2009 - Page 109 of 205 - Tyrepress

Happy Birthday, Vulcanised Rubber!

Today, June 15, is a red-letter day for the tyre industry – exactly 165 years ago Charles Goodyear was granted the initial patent for process of rubber vulcanisation. But while this patent – number 3633 – may have opened the door to the development of a viable range of rubber products and eventually led to a company bearing his name becoming one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world, the patent delivered far more financial reward to others than to Goodyear himself.

According to accounts of Charles Goodyear’s life, the vulcanised rubber story began in 1834 when Goodyear, whose hardware store had recently been made bankrupt, approached the Roxbury India Rubber Company with a new business idea.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gajah Tunggal Offers to Exchange $420 Million of Bonds

Bloomberg reports that PT Gajah Tunggal TbK is offering to exchange US$420 million of 10.25 per cent bonds due in 2010 for new notes maturing in 2014. The Indonesian tyremaker said in a statement that it will exchange the debt at par for noteholders responding to the offer by June 26, and at 95 per cent of face value for those that wait until July 3.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Carlisle Shutdown Planned for Late June

A further temporary closure of Pirelli’s Carlisle factory is scheduled for late June. The company reports that reduced demand for tyres in European markets is the reason behind the June 27 to July 1 shutdown.

Production at the Carlisle site had been increased in May in response to anticipated market stabilisation, however company management reports that short-term demand has reached their “optimistic prediction.”

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Peter Taylor Receives OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Peter Taylor the Tyre Recycling Association’s secretary general and long time director of the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA) has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in a move which is seen as honouring the UK tyre industry’s pioneering work in developing a ground breaking tyre recovery and recycling programme.

“I am absolutely delighted to receive this important honour,” said Peter Taylor: “However without the help and support of other members of the tyre industry and its various trade associations we would not have been able to establish the Responsible Recycler Scheme and make it work as effectively as it does. I am happy to accept this honour on behalf of the UK tyre industry.”

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Shareholder Camfin Negotiates Capital Increase

Camfin SpA, the largest shareholder in Pirelli parent company Pirelli & C SpA, has negotiated with its banks regarding a 100 million euro capital increase and a rescheduling of its debt. Camfin’s controlling shareholder GPI, along with a consortium of banks, will guarantee all of the capital increase, Reuters reported. Three new directors will also be appointed to Camfin’s board, making a total of 15 directors.

The banks participating in the debt deal include Banco Popolare, UniCredit, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA and Banca Popolare di Milano. “The agreement foresees in addition that up to end of 2011 there will be no dividend distribution and that by 2012 the 49 per cent stakes in Pirelli & C Ambiente SpA and Pirelli & C EcoTechnology are sold,” the company said.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ITC to Rule on Imported Chinese Tyres This Week

The US International Trade Commission will determine by June 18 whether or not consumer tyres imported from China are harming or have the potential to harm potential tyre manufacturers, and will report its findings to President Obama and the US trade representative the following day.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sri Lanka’s Eu-Retec to Expand Range Under Conti Alliance

The partnership operating between Watts Industrial Tyres and Continental AG since late 2004 has been replaced by a new strategic alliance with Sri Lankan manufacturer Eu-Retec (Pvt) Limited, who formerly produced tyres for Conti as part of the Watts arrangement. Watts held a 50 per cent share in Eu-Retec until earlier this year.

Continental has officially announced the formation of a joint venture with Eu-Retec, an arrangement in which Conti will take the majority shareholding.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Ready-Made Promotions For Independent Distributors

Promo Basics is a range of ready made promotions devised by Brake Engineering for distributors to run, which won’t break the bank and includes rewards such as free newspapers, snacks and drinks.

Designed to fight the credit crunch, when it’s often tempting to cut back on marketing and promotions and just at the time when those activities could be at their most useful, Promo Basics gives the independent distributor an extra, low-cost marketing tool.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Removing Jobs, Operations from Puchov Site

At present Continental reports an overcapacity of more than two million truck tyres in its European markets, a situation that has developed due to a “drastic” fall in demand during the opening months of 2009. To remedy this, the company is further reducing European truck tyre capacity by eliminating a number of jobs at and operations its Continental Matador Truck Tires facility in Puchov, Slovakia.

