Hankook Korean union votes for strike: reports
Hankook could be the subject of the first strike action in its history after 86.3 per cent of its union members voted for industrial action, newspaper Korea Joongang Daily reports. The vote, with ballots cast by 4,430 out of 4,700 union members between 21 and 23 August, comes after management proposed an annual wage hike of 1 per cent.
Continue Reading![Brake Engineering’s ‘Original Aftermarket’ initiative](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BrakeEng-OriginalAftermarket.jpg)
Brake Engineering’s ‘Original Aftermarket’ initiative
Brake Engineering is launching “Original Aftermarket”, an initiative the company says will redefine the supply and fit of braking products in the automotive aftermarket and bring transparency, clarity and quality to an overly complex product sector. Launching in October, the company will introduce a range of services designed to cut-through the trade’s misunderstandings of the braking sector and work to grow a distributor’s sales of the company’s complete range of calipers, discs, drums, hydraulics, pads and shoes.
Continue ReadingJaguar Land Rover to open factory in Slovakia – comment
Ian Fletcher, Principal Analyst with IHS Automotive, offers the following comment on the news that Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is to open a factory in Slovakia.
Continue Reading![Schmettau & Fuchs partners with Klarius on new emissions product range](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Klarius044___Schmettau_und_Fuchs___Pic4_PR3242_41067.jpg)
Schmettau & Fuchs partners with Klarius on new emissions product range
Bremen, Germany automotive parts distributor Schmettau & Fuchs has been working with Klarius for the last 12 months to supply its emissions products across the north west of Germany. The German aftermarket’s requirements acknowledge the country’s reputation for high quality automotive production, making it an attractive proposition for the British manufacturer as a supplier of a wide range of high quality exhausts and emissions parts.
Continue Reading![New social media channels launched for Lassa](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Lassa_Instagram.png)
New social media channels launched for Lassa
Brisa’s Lassa Tyres brand has launched new social media channels to follow its recently refreshed website. The brand now has Twitter and Instagram feeds, as well as a consolidated Facebook profile.
Continue ReadingContinental launching automotive software training scheme
Starting in September, Continental will introduce a new programme that will train “young people who are passionate about IT” to become automotive software developers. According to Ariane Reinhart, the tyre and automotive systems manufacturer’s Executive Board member in charge of human resources, the training programme will be based in Germany and involve close collaboration between Continental’s various divisions.
Continue Reading![Stop the Crash – Continental partners with Global NCAP campaign](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/STC_activities2.jpg)
Stop the Crash – Continental partners with Global NCAP campaign
Tyre maker and automotive systems supplier Continental is to serve as a key partner to a four-year global campaign being rolled out to promote awareness of leading vehicle crash avoidance technologies in major emerging markets. The firm’s Tire and Chassis & Safety divisions are supporting the ‘Stop the Crash’ initiative organised by Global NCAP (Global New Car Assessment Programme), the London-based umbrella body of the NCAP organisations that carry out vehicle safety tests around the world. The company also states it will more closely position its Continental tyre brand to the campaign’s long-term goals.
Continue Reading![Talks with potential UK, European distributors under way, says Bright Technology](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Bright-Europe-Showroom.jpg)
Talks with potential UK, European distributors under way, says Bright Technology
Bright Technology says the number of sales and distribution partners it has throughout Europe is on the rise. A representative for the Chinese tyre changer and wheel balancer manufacturer, reports that the company is “currently in advanced negotiations with potential distributors in Germany, Italy and the UK.” Bright Technology is also supporting its presence within the region by taking part in trade shows such as Autopromotec.
Continue Reading![Falken Tyre expands European football involvement in 2015/16](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Falken-Ingolstadt.jpg)
Falken Tyre expands European football involvement in 2015/16
Japanese tyre maker Falken Tyre is intensifying its strategic use of football as a platform for sales and marketing, and for the new season has secured perimeter advertising packages at various clubs playing in the German Bundesliga, Spain’s Primera División, the Italian Serie A and France’s Ligue 1.
Continue Reading![All-new policy?](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Truck-Tyre-inforgraphic-August-2015-2.png)
All-new policy?
On the one hand, a steadily growing economy and healthily increasing commercial vehicle registrations figures appear to point to a bright future for the UK truck tyre segment. However, on the other hand, the situation is complicated by the increasing imports of low-cost and often un-reported Chinese tyre imports – something that is particularly affecting both current and future retread sales, owing to these products’ lack of retreadability.
Continue Reading![Awards for Hankook’s ‘climate change’ concept tyres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/hankook-concepts.jpg)
Awards for Hankook’s ‘climate change’ concept tyres
Hankook Tire reports that several concept tyres it developed in collaboration with Germany’s Pforzheim University have landed 2015 Red Dot Design Award and 2015 IDEA (International Design Excellence Award) honours.
Continue Reading![Dandelion rubber to feed ‘aggressive’ expansion of Sumitomo’s global production footprint](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015_091_01.jpg)
Dandelion rubber to feed ‘aggressive’ expansion of Sumitomo’s global production footprint
A number of tyre makers have recently shown interest in Taraxicum kok-saghya (TKS), or Russian dandelion, as an alternative source of natural rubber – one manufacturer is even looking to launch tyres containing this raw material within the next five to ten years. Now Sumitomo Rubber Industries has added its name to the list of tyre firms examining the potential of TKS as a replacement for rubber from the Hevea tree; the Japanese manufacturer has commenced joint research with emerging US-based biotech company Kultevat and is working to find practical applications for natural rubber derived from the yellow-flowered plant.
Continue Reading![Uniwheels profit up 67% in H1 2015](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/uniwheels-poland.jpg)
Uniwheels profit up 67% in H1 2015
Alloy wheel manufacturer Uniwheels AG reports sales of 3.9 million wheels in the first half of 2015, 11.3 per cent more than a year earlier and a record first-half volume. This gave the company revenues of €217.0 million, a year-on-year increase of 26.8 per cent. EBITA rose 30.2 per cent in the January to June period to €27.9 million and the margin increased from 12.5 to 12.8 per cent. Net profit rose 66.9 per cent to €19.3 million.
Continue ReadingDelticom reports higher turnover, plans warehouse closure
Online tyre retailer Delticom reports that its revenues in the first half of this year rose 10.7 per cent year-on-year to €250.2 million. EBIDTA for the period between 1 January and 30 June was up 6.4 per cent to €6.6 million, although the EBITDA margin contracted from 2.7 to 2.6 per cent. EBIT decreased 32.3 per cent in the reporting period to € 1.4 million, while consolidated net income totaled €0.7 million, up from the €0.2 million net loss reported a year earlier. Earnings per share were €0.06.
Continue Reading![Belshina aiming to start 63-inch OTR tyre production in 2016](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/belshina.jpg)
Belshina aiming to start 63-inch OTR tyre production in 2016
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC says its goal of producing 63-inch tyres for mining trucks should be realised by the end of next year. The company reports that modernisation of the milling facility at its Babruysk plant is currently taking place, and according to the project’s schedule further equipment for upgrading the plant will begin arriving in January 2016. A group of Belshina specialists will also complete tyre building training at a location within Europe in the coming months and will assemble prototype tyres ahead of the first Belshina 63-inch OTR tyres leaving the factory some time in 2016.
Continue Reading