2009 - Page 190 of 205 - Tyrepress

Is Schaeffler Seeking Complete Control of Conti?

Speculation is mounting that Schaeffler Group executives are positioning themselves for a complete takeover of Continental AG. Following the ball-bearing maker’s successful bid for just under half the company, Schaeffler Group, is now responsible for 11 billion euros ($14.3 billion) of debt relating to the deal. However, the increasing negative global economic climate, especially with relation to the automotive supply business has led some observers to characterise Schaeffler as being backed into a corner. According to Bloomberg, “Schaeffler has one way out: gaining full control of Europe’s second-largest car-parts maker.”

Continental will now hold an emergency supervisory board meeting on 24 January (tomorrow), a gathering that has been arranged in the wake of Schaeffler’s reported demands for the resignation of Continental supervisory board chairman Hubertus von Gruenberg. According to the Financial Times this threat was delivered alongside an ultimatum – either Continental forces out von Gruenberg and gives Schaeffler representatives four seats on the board or the ball bearing member will push for the replacement of all 20 investor representatives on the 20-member board.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Top of PCR, 4×4 Segments in JD Power Japan Survey

Michelin has top the list in the passenger car and SUV segments of the J.D. Power survey into Japanese original equipment tyre customers. The French marque achieved the highest scores for all five factors assessed: traction, quality and durability, design, driving comfort and fuel efficiency.

“Michelin is very pleased to have been ranked as number one for the passenger car and SUV segments in customer satisfaction survey for OE tyres,” said Bernard Delmas, president of Nihon Michelin Tire Co., Ltd. “Michelin has always been endeavouring to offer the highest quality products and been listening to voice of the customers. Long concerned with enhancing mobility for people and goods in Japan, Michelin continue to make customer satisfaction top priorities in the future.”

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Rubber Lowers Sales and Earnings Projections

Yokohama Rubber has downwardly revised its sales and earnings projections for the fiscal year to March 31, 2009. Company management now projects consolidated net sales of 523.0 billion yen (£4.2 billion), down 5.2 per cent from the previous fiscal year; consolidated operating income of 14.0 billion yen (£113 million), down 57.7 per cent; and a consolidated net loss of 7.0 billion yen (£56.5 million), down from a consolidated net profit of 21.1 billion yen in the previous fiscal year. The revised projection for net sales is 6.1 per cent lower than the projection Yokohama announced on November 12, 2008; the projection for operating income 46.2 per cent lower; and the projection for net income 16.5 billion yen (£133.2 million) lower. Management is reconsidering the year-end dividend of 7 yen that it had planned to recommend.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Opens Second Canada Distribution Centre

Pirelli has opened a second tyre distribution centre in Canada. Located in Vancouver, the new facility will service customers in the country’s western region. The new facility will be managed by Schenker Distribution. According to Pirelli, its continuing growth in Canada, despite the automotive sector’s current downturn, necessitates an expansion of capacity at this time.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bottom Dropped Out of Loadstar Order Books, Says Chairman

International News, Product News

Sales have decreased – substantially – for Sri Lanka based manufacturer of solid tyres, Loadstar. At a recent forum, company chairman Nihal Jinasena admitted that “the bottom has dropped out of our order books.” And further compounding Loadstar’s problems are the costly forward deals for raw materials the company is locked into.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

December Tyre Production More than 20% Down in China

According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, tyre production nationwide fell by 21.7 per cent year on year in December to 36.67 million units. This figure, disseminated by Dow Jones Newswire, present a strong contrast to the 14 per cent growth recorded in December 2007. Synthetic rubber production totalled 236,000 tons in December, up 26.7 per cent year on year.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bike Tyrestore Receives Expo Merit Recognition

Bike Tyrestore, one of the UK’s leading motorcycle tyre wholesale operations, received a merit award in the British Dealer News 2009 reader survey. Bike Tyrestore was again nominated in the “Best Trade Service” category, having won the trophy outright last year. Bike Tyrestore MD, Peter Smith, commented: “It’s very unusual for any company to receive an award in the same business area two years running, so we’re very pleased that the BDN readership enjoy dealing with us so much that they rewarded us again in 2009.”

Bike Tyrestore received the merit award on the opening day of the Motorcycle Trade Expo at the NEC in January, where the company had a centrally positioned stand. The wholesaler’s booth focused on Enhanced “B2B” services, which already account for roughly a third of the company’s sales, iconic” bikes and “freebies” galore.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hunt For Elusive Mis-Labelled Tyres Begins

In the US, Goodyear has been ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 18 incorrectly labeled tyres. The offending units were manufactured in the company’s Lawton, Oklahoma factory in the second week of January 2008, and barring roadside mishaps all one and a half dozen of these Goodyear Eagle RS-A P235/55R18 99V passenger car tyres may still be plying the roads of America.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Malaysia Cutting Rubber Exports 5% in 2009

Cuts in rubber exports have begun in the world’s third-largest rubber producing nation. Malaysia’s Plantations Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin confirmed that the government’s plan to reduce rubber exports by around five per cent this year is underway, and it now remains to be seen whether the measure will bring prices out of the doldrums.

