Michelin reports 2,577 million euros of operating income
Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin has reported a 2015 operating income of 2,577 million euros, up 407 million euros or 12.2 per cent compared with 2014. During the same period Michelin reported a 3.2 per cent increase in tonnages, outpacing the market in all business segments. Growth was said to have been especially strong in passenger car and light truck tyres (up 6.7 per cent)
Continue ReadingWAI to showcase new corporate identity at Automechanika Birmingham
WAIglobal is set to attend Automechanika Birmingham, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 7-9 June 2016, exhibiting its full product range on stand 10G28. The global automotive parts supplier has recently implemented a completely new brand structure on an international level, and it is gearing up to showcase its new corporate identity at […]
Continue ReadingDunlop Aircraft Tyres receives global business boost with FAA certification
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has approved Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ facilities in China and the USA. The FAA-14 CFR Part 145 approval means operators of US-registered commercial aircraft are able to fit the company’s products. The company has a global tyre distribution and retreading network, and is opening its first distribution and retreading facility in North America in order to support aircraft operators throughout the Americas.
Continue ReadingDmack said to be looking at UK production
At present, all Dmack tyres are manufactured in China. However if news published today by the News&Star is correct, Dmack production may begin in the UK within the next two years. The publication writes that “plans have been unveiled for a £200 million factory in Carlisle.” Tyrepress.com has reached out to Dmack for further details about this project and will publish them when they become available.
Continue ReadingGoodyear recertified as a ‘Top Employer’
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has been awarded Top Employers United Kingdom 2016 and Top Employers Europe 2016 certification by Netherlands-based organisation Top Employers Institute. The tyre maker’s UK business gained Top Employer certification along with Goodyear’s European headquarters and 11 other national and regional operations. This is the fourth consecutive year that Goodyear Dunlop has gained certification in the UK and Europe.
Continue ReadingHeuver Tyrewholesale refreshes its Aeolus Tyres website
The exclusive importer of the Aeolus truck, agricultural and OTR tyre ranges in eight European countries has launched an upgraded website for the range. Heuver Tyrewholesale says the new aeolus-tyres.com offers end users an overview of the whole range and allows them to search for specific tyres by application, axle position, vehicle type or size. The mobile and tablet-friendly site also features downloadable information and details of dealers in the eight target markets.
Continue ReadingClosures: Dark clouds over Marangoni’s Rovereto site
Dark clouds currently hang over Via del Garda in Rovereto, Italy. Around 290 workers at the Marangoni Group’s headquarters site have been on strike since yesterday, prompted by a decision taken by their representative union last Friday. The workers are fighting for the future of their jobs and fear for the future of their employer. According to local media, company CEO Massimo de Alessandri has described Marangoni’s situation as “increasingly difficult.” Many of those affected are questioning the company’s future and worry that Marangoni plans to lay off up to 50 per cent of the site’s workforce. Speaking with Tyres & Accessories, de Alessandri stated that such a reduction is a matter “of pure speculation” promoted by insecure workers and unions.
Continue ReadingBridgestone expands UK golf sponsorship
Bridgestone UK’s tyre division is embarking on a golf sponsorship that it says is “quite unique to the UK tyre industry.” The sponsorship includes a European Tour event partnership, the resurrection of a high-profile English tournament and a nationwide amateur competition that reaches up to 1,900 golf clubs.
Continue ReadingLacklustre domestic tyre sales slow Yokohama Rubber’s profits in 2015
Although Yokohama Rubber clocked up a fourth consecutive year of record sales in 2015, operating income and net income declined year-on-year as falling vehicle production affected the company’s original equipment business in Japan and both escalating price competition and a mild winter hit the country’s replacement market business. Yokohama’s net sales rose 0.7 per cent to 629.9 billion yen (£3.9 billion) in 2015, while operating income declined 7.7 per cent to 54.5 billion yen (£334.6 million) and net income dropped 10.4 per cent to 36.3 billion yen (£222.9 million).
Continue ReadingYokohama increasing capacity for larger car & SUV tyres in Japan
Over the next two years, production capacity for 18-inch and larger high-performance tyres will increase by about 20 per cent at Yokohama rubber’s Shinshiro plant in Japan in order to meet growing demand for these highly profitable products. Work on a new plant production line will begin this May. This will go on stream in June 2017 and reach full capacity by the following April.
Continue ReadingPremium tyres fight back, yet margins remain headache in e-commerce era
An influx of new vehicle registrations has driven demand for premium car tyres upwards in the UK. Yet somewhat paradoxically, the price of these products has continued to fall, further impacting the margin retailers can make versus what they can expect on lower-priced products. Tyres & Accessories sat down with Micheldever wholesale director Alan Baldwin and wholesale marketing manager Rory Carlin to discuss the premium fightback and its symptoms for dealers. “Premium brands are absolutely in the ascendancy,” Baldwin says.
Continue ReadingBridgestone partners Aston Martin on DB11 project
With the Aston Martin DB11 set for its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, Bridgestone has announced that it is working with the famous brand on its project to create the replacement for the famed DB9.
Continue ReadingArlanxeo – 1 April launch for Lanxess, Saudi Aramco synthetic rubber firm
State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco and specialty chemicals company Lanxess report that all pertinent authorities have cleared the joint venture agreement signed by the two parties last September, and as a result their joint synthetic rubber company will come into being on 1 April 2016. The 50/50 joint venture will be known as Arlanxeo.
Continue ReadingPirelli signs R&D competitiveness agreement with regional government
As part of its activities to develop a new generation of tyres based upon the concept of “total safety,” Pirelli is undertaking a two-year research and development project that aims to optimise the conception and planning of new products. The name of this project is Total Safety System. Pirelli says it is investing a total of €5.35 million in the project, which is being carried out at its Milan headquarters’ R&D facility, and the work will be supported by the Lombardy regional government through a €1.9 million grant. The grant was formalised through the signing of a competitiveness agreement between the Lombardy regional government and Pirelli on 9 February.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres maintains turnover, increases profits
In the three months to 31 December 2015 – the third quarter of its 2015-16 financial year – Apollo Tyres achieved sales of Rs 29.29 billion (£298.0 million), 3.7 per cent less than a year earlier. Third quarter EBITDA stood at Rs 5.12 billion (£52.1 million), up 2.0 per cent year-on-year, while net profit rose 51.6 per cent to at Rs 2.79 billion (£28.4 million).
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