![Another change for First Stop in Germany](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Fuhrmann-Frank.jpg)
Another change for First Stop in Germany
A week ago we reported Bridgestone’s plan to roll its First Stop tyre retail operation in Germany into a joint venture, with a 75 per cent share in this operation to be acquired by independent retailer Pneuhage. News of this pending ownership restructure has been accompanied by a change in leadership of the national First Stop network, however the two events are not related. Frank Fuhrmann, who held the post of managing director for First Stop in the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland since 1 September 2015, has been succeeded in this role by Daniel Giroud, Bridgestone Europe’s vice-president of retail operations.
Continue ReadingSecond Bridgestone Americas facility for Nashville
The traditional centre of country music in the USA will soon be home to a major tyre maker upon Bridgestone Americas’ move in 2017 from a leased site on the city’s outskirts to a new, 30-storey building currently being erected downtown, and yesterday Bridgestone Americas shared that its presence in and near Nashville will be further boosted next year by the opening of a second location. The new Bridgestone Americas Service Operations Center (BASOC) will be located in the Antioch area of Davidson County and open in the first quarter of 2017; the facility is being set up to support Bridgestone’s IT, Customer Service and Shared Business Service departments and will host some 450 employees and contractors.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg’s divestment of Vibracoustic shares finalised
Following the necessary approval from relevant authorities, Trelleborg has divested all its shares in the Vibracoustic joint venture to former partner Freudenberg. As of 5 July the Swedish company has received a payment of approximately SEK 6.2 billion (£556.4 million) for the shares, and the remaining 10 per cent of the purchase price is subject to Vibracoustic’s forecast sales performance this year and in 2017. Accordingly, Trelleborg reports that the final consideration “may be somewhat higher or lower than SEK 6.8 billion (£610.7 million).” In addition to the purchase price, Trelleborg received a dividend of approximately SEK 1.4 billion in December 2015.
Continue Reading![Samson Machinery: Tyre building machinery is crucial to tyre quality](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/SAMSON-FACTORY.jpg)
Samson Machinery: Tyre building machinery is crucial to tyre quality
Since its formation in 1975, Samson Machinery Inc. has grown into a leading manufacturer of tyre building equipment. The Taiwan-based company produces a full range of tyre building machines for applications ranging from bicycle, scooter and motorcycle tyres though to car, van, truck and off-road vehicle tyre building machines – and Samson claims to the only Asian machinery manufacturer that supplies radial aircraft tyre builders to renowned global tyre makers. All Samson Machinery products, including tyre building machines, band building machines, servicer, building drums and related equipment, are manufactured according to ISO 9001, EQA and CE requirements.
Continue Reading![Kumho introduces new products, diesel optimisation project](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/reifen-kumho-e1467724495613.jpg)
Kumho introduces new products, diesel optimisation project
Kumho made Reifen 2016 the occasion of its new UHP winter tyre’s world premiere, in addition to displaying its role in a project to optimise the fuel efficiency of existing diesel technology. The company’s 300sqm stand in Hall 3 also featured the company’s current portfolio of products for a wide variety of tyre segments, including electric and hybrid vehicles.
Continue Reading![Cheng Shin chairman talks Maxxis globalisation strategies on Reifen stand](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/reifen-maxxis.jpg)
Cheng Shin chairman talks Maxxis globalisation strategies on Reifen stand
Maxxis exhibited at Reifen from a prominent Hall 3 stand commensurate with the brand’s global positioning, and increasingly with its focus on Europe. Robert Lo, chairman of Maxxis manufacturer Cheng Shin Rubber Ind Co and Derek McMartin, managing director of Maxxis International UK explained to Tyres & Accessories that the stand included a portfolio containing the brand’s first “dedicated European products”. The new M36+, launched at Reifen, is perhaps the most prominent example of this.
