Hankook/Slovakia Negotiations Underway
(Akron/Tire Review) The Slovak Spectator reported today that negotiations are underway between the Slovakian government and Hankook Tire Co regarding a new $650 million tyre plant for that country.
Continue ReadingHigh Performance Tyres
The growth of high performance tyres in the UK is outpacing the rest of Europe. V-Z rated tyres have grown 15-20 per cent in the last year. However the sector has, in the past, been largely led by OE fitment and reserved for the main players. How well are second line and budget brands competing in the aftermarket? Tyres & Accessories looks at how tyre manufacturers are extending the boundaries and what exactly is possible when it comes to upgrading tyres.
Continue ReadingTRIB Membership Reaches 430
(Akron/Tire Review) Trojan Tyres in Australia and Sousa & Companhia LDA from Portugal have joined the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB), giving the organization 430 total members. ”We are now at 430 members in over 30 countries, which is the highest we have been in years,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s managing director. “As our promotional materials about retreading and tyre repairing continue to be circulated to the trucking and tyre media worldwide, more and more retreaders and tyre dealers who sell retreads are beginning to appreciate the value of TRIB membership.
Continue ReadingShell Joins Shanghai Automotive in Chinese Maintenance JV
(Akron/Tire Review) The Royal Dutch/Shell Group said it has teamed up with Shanghai Automotive Group Co to launch a car maintenance service for motorists in China. The 50-50 joint venture, called Anji Jiffy Lube Automotive Services Co Ltd, will build a network of fast lube service outlets modeled on the Jiffy Lube chain in the US. It will invest around $23 million for the project, which will initially involve 10 pilot outlets in Shanghai within the first year of operation. Anji Jiffy is targeting to open more than 600 branches by 2015 in China, which currently has around 23 million vehicles on the road. In terms of new car sales each year, China is now the third largest in the world, after the US and Japan.
Continue ReadingTreadways’ Dan Wire to Retire
(Akron/Tire Review) Dan Wire, well-known CEO and chairman of Treadways Corp, has announced that he will retire in early 2006. Mr Wire, who said he will remain as an advisor/consultant to Sumitomo Corporation of America and Treadways until April 2008, will retire effective at the end of Treadways’ next financial year on 31 March 2006.
Continue ReadingCTNA Raises Commercial Tyre Prices
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) has become the latest tyre company to announce a price increase. As of 1 June, CTNA is raising prices on all of its commercial tyres – Continental, General and Semperit and private brand lines it produces in a range of four to six per cent.
Continue ReadingStrikes at Bridgestone NZ
Staff at Bridgestone’s Christchurch tyre plant will start picketing today, reports a New Zealand newspaper, in protest of their unsettled wage claims. The workers, members of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU), have been on an indefinite strike since 9 April after negotiations with the company broke down on 21 March. Union delegate Dave Cahill said that the workers want a five per cent pay rise, shift allowances and a minimum of nine statutory holidays each year. An irregularity in the existing agreement meant some staff received as few as three statutory days off annually, he said.
Continue ReadingCasalbore Leaves Cooper
(Akron/Tire Review) Carl Casalbore, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co’s vice president of marketing and retail sales, abruptly left the company 11 April. The former Pirelli high performance sales and marketing manager left to pursue other interests. Cooper has not yet named a replacement. Casalbore joined Cooper in 1999 after more than 20 years with Pirelli Tire North America, and was initially director of Pirelli sales for Cooper when the two companies worked together on sales and distribution. He later helped spearhead Cooper’s push into the high performance market and with development and launch of Cooper’s Zeon line.
Continue ReadingEnhancing a Global Position
The last year has been eventful for Cooper Tire & Rubber. First the company sold its Cooper Standard business, then it bought an 11 per cent stake in Korean manufacturer Kumho Tire, now the company’s management is optimistic that it is “in the middle of a transformation.” Tire Review’s Jim Smith met Cooper president and CEO, Tom Dattilo, and found out his thoughts on the diverse diverse subjects of emerging markets, run-flat technology and how Cooper can enhance its position as a global player.
Continue ReadingGoodyear and Continental Receive General Motors Supplier Awards
General Motors has awarded Continental Automotive Systems and Goodyear with supplier awards. GM gave the 2004 “Supplier of the Year Award for Tyres” to Goodyear in a ceremony held at GM’s vehicle engineering centre in Warren, Michigan. GM’s vice president of global purchasing and supply chain, Bo Andersson, noted: “Only suppliers that drive to be world class and exceed GM’s expectation in quality, service, technology and price win this award.” This year, fewer than 80 suppliers were selected for a top supplier award from GM.
Continue ReadingMWS Launches Forged Aluminium CV Wheel
Motor Wheel Service Group launched a full range of forged alloy wheels at the recent Commercial Vehicle/Automotive Trade Show. According to the company, the new forged alloy wheels are exclusive to the MWS Group and will increase the range of wheels already stocked by the company. MWS is remaining tight lipped about which company is responsible and where the new wheels are being produced, but was keen to point out that the MWS forged alloy range will include both polished and machine-finished wheels and will be available through the company’s MWS Wheel Systems (OEM source) and MWS Aftermarket divisions.
Continue ReadingZenith Appoints Kwik-Fit as Main Tyre Provider
Fleet management company Zenith Vehicle Contracts, has appointed Kwik-Fit as its first-tier provider of tyres and tyre products. The move is a result of Zenith’s decision to upgrade its Servicecall operation, which manages the maintenance of its 15,000-car fleet. Servicecall has now been brought in-house and its business hours extended so they now run from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Kwik-Fit will handle all out-of-hours calls through its Tannochside call centre in Scotland.
Continue ReadingTen Great Myths – The Case for Passenger Tyre Retreading
The last issue of Tyres & Accessories carried an in-depth article analysing the future of passenger tyre retreading in Europe. Contrary to the current prevailing opinion, the RMA believes that the passenger retreading sector is far from dead. Indeed, the association believes the overall pessimistic view of the prospects for passenger retreading is based on the failure of the retreading industry to effectively explain the role and position that passenger retreads are capable of having as well as a misunderstanding of the kind of sales levels required by the retreading industry in order to create a viable business proposition for the UK’s remaining retreaders. This viewpoint, I believe, is perpetuated by 10 key misconceptions, which I have characterised here as “The Ten Great Myths of Passenger Tyre Retreading”.
Continue ReadingAmtel Completes Vredestein Acquisition
Amtel Holdings Holland NV has completed its acquisition of Vredestein Banden BV from Vredestein Investment Consortium (VICO) for 195.6 million euros in cash. Amtel says it plans to use the opportunity to expand its global operations in Europe, Asia, the former Soviet Union and North America. Combined production capacity will now amount to around 22 million tyres a year.
Continue ReadingPutting the UK Market in the Picture
This year Trelleborg is 100 years young. The company’s name is fairly well recognised in the UK market but there is still room for improvement. Ask where the company comes from, what it’s up to on the UK market, or how Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) fits into the picture and the response is often vague. However the manufacturer is addressing these brand awareness issues and is beginning to focus more and more on its agricultural division as well as marketing itself as a specialist in agricultural tyres. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Ian Gillespie, managing director of Trelleborg Wheel Systems UK, to discern its UK market approach.
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