manufacturers such as CEAT, Ltd, since it underscores the importance they place on retreading as part of the life cycle of a tyre, he added.
Continue ReadingDunlop Adds to Mixed Service Truck Tyre Range
Peterborough’s TruckFest show – an event co-sponsored by Dunlop Tyres UK - was chosen as the launch venue for new additions to two of the tyremaker’s new product lines. The SP382 and SP482 tyre ranges, designed specifically for vehicles operating in on and off-road conditions, have both received new additions. The SP482 range has welcomed the introduction of tyre that Dunlop claims now ensures all popular sizes are catered for, a 12R22.5 drive tyre. This tyre range is most commonly used on tippers, concrete mixers, cranes and other construction plant equipment that operate on-road most of the time but also find employment in locations such as construction sites and quarries. Therefore the tyre offers high road mileage while delivering the necessary off-road traction and resistance to stone cuts.
Continue ReadingBush Directs EPA to Examine Regulating CO2
President Bush has ordered the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin evaluating stricter emissions standards in response to the recent Supreme Court decision that determined CO2 to be a pollutant. By labelling CO2 a pollutant the Supreme Court opened it to regulation by the EPA, potentially circumventing the requirement for Congress to pass stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The President indicated that he wants action prior to his departure from office in January 2009. The EPA will work with the Departments of Transportation and Agriculture in developing the standards which will have to consider factors such as vehicle safety and the cost of the mandates. Deutsche Bank analysts have reported that CO2 regulation will have a “materially positive intermediate-term impact” on some aftermarket companies.
Continue ReadingWRAP Releases Tyre Recycling Standard Document
Two new documents released this month by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) are designed to set new standards in the tyre recycling industry. With over 46 million used tyres generated annually in the UK, the market for developing end uses for tyres is growing fast and these documents aim to set a quality standard for both the manufacturers and end-users of used tyre material. The two Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) documents were created in conjunction with the British Standards Institute (BSI). They provide guidance to the measures and procedures needed to produce recycled material such as shred, crumb, powder and tyre bales, to a consistent grade and quality. According to WRAP, the PAS documents set out a voluntary specification and will give manufacturers the ability to publicise that their materials are of a high standard, meeting the voluntary guidance criteria. The PAS will provide their customers with the confidence that the materials they are receiving are produced responsibly, in line with an approved procedure. In an industry historically lacking guidelines, the documents promise to be a useful resource.
Continue ReadingNTDA Joins Right to Repair Strategy Group
Following on from the Right to Repair Seminar organised by the NTDA at Brityrex in Manchester earlier this month, the NTDA have been invited to join the powerful R2RC Strategy Group which will run the UK end of the Europe wide campaign. The Strategy Group is made up of representatives from the SMMT Aftermarket Section, the Automotive Distributive Federation and the Independent Garage section of the Retail Motor Industry Federation and other members of the Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group The main task of the group will be to manage the UK end of the campaign which will include lobbying of MPs in Westminster and MEP in Brussels. Representing the NTDA will be the newly elected Vice Chairman of the NTDA David White of Kwik-fit who commented: “This issue is one of the most challenging for our sector and I look forward to representing the Tyre and Fast fit interests within this group which has a lot of work to do over the next few years”.
Continue ReadingMichelin and Goodyear Dunlop Chosen for Pan-Govt Supply Agreement
Michelin, with its service partner ATS Euromaster, has been appointed as one of two suppliers of tyres and associated services in a three-year framework agreement for a pan-government tyre sourcing initiative led by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA), in conjunction with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). The other supplier is understood to be Goodyear Dunlop who will service the agreement through its HiQ and Truck Force retail networks. According to sources close to the arrangement, the contract is divided equally between the two suppliers. Available to all Public Sector Organisations (PSOs) across the UK - encompassing a combined vehicle parc of more than 300,000 vehicles, ranging from cars and motorbikes to vans, trucks and earthmovers - the deal represents the largest tyre framework agreement of its type ever established in the UK. It also includes the option of a 12 month extension until January 2011 and is estimated to be worth tens of millions of pounds. The agreement has been set up to deliver significant efficiencies as a result of combined volumes, additional leverage and collaborative working between central government departments and wider public bodies nationwide.
Continue ReadingASA Names New Communications, Marketing Manager
(Akron/Tire Review) ASA Tire Systems promoted Erik Croswell to manager of communications and marketing. Croswell has been with ASA Tire Systems since August of 1998. In his new role, Croswell will plan and manage the company’s advertising, direct mail and promotional campaigns, as well as Web development for ASA Tire Systems and its customers.
Continue ReadingJK Tyres Sales & Profit Up
For the quarter ending March 31, 2007 JK Tyre & Industries Ltd posted a net profit of £2.64 million as compared to £435,460 in the corresponding previous quarter. Net sales for the period increased 19.48 per cent to £91.35 million from £76.45 million a year earlier. The company’s net profit during the first half of the current fiscal year stood at £1.68 million, compared with £439,000 during the first six months of 2005-06. Net sales rose 17.13 per cent to £194.73 million from the previous year’s total of £165.26. At present JK Tyre is the undisputed leader of India’s truck and bus radial market with a market share of close to 80 per cent. The company’s light truck and passenger car radial market segments, while not reaching these levels, are still a healthy 25 and 24 per cent respectively. JK Tyre also enjoys a market share approaching 23 per cent in the nylon truck tyre segment.
