Retired Employees Protest at Goodyear and Bridgestone
The Akron Beacon Journal has reported that nearly 200 retired unionised workers have protested outside Goodyear’s corporate headquarters and later in front of Bridgestone Firestones Akron Technical Center to protest what they said are the tyremakers’ proposals to reduce retiree benefits. The protests, were aimed at pressuring Goodyear and Bridgestone in contract negotiations with the United Steelworkers of America. The union and two tyremakers are working under day-to-day extensions of contracts that expired in July. Negotiations started in June.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Successfully Protects Trademark Rights in China
Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. has successfully filed a trademark infringement complaint to the Guilin Industrial & Commercial Administration Bureau. The complaint, which was wholly upheld, was against Guilin Car Wings Car Accessory Co., Ltd for closely resembling the appearance of “car wing” outlets run by Bridgestone Corporation’s Chinese subsidiary.
Continue ReadingDeveloper Eyes Ex-Amcast Plants
In the US, property developer Bill Bean is close to acquiring the two Indiana factories closed last April by Amcast, putting 500 workers out of a job. The factories made wheels for General Motors Corvette and light trucks and were shut down after Amcast failed to agree terms with GM, which was undergoing substantial financial restructuring.
Continue ReadingImproved Natural Rubber Prices Could Ease Manufacturing
If the current raw material price trend continues, it could help improve margins at tyre manufacturers. Natural rubber, which accounts for about a quarter of tyre raw material costs, is down over 20 per cent from the all-time high it hit earlier this year.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Introduces Aircon Recharge Service
Kwik-Fit has announced the launch a brand new vehicle air conditioning recharge service across 100 centres in Greater London and the South East. Recent research from Kwik-Fit has found that almost 900,000 motorists from Greater London drive a car with a neglected and depleted air con, which can lead to trouble, as more than 630,000 motorists from Greater London admit they’ve lost their temper because of the heat.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein Launches Winter Tyres at Moscow Auto Show
Amtel-Vredestein N.V. is to introduce its latest products for the first time in Russia at the Moscow International Motor Show 2006 (30 August to 10 September.) Tyres to be spotlighted include the Vredestein Sportrac 3, Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta, the new Amtel NordMaster ST-310 and the Amtel NordMaster CL winter tyres.
Continue ReadingSapphire Processes 50 Millionth Tyre
Sapphire Energy Recovery is celebrating the recovery of its 50 millionth end of life tyre at its processing facility in West Thurrock, Essex. Sales and marketing manager, Ryan Mifflin explained: “Fifty million tyres represents a saving of more than three quarters million cubic metres of landfill space, enables tyre manufacturers to meet their producer responsibility obligations and provides tyre change depots with a sustainable disposal route.
Continue ReadingConti Narrows Search for China Production
Continental AG has narrowed the search for its first Chinese production facility to two possible locations, Tyres & Accessories has learnt. Both plots are greenfield sites and the selection is expected to come down to which area offers the best economic incentives. Continental AG board member Dr Hans-Joachim Nikolin told T&A the plant will follow the same model as the company’s recently opened, Camacari, Brazil, factory and will produce 4 to 6 million passenger car tyres and between 400,000 and 600,000 truck tyres using “standard” Continental technology.
Continue ReadingMichelin Dundee to Receive Multi-million Pound Investment
Tyres & Accessories has learnt that Michelin is planning to investment a double-digit million pound figure in its Baldovie, Dundee production facility. Yesterday the manufacturer announced the Dundee factory is to keep annual production at 6.5 million units, but plans to lay off almost 10 per cent of its workforce. Michelin’s Baldovie production plant produces Michelin, BFGoodrich and Kleber passenger car tyres exclusively in the 13 – 15-inch range.
Continue ReadingNew Varta CV Battery
Varta has added a new 180 amp/hour SHD (Super Heavy Duty) battery, suitable for numerous European heavy truck applications, to its advanced calcium-silver PROmotive range. This range offers 70 per cent coverage of the European commercial vehicle market and, says Varta, it is the first range of 100 per cent, maintenance-free HGV batteries to incorporate the innovative, calcium-silver technology.
Continue ReadingNew Catalogues from Motaquip
Aftermarket parts supplier Motaquip has launched two new catalogues. The first of these is the companys 2006/2007 Batteries Catalogue, which provides Motaquips factor customers with details of two-, three- and four-year warranty products, covering 97 per cent of cars on UK roads. The company has also introduced a range of Midtonics battery testers and chargers.
Continue ReadingRussian Car Output Rises
Car output in Russia rose 9.5 per cent year on year to 646,000 units in January-June, the industry and energy ministry reported. The ministry attributed the growth to an increase in car output by Avtoframos, a joint venture between the Moscow city government and Renault; Ford; the GM-AvtoVAZ JV; IzhAvto, TagAZ, and Severstal-Auto; and Russian car assembly plant Avtotor, a Prime-Tass report said. Truck output in Russia rose 18.4 per cent in the first half of the year, said the ministry, but did not provide any detailed data. The ministry attributed the growth to an increase in light commercial vehicle output by Russian automakers GAZ, UAZ and TagAZ.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Extends Meteo HP Winter Range
The use of winter tyres for the cold season has become widespread among European users in the last few years. In the past winter, for instance, sales in Europe increased by almost eight per cent when compared to 2004. In keeping with this trend, Marangoni Tyre is further extending its Meteo HP range of winter tyres. Extremely safe, with high performance on all types of road surface and over an exceptionally wide range of operating temperatures, Meteo HP can be defined as the no-compromise winter tyre.
Continue ReadingAlcoa: Dura-Bright Wheels Now Even Brighter With XBM Technology
Alcoas new Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology provide customers with wheels that are 53 per cent more reflective and with 74 per cent more image clarity, according to the wheel manufacturer. In fact from 1 September Alcoa Wheel Products will officially begin transitioning from its original Dura-Bright wheels to new Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology. Alcoa says its new treatment means brake dust, grime and oil residue wash off quickly and easily with a spray of soap and water. As before, Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology combat liquid road de-icers and chemicals.
Continue ReadingPirelli and Ford Rapid Fit in Joint Promotion
Pirelli has awarded £1,000 in Thomas Cook holiday vouchers to the top performing Ford Rapid Fit tyre dealers, with regard to Pirelli sales, in the North and South Regions respectively. A further £1,000.00 in Thomas Cook vouchers was awarded to the next highest performer overall. Pirelli was delighted with the increase in sales as a result of the promotion. The winners are:- 1st South Bristol Street Motors, Bristol Road, Gloucester Winner: Mr Alan Slater 1st North T C Harrison Ford, Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon Winner: Mr Mark Nelson 3rd Highest Performer Overall Brunel Ford, Ashton Gate, Bristol Winner: Mr Neil Scull
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