Manufacturing Archives - Page 247 of 249 - Tyrepress

Whether its raw materials, machinery, research and development or the latest manufacturing trends, this tag provides up-to-the-minute insights into the upstream part of the tyre industry.

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Stahlgruber Forms Best Enterprise Alliance

Over the years the Stahlgruber group and its international subsidiaries has sold tens of thousands of items of capital equipment to the tyre industry. The company feels that consolidation in the equipment manufacturing industry has led to a narrowing of sourcing opportunities and a consequent adverse effect on price and customer choice. The answer was to form a ‘Best Enterprise Alliance’ in which a number of companies group together to form a product range, based on their individual areas of expertise. These companies are Stahlgruber, Butler (the Stahlgruber-owned manufacturer of tyre changers), Cemb, Hunter and Rotary Lifts. Butler will make a range of tyre changers, called Promont, and Cemb a range of wheel balancers, called Probalance, which will be exclusive to Stahlgruber and its subsidiaries. Hunter wheel alignment equipment and Rotary lifts will also be sold. Stahlgruber will continue to sell Butler tyre changers alongside the Promont range. Further information on what the alliance means to the companies involved, and of the ‘own name’ ranges of machines can be found in TYRES & ACCESSORIES 6/2000.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Wants to Grow Faster than the Market

Dr. Paolo Masera, the current boss of Pirelli Reifenwerke, is convinced that Pirelli has every reason to look to the future as a profitable, independent tyre manufacturer. The revolutionary production method MIRS will not only make it possible for the Italian manufacturer to gain cost leadership, he believes, but the automated production process also promises a great improvement even on today’s quality. He stresses Pirelli’s role as the well-accepted technology partner of the motor manufacturing industry in Europe, supplier to Porsche, BMW, Rover, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, Opel and others. Pirelli will not offer a multi-brand strategy because users are less interested in so-called cheap brands; they would rather buy first-class brands at a more favourable price. That does not exclude arrangements with larger customers for the supply of certain group house brands, e.g. Courier, if there is a call for it. The German organisation is facing a fundamental change. In future the emphasis will be more on key accounters, and so-called “channel marketing” is to be strengthened.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Tougher Tyre Safety Rules First Proposed Two Decades Ago

The current Firestone recall has led to many in the USA calling for tougher standards in tyre testing. It has been revealed that, following the Firestone recall in 1978, new regulations were drawn up, incorporating more stringent safety criteria. However, the suggested changes were scrapped when Ronald Reagan became President as it was considered that their implementation would adversely affect the car manufacturing industry.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

At the beginning of April the sixth

At the beginning of April the sixth round-table conference about tyres and tyre technology organised by the Tip Top Stahlgruber company took place in Munich. This year’s 85 participants came from many varied backgrounds: There were tyre dealers, retreaders, material suppliers, representatives of associations (ADAC, BRV, DEKRA, TÜV etc.), scientists and representatives of the vehicle and tyre manufacturing industries. Some of the highlights of the event included Hans-Jürgen Drechsler, deputy managing director of the BRV (Association of Tyre Traders and Non-Industrial Vulcanisers), speaking about development tendencies in the tyre trade with plenty of figures to back up the claim that the general tendency to concentration in the tyre trade is accelerating and manufacturer dependence or orientation also on the increase. Dieter Hatzfeld, formerly Michelin, now in a leading position with RuLa GmbH, the truck tyre cold cure retreader, spoke about the lop-sided pricing policy in the truck tyre field. The gist of his talk was: The price relation between new and retreaded tyres is no longer right. The subject of Mobile Fitting was also under discussion. “Long-term participation in the truck tyre business means participation in the large fleet business and offering comprehensive service schemes”, Drechsler said. Norbert Schygulla (Deutsche Goodyear), Michael Zoeppritz (Bridgestone/Firestone), Dr. Bernd Löwenhaupt (Dunlop), Ludwig Nelke (Michelin) and Hugo Verschoore (Butler Engineering) then introduced their own companies’ tyre run-flat systems (EMT, DSST, PAX) complete with practical fitting and maintenance suggestions. All in all, the range of subjects was far-reaching, offering something interesting for each of the guests present. Read more in NEUE REIFENZEITUNG 5/2000.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

“Only Over My Dead Body” – Goodyear And Dunlop Brands Remain In Competition

Company News, Product News

Sylvain G. Valensi (58), who has 34 years’ service with Goodyear, latterly as Vice President Goodyear Europe, has, since the joint venture with Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI), assumed the role of Vice President of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe. Talking to this magazine during the recent “Reifen 2000” exhibition in Essen, he stressed that the major brands Goodyear and Dunlop will remain independent and will almost be in competition with each other.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Links Up With French Antivibration Specialist