Continental says it has decided to remove 75 positions will be removed from Puchov by November 30 at the latest. On top of this, following a detailed analysis of the company’s machinery business, Conti will concentrate this aspect of operations to its Hannover-Stöcken plant in Germany. This measure, reports Continental, will affect around 190 Puchov based Continental Machinery employees.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

EMI+ “Helps Businesses Improve Their Bottom Line”

MAM Software has announced a brand new release of EMI+, a powerful business intelligence module that helps business managers develop a deeper understanding of their business. In today’s competitive and congested aftermarket, MAM believes that EMI+ version 2.1 can deliver the reliable, up-to-date information that managers need to respond to challenging conditions and make informed decisions.

“EMI+ is designed to help businesses improve their bottom line” said Mike Jamieson, MAM’s Managing Director. “It enables managers to quickly and easily analyse their business, identify trends and highlight opportunities for improvement. At a glance, they can instantly detect gaps in buying patterns or isolate sales that are affecting margins.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Wins 2009 Reponsible Retailer Award

Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has named Kwik-Fit as the winner of the 2009 Responsible Recycler Award. The award is presented each year to a tyre retailer who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to innovation and best practice in the field of tyre recycling. In choosing Kwik-Fit for this year’s accolade the association wished to acknowledge the company’s ground-breaking reverse logistics programme whereby the delivery of new tyres to Kwik-Fit centres and the recovery of waste casings are integrated into a simple activity. This combined delivery and collection function saves on delivery and transport costs with the added security of caged delivery.

The award was presented by newly-elected TRA president, Barry Stocker. Speaking after the presentation of the award David White, Kwik-Fit’s customer services director expressed his delight at being this year’s recipient. He said: “This was truly a ‘first’ in the industry and whilst I was delighted to collect the award on Kwik-Fit’s behalf the accolade should really go to Ann Macreadie and Neil Arnott, the people at Kwik-Fit who despite many challenges stuck diligently to the plan and of course I must mention Ceva logistics and Murfitts, for without their tireless efforts it would never have been possible.”

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

The Delivery Company Wins RMA Green Fleet Award

The Delivery Company has confirmed its credentials as an environmentally-friendly company by scooping the Green Fleet Award presented by the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA). The Award was presented to Douglas Wright of the Delivery Company by RMA Director David Wilson at the Rubber Industry Dinner held Chesford Grange in Kenilworth on 15 May. The Green Fleet of the Year Award is presented by the RMA to recognise fleets who have been particularly supportive to the retreading industry.

The Delivery Company is a trading division of PaperlinX Services (Europe) Ltd) and has a fleet of 350 vehicles operating throughout the UK delivering paper, board and plastics. As part of an initiative to reduce their carbon footprint, the Delivery Company not only adopted a managed, new and remould, tyre policy, they also introduced a number of other actions aimed at reducing emissions.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Man Keeps US Motorists Under Pressure

Motorists in the US now have another safe driving resource at their fingertips, thanks to Michelin North America and the Clemson University Automotive Safety Research Institute (CU-ASRI). The two organisations celebrated their long-standing partnership on June 11 with the dedication of a new safety initiative, and took the occasion to remind drivers that proper tyre inflation pressure is a key automotive safety component and a boost to fuel efficiency.

The two parties selected the US National Tire Safety Week to dedicate their new tyre inflation station. The facility, situated near the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, shouldn’t be difficult to locate – Michelin notes that the Michelin Tire Inflation Station features a six-foot tall replica of Bibendum, the instantly recognisable Michelin Man.

12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

May China Tyre Production Reaches 62.35m Units

Tyre production in China during May 2009 rose 21.21 per cent year on year and 7.2 per cent over the previous month to 62.35 million units, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics has announced. The Bureau’s figures total production in the period from January to May 2009 show a 6.6 per cent increase to 237.7 million units

Synthetic rubber production fell 8 per cent year on year to 199,000 tons in May, but for the January to May period increased 0.2 per cent year on year to 1.02 million tons.

12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Roadsmart Apprehended as OE for US Police Bikes

BMW Motorrad has approved the Dunlop Roadsmart for use on all R 1200 RT-P police motorcycles in use in the US. The Roadsmart is designed to provide longer tyre life; the multi-compound rear tyre incorporates a longer-wearing compound in the tread centre along with a lateral grip compound in the shoulders for performance when cornering.

“Operating costs for police motors are a major issue for most agencies,” observed Frank Stevens, Authority Program Manager, BMW Motorrad USA.

12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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