At present, 75 per cent of the natural rubber imported into Europe is used in the tyre sector and 93 per cent of this originates from South East Asia. The industry is thus dependent on one particular region for its most significant raw material.
Michelin is one of several north Staffordshire companies to join an initiative to give young people an insight into potential careers in industry. The scheme, entitled “Industrial Cadets”, is a response to the concerns of engineering and manufacturing companies, who say there is a skills shortage in this area, affecting the sector’s ability to expand. Initially launched in Redcar by Tata Steel and supported by the Prince of Wales, Industrial Cadets is being rolled out nationally by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT).
Goodyear has reported that its fourth quarter 2012 sales amounted to $5 billion, down 11 per cent from 2011. According to the company, the drop reflects $338 million in lower tyre unit volumes, $221 million in lower sales in other tyre related businesses and $85 million in foreign exchange effects. It is worth pointing out that although tyre unit volumes totalled 40 million, this is generally down 7 per cent compared with 2011. And what’s more Goodyear reported that this primarily reflects lower volumes in Europe.
UK motorcycle sales were down 14 per cent in January, compared with the same month last year. According to the National Motorcycle Dealers Association, poor sales can be attributed to the “arctic weather” that affected much of the country during the middle of month.
TEXA is undertaking a tour of key venues throughout the UK in order to showcase its hardware and software products. Texa reports that, “due to the lack of trade shows in the UK” the company has decided to stage a series of events to support customers.
Gordon Brookes, 53, has returned to Michelin’s agricultural division in Stoke-on-Trent, taking over the role of technical manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland from Laurent Mozziconacci. Brookes started his career in the early 1980s running his own company building racing and rally cars. He joined Michelin in 1987 as a multi-product line sales manager and after six years he moved into the agricultural division, where he spent three years, before progressing into the OE and wholesale side of the agricultural department.
TIA has hired Donna Sage as its new director of marketing and communications, Tire Review reports. Sage, with more than 20 years of marketing experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, will promote TIA's programs and events, handle public relations, manage TIA's online presence, and develop marketing materials.
Hankook Tire America Corp has named Thomas Kenny its new vice president of technology and head of its Akron Technical Center. Tire Review reports that Kenny will be responsible for managing various aspects of work at the Akron Technical Center, including development, testing and research for Hankook tyres sold in the US.
Cooper has secured its first US original equipment deal with Ford, which has selected the Cooper Zeon RS3-A as the standard fitment on its 2013 Ford Focus SE and Titanium models. Tire Review reports that the all-season UHP tyre will be supplied in W-rated size 215/50R17.
West Midlands tyre dealer Truck Tyre Solutions (TTS) reports securing a contract with one of the UK’s leading steel hauliers to supply Continental tyres as exclusive tyre fitment. Brierley Hill based A Hingley Transport runs a fleet of 80 top-weight tractor units and 180 trailers and specialises in the movement of steel as well as carrying out general haulage throughout the UK. The company is part of the AH Group, which also refurbishes trailers and builds new trailers, all of which will be fitted with Continental tyres as original equipment.
At present, Michelin operates around 2,000 franchised dealer points of sale around the world; according to information published in the tyre maker’s 2012 annual results presentation, the exact figure is 2013. Yet within a few short years, this number should this number should increase by around 150 per cent. Michelin says it intends to have 5,000 franchised dealer points of sale by 2017.
Michelin’s 2012 financial results are now public, and in a pithy sentence the tyre maker describes its performance last year as “strong 2012 earnings in lacklustre markets.” During the year the company earned net sales of 21.474 billion euros, up three per cent on 2011, although Michelin says weak demand, particularly in Europe, dragged sales volumes down 6.4 per cent year-on-year. Western Europe and North America each accounted for 34 per cent of total net sales, with North America gaining three percentage points at Western Europe’s expense, while the rest of the world’s share of net sales remained unchanged from 2011 at 32 per cent.
It appears Apollo Tyres may have shelved its plans to establish a greenfield plant in Eastern Europe. Indian Financial Daily the Financial Chronicle writes that the tyre maker has “decided to drop its tyre plant proposal in the Eastern Europe region now due to declining volumes and uncertain economic environment.” Further details were not supplied.
BKT Europe has announced the appointment of Gabriella Usiello to the role of marketing and communication manager. Usiello joined the BKT Europe team in January and brought with her more than ten years of marketing experience, including with a multinational company active in the off-highway and passenger car tyre segments. This experience was instrumental in the decision to select Usiello for the role, the tyre maker notes. In her new position, the marketing and communication manager will engage in strategic marketing and consolidate BKT’s market position with the help of an effective, interconnected communications plan.
A number of new Firestone branded tyres will be displayed at the upcoming SIMA International Agri-Business Show in Paris. Bridgestone Europe says show visitors will have the opportunity to see no less than three new products up close:
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