New Apollo factories: First Eastern Europe, then Indonesia
In the last year or so conflicting reports on Apollo Tyres’ plans to set up a factory in Eastern Europe have circulated; in March 2010 it was said plans for a new plant there had been dropped in favour of a focus on expanding the former Vredestein facility in the Netherlands, while later in the year talk from Apollo management turned again to international investments. Recent news from Chennai, India based newspaper the Economic Times indicates a new factory in Eastern Europe is indeed still on the cards.
Continue ReadingShare offer for Azerbaijan tyre maker announced
Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Property Affairs is offering investors the chance to obtain a 96.98 per cent share in tyre maker JSC Azersin. According to the Azerbaijan Business Center, this package of shares is made up of a standard package offered for investment (85 per cent of shares) plus shares available after labour collective subscription. The share tender is open to both domestic and foreign investors. Bids for shares in the debt-ridden tyre maker are accepted until March 31.
Continue ReadingRecyclatech signs first franchise deal for bacteria devulcanisation process
Various news sources have reported the February 15 signing of a franchise deal between Scotland’s Recyclatech Group and Spanish firm Biotyre. According to The Scotsman newspaper, Biotyre will build a pilot tyre recycling plant in Spain utilising Recyclatech’s bacteria driven devulcanisation technology, and in return from licence fees and royalty sales the Scottish firm will provide Biotyre with technical and scientific support, plus the bacteria used in the process. The half million pound pilot plant is being set up with a view to Biotyre establishing a full-scale commercial operation. Recyclatech itself intends to establish a facility of its own in Scotland, and The Scotsman reports company chairman John Pool as saying the company is “close” to raising the £1 million it needs for this. The Recyclatech plant will have the capacity to produce around 1,000 tonnes of recycled rubber per annum and it will be used to supply samples to companies interested in using the technology.
Continue ReadingYokohama signs site lease for Philippines factory expansion
To fulfil plans to increase tyre making capacity, Yokohama Rubber has signed a contract to lease a 300,000 square metre section of land adjacent to the Yokohama Tire Philippines plant, some sixty kilometres northwest of Manila. The leasing contract for the land at the former US Air Force base was signed between Yokohama and Clark Development Corporation on February 12. The capacity expansion plans were first announced in late January and involve a total investment of 50 billion yen (£371.3 million) in order to increase capacity 143 per cent to 17 million units per annum.
Continue ReadingAuto Windscreens enters administration
Despite it being Valentine’s day, there was no love lost between Auto Windscreens and the HMRC on 14 February 2011. That’s the day the UK's second largest windscreen repair company went into administration, threatening 1,100 jobs, apparently owing money to the good old Inland Revenue.
Continue ReadingEuropean operations a highlight of Apollo results
During the most recent quarter turnover at Apollo Tyres increased by just 3.2 per cent to Rs 23.68 billion (£319.39 million), and this modest growth in turnover in the three months to December 31, 2010 is in line with growth throughout the first nine months of the current financial year. During the nine months to the end of last year the company achieved net sales of Rs 61.38 billion (£827.89 million), a year-on year growth of 2.7 per cent. The strongest performer in Apollo Tyres’ global operations proved to be the Netherlands based former Vredestein unit, whose turnover grew 11.7 per cent to Rs 6.49 billion (£87.54 million) in the third quarter and 13.1 per cent to Rs 16.11 billion (£217.29 million) in the nine months to December 31, 2010. Apollo Tyres’ net profit for the third quarter decreased 36.8 per cent to Rs 1.2 billion (£16.19 million) while it decreased 35.9 per cent to Rs 2.5 billion (£33.72 million) in the first months of the year.
Continue ReadingEnergy management system certification for Bridgestone TCE
In December 2010 Bridgestone Europe have achieved the distinction of being the first tyre maker to gain EN 16001 certification for one of its facilities. The EN 16001 standard, currently held by fewer than 100 companies in Europe, was obtain by the Bridgestone Technical Center Europe (TCE) and certifies that the centre has successfully implemented an energy management system and developed and implemented an energy policy. To achieve this, Bridgestone says the TCE identified all areas of significant energy consumption, targeting energy savings, while also introducing projects to produce energy from renewable sources. These activities are now fully integrated within the centre’s daily working procedures.
