![Metzeler revises logo, unveils new brand slogan](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Metzeler_P_72_RGB.jpg)
Metzeler revises logo, unveils new brand slogan
A new slogan and logo aim to reinforce Metzeler’s position as the “natural choice for true biking enthusiasts.” The Pirelli-owned marque has introduced the slogan “sharing independence”, and although this sounds an oxymoron it is intended to represent the individualism within a community that is a core element of the motorcycling experience for many, and a value that Metzeler says underpins its brand positioning. Metzeler tyres are, the manufacturer says, products that cater to “the community of bikers who are looking for high performance and reliable tyres capable of providing a fulfilling riding experience in any condition or situation.”
Continue ReadingHexpol buys compounding firm Kardoes Rubber
Hexpol has agreed to acquire well known US rubber compounding firm Kardoes Rubber Co. from company founder Frank Kardoes and his family for US$31.8 million. According to Hexpol, the acquisition price will be paid on a cash and debt free basis and is funded by a combination of cash and existing bank facilities. The acquisition price will be paid upon completion of the acquisition which is estimated to take place at the end of July. The business is expected to be consolidated from August 2014.
Continue ReadingNankang employee arrested for alleged kickbacks
According to various Taiwanese media sources, an assistant manager employed by Nankang Rubber Tire Corp. Ltd. has been arrested along with his wife on suspicion of receiving illegal rebates from the tyre maker’s suppliers. The arrested man has been identified by the surname ‘Chen’, and police are said to have taken custody of NT$230 million (£4.5 million) in cash plus remittances found in his home and office in Hsinchu City. The arrest was made on 16 July.
Continue Reading![Michelin supplying tyres to Carlsson](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/carlsson.jpg)
Michelin supplying tyres to Carlsson
Under an agreement recently signed between Michelin and Carlsson, three Michelin tyre lines are being delivered to the German tuning manufacturer as a works-fitted option for its “most powerful models”. The Pilot Sport 3, Pilot Super Sport and Pilot Sport Cup 2 ranges are supplied by the ‘Specialty Products’ department within the Michelin Motorsports division, a department set up to manage the tyre maker’s ultra high-performance car tyre business and to serve both small and large manufacturers and tuners. The Carlsson supply deal commenced on 1 July.
Continue ReadingMAM heading to Automechanika
MAM Software has announced it will exhibit at Automechanika Frankfurt between 16 and 20 September. The company’s show presence will be located in the SMMT Pavilion in hall 5.1 at stand E95, and the company says it will use the event to identify new market opportunities for its cloud-based enterprise management software, data and e-commerce solutions.
Continue ReadingUS Department of Commerce proceeding with tyre import tariff case
The US Department of Commerce Department is proceeding with the US United Steelworker’s case against Chinese tyre imports into America. The union is pushing for new import duties similar to those that were introduced in 2009 and has hailed the news that the case is continuing and as a significant step forward in the process.
Continue ReadingEuropean tyre markets up across all segments in 1H 2014
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) has published figures showing that is members experience sales increases across all segments in the first half of 2014.
Continue ReadingRestructured Orion IPO launched
Following the withdrawal of Orion Engineered Carbons’ IPO, which was first launched in April, the carbon black specialist has launched a slightly restructured IPO on the NYSE. The entire US405 million float will now be based on the almost 90 per cent stake in the company owned by the Rhone Group and Triton Capital through Kinove Holdings. Kinove aims to sell 18 million shares at a price range of $21 to $24. Taking the midpoint of this price range, Orion Engineered Carbons would command a market value of $1.3 billion.
Continue ReadingGoodyear declares dividend on common stock
Directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company have declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.06 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable 2 September 2014, to shareholders of record on 1 August 2014. The payout represents an annual rate of $0.24 per share.
Continue Reading![GT Radial wins European original equipment deal](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ph056.GT-Radial-Champiro-VP1.jpg)
GT Radial wins European original equipment deal
Top ten tyre manufacturer, Giti Tire has confirmed its first GT Radial original equipment homologation fitments for the European passenger car and light truck market. Both Renault Nissan and PSA Peugeot Citroen will fit the manufacturer’s tyres on European models, with the latter’s Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo models running on GT Radial in Western European markets.
Continue ReadingFederal-Mogul completes Honeywell Friction business purchase
Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation announced yesterday that its Motorparts division has completed the acquisition of certain business assets of the Honeywell Friction Materials business. The Honeywell Friction Materials business is headquartered in Glinde, Germany, with significant operations in Romania and China. With the business acquisition, Federal-Mogul Motorparts takes on the Jurid brand name.
Continue Reading![Is Unipart Automotive being lined up for sale to Euro Car Parts?](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/UNIPART-AUTOMOTIVE-Van.jpg)
Is Unipart Automotive being lined up for sale to Euro Car Parts?
With numerous sources reporting that loss-making parts firm Unipart Automotive is just days away from a rescue plan (which you might read as a sales of the company), and with at least three bidders being associated with the deal, fast-growing rival Euro Car Parts could be seen as a front runner. But first a little background. Following the initial news reports Unipart Automotive was close to calling in the administrators on 8 July, a day later minority shareholder Unipart Group clarified its relationship to Unipart Automotive:
Continue ReadingExide makes appointments, working to bring recycling plant back into operation
Exide Technologies’ Vernon automotive lead battery recycling plant in the US state of California has stood idle since March 2014, when the company was denied an extension to comply with a new air quality regulation (District Rule 1420.1 from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, or AQMD) that requires the plant’s furnaces to operate under continuous negative pressure from 10 April. Mothballing the facility saw 20 salaries employees and 104 hourly workers receiving temporary layoff notices. The company has now released a statement regarding the board’s approval of new orders and Exide’s plans in relation to the Vernon facility.
Continue Reading![Continental to discontinue football World Cup sponsorship](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Continental-WM_tb.jpg)
Continental to discontinue football World Cup sponsorship
According to a German newspaper, Continental plans to step down as a World Cup sponsor. The Hannoversche Allgemeine (HAZ) writes that in future the tyre maker intends instead to solely sponsor regional confederations, such as Europe’s UEFA. This change to the company’s multi-million commitment is also said to apply to the next World Cup. “We have nothing more to do with the coming events in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022,” the newspaper quoted a Continental spokesperson as saying.
Continue Reading![GT Radial quartet to cycle Le Mans 24 Hour for Marie Curie](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ph055.Brian-mcDermott-LE-Mans-24.jpg)
GT Radial quartet to cycle Le Mans 24 Hour for Marie Curie
A quartet of riders from GT Radial are to tackle the Circuit Bugatti in the Le Mans 24 Hour Cycle Race. Brian McDermott, country manager UK for Giti Tire, manufacturer of GT Radial; Ellis Hadley, senior test engineer; Martin Gibson, senior test engineer; and Bertrand Saint-Supery, OEM EU technical director make up the team who will be training hard and raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
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