Continue Reading![Duraturn continues developing business in UK](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_5690_US-mask.jpg)
Duraturn continues developing business in UK
Reifen 2016 at the end of May marked the first time Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Rubber Co., Ltd., (Yanchang Rubber) has taken a stand at Europe’s leading tyre fair. The company invested in a significantly sized booth and Ms Zhang Dongyang, the managing director of Yanchang Rubber, led her international team into the event in the mid-German city of Essen, highlighting that the company’s European development will be conducted in line with a clear localization strategy
Continue ReadingMichelin confirms Mexico factory plans
Rumours and reports circulating since April about Michelin intention to build a new Michelin tyre factory in Mexico were confirmed on 4 July when the French company issued news of its plans to build a facility for producing high-end car and light truck tyres there. Michelin says construction of the 142,000 square metre, €450 million factory in León, Guanajuato state will begin in the second half of this year, with tyre production expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2018. An annual output of 4 to 5 million tyres is planned for the initial production phase, and the León plant will be gradually ramped up.
Continue ReadingSTARCO marks ‘historic day’ in its history
With a flip of the calendar page June became July, and STARCO and Bohnenkamp each began a new chapter in their histories. STARCO reports that the start of the new month found its offices “buzzing heavily with activity,” and the company shares that much progress has been made since the signing of a deal between the two companies in May.
Continue Reading![Nexen Tire continues GCSI winning streak](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/nexen-award.jpg)
Nexen Tire continues GCSI winning streak
For the seventh year in a row, Nexen Tire has topped the tyre category in Global Customer Satisfaction Competency Index (GCSI), a survey carried out by the Global Management Association in Korea under the supervision of Japan’s JMA Consultants. The tyre maker was honoured for this result at a ceremony in Beijing on 23 June, with Yang Chang-soo, president of Nexen Tire Qingdao, accepting the official award certificate on behalf of Nexen Tire.
Continue Reading![New European Firestone website goes live](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/firestone-website.jpg)
New European Firestone website goes live
New month, new website: On 1 July, Bridgestone Europe launched a new European website for its Firestone car, truck/bus and agricultural ranges. The firestone.eu site covers 18 national markets within the region and is available in 14 languages. All expected conveniences, including tyre search by vehicle (for cars and vans) or function (for trucks and buses) can be found on the new site.
Continue ReadingToru Kobayashi chairman of ATG after Yokohama completes acquisition
On 1 July, Yokohama Rubber completed its acquisition of the Alliance Tire Group. The Japanese company’s new subsidiary is now headed by Toru Kobayashi, formerly assistant to Yokohama Rubber president Hikomitsu Noji, who has been appointed Alliance Tire Group chairman.
Continue ReadingOBO acquires MTP Tyres Benelux distribution rights
OBO Tyres has acquired the exclusive distribution rights for the OTR brand MTP Tyres in the Benelux region. The brand offers new tyres for a wide range of applications, including articulated dump trucks, graders, loaders, cranes, and dump trucks. OBO states that the distribution rights fills a gap in its portfolio of products for its extended home market.
Continue Reading![Bridgestone partners online biker platform, Motorcycle Diaries](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bstone-motodiaries.jpg)
Bridgestone partners online biker platform, Motorcycle Diaries
Bridgestone has officially partnered up with the new online biker platform Motorcycle Diaries. The database of roads and points of interest in Europe allows users to share their most memorable motorcycle adventures. The site is built around four main themes: discovering, inspiring, planning and sharing, allowing users to find the most beautiful riding spots with high quality images and videos, plan their routes and share them with the Motorcycle Diaries community.
Continue ReadingFirst Stop tyre retail network to become a JV in Germany
Just over a month after sharing details of growth plans for its First Stop network in the UK, Bridgestone has announced a major change in its German First Stop network. Pending approval from the relevant authorities, Pneuhage, one of the country’s largest independent tyre retailers, will acquire a 75 per cent share in a joint venture with Bridgestone Deutschland. The intention is for First Stop in Germany and its subsidiaries – retail outlets, retreading operation and partner network – to be operated by this joint venture.
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