US Tyre Shipments Continue to Fall
US tyre shipments have fallen in almost every segment in the first nine months of 2006. As a result the total market fell 5.6 per cent to 228.1 million units. US OE shipments fell 7.5 per cent to 46.1 million units in the first three quarters, while replacement shipments slipped 5.1 per cent to 181.9 million units.
Continue ReadingMichelin Germany to Introduce 40-Hour Week
Michelin is planning to phase-in a 40-hour week to workers at the company’s five German production plants. The news affects 5,750 workers who previously worked 37.5 hours each week. They proposals suggest workers will earn the same weekly rate as before, effectively decreasing their hourly wages, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported. Discussions between Michelin and workers are set to take place in November, with spring 2007 the target date for a resolution. “The pressure from the competitive situation and our customers is enormous. We cannot wait any longer. We need an agreement,” Michelin Germany director, Juergen Eitel told FAZ.
Continue ReadingMAHA Commits to Aftermarket Show
Maha, a world-leader in the garage equipment sector, has confirmed it is set to use January’s Aftermarket Show as a platform for showcasing the latest product in its Dynamometer range. The event will be held at the NEC in Birmingham from 11-14 January. The company, specialists in the manufacture and supply of Brake Testing Equipment, Vehicle Lifts, and Chassis Dynamometers, is returning to the show after enjoying considerable success at the event earlier this year.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to Layoff 330 Due to Strike
(Akron/Tire Review) With most of its North American tyre plants on limited production, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is temporarily laying off some 330 hourly workers at its Asheboro, North Carolina, steel wire plant. The tyremaker is reducing steel wire production due to the United Steelworkers’ strike. The temporary layoffs will begin Friday and will last until the strike is settled and Goodyear’s tire plants are back to full production.
Continue ReadingSteelworkers Say They Can Stay Out. But For How Long?
(Akron/Tire Review) So just how long can the United Steelworkers stay on strike against Goodyear? According to the USW, the union is well-prepared for a lengthy strike. The USW says it has some $150 million in its “strike and defence fund,” and the fund is set up to pay each striking worker $100 per week ($115 after the 10th week). This all kicks in after the fourth week of a strike.
Continue ReadingSpecial Autumn Offer on Millennium Tyres
Viking International has launched a seasonal special offer across its private brand ultra high performance tyre range, Millennium Tyres. All tyres in the Millennium range have been reduced by at least 8 per cent with up to 10 per cent off selected sizes to encourage customers to trial the brand. The special reduction has been introduced as part of a seasonal focus and will run until the end of the year.
Continue ReadingInvestments Boost Rockingham’s Success
Since Corby Developments Limited acquired the majority shareholding in the Rockingham racing circuit in late 2005, it has implemented a £5 million development plan to give the circuit a major makeover. Billing itself as “Europes fastest motor racing circuit” – a claim based on the fact that in 2001 Tony Kanaan went round Rockinghams 1.5 mile oval in 24.719 seconds in his Ford/Lola Champ car – the scope of the facilities now available at Rockingham has attracted a number of events. This year the circuit has already hosted the Avon-sponsored British GT, 2006 Pickup Truck Racing Championship, SCSA Third Round and the Rockingham VSR Championship.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Wins Run-Flat Tyre Test
The UK’s first independent magazine run-flat tyre test has named the Bridgestone Turanza ER300 RFT as “Best Buy 2006.” The extremely close results placed Continental’s PremiumContact SSR second, with Michelin’s Primacy HP ZP third overall. All three tyres were V-rated 205/55 R16 sidewall reinforced style run-flats. The test car was a BMW 320i. Auto Express carried out the assessment as part of its annual tyre test, with experts assessing some of the biggest names in run-flats in a variety of disciplines including wet handling, rolling resistance, and dry handling.
Continue ReadingCooper Names Schrum to Engineering Post
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. named Franklin Schrum Jr. as project manager for corporate facilities engineering. The 16-year Cooper veteran will oversee capital improvements, waste reduction, energy cost reduction programmes and other facility-related programmes.
Continue ReadingIndia Introduces Anti-Dumping Duty on Thai, Chinese Tyres
The Indian government has put provisional anti-dumping duty (ADD) on tyres imported from China and Thailand, with effect from 9 October the Business Standard reported. According to the newspaper, 300,000 imported tyres brought in mainly from China for the commercial vehicle (CV) segment are sold in India annually. Domestic manufacturers sell over 10 million tyres.
Continue ReadingApollo Q2 Sales Grow 21 per cent
Apollo has published un-audited financial results showing second quarter sales of 7.67 billion rupees (£90.5 million), up 21 per cent year-on-year. Net profits grew 3.8 per cent to 193 million rupees (£2.28 million) despite global raw material increases. Sales improvement was reflected in the half-year results. Net sales were up 27 per cent to 15.246 billion rupees (£180 million). Operating profit grew 2.8 per cent in the six-month period to 1,167 billion rupees (£13.78 million).
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Increase Prices in Japan
Bridgestone Corporation announced today that it will raise prices on 1 February 2007 for tyres, tubes and flaps sold in the replacement market in Japan. Prices for winter tyres will be increased on 1 April 2007. Specific price increases include 5.5 per cent for passenger car and light truck tyres, 8 per cent for truck and bus tyres, 10 per cent for construction vehicle tyres, 5.5 per cent for motorcycle tyres (excluding certain products) and 8 per cent for other kinds of tyres, and for tubes and flaps (excluding those for motorcycles).
Continue ReadingTop Industry Award for DME Tyres
DME Tyres has scooped an accolade by winning the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA)’s Audit Excellence Award for 2006. The award, which recognises and rewards the most professional approach to compliance and best practice in waste tyre collection and reprocessing, was presented to DME’s managing director Ken Plaster and commercial director Bill Clarke at the Rubber Industry Dinner held in Solihull last month.
Continue ReadingAftermarket Show Revamps Website
The Aftermarket Show has revamped its web site, signalling the launch of its visitor campaign for the 2007 show. The website www.theaftermarketshow.com holds everything there is to know about the event and also that of sister show Autosport International, enabling visitors to plan their visit around the four day long exhibition.
Continue ReadingHi-Q Becomes Rental Company Supplier
National fast fit operator, Hi-Q Fleet, has secured a major contract to supply the tyre management service to an expanding contract hire and lease company. Business & Vehicle Finance Ltd, based in Swansea, provides contract hire and vehicle leasing to local and national companies with a current fleet of over 100 cars and vans – and a plan to expand this to over 500 by the end of the year.
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