2009 - Page 178 of 205

Nokian Net Income Down 17% in 2008

Sales at Nokian Tyres increased 5.5 per cent in the twelve months to December 31, 2008, totaling 1.08 billion euros for the year. During the final quarter of the 2008 year, however, sales slumped 24.9 per cent to 267.7 million euros. Annual operating profit, at 247.0 million euros, was also up 5.5 per cent, however during the final quarter it more than halved to 46.5 million euros. Net profit for the 12 months amounted to 139.9 million euros, 17.2 per cent less than in 2007. Nokian Tyres reports a net loss of 11.6 million euros for the final quarter.

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Birla Workers Demand Arrests

Product News

Hundreds of workers of Birla Tyres have agitated before the Balasore collectorate, demanding the immediate arrest of the company’s top three executives. The workers, led by Birla Tyres Workers Union (BTWU) president Rajendra Bal, submitted separate memoranda to the District Collector and the SP with a demand to arrest the company’s senior president Deepak Tandon, general manager (personnel) Anil Upadhyay and another senior executive SR Roy in seven days.

The workers alleged that the three executives had attacked union’s general secretary Deepankar Bardhan and his colleague on Saturday. “When Bardhan refused to endorse the ‘No work no pay’ policy from February 16 to 28, when the company would remain closed during the period, due to the global meltdown, the three executives beat him up and Hari Mohan Das,” claimed Rajendra Bal. An injured Bardhan, who had been admitted to the district headquarters hospital, was later discharged. Police are investigating the incident.

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Wins 12-Month Contract

Product News

Bridgestone and Truck Point have been awarded a 12-month contract by A W Jenkinson Forest Products to supply replacement tyres and tyre services to the company’s haulage fleet, which comprises more than 250 vehicles and 280 trailers. A W Jenkinson handles over 2.2 million tonnes of wood fibre, paper products and recyclables and is the largest bark processor in the UK. The contract will see Bridgestone UK supplying new tyres and tyre servicing will be carried out by Truck Point service provider Harolds Tyres of Penrith.

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Volkswagen Group UK First Car Company to Join TyreSafe

Product News

Volkswagen Group UK Ltd has become the first vehicle manufacturer to join TyreSafe. The five brands which make up the Group – Audi, SEAT, Škoda, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – have become full members and will participate in a series of national campaigns highlighting the importance of tyres in road safety.

“The addition of a vehicle manufacturer to our organisation is an important step forward for TyreSafe,” comments Rob Beddis, chairman, TyreSafe. “As we continually expand and engage with the wider automotive industry, the Volkswagen Group’s extensive experience of dealing with motorists and fleets will be invaluable to future TyreSafe campaigns. We look forward to receiving a fresh perspective and input, helping to reduce the number of accidents caused by defective tyres.”

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Launches Safety Scholars 2009

Product News

Bridgestone Americas has revealed the details for its third annual Safety Scholars Video Contest. Targeted to young drivers ages 16-21, Safety Scholars asks entrants to create short auto safety-themed videos. This year the topic of automotive environmentalism will be an option for entrants, extending the Bridgestone Group’s “One Team, One Planet” global environmental initiative.

“Car crashes claim the lives of more 16- to 21-year-olds than any other cause, so safety education is a priority for us,” said Christine Karbowiak, vice president of community and corporate relations. “Environmental responsibility is equally important to the company, which led us to include that topic in this year’s contest. Safety Scholars is an innovative and engaging platform that allows us to communicate our commitment to both issues.”

11th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Pumped About its Tyre Inflators

Product News

Michelin is all pumped up about the results two of its products recently gained in an Auto Express comparison test. The Michelin Single Barrel foot pump was awarded the ‘Best Buy’ 5-star rating for performance and accuracy whilst the Michelin Twin Barrel foot pump took the runner-up ‘Recommended’ award and a 4-star rating.

Both foot pumps from the Michelin motoring accessories range were compared with ten competitors’ products in tests carried out by Auto Express’ technical experts. The accuracy of the pressure gauges and their pumping power were at the heart of the tests, with points given for stability in use, build quality, hose length and ease of tyre-valve connection.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Technology Developers Rhodia & Dow Corning to Exhibit at Expo

Product News

Rhodia and Dow Corning Corporation are to exhibit together at Tire Technology Expo, which is being held in Hamburg, Germany, between February 17 and 19. The two companies can be found in Hall 1, at Stand 4140.

The companies’ joint appearance at the exhibition follows last November’s announced agreement to develop and market new tyre industry silica/silane products. The aim of the agreement, according to Rhodia, is to develop and commercialise innovative silica/silane combinations, principally for the tyre industry where the association of precipitated silica and silane is used in low-energy tyres to help reduce rolling resistance. Silane is the component that enhances the interaction between polymer and silica.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Makes Radical Incisions

Product News

Following the release of Toyo’s latest financial results, the company has announced a host of measures to stem its financial haemorrhaging. The company reports being in the midst of business conditions that it expects will grow ‘more stringent’ and be reflected in further deteriorating earnings for the 2008 financial year. The sources of these woes, the company adds, are the global economic slowdown and the yen’s appreciation.