Continue ReadingRollier proposes Senard as successor at Michelin
Preparations for Michel Rollier’s eventual departure from Michelin are to commence after the Group managing general partner expressed his intention not to complete his term of office. According to Michelin bylaws this would occur when Rollier turns 72, however in agreement with the company’s Supervisory Board the 67-year old intends to recommend shareholders elect Jean-Dominique Senard –one of the company’s two non-general managing partners elected in May 2007 – to replace him as managing general partner. Shareholders are expected to vote on this at the Extraordinary Meeting scheduled for May 13, 2011. At this meeting shareholders will also be invited to approve resolutions to adjust the Group’s corporate governance procedures, Michelin notes.
Continue ReadingKramer praises loss-making Goodyear for ‘improvement across all businesses’
Although Goodyear Tire & Rubber recorded a net loss for the third consecutive year, company chairman and CEO Richard J. Kramer states he’s “very pleased” with the tyre maker’s fourth quarter and full year 2010 performance. “Our operating results reflect significant recovery, with improvement across all of our businesses versus last year despite escalating raw material costs,” Kramer commented.
Continue ReadingHankook UK focuses on brand, ups TV advertising budget 50%
After nine years of at the helm of Hankook Tyres UK Ltd, years that have seen the company grow from the position of a newcomer into a force to be reckoned, Richard Page has announced his retirement from the role of managing director. Tyres & Accessories understands that he will continue in a consultative role throughout what has been a pre-planned and progressive changeover into the capable hands of new MD Gang Seung Lee. In a recent visit to the Hankook UK headquarters T&A met with Mr Lee, who is commonly known as Tony Lee in the UK, and a freshly reshuffled management team to find about more about what’s in store for South Korean tyre manufacturer in 2011.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to close Union City plant by year’s end
WIthin its full year 2010 results report, released February 10, Goodyear Tire & Rubber discloses plans to close its tyre making facility in Union City, Tennessee by the end of this year. A stated reason for proceeding with closure plans is the desire to “reduce high-cost manufacturing capacity globally” as per Goodyear strategy. The Union City plant currently employs approximately 1,900 people.
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres presented with “opportunity to increase sales” in 2011 – Gran
A jaunty nautical appraisal of this year’s outlook greeted shareholders upon the release of Nokian Tyres’ 2010 financial statements. The man at the helm, president and CEO Kim Gran, stated that “a clear improvement in the drivers for demand in core business brought Nokian Tyres back to a strong growth track. The sails are now bulging with strong tailwind as we go into 2011 with thick order books and growing capacity.”
Continue ReadingRenewed Bridgestone contract “of great importance” to DHL’s tyre segment growth plans
Bridgestone Europe has renewed its Swedish market supply contract with DHL Supply Chain. The Jönköping based firm has handled Bridgestone Europe’s warehouse operations for the Swedish market since 1997 and the extended contract, valid until 2013, includes warehousing and a number of value-added services such as the studding of winter tyres.
Continue ReadingYokohama sales growth ‘more than compensates’ rising material costs
Sales for Yokohama Rubber’s tyre operations increase 13.7 per cent in the first nine months of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, the company reports. During the nine months to December 31, 2010 Yokohama recorded tyre business sales of 310.2 billion yen (₤2.36 billion) and operating income of 23.2 billion yen (₤176.42 million), up 37.4 per cent year on year. The company reports this sales growth came through gains both in its domestic Japanese and international markets and it more than offset the adverse effect on profitability caused by rising raw material prices as a strengthening yen. Domestic market sales were helped by an economic rebound and heavy snows, which prompted strong winter tyre sales, while overseas growth was most notable in the US and China.
Continue ReadingGajah Tunggal joins Indonesia’s LQ45 stock index
The Indonesia Stock Exchange reports that tyre maker PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk has been added to its LQ45 list as of February 2011. The list recognises 45 companies that have fulfilled a number of criteria, including highest market capitalisation within the last 12 months and highest transaction value in a regular market during the same timeframe. The company’s market growth has also been witnessed in its 2010 financials; for the first time, Indonesia’s largest tyre manufacturer exceeded US$1 billion in net sales.
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