Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone has sold its 11 hectare former factory site in Christchurch, New Zealand for an undisclosed sum. Production ended at the Papanui factory in late 2009 and the land was placed on sale last year, minus a 1.3 hectare chunk given to Christchurch City Council for flood protection.
On 31 August, Roger Stansbie, currently director of truck tyre technologies for Continental Tire the Americas’ Commercial Vehicle Tire business unit, will retire. Stansbie intends to return to the UK following his retirement and will be succeeded in his US-based role by Czech Republic national Libor Heger, who has been employed by Continental AG and its associated companies for the last 13 years.
Xiaorong Wang, the man accused of stealing confidential information from Bridgestone, has been charged by a US District Court with eight counts of theft of trade secrets and seven counts of making false statements to federal agents. Cleveland-based WOIO-TV reports that the indictment returned by federal grand jury alleges that Wang stole information on projects, formulas and other confidential matters from Bridgestone's Akron, Ohio, technical centre in April 2010. The false statements Wang allegedly told FBI investigators focus on Wang's intention to accept employment at Suzhou University in China to establish a rheology polymer centre, WOIO-TV added.
Bridgestone has secured a premium original equipment deal in North America with its selection as standard fitment on the top-line ‘Platinum’ version of the new 2013 Cadillac XTS. The Platinum’s 20-inch rims will be equipped with the Potenza RE97AS in size P245/40R20 95V, and the tyre is also available as an optional upgrade on the ‘Premium Collection’ version of the new Cadillac flagship.
Bridgestone Motorsport has held its inaugural Bridgestone Golf Performance Challenge at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, next to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where MotoGP’s Indianapolis Grand Prix takes place this weekend. Four golfing teams led by NGM Mobile Forward Racing’s Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Andrea Dovizioso, CAME IodaRacing project’s Danilo Petrucci and James Ellison from Paul Bird Motorsport, all headed out to the driving range and then onto the course for a three-hole golfing contest.
Bridgestone has begun manufacturing its Blizzak winter range in China. The tyre maker celebrated the start of Blizzak production in its Tianjin plant this month. The factory, which opened in 2000, recently benefitted from a capacity expansion programme that saw output increased from 16,500 units per day to 25,300; it is not clear what proportion of total output will be dedicated to winter tyres.
Kings Road Tyres (KRT) is one of the largest specialist wholesale distributors of truck tyres in the UK. With a track record stretching back 40 years, the company provides a complete commercial tyre service covering premium brands such as Bridgestone, Continental and Goodyear, through mid-range products from Firestone and its exclusive distributorship of the Continental Group brand, Matador. It is also the exclusive distributor of the fast-growing Chinese manufactured Aeolus and Antyre ranges, with retreads from Bulldog completing the portfolio.
Bridgestone staff raised more than £700 for Acorns Children’s Hospice at the company’s recent Olympic-themed sports day. The fundraiser saw staff at the company offices in Leamington Spa competing in events such as rowing, cycling and archery. Local paralympian Anna Turney, who is currently being sponsored by Bridgestone, was invited to award prizes for each individual discipline, as well as an overall team winner.
Bridgestone will supply its MotoGP tyres to teams in USA for the second of two consecutive races in the country. This weekend’s action is held at the revered Indianapolis Motor Speedway, whose distinctive layout places significant demands on Bridgestone’s rubber. The circuit comprises three distinct parts; the renowned oval which forms the main straight, the opening complex and turns seven and eight built specifically for MotoGP, and the rest of the infield which was constructed for when the circuit held Formula One races. Large sections of the circuit were resurfaced last year, resulting in more consistent grip levels, while some undulations on the tarmac that caused the bikes to behave erratically in corners were also removed. Bridgestone will supply special construction asymmetric rear slick tyres in the medium and hard compounds to manage the very high tyre temperatures expected around this circuit.
Organisers of the recently concluded Latin American & Caribbean Tyre Expo have hailed it as a “great success”. This year more than 3000 tyre dealers are said to have visited from over 80 countries. More than 200 exhibitors from around the world participated in the expo.
With Bridgestone having announced that first half operating profits grew 43 per cent year-on-year to 133.8 billion yen, the tyre manufacturer has upped its full-year operating profit guidance. Bridgestone had predicted that it would achieve 118 billion yen by this measure, with Deutsche Bank estimating nearer 136 billion yen. As a result the financial analysts now report that the company has lifted its full-year operating profit projections and is now looking at 50 per cent year-on-year growth to 287 billion yen (previous predictions were 269 billion yen, with Deutsche Bank expecting 316 billion yen).
Commenting on Bridgestone’s second quarter financials, particularly the operating profit of 133.8 billion yen outstripping guidance of 118 billion yen and expectations of 50 per cent year-on-year growth, Deutsche Bank analyst Takashi Moriwaki says the bank sees “risk for a guidance overshoot as profitability is on an uptrend thanks to stable selling prices and declining raw material costs.”
Continental has appointed ex-Bridgestone Europe communications vice-president Des Collins head of its new Liaison Office for Public Affairs in Brussels, Belgium. This new office in the European Union’s political capital opened on 1 August, and Collins takes responsibility for representing the legislative and regulatory interests of both Continental’s Rubber and Automotive Groups.
Operating income and net income at Bridgestone Corporation increased 43 per cent and 39 per cent respectively in the first half of the 2012 fiscal year, the Japanese tyre maker reports. An operating income of 133.7 billion yen (£1.1 billion) and net income of 75.2 billion yen (£614.8 million) were achieved even though net sales only rose two per cent year-on-year to 1,488.9 billion yen (£12.2 billion) during the first half.
Bridgestone UK’s contract with Aberdeen-based operator ARR Craib has been renewed for a further year. The newly agreed deal builds on the relationship that began in 2009 and will see Bridgestone supplying a combination of new and retreaded tyres over the next 12 months to ARR Craib’s fleet of 200 trucks and 500 trailers. The company will also continue to utilise the Bridgestone Mega-Fleet system.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