Toyo reports a review of its Japanese and international manufacturing systems is underway, and on the back of this it will reduce the number of employees at manufacturing operations to match current production levels. As part of its reorganisation, Toyo says it plans to transfer employees from administrative departments to manufacturing departments.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Targets 10% Domestic Alloys Market

Product News

Leading Indian manufacturer Apollo Tyres has launched a range of alloy wheels under the brand name Acelere Wheelz to be sold through its passenger car tyre dealers in Dehli, Bangalore, Chennai and other major cities. At the launch, the company stated that it was “confident of capturing between 7 per cent to 10 per cent of the alloy wheels market in India,” and that it plans to release a new collection of rims every six months.

You don’t have to be an osteopath to realise that the company is adding muscle to the existing bones of its tyre business, but to underline the point Apollo plans to make Acelere Wheelz available in “combo” offers with the company’s Acelere, Acelere Sports, Aspire and Hawkz passenger car tyres. At present, the Indian alloy wheels market stands at an estimated figure of around 90,000 per month, of which 40 per cent is aftermarket, says Apollo. As yet, only 15 per cent of these come from the organised sector, with the rest imported.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Restructuring to Affect UK Operations

Product News

A letter to shareholders in Advanced ID Corporation, sent by company chairman Seymour Kazimirski on February 9, indicates that changes to the firm’s UK operations are afoot. Specific details of these changes and what they mean to the company’s Derbyshire based Pneu-Logic subsidiary, however, were not set out.

“As we enter the New Year, I would like to take this opportunity to summarise the goals we have established for 2009,” began Kazimirski. “You are all well aware of the challenges we faced in 2008 with the systemic breakdown of the capital markets worldwide. More specific to Advanced ID, we experienced the meltdown of the auto industry, which has greatly impacted the tyre industry. Estimates of decreased global tyre production are upwards of 40 per cent. We are working to meet these challenges.”

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Revises 2008 Fiscal Projections – Again

Product News

Finally, some good news from within the tyre industry. Bridgestone, which on January 29 revised its 2008 fiscal year financial projections, has done so again – but this time upwards. Net sales have, admittedly, been downwardly revised, by 20,000 million yen to 3,230,000 million yen (£23.77 billion). However operating income, now estimated to be 131,000 million yen (£964.15 million), has increased 11.0 per cent in the latest projection. Likewise, projected ordinary income has been upwardly revised to the tune of 15.6 per cent, and now stands at 74,000 million yen (£544.64 million). Net income jumps by a third to 10,000 million yen (£73.60 million).

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vee Rubber Catering to Export Markets

Product News

In terms of the variety of tyre types produced, Vee Rubber Group is the leading company in Thailand – the company manufacturers a range that covers numerous applications, from go-kart to large commercial vehicle tyres. Most of the company’s production output – which in 2008 amounted to 24 million units – is destined for export, and Vee Rubber designs and manufactures tyres that are suited to their target markets.

Recently Vee Rubber introduced company’s first light truck and 4×4 tyre developed specifically for the North American market – the Taiga H/T. the new tyre was extensively tested in a number of different climates and on many different surfaces, including off road and the result, the company says, is a quiet, comfortable tyre with a long tread life; in the US, the tyre is offered with a 50,000 mile limited tread wear warranty. While the Taiga is not designed as a snow or all terrain tyre, it aims to allow drivers to face everyday driving with confidence, whatever the conditions.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli US Recalling Motorcycle Tyres

Product News

Pirelli Tire is recalling certain Metzeler ME880 Marathon motorcycle tyres, sizes 13/90B6 M/C TL 73H and 140/90B16 M/C TL 77H. The tyres were manufactured between 22 June and 13 September, 2008, and were stamped with incorrect load range and inflation pressure information.

Pirelli said it will notify owners and replace the tyres free of charge. The recall began on 18 November, 2008, but was only made pubic by NHTSA on 10 February. (Tire Review/Akron)

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Unipart’s Latest Megawisebuys

Premium, Product News

Parts supplier Unipart Automotive has teamed up with market leading garage equipment manufacturers to launch the latest edition of Megawisebuys offering vehicle workshops, body shops and commercial vehicle operators added-value deals on quality capital and mobile equipment.

Some of the deals in the March/April edition include: A free remote control handset with any set of Stertil Koni mobile column lifts ordered in March or April along with a free two-year warranty on the FORCE30 two post three tonne hydraulic lift from Maywood; a free set of high lift pads with the Bradbury 2903CD 2 post 3 tonne mechanical lift; a free Karcher domestic pressure washer (inc accessories) with selected Karcher hot & steam pressure washers along with a free hose storage trolley with selected Karcher cold washers for a limited period only.

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10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Starco GB On Track With Industrial Tyres

News

It has been just over a year since Starco GB added the industrial tyre segment to its existing product range, and although market conditions have been tough, the company reports that it has achieved “substantial growth” in this area. As the UK and Ireland distributor for the Globe Star product, Starco stocks a wide range of resilient solids and press on band tyres, both standard and non-marking easyfit. The solids are complemented with a full range of Kenda Kinetics pneumatic forklift tyres and an even wider range of other industrial, agricultural and skid steer sizes due to the recent addition of the Deestone range of product.

10th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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