November 2009 - Page 2 of 18 - Tyrepress

Reports: Continental Refinancing ‘Will Be Done By Christmas’

Continental AG is aiming to complete the refinancing negotiations of its syndicated loan before Christmas, Reuters quoted sources “familiar with the matter” as saying. Further reports suggest Continental is opting to pay a higher interest rate in exchange for postponing a 3.5 billion euro payment due in August next year. Instead the automotive supplier is expected to use a 1 billion euro capital increase and extend the remaining 2.5 billion in loan payments, “temporarily eliminating any need to raise cash via the disposal of its Rubber Group activities” according to Reuters.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Man Hits The Road With Boughey Distribution

The world-famous Michelin Man is hitching a ride on the back of 12 trailers in the Boughey Distribution fleet, to highlight the innovative X One MaxiTrailer tyres which have been fitted as original equipment on every one of the 160 new trailers which have joined the fleet since late 2007. The distinctive size of the 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyres gives the trailers a low profile look providing a low centre of gravity which has shown to improve stability.

Paul Brimelow, Group Fleet Engineer at Wardle-based Boughey Distribution, explains. “Since the trailers entered service we have clocked up nearly 20 million kilometres on X One Maxi Trailer tyres and other than occasional punctures and sidewall damage due to impact, we have suffered no tyre failures at all, which has resulted in an exceptional level of tyre reliability for our fleet.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Signal Extraprise Opens New Europe Office

Last month tyre and aftermarket systems supplier Signal Extraprise opened a European office with the UK and Irish markets the primary focus. Since 1992 Signal Extraprise has developed information systems that support tyre outlets and auto service centres across North America.

In 2006, Signal reportedly set out to create a revolutionary product, targeting all tyre and vehicle-servicing enterprises in the automotive aftermarket. That work culminated in 2009 with the launch of eXceed an offering designed to help service providers to remake their businesses based on the very different marketplace they face now. Instead of, for example, focusing on the mechanics of ordering, quoting, work orders and the like (which are all still important and included), Signal built a technology to help the dealers transform their stores into engines of growth and profitability.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandag Now ‘Fully Integrated’ into Bridgestone

Speaking at last week’s Bridgestone Truck Point roadshow, Bridgestone UK retread sales manager Les Lawrence and Bandag UK sales manager Ross Medlyn explained the latest developments in the continuing process of integrating Bandag into Bridgestone. While everyone agrees that the process of integration remains an ongoing project, Ross Medlyn specifically described the two operations’ current status as “fully integrated.” What this means is that Bridgestone and Bandag products are already being sold side-by-side, with the two ranges evolving to reflect the influence of the merger. It is also representative of what is and will happen in other European markets.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Delforge Takes Over as Goodyear Dunlop EMEA Communications Director

Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe has reported the recent appointment of a new communications director for its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. According to EMEA region president Arthur De Bok, Belgian Tom Delforge began in the role on September 1, replacing Chris Aked, who has retired.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Tariffs Put Pressure on Prices

Tyre manufacturers in the US are likely to follow Goodyear in raising prices to offset tariffs on Chinese made tyres and rising raw material costs. This is the opinion disseminated by Associated Press, which reports KeyBanc analyst Saul Ludwig’s view that prices will be up some five to ten per cent by January. Goodyear, which will increase consumer replacement market prices by six per cent in December, imports around two per cent of its tyres from China. Its price increase, thus, could offset the extra costs.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Releases Winter Guide for Europe Bound Drivers

UK and Irish truck and coach operators driving on Continental roads this winter can benefit from a new guide Continental Tyres has released. The guide outlining the various tyre requirements they can expect to encounter in Europe has been updated for the 2009/2010 winter season and can be downloaded free from Conti’s UK website.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BEN Charity Skydive Reaches Great Heights

When former BEN chief executive Geoffrey Atkinson OBE and his wife Tina leapt out of an aircraft at a height of 15,000 feet on October 17, they were aiming to raise £15,000 for the automotive and related industries’ charity. As it turns out, they should have commenced their skydive a thousand feet higher – as to date the pair have raised an impressive £16,000 for BEN.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Joins XING Network

The German based XING business network can be likened to a corporate Facebook, and over eight million members are already using the website to manage their business contacts. The service is very popular in German speaking regions, and to capitalise on this Continental AG has begun a one-year XING trial.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Named & Shamed – Top 10 Dangerous Tyre Towns

