Kayaba Wins OE Contracts
Kayaba has increased its original equipment business with PSA Citroen and Toyota, supplying shock absorbers for the Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 and the Toyota Aygo. All three vehicles share the same platform and will be manufactured at the Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobiles (TPCA) plant at Kolin in the Czech Republic. Initially, the shock absorbers will be supplied from Kayabas factory near Pamplona in Spain, but this will switch to a purpose-built factory in the Czech Republic. This plant is due to begin production in February 2007.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Director In Charity Bike Ride
Kwik-Fit Fleet corporate accounts director Nigel Davies was one of a group of 15 cyclists who took part in the 180-mile ride from Brussels to Rotterdam in May, raising more than £6,000 in aid of a specialist palliative care centre in West Sussex.
Continue ReadingCorghi Sets Its Sights on Australia
(Australia/Australian Tyre Dealer) Corghi, the world’s largest Italian manufacturer of tyre service equipment, is aiming to increase its presence in Australia. After a number of years in the doldrums, Corghi brand wants to play a major role in the Australian tyre market again. Under newly-appointed general manager, Jonathan Gant, Corghi is looking to replicate the success it has enjoyed in New Zealand, where its Italian-made wheel balancers and tyre changers enjoy more than 60 per cent market share.
Continue ReadingBAR and Button Get Temporary Ban
Jenson Button and the BAR team will miss both the Barcelona and Monaco races, the FIA decided that the team had run an underweight car at Imola. The Formula 1 ruling authority also stripped BAR of the 10 points won by its two cars during the race. The BAR team has stated that it was not cheating and vowed to contest the penalty.
Continue ReadingDekk Partner Reports Rapid Growth
Nordic buying group Dekk Partner has reported that its network is growing at a rapid rate. Dekk Partner now has 110 workshops in Norway, close to 90 in Sweden, 60 in Finland and one in Estonia. On top of this group managing director, Leif Kristiansen, predicts that total turnover could peak at 215 million euros this year.
Continue ReadingApril New Car Registrations Fall Four per cent
179,457 new cars left showrooms last month, down 4.0 per cent on April 2004, according to figures released today by the SMMT. The diesel market rose 6.6 per cent in April, up 4.5 per cent over the year-to-date. “On five of the last six occasions, new car registrations have received a boost immediately after a general election”, commented Christopher Macgowan, SMMT chief executive. “However, March figures showed that the market had already started to pick up after a disappointing start to the year. April’s dip has largely been dominated by MG Rover but it seems that the crisis has not had a significant effect on consumer confidence across the wider industry. The market remains healthy with registrations expected to hit 2.45 million units by the end of the year.”
Continue ReadingJK Tyre Tops JD Power India Survey
JK Tyre has received the highest ranking in a customer satisfaction survey of tyres purchased in India. Moving up from third position in 2004, JK Tyre topped the 2005 JD Power list with a satisfaction score of 781 index points on a 1,000-point scale. The industry in general performed marginally better growing one percentage point year-on-year.
Continue Reading1,500 Already Onboard for 2005 SEMA Show
(Akron/Tire Review) SEMA has reported that some 1,500 companies have already registered as exhibitors for the 2005 SEMA Show, which runs from 1 – 4 November in Las Vegas. For the second consecutive year, exhibit space registrations have been handled online through SEMA’s show coordinator ConvExx Show Management. Space is still available, and details can be found at www.semashow.com.
Continue ReadingArvinMeritor to Consolidate Plants, Reports Quarterly Loss
(Akron/Tire Review) Automortive and commercial truck component maker ArvinMeritor said it will consolidate 11 of its manufacturing plants this year in a move to cut costs. The expected plant closure will result in a reduction of hundreds of salaried and hourly jobs. Most of the labour cutbacks are expected to come from its automotive product unit, where costs and margins remain depressed.
Continue ReadingPenny Hydraulics Appoints New Area Sales Manager
Penny Hydraulics has appointed Martin Oke as its new Area Sales Manager for the Midlands & North of England. Martin has extensive experience of the commercial vehicle and materials handling sectors and joins the company from secure in-vehicle storage specialist Sortimo. He will deal with customers across a range of industries including the local authority, brewing and tyre supply sectors.
Continue ReadingFor US Retreaders, Technology and Service are Differentiators in Tough Market
(Akron/Tire Review) Wherever the market for new truck tyres decides it is headed, the retreading industry is hot on its heels. Of course, that job is a bit easier for Bridgestone/Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin, because they are involved in both. But even their allocation of time and money must be measured carefully. For companies like Bandag Inc. and Oliver Rubber Co. – despite its connection with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. – the task is a bit more daunting. But they, too, are highly skilled at knowing what to do and when.
Continue ReadingEconomic Growth in Europe Hampered by Oil Prices, Report Says
(Akron/Tire Review – courtesy of China Daily) Manufacturing in the dozen countries sharing the euro declined for the first time in almost two years in April, adding to signs that record oil prices are dampening economic growth. An index based on a survey of about 3,000 purchasing managers compiled by NTC Research Ltd. for Reuters Group Plc fell to 49.2 from 50.4 in March, according to figures available on the Internet yesterday. Economists forecast a decline to 49.8, the median of 35 forecasts in a Bloomberg survey showed. The index hadnt dropped below 50 since August 2003, something that is indicative of contraction.
Continue ReadingNew Tyre Recycling Report
Research and Markets Ltd (Dublin) has published a new report on the subject of tyre recycling. The report provides an overview of the tyre recycling business summarising current practices and the factors that have contributed to its growth. There are around 1 billion tyres produced each year across the globe. It is estimated that for every tyre sold another joins the waste stream. There are some simple options such as retreading or shipping to countries with less stringent tread requirements, but this does not solve the problem. The new report focuses on the EU but cites US based research. The report’s author, Dr Schulman has incorporated statistics from the EU markets, which illustrate changes in the industry since the inception of the European Tyre Recycling Association a decade ago. The report can be ordered online at www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c16740 for 136 euros.
Continue ReadingTyrexpo Asia Steps Up a Gear
Tyrexