Back in REACH – Zafco responds to ETRMA result
Brand representatives report that since its launch in 2005, Zeetex has developed a strong reputation for quality assurance, safety and compliance with environmental requirements, and holds an impressive range of certifications. However, manufacturing body ETRMA found at least one Zeetex branded tyre that was non-REACH compliant was found on the European market in March this year. However, speaking in a recent interview with Tyres & Accessories, the global product manager of Zeetex at Zafco, Zafar Jafri, explained explained the company’s perspective on this issue: “ETRMA found a so-called ‘dirty’ tyre. At that time we were running two production lines (one for international sales and one for Europe).” Explaining that the tyre question was certainly not intended for the European market, Jafri continued by pointing out that the mishandling that led to the aforementioned tyre’s arrival in the European Union could only have come as a result of the mishandling at the factory’s warehouse, similarly unintentional mishandling at Zafco’s distribution centre or via grey-imports.
Continue ReadingNew CEO, COO at Bridgestone
Bridgestone Corporation has a new chief executive officer. On 11 January the company’s Board of Directors approved a number of senior personnel changes, including the appointment of Masaaki Tsuya to the role of CEO. Incumbent chairman of the Board, CEO and president Shoshi Arakawa will continue in the position of chairman of the Board, a role Bridgestone says has been “newly redefined”. The tyre maker has not named a successor to Arakawa as president.
Continue ReadingConti targets EV market with battery JV
Continental Corporation and Korean company SK Innovation have announced they will jointly develop, manufacture and market lithium ion batteries systems for electric vehicles. The two companies have signed an agreement to set up a joint venture for this purpose, with SK Innovation and Continental holding 51 and 49 per cent ownership respectively.
Continue ReadingMore fuel prices gloom
Bad news for hauliers and logistics companies from RMI Petrol, as their fuel price monitoring system, BIG OIL, has seen the steepest and fastest ever rise in wholesale costs over the festive period. From Monday 19 December to Thursday 5 January the cost of diesel increased by nearly 4.50ppl and unleaded petrol by as much as 5.00ppl with 20 per cent VAT to be added.
Continue ReadingChinese tyre makers lost share value in 2011
With China accounting for about 34 per cent of global rubber demand in 2011 and with demand for cars slowing last year in the People’ Republic, the varied economic climate is proving to be a challenging environment for the countries fast growing domestic tyre manufacturers. According to China Daily and Bloomberg reports, China's economy is forecast to grow 8.5 per cent next year, the least in 11 years, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Vehicle sales may rise by the least in 13 years in 2011, plunging from last year's record 32 per cent, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported.
Continue ReadingCucchiani resigns from Pirelli board
Following his nomination as chief executive officer of Italian banking group Intesa SanPaolo, Enrico Tommaso Cucchiani has tendered his resignation as a member of Pirelli & C. SpA’s Board of Directors. In announcing his resignation, Pirelli thanked Mr. Cucchiani for his “valuable contribution to the company.” Cucchiani served as a member of the Board since July 2007.
Continue ReadingUnipart buys Rapid Car Parts Limited
Joint administrators, David Baxendale, Rob Hunt and Chris Pillar of PwC have confirmed the sale of the business and assets of Rapid Car Parts Limited to Unipart Automotive Limited. Based in the South East, Rapid Car Parts is one of the UK's largest distributors of automotive parts and accessories and went into administration on 7 December 2011 following difficult trading conditions and significant cash pressure. Unipart have acquired the remaining five branches including the distribution centre based in Watford. The sale price was not disclosed.
Continue ReadingTitan to announce 2012 sales guidance
Although Titan International intends to announce full details of its 2012 sales predictions in a conference call tomorrow, the company has already indicated its expects sales of up to US$1.9 billion next year – and the potential for even higher sales exists.
Continue ReadingCooper enters agreement to acquire Trayal assets
Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced its entry into an agreement to acquire the assets of an existing tyre plant in Kruševac, Serbia. Although Cooper’s statement on the deal did not name the Serbian company, the tyre maker’s interest in investing into Kruševac-based firm Trayal has been known since mid-2011. The agreement to acquire Trayal’s passenger car tyre business was signed on 8 December by Hal Miller, president of Cooper's International Tire Segment, and Serbia’s minister of Economy, Nebojša Ćirić.
Continue ReadingQuarter profit plummets at Stamford Tyres
Stamford Tyres has reported its unaudited quarter earnings for the period between 1 August and 31 October 2011, a quarter in which its after-tax profit dropped 80.5 per cent. The Singapore-based company’s after-tax profit amounted to S$330,000 (£149,500) in the second quarter of the 2012 financial year, as opposed to $1.69 million a year earlier.
Continue ReadingETRMA ‘surprised’ by TWG speech
Following the publication of Tyres & Accessories’ report on the recent NTDA Tyre Wholesalers Group annual lunch, ETRMA secretary general Fazilet Cinaralp has written an open letter stating her association’s surprise at the issues raised in TWG chairman Ashley Croft’s keynote speech. During the speech, Croft referred to testing, lobbying and the relative importance of the implementation of current tread depth legislation. As our coverage explains, no-one was available to attend the event on behalf of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers association, so here is the association’s response in full:
Continue ReadingMitsubishi to establish new subsidiary for tyre machinery
Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has announced plans to establish a new subsidiary that will take care of its industrial machinery business, including rubber and tyre machinery. This new, wholly MHI-owned company will come into being on 1 April, 2012 and be created by integrating MHI’s industrial machinery business, which is currently operated by the company’s Industrial Machinery Business, Technology & Solutions Division, and three existing MHI group companies, including MEC Engineering Service Co., Ltd. (MEC).
Continue Reading‘Screwed up’ – Titan’s Taylor responds to lapsed Goodyear agri deal
The put option Goodyear had for its Amiens plant in France, which was to be sold to Titan Tire Corporation following completion of a social plan for the closing of the site’s passenger car tyre business, expired on 30 November. It now appears that Titan will drop its tentative acquisition of the European component of Goodyear’s agricultural tyre business, shredding plans first drawn up in 2009, and pursue acquisition opportunities elsewhere.
Continue ReadingEuropean Commission publishes updated labelling regulation
Just under a year before its mandatory introduction, the European Commission has published its second regulation (1235/2011) paving the way for the implementation of tyre labelling requirements. Regulation 1222/2009 introduces labelling requirements detailing the display of information on fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise of tyres. According to the ETRMA, which has been involved in consultation on the legislation, the regulation aims to “increase the safety and the environmental and economic efficiency of road transport by promoting fuel-efficient and safe tyres with low noise levels.”
Continue ReadingHuf to acquire Beru TPMS business
An agreement between Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG and BorgWarner Beru Systems GmbH has been reached regarding Huf Electronics’ take over of BorgWarner Beru’s tyre pressure monitoring system business and acquisition of all shares in its Beru Electronics GmbH subsidiary. Subject to approval by the antitrust authorities the acquisition and merger of the Bretten, Germany based subsidiary, which employs some 230 people, will take place at the end of this year or early in 2012.
Continue Reading