Continue ReadingPirelli Tyre Post Positive Quarterly Figures
Pirelli &C. SpA have released company financial figures for the quarter up to March 31, 2007, and this data indicates a largely positive three months for Pirelli Tyre. In the first quarter of 2007 Pirelli Tyre registered a 6 per cent increase in sales, in spite of a negative exchange rate effect, and although faced with increases in raw material prices operating income rose compared with the same period in 2006. Revenues as of 31 March 2007 were equal to 1,060 million euros, up from 1,000.4 million euros in the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 9.1 per cent on a like-for-like basis, net of any exchange rate effect. EBITDA was equal to 150.9 million euros. Operating income amounted to 103.7 million euros, an increase of 4.5 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2006 when operating income was recorded as 99.2 million euros. The ratio over sales was substantially unchanged compared with last year, despite increases in raw material costs.
Continue ReadingMichelin Holds Annual Shareholders’ Meeting
Michelin’s annual shareholders’ meeting was held in Clermont-Ferrand on May 11, and managing partner Michel Rollier submitted to the shareholders a number of proposed changes in the area of Michelin Group corporate governance. Of particular significance was the proposal that “the [Groups] management be enlarged to non-general managing partners in order to guarantee the sustainability as well as collegial nature of its management”. The resolutions submitted for shareholder vote – 18 in total – were approved by a sizable majority, and the company’s bylaws were amended accordingly. Mr. Didier Miraton, Head of Research and Industrial Performance and Mr. Jean-Dominique Senard, Chief Financial Officer, were appointed Non-General Managing Partners. Commenting on the changes, Mr. Rollier stated he was convinced that he and the two new managing partners, would form “the close and efficient team Michelin needs to rise to the challenges confronting it”.
Continue ReadingNew Winter Range for Interstate
Netherlands based Interstate Tire & Rubber Company has announced the introduction of a new range of exclusive brand Interstate winter tyres for the 2007 season. Called the Interstate Winter IWT-2, the new tyres are produced in China to a European design and intended for European conditions, and to maximise the range’s Europe-wide appeal Interstate will release the Winter IWT-2 in two silica compound variations, a softer compound for Nordic regions and a firmer ‘West European’ compound. Being designed with winter conditions in mind the range feature three-dimensional sipes on both the inner and outer shoulders, and these sipes are laid out in an interlocking format that prevent the sipes from sticking to each other when subjected to lateral forces, thus increasing dry road stability and handling while providing grip in snow and ice conditions. The centre tread is laid out in a v-shaped pattern, which Interstate claims serves to direct water from the tread area into the wide circumferential grooves positioned on either side of the centre tread.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Awards First Expert Level Dealers
At the end of April Bridgestone UK announced details of its Expert Level Truck Point Dealer Audit Programme, naming the first three recipients. The accreditation scheme is the latest stage in the multi-million-pound total tyre management investment programme Bridgestone has been engaged in for the last three years. A further 46 external “Expert Level” audits were scheduled to have been completed at the end of April. Bridgestone plan to hold an official awards ceremony for the remaining Expert Level dealers at the annual Truck Point conference in October. Talking to Tyres & Accessories, Bridgestone representatives described how working with Lloyd’s register made their scheme “a first.” As external auditors, LRQA (Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance), a leading management systems assessment body, carry out the necessary checks independently, adding greater value to the validation of the Expert Level dealers. The objective of the programme is to recognise the high service standards of Expert Level Truck Point dealers, and to further improve the service standards of the entire network. The Expert Level Truck Point Audit Programme audits customer service provision, casing management, health & safety policy, equipment checks, administration, invoicing and training within Truck Point dealers.
Continue ReadingHankook Europe appoints new PR manager
Hankook has appointed a new head of public relations for its European markets. Effective as of May 1, 2007, Felix Kinzer stepped into this role, taking over from Benedikt Preussner, who will now take charge of European media and event planning for Hankook Europe. Mr. Kinzer, aged 44, has served in a number of public relations roles within the tyre industry for more than 15 years, most recently heading up his own press office in Munich, from which he supplied automotive related articles to various car and tyre magazines. Previous industry positions include head of the public relations department at Pirelli Germany and public relations manager for Bridgestone’s German operations. Amongst other responsibilities, Mr. Kinzer will be responsible for the expansion and strategic positioning of Hankooks pan-European press activities, a role of particular importance in light of the upcoming inauguration of the company’s Dunaujvaros production facility in Hungary, Hankook’s first in Europe.
Continue ReadingGoodyear’s Marathon Now Better Equipped to Go the Distance
Goodyear is set to release a longer-lasting and more durable version of its ultra-low profile trailer tyre, the Goodyear Marathon 455/40R22.5 LHT (Long Haul Trailer). To differentiate this new and improved version from the existing Marathon a plus symbol has been added; the LHT+, as the new tyre is to be known, has the distinction of being the lowest diameter 22.5” trailer tyre on the market and, Goodyear claims that, amongst other performance improvements, the LHT+ offers 10 per cent more mileage than its predecessor. With the Goodyear Marathon LHT+ 455/40R22.5 tyre featuring what its manufacturer states is the lowest aspect ratio - 40 per cent - offered on a trailer tyre, operators are able to maximise the size of the brakes fitted to units wearing the Marathon LHT+, making the tyre a suitable choice for maximum cube ‘Mega Trailers’.
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