Reuters is reporting union leaders at a closed Goodyear plant in northern France have agreed to talks with Morry Taylor, Titan International chairman and CEO. Taylor infamously said earlier in 2013 that the plant wasn’t worth saving, but reports suggest he is reconsidering his abandoned takeover bid for the plant. The French union wants give their demands directly to Taylor in his US office, Tire Review reports.
Following a Europe-wide tender process, Continental has been awarded a contract to deliver Deutsche Bahn some 17,000 bus tyres in several countries. Upon announcing the tyre supply deal for Deutsche Bahn’s DB Region and DB Arriva subsidiaries, the railway operator said Continental won the contract as its overall economic and service-oriented package created a favourable impression.
In July, Carlisle Companies announced it was seeking “strategic alternatives” for its Carlisle Transportation Products (CTP) business after it recorded a non-cash pre-tax loss of $100 million due to goodwill impairment during the second quarter of 2013. This strategic alternative turned out to be a divestment; this week the company said the tyre and wheel business has been purchased by American Industrial Partners for an enterprise value of US$375 million. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.
German agricultural machinery and commercial vehicle trailer producer Krone has awarded Mitas a ‘Supplier of the Year’ award. The tyre maker earned this distinction in the tyre category and was acknowledged at Krone’s award ceremony in the company home town of Spelle, Germany on 18 September.
Maurice Taylor may take some of those ‘so-called workers’ after all. A text published by Agence France Presse yesterday says Titan International has made an offer regarding Goodyear’s Amiens Nord site.
Pirelli shareholder block evaluating early agreement dissolution
In a press statement dated 21 October, Pirelli & C. SpA shares that the leadership of its Shareholder Block Agreement met that day and decided, at the proposal of Marco Tronchetti Provera, to mandate Alessandro Pedersoli to launch consultations amongst all shareholders belonging to the Shareholder Block Agreement ahead of its expiry on 15 April 2014, with a view to evaluating the possibility of its early dissolution.
A Delaware Chancery Court judge has turned down Apollo Tyres’ bid to have Cooper Tire & Rubber’s lawsuit against it dismissed. Judge Sam Glasscock III stated during a telephone hearing that both parties should “prepare for trial” if they can’t settle their differences alone.
Bridgestone adopts English as a corporate language
In its 2013 medium-term plan, Bridgestone Corporation reported its intention to implement English as an official company language. This measure was also discussed by company CEO Masaaki Tsuya at a press briefing held in Tokyo on 16 October; he said the step was been taken as part of the 2013MTP plan of becoming “truly global”.
Vredestein wins Cannes award for product introduction film
Vredestein has been rewarded for its Ultrac Vorti tyre introduction film at the 4th Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, one of the world’s most important awards competitions honouring excellence in the corporate audio-visual industry. Apollo Tyres’ film comprised a music video shot with a Google 360 degrees camera, exclusive composed music and a game available in the Apple store with Facebook integration.
Jiangxi Blackcat signs Europe distribution agreement
A deal with German chemical firm Lehmann & Voss & Co. and its Luvomaxx business unit offers further scope for China’s Jiangxi Blackcat Carbon Black inc. to penetrate European markets. Lehmann & Voss has signed a sales agreement with the state-owned carbon black manufacturer, securing exclusive distribution rights in 16 European countries. Luvomaxx will support existing direct contracts, mainly with the tyre industry, as part of the supply chain.
Bridgestone outlines tyre SBU consolidation in 2013MTP
Every year, Bridgestone releases a new Mid-Term Management Plan. Each covers a five-year period and incorporates rolling changes. In announcing its 2013MTP, Bridgestone says the latest plan reflects changes in the operating environment since the formulation of the 2012 mid-term plan and incorporates revisions and additional strategies and actions “as deemed necessary.” Amongst the themes covered by the new plan is the restructuring of Bridgestone’s tyre business strategic business units (SBUs).
Goodyear a Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovator
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been named a Thomson Reuters 2013 Top 100 Global Innovator for the third successive year. “This recognition is further evidence of Goodyear’s ability to drive innovation,” stated chairman and chief executive officer Richard J Kramer. One of the world’s oldest tyre manufacturers, Goodyear has a lengthy history of innovations, including the first all-season radial tyre and environmentally friendly concepts like the use of soybean oil and BioIsoprene in tyres.
Within the coming 12 months, Bridgestone Corporation will close its steel cord facility in Kuroiso, Japan and consolidate production into its remaining Japanese steel cord plant, Saga. The company says these measures will commence immediately and it expects to complete them by late September 2014.
Just a day after Goodyear Dunlop released its review of the impact of tyre labelling legislation on consumers across Europe, a Lanxess/NTDA report is painting a somewhat less rosy view of progress in this area. Details of the research are expected to be shared at tonights Tyre and Fast Fit Awards in Birmingham, with the full report scheduled for publication on the morning of 17 October. While it has to pointed out that the Lanxess/NTDA research centred on the UK only as opposed to Europe, it must als be said the conclusions appear to be somewhat different.
Both Cooper Tire & Rubber and Apollo Tyres state they want the merger/acquisition deal to close, yet each blames the other for delaying this. First Cooper alleged its suitor wasn’t settling certain issues; now Apollo says Cooper has failed to address everything required for the agreement to be finalised.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
