Amiens lawsuit seeks to block Goodyear plant closure
When Maurice Taylor visited Goodyear’s plant in Amiens, France, he claims to have observed workers talking for several hours a day instead of getting busy with the tasks they were paid to do, and when he challenged them about this they replied it was “the French way.” Now the Amiens plant workers are engaging in a behaviour more in line with the American way – they have sued Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
Continue ReadingWhat is the National Measurement Office?
The history of the NMO goes back to the Magna Carta, but more recently it was known as the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML). In 2006, NWML became responsible for the enforcement of RoHS Regulations (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2008) in the UK. On the 28 June 2007 NWML (more recently renamed the National Measurement Office) became part of the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Continue ReadingNational Measurement Office to enforce tyre labelling
The National Measurement Office (NMO) has been named as the enforcement body of the European tyre labelling legislation that was implemented across the continent in November 2012. The NMO’s remit covers the effective implementation of tyre labelling in the UK and includes scope for retail checks as well as monitoring the authenticity and accuracy of the labels themselves. News of the appointment bridges the gap between the legislation put in place and the industry take steps to adapt to it. Now however, there is reason for renewed positivity. Not only because there are people to take responsibility for the deployment of the law, but because we will hopefully now be able to begin gauging the real effects of the legislation on how tyres are bought and sold.
Continue ReadingQuinton Hazell Cheadle sold, other sites closing
Klarius Group Limited put its Quinton Hazell Automotive Limited (QH) into administration on 6 February 2013. Following their appointment, the administrators reached an agreement to sell the Klarius emissions business based at Cheadle, Staffordshire to Klarius Products Limited, preserving 234 jobs. The deal will formally complete during the course of 7 February (today). In addition, the intellectual property rights relating to the QH business were sold separately to Tetrosyl I-Tec Limited, part of Tetrosyl Limited.
Continue ReadingEnd of the road for Goodyear’s Amiens-Nord plant?
The sword of Damocles has hung over Goodyear’s production site in Amiens, France for years now. Most recently, in 2009 the American tyre maker openly discussed plans to end the production of passenger car tyres in Amiens-Nord; the site suffered from “uncompetitive costs,” the company said. Two years ago Goodyear attempted to emulate the deal it made in Latin America and sell the Amiens plant’s agricultural tyre production to Titan International. But all plans for the Titan-Goodyear deal collapsed at the end of 2011. Titan chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor pulled the ripcord and withdrew from Europe, visibly frustrated by the union representatives in Amiens.
Continue ReadingMichelin dominates Dakar following three-year commitment
Michelin has begun its three-year commitment to the Dakar Rally as it means to go on, with its tyres fitted to victors in the Bike, Truck and – on the tyre manufacturer’s comeback to the category for the first time since its 2001 victory – Cars. The French tyre giant brought its Latitude C tyres for the Car class, the Bib Mousse-equipped Desert Race for Motorbikes, and the XZL for Trucks, showing the strength and versatility required for competitors to tackle the frequently punishing conditions encountered.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to open Thailand tech centre
Bridgestone Corporation has announced plans for its Bridgestone Asia Pacific PTE Ltd (BSAP) subsidiary to establish a technical centre in Thailand. The total investment of the project is said to be around 3.7 billion yen, with the opening pencilled in for July 2013.
Continue ReadingETRMA: European tyre markets crashed in 2012
After two consecutive years of modest growth in total tyre unit sales, European tyre makers are reporting double digits drops across the board in 2012. While previous market growth can be qualified by the fact that the increases came despite a decrease of ETRMA member market share, it is clear that the economic crisis is far from being over.
Continue ReadingBosal goes into administration
Bosal UK, which is best known as an exhaust manufacturer but also makes roof racks and towbards, has entered administration. Various news sources report that calling in the administrators follows the recent confirmation of a contract to supply Land Rover with the exhaust systems for its popular Evoque model. On 11 January 2013, the company issued a statement appointing Phillip Duffy and David Whitehouse of Duff & Phelps Ltd, Manchester as administrators in a move that follows “a decade of strong support for Bosal UK from its owners in the face of a mix of factors which over time increasingly impacted on its viability”.
Continue ReadingInfinity competition concluded
Infinity’s ‘Win a Bentley’ prize draw, which has been running between September and November, reached its finale last week. Working alongside its UK distributor, Bond International, Infinity Tyres held the final prize draw at Bond’s head office near York, where members of the Infinity Europe team including Jorge Crespo (Infinity’s European General Manager) and Clive Mansfield (Sales and Marketing Manager) joined with Steve Tidmarsh, Finance Director of Bond International and Paul Palmer of Savoy Tyres to host the day’s events.
Continue ReadingPirelli hosts Volvo customer track day at Goodwood
The winners of a recent Pirelli promotion run in collaboration with Volvo recently enjoyed a day with Mithril Racing School at Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit. The promotion, which was run from July to September, enabled all Pirelli tyre purchases from the official tyre suppliers to enter the promotion. Six league divisions were set up by Volvo: five divisions for existing members of the programme and a sixth division was set up for dealers who were new to the scheme.
Continue ReadingSocial network tyre business usage over 50%
More than 50 per cent of businesses in the tyre industry use social networks like Facebook and Twitter for business purposes, according to a poll conducted amongst trade visitors to Tyrepress.com. A full report on social network use in the tyre business has been published in the October edition of Tyres & Accessories for the past two years, and in this relatively short period of time we have seen growing competitiveness amongst the big-name manufacturers in particular.
Continue ReadingHexpol acquires US retreading supplier Robbins
Swedish polymer group Hexpol has acquired US retreading industry supplier Robbins. The US$89.2 million deal covers the purchase of Robbins Holdings, Inc., including Robbins LLC.
Continue ReadingHalfords Autocentres and SMMT in advertising row
A row has broken out between Halfords Autocentres and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) over advertising relating to the cost of car servicing at franchised dealerships. The SMMT complained to Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about an advertisement at halfordsautocentres.com which highlighted apparent savings of up to 50 per cent on car servicing. The complaint was subsequently upheld by ASA who said the ad could not continue in the offending form.
Continue ReadingKlarius Group sells QH Ireland to CD Group
The Klarius Group has concluded an agreement with Irish auto parts distribution company, CD Group, to sell its Quinton Hazell Ireland operation. QH Ireland will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity within the CD Group of companies distributing QH and Klarius branded products to the Irish market. Customers can continue to deal with the people that they always have done at QH in Dublin and place orders through the normal channels.
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