Bridgestone has announced the formation of a strategic alliance in antivibration automotive components with Paulstra, the automotive antivibration sector of Hutchinson, a subsidiary of TotalFina in France. The objective of the alliance is for both companies to jointly develop new antivibration products at both the companies manufacturing plants around the world.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Manufacturing Agreements Signed Between Nokian And Michelin

Company News, International News, News

Two agreements have been signed by Nokian and Michelin concerning the off-take manufacture of Nokian brand agricultural, industrial and truck tyres at Michelin’s Polish factory. The agreements will last for three years and will be renewed annually thereafter. Sales of agricultural and industrial tyres will start this year and truck tyres early in 2001.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Germany: Record Investments but Reduction in Profits

In the 1999 business year Michelin Reifenwerke KGaA (workforce: 6,747) increased its turnover by 3.2 p.c. or approximately 100 million DM to 3.215 billion DM (1998: 3.115 billion DM). The largest part of total turnover was generated in the German market, where it rose by another 6.3 p.c. compared with the previous year to approximately 60 p.c. of total turnover. As a member of the international manufacturing combine, however, the German factory also supplies the distribution organisations of its European sister. In this Michelin Germany also showed a slight improvement. Total tyre production – measured in tonnes – rose by 2.6 p.c. Sales were up by 4.6 p.c. Michelin sold 8.8 p.c. more light truck and nine per cent more truck tyres in 1999. In winter car tyres in particular the company recorded significant sales growth over the previous year, partly due to the launch of the new products Michelin Alpin and Michelin Pilot Alpin. “Our target for 1999 was the modernisation and enlargement of production capacity to improve our competitiveness”, said Dr. Klaus Neb as spokesman for the management. In the course of last year the company invested a total of about 128 million DM in its five German factories and plans to make another significant investment this year in modernising and increasing capacity, especially in the truck tyre factories. Neb is convinced that these high investments will pay off. “Although economic development will differ from country to country, we expect further growth in Europe for the year 2000.” Read more in NEUE REIFENZEITUNG 5/2000.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Mexico Selected For Goodyear’s Third Moulded Products Plant

To meet increased product demand, Goodyear Engineered Products has announced plans to establish a moulded transportation products manufacturing plant in Mexico and will continue to operate moulded products plants in St. Marys, Ohio, and Quebec City, Quebec. Moulded products include engine and shock mounts that reduce vibration and improve vehicle handling. Goodyear is exploring sites for the new $16 million facility that will employ more than 100 workers.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Fire At Michelin Warehouse

A fire started at a Michelin raw materials warehouse which is dedicated to Michelin’s largest plant at Clermont-Ferrand, where 5,000 people are employed.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Second-Half Earnings Forecast Revised Downwards By Goodyear

Goodyear, who predicted a slight improvement in its financial fortunes for the second half of the year, is now forecasting “break even or a small loss” for the 3rd and 4th quarters, assuming economic factors remain the same. The low Euro vs Dollar situation and high raw material costs were blamed.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre Manufacturer To Be Acquired By Pirelli

International News, News

As reported by the Indian magazine Rubber Asia, Pirelli has sought the expertise of Citybank for a cost evaluation of the Birla Tyre company, which has a 15 per cent share of the Indian truck and automotive tyre market. The deal, if everything goes well, is likely to be struck sometime this month.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

BTE Wheels Direct From The Manufacturer

The BTE wheel, made from synthetic material, is no longer available from distributors F&F Hybrid-Rad but can be obtained direct from the manufacturer in the small German village of Grube (Schlewig-Holstein).

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Stock Exchange Unfriendly Towards Tyre Manufacturers

While Pirelli and Toyo shares – although only from time to time – displayed an upward trend in February, most of the other important tyre manufacturers (for example Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Goodyear and Michelin) were among the losers. Their shares have fallen to a new 52-week low, but shares in Yokohama rose 20 per cent at the end of February.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Top Management Change At Fulda

55-year old John P. Jentgen is moving on from the board of directors at Gummiwerk Fulda – effective 1st November 2000. As Director Manufacturing at the Luxembourg Complex he will be responsible for the four production plants manufacturing tyres, wires, cords and moulds. Mr. Jengten’s successor as Production Director is Robert Schmit.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors