Independent Garage of the Year finalists announced
The finalists for this year's Independent Garage of the Year award have been announced as:
Tyre makers receive innovation awards
NewsLast December, Thomson Reuters named Michelin and Goodyear Tire & Rubber two of its 100 most innovative organisations for 2012. Michelin reports receiving an award last week for this achievement; in sharing this news, the tyre maker states that the Thomson Reuters award is “significant for Michelin” as it focuses attention exclusively on companies that generate a “sizable amount of innovation.” – For example, only businesses that have accumulated 100 or more patents in the past three years are qualified for consideration.
Retreading MDs to speak at China show
News, PremiumThe heads of rival US retreading associations, the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) and the Retread Tire Association (RTA), will both make an appearance at the China International Rubber Tire & Auto Accessory Exhibition (ChinaGRTAE 2013).
Membership Required
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
- Read our sector-leading articles in full
- Full analysis of tyre business segments
- Read Tyres & Accessories magazine online/in print
Already a member? Log in here
Pirelli celebrates 50 years of Lamborghini supply
NewsIt’s now half a century since Pirelli first teamed up with Lamborghini, and celebrations to mark the golden anniversary began with a press conference at the Pirelli Foundation on 7 May, at which Pirelli chief technical officer Maurizio Boiocchi stated “we look forward to another 50 years together with Lamborghini.” The festivities will progress to Lamborghini’s headquarters in Sant’Agata, taking in Forte dei Marmi, Rome and Bologna along the way.
Haweka introduces Vamag aligner range
NewsWith a 15-year track record as a leader in laser wheel alignment for commercial vehicles, Haweka UK is frequently asked to supply wheel alignment systems for passenger cars. In January this year the company, which is also well known for its Haweka range of centring accessories for wheel balancing, began test marketing a 4-wheel 8CCD camera alignment system for cars and vans.
BKT USA names new president
NewsCarl Casalbore has been appointed president of BKT Tires USA, effective 6 May. He replaces Rami Bitran. He is based at the company’s US headquarters in Akron, Ohio and joins BKT from Zafco/ZTI Tires, where he served as vice-president of sales. Casalbore has worked in the tyre industry for more than 30 years and also has sales executive posts with Armstrong Tire, Pirelli Tire North America, Cooper Tire & Rubber and Continental Tire the Americas.
Supertracker's 'princely' African connection
News, Product NewsOver the past twenty five years, Southampton based Supertracker has built up a reputation as one of the UK's leading wheel alignment specialists, and although the company has never expanded into Continental Europe it does have a rather unusual and successful association with Africa.
Mexico launch for Trelleborg agri range
NewsTrelleborg Wheel Systems has entered into an agreement with off-road tyre wholesaler Neumáticos Muevetierra to supply the Trelleborg agricultural range in the Mexican market. The initial portfolio on offer includes the new Maximo R1 radial range and the TH400 agro-industrial line.
Study shows soil compaction superiority of IF tyres
NewsA French study has demonstrated the effectiveness of Improved Flexion (IF) tyres at reducing soil compaction compared to a set of caterpillar tread tracks. The study, organised by the French National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture (IRSTEA), measured the soil compaction rates on a 3.5 hectare plot of farmland after a loaded combine harvester fitted with three different mobility options – a set of Michelin CerexBib 800mm IF tyres, a set of CerexBib 900mm IF tyres and a set of three 760mm roller caterpillar tread tracks – passed over it.
Apollo confirms Passat OE supply
NewsApollo Tyres has confirmed news of its approval as an original equipment supplier to the Volkswagen Passat. An Apollo spokesman told Tyres & Accessories that “this approval is for Passats manufactured anywhere in the world with same specs as in India.”
Bridgestone introduces Bandag M788(E) all-season coach tread
NewsBridgestone Europe has released a new Bandag brand all-season coach and bus tread, a product claimed to offer “impressive mileage performance with [the] same tread depth and lighter to equal weight than its predecessor.”
Nexen Q1 results
NewsIn the first quarter of 2013, Nexen Tire Corporation achieved net sales of KRW 432.9 (£252.5 million), the Korean tyre maker reports. Almost 85 per cent of sales were generated in the aftermarket, with North America by far the company’s largest single geographic region; North American sales declined 13.0 per cent year-on-year to KRW 106.6 billion (£62.2 million). Sales in Europe, Nexen’s second largest market, grew 19.2 per cent year-on-year to KRW 87.2 billion (£50.9 million), and domestic market sales increased 14.4 per cent over the first quarter of 2012 to KRW 56.4 million (£32.9 million). Sales in China, at KRW 8.8 billion (£5.1 million), were 11.0 per cent down on a year earlier and other region sales increased 10.4 per cent year-on-year to KRW 112.1 billion (£65.4 million). Original equipment sales accounted for 15.6 per cent of Nexen’s total and grew 21.5 per cent year-on-year to KRW 68.6 billion (£40.0 million).
General UK retail outlook improving
NewsFor the first time in two and a half years the general UK retail performance has improved. However, unless something changes the second quarter of 2013 is set to “flat line”, according to the Retail Think Tank.
Following its quarterly meeting in April, the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank (RTT) reported that the downward trajectory that has plagued UK retail since the start of 2011 finally turned around in quarter one of 2013, although a significant increase in the health of UK retailing is unlikely to arrive any time soon. The RTT’s Retail Health Index improved one point to 77 points, thanks to a marginal lift in demand, which would have been better still had it not been for the prolonged extension of wintry weather throughout the whole quarter.
Yokohama Tire Corp. names Tom Masuguchi senior VP, chief strategy officer
NewsTom Masuguchi has been promoted to Yokohama Tire Corporation’s senior vice-president, chief strategy officer and deputy chief financial officer. The former vice-president and chief accounting officer began in these new positions on 1 May.
Nokian share transfer increases Bridgestone Corp. ownership above 15%
NewsBridgestone Europe will transfer its shares in Nokian Tyres plc to Bridgestone Corporation on 7 May, the Japanese tyre maker told Nokian. This agreement decreases Bridgestone Europe’s ownership in Nokian to less than five per cent of share capital and Bridgestone Corporation’s ownership to over 15 per cent of the share capital.