Michelin is naming – and shaming – the ten locations in the UK where you are most likely, according to results from its 2009 Fill Up With Air campaign, to encounter motorists driving on dangerously under-inflated and even punctured tyres. The roadshow visited 24 cities around the UK during the summer, and checked more than 4,500 cars over a three-month period. And what did Michelin find out? It seems UK motorists are still unaware of how important it is to check tyres regularly. Liverpudlians were found to be the worst offenders, with more than half of the cars checked being driven with dangerously under-inflated tyres.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Safe Tyres? No Thanks, We’d Rather Party…

Kwik-Fit expresses concern that almost a third of car owning students would rather blow their budget on a night out than fix a tyre. Admittedly, finances are often tight while studying, but the fast fit giant points out it’s not just necessities such as books, rent and food that are taking priority over car maintenance. Kwik-Fit reveals the shameful statistic that 32 per cent of car owning students confessed that they’d choose to blow their last £50 on a big night out rather than replace an illegal tyre – even if it meant driving home on it the next day.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New ATEQ TPMS Tools

Performance Wheels Ltd, distributors of the award winning Tyresure aftermarket tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) have been appointed as the official UK distributor for the ATEQ range of TPMS trigger tools, headed by the capable new ATEQ VT55 OBDII. ATEQ is reportedly the global number one supplier of TPMS trigger and activation tools both for OEM assembly lines and aftermarket ‘fast fit’ and tuning shops. With offices in 22 countries and over 5,000 major customers, their range is already used and approved in over 270 OEM installations worldwide. Their sales figures of over 30,000 TPMS products annually reflect the fact that they are used on almost every production line of almost every global manufacturer.

With TPMS set to become a legal requirement by 2012, company representatives said the timing of the deal is perfect. The ATEQ units simply plug into any cars OBDII port to allow the unit to interrogate and update the integrated central electronics system to ‘marry’ any new TPMS sensors to the car. Not only is the ATEQ hardware compatible with ALL currently known TPMS sensors, but it also has in-built synchronisation software that ensures that it stays up to date with all new TPMS sensors introduced each year. Already in use at franchise level with manufacturers like Chrysler and Peugeot, the tool can communicate with manufacturers’ systems like Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Nissan to name but a few.

26th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Limits PAH Use Ahead of REACH Deadline

Trelleborg Wheel Systems has opted to use extender oils that comply with limits on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) ahead of the January 2010 deadline. According to the company, the new extender oils will maintain “the excellent overall performance of Trelleborg tyres” while respecting the environment. European Directive EC/2005/69 and REACH Regulation EC/1907/2006 impose restrictions in the use of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in extender oils and tyres. Ahead of these regulations coming into force, Trelleborg says its entire range of agricultural, forestry and industrial tyres will now comply.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are traditionally ingredients of extender oils that are used as plasticizers and compound viscosity reducers in the manufacturing of tyres. EU Directive 76/769/EEC places restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations and has been amended on several occasions since it was first approved in 1976. The 27th amendment makes reference to PAH and was published as a separate directive, EU Directive 2005/69/EC, to highlight the restriction in the use of PAH in extender oils and tyres.

26th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Federal Tires Goes to Hollywood…Almost

Federal Tires are now on display at Warner Bros. Movie World Australia after the Taiwan-based tyremaker entered a year long sponsorship deal with the park’s Hollywood Stunt Driver attraction. According to the company, the partnership has “opened up a whole new chapter for Federal Tires taking a more stellar role to please automotive enthusiasts when it comes to vehicular theatrics.”

The attraction is said to feature: “An insane and crazy stunt show incorporating a unique combination of thrill and danger with a world-class team of drivers performing their cutting-edge driving skills and riding SS657, taking the stunt show to the next level…All of this creates a strong emotional connection ensuring audiences are engaged, transformed and inspired with tire’s comprehensive.”

26th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cetaris Orders Transense Tread and Pressure Equipment

Transense subsidiary, Translogik Ltd has secured significant order for its tread depth and tyre pressure field inspection kits from Cetaris, a leading Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) provider in North America. Cetaris will now deploy the Translogik kits as part of its innovative EAM and Fleet Maintenance Solution. The system will provide its customer fleets with "real-time" mobile data capture capabilities. The announcement follows a successful pilot programme, the newly ordered kits will be deployed throughout the Cetaris network in 2010.

26th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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