“For the first quarter, Malaysia will reduce rubber exports by 22,000 tonnes,” said Chin. “For the whole of 2009, it will be 57,050 tonnes.” Last year Malaysia exported 1.1 million tonnes of rubber. Along with Thailand and Indonesia – the number one and two global rubber producers – Malaysia has committed to removing approximately 915,000 tonnes of natural rubber from the world market. The three countries, which comprise the International Rubber Consortium (IRCo), also say that a reduction of up to 1,345,000 tonnes is possible, but only if prices further weaken.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Introduces Three Tyres For US Market

At the Sema show, Continental Tire North America (CTNA) gave debuts to three new uhp tyres, aimed exclusively at the North American market.

Andreas Gerstenberger, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, spoke to T&A about the new tyres, the first of which is the ExtremeContact DW. This tyre, said Gerstenberger, is specially engineered to deliver serious performance on both dry and wet roads and features completely new technology exclusive to Continental Tire. It delivers excellent traction and responsive handling in both wet and dry conditions, improved ride comfort, better mileage and industry leading rolling resistance levels.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Celebrates First National Franchise Conference

HiQ bosses recently held the retail network’s first National Franchise Conference. The leading fast fit retailer organised a franchise networking event at the impressive Crewe Hall venue in Cheshire, where the company’s recently named new managing director, Juergen Titz, outlined HiQ’s vision to grow in the fast-fit and vehicle servicing market. The event gave HiQ the opportunity to have an open dialogue with its franchisees and inform them of the types of services open to them, such as online ordering technology, marketing support and new corporate identity graphics.

Despite trading in an unprecedented economic downturn, the company remained extremely upbeat about its future, mainly because of its National Franchise Programme. HiQ’s franchise structure is the only one of its kind in the fast fit industry, with 130 sites now run by 41 franchisees. By the end of February, this figure will rise to 138 sites and by the end of 2009, it is hoped that 170 centres will be franchised.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Launches New Tyre Testing Web Site

Dunlop have been testing tyres at the Fort Dunlop testing facility in Birmingham since 1923, but this department recently joined the information superhighway with a web site of its own – dunloptyretesting.co.uk. Tyre testing in Birmingham has come a long way since the first tyres were observed on simulator roads at 10 miles per hour. Today the company boasts speed tests of up to 400 km/h. “At Dunlop, we test not only for durability but also for performance. We have recently acquired ISOIE/17025:05 accreditation meaning we are classified as a laboratory standard facility,” web site literature explained.

Currently the facility is equipped to carry out the following tests: ECE 30, ECE 54, ECE 75, ECE 108, ECE 109, FMVSS 109, FMVSS 119, Gulf standards, Saudi Arabian, Australian, FMVSS 139 (when required), rolling resistance to ISO18164, high and low speed uniformity, accelerated ageing, long term endurance testing, high speed camber testing, high speed variable slip angle, pulse braking, burst testing, laser tyre profile measurements, tyre dissection, load deflection, dislodgement.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Roman Fleet Switches to ATS Euromaster for Tyres

Roman, a leading UK shower manufacturer and designer, has appointed ATS Euromaster to manage the tyres across its 78-strong fleet of light commercial vehicles and five company cars. The new agreement will see ATS Euromaster provide a complete range of tyre and fast-fit services on a nationwide basis, supporting a mixture of both short and long-wheelbase 3.5 tonne Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans, which are used to deliver shower equipment to retailers. The contract sees the Roman fleet fit a mixture of Michelin, Avon and Hankook tyres being selected as replacements across its vehicles.

Michael Spink, Logistics Director for Roman, commented: “The fleet leasing company we used to use employed the services of ATS Euromaster. When we recently switched to in-house vehicle management we decided to retain their service as it is second-to-none and we could see the clear cost benefits to us.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Save Money, Save The Planet With RightPSI

A new product on show at SEMA was the patented RightPSI tyre pressure management system. RightPSI mounts quickly and easily to any tyre valve stem. Three different coloured tyre-pressure indicators provide a visual reference for tyre pressure status – orange for low pressure, black for correct pressure, and yellow for over-fill status.

The coloured indicator can be seen from up to 15 feet away, making it easy to effectively and consistently monitor tyre pressure. RightPSI is the only product of its kind that can be used as a tyre-pressure gauge, tyre-pressure fill point, and over-fill indicator simultaneously.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

18 New Toyo Sizes

Director of marketing communications at Toyo Tire USA, Julie Sediq, told T&A that the company had introduced 18 new tyre sizes, with products aimed at the performance passenger car segment, as well as light trucks. Some of these are very esoteric; for example the Proxes TQ, which is the first DOT-approved drag radial from Toyo.

Another new tyre, the Proxes R888 is an approved competition radial which is ideal for road racing, track days and high-performance driving schools. It features a semi-slick shoulder area to increase cornering force and a unidirectional tread pattern with v-shaped grooves to enhance wet traction and control. A rounded outer shoulder helps to maintain tyre contact, even during changes in suspension geometry. A continuous centre contact delivers excellent directional control during hard braking.

22nd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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