VDB Tyres Stolen
Two fully loaded trailers, with over 2,000 tyres, were stolen from Van den Ban’s headquarters in Holland last Friday. The company is appealing to members of both the UK and European tyre markets to provide any information that may lead to the recovery of these tyres.
Continue ReadingKayaba Coil Spring Catalogue
Kayaba has launched an all-new European 2005 catalogue for its range of K-Flex replacement coil springs. The 424-page catalogue contains over 3,000 different part numbers covering applications for cars, car derived vans and light commercial vehicles. Coil springs are a vital part of a vehicle’s ride control and are responsible for comfort and ride height. Kayaba recommend that coil springs are replaced every four years or 50,000 miles as general wear and tear can lead to reduced performance and safety.
Continue ReadingAutoclimate Offers Denso Compressors
The latest addition to Autoclimates fast-growing portfolio of air conditioning components is the range of Denso compressors; the brand fitted as OE by many of Europes leading car makers.
Continue ReadingLink 51 Shows Shelving Versatility
A 23,000 square feet converted warehouse in Byfleet has become the £1 million vehicle after-sales centre for the Lance Owen organisation in the area. The complex is home to a wide range of components and parts, including such diverse products as body panels, bumper units, exhaust pipes and tyres. Each component presented a different storage problem and the answer was a two-tier shelving installation from Link 51, providing more than 3 kilometres of shelving space alongside a number of specialist bays. According to the site’s parts director, Stephen Kettle, the system is ideal, with 13,000 individual lines now held in stock. He said: “The Link 51 design allows us to store up to £1.5 million worth of stock and, with rapid turn round of, often, no more than one month a characteristic of our business, the need for a highly effective and accessible storage system is clearly vital. The Link 51 system meets this objective and also gives us the versatility we need to accommodate such a wide variation in product and component sizes and types.”
Continue ReadingDelphi Adds 290 Part Numbers
Delphi has added 290 new shock absorber references to its 2005 aftermarket parts catalogue, giving the company 97 per cent coverage of the European vehicle parc. Delphi’s shocks are categorised as either “Delphi de Carbon Comfort” twintube or “Delphi de Carbon Performance monotube.” To help customers find the right part quickly, each vehicle marque is listed alphabetically and then in numerical order according to model and engine size. Columns across the page show the correct monotube and twintube references suitable for the front or rear of the vehicle.
Continue ReadingA Good Time to Blame the Industry – Plimsoll Analysis
Industry analysts Plimsoll Publishing asks, if the market suffers a recession this year, which companies in the Tyre Manufacturers and Distributors sector will be most affected and which couldnt care less? It also asks which companies are already at risk and will use any talk of a slow down to bury bad news? The new publication (Plimsoll Portfolio Analysis, Tyre Manufacturers & distributors 3rd Edition 2005) examines the current financial state of the top 240 companies in the sector and the study has revealed four distinct profiles of company behaviour.
Continue ReadingConti Board Member to Join VW?
Continental AG personnel director, Thomas Sattelberger, has been named as a potential candidate to replace Peter Hartz at Volkswagen. Mr Hartz resigned amid allegations that his department was involved in Indian bribery scandal. Mr Sattelberger is reported to be one of the top candidates, Dow Jones Newswires has reported. His experience and that fact that he is not a Volkwagen insider are both likely to count in his favour. Continental spokesman Hannes Boekhoff made no comment. Mr Sattelberger has been part of Continental executive committee since July 2003. Before that he worked for Lufthansa and DaimlerChrysler. Meanwhile ThyssenKrupp rejected reports that director Ralph Labonte was another possible succesor. A ThyssenKrupp spokesperson said that Labonte is not available to fill that position.
Continue ReadingThird Truck Point Business Manager
Bridgestone UK has appointed Stuart Monk (34) as the third business development manager for the Truck Point network of independent truck tyre dealers. Mr Monk, who will cover the Midlands area, has a strong financial background in banking, joining Bridgestone UK in 2002 and working in senior positions in the central billing department. His new role is structured round initiatives being taken by Bridgestone to support the independents’ business activities with fleet customers and to ensure that there are clear lines of communication between Bridgestone UK, the fleets and the dealers.
Continue ReadingNew Dansk Porche Catalogue
Euro Car Parts has released its new Porsche catalogue for 2005/06 packed with high performance exhaust systems and accessories from Original Equipment Manufacturer Dansk. Dansk manufacture for the whole Porsche range, including the 356, 912, 914, 911, 964, 993, 996, 924, Boxster and Cayenne models. According to Euro Car Parts, the famous Dansk engineering produces the distinctive Porsche sound that owners demand.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Denies It’s Walking Away From Slovakia
Hankook Tire Co, Korea’s largest tyre manufacturer said it is still considering Slovakia as the site for a 500 million euro ($603 million) plant, contradicting a Korean newspaper report that the plan had been scrapped. Now the Slovak government is saying that it has up until 31 August to come with a new offer for Hankook, local media sources have reported. The cabinet rejected the original investment proposal due to investment incentives of 21 per cent of the total investment. Now the government insists that six per cent will remain the maximum level of the investment stimuli for the company.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Eyes Hungary For New Plant
(Akron/Tire Review) According to an Associated Press report, Bridgestone Corp. is looking to build a new tire plant in Tatabanya, Hungary. Construction on the plant, estimated at $229 million, would start next year.
Continue ReadingIndian Tyre Output Climbs 10 per cent in May
Indian tyre production levels went up 10 per cent in May compared with last year. At the same time exports jumped 62 per cent. May’s overall tyre production total stood at 5,176,732 units compared with 4,712,642 in 2040, according to ATMA figures. A large part of the growth was attributed to the increase production of light commercial vehicles tyres, which went up 24 per cent year-on-year. Meanwhile, passenger car tyre production increased 13 per cent, truck and bus tyre production increased 10 per cent. In the two-wheeler segment, motorcycle tyre production increased by 14 per cent, while scooter tyre production dipped by three per cent. Exports during May increased by 62 per cent with 472,477 units exported, as opposed to 291,427 units in the same month last year. Passenger car tyre exports most, increasing 96 per cent, while trucks tyre exports went up 40 per cent in May this year.
Continue ReadingNatural Rubber Prices Reach New High
Natural Rubber Prices have reached a new high at $1.70/kg and resulting tyre prices increases could be on their way. The cost of natural rubber has increased 45 per cent since January and 30 per cent when compared with the average price in 2004. This price surge, reportedly +30 per cent in two months, will impact the tyre manufacturer’s balance sheets in four to six months, Deutsche Bank analysts predict. The analysts also suggested: “After two sets of price increases, both in 2005 and in 2006, we expect the industry to remain disciplined and would expect a further price increase in 2006.”
Continue ReadingExide’s New X-tra Power Range
Exide has launched a new range of high-performance batteries, which it says benefit from Exmet technology, a feature designed to boost engine starting power and battery life. The X-tra EXpanded METal technology means the battery contains grids of lead, calcium and tin alloys which are said to enhance starting power by as much as 30 per cent. In addition Exide says it produces lower water consumption, eliminating the need for topping-up.
Continue ReadingConti Appoints New Commercial Manager
Continental has appointed Mike Nyren as its truck and remould brand manager. In his new role Mr Nyren will be responsible for the development and implementation of strategies for the Uniroyal and Semperit truck tyre brands. Nyren comes to Conti from Daimler Chrysler, where he worked as marketing executive for the commercial vehicles business. Talking about his recent appointment he said: “I am really looking forward to my new role, especially working at Continental which is renowned for its high standards of engineering and product quality.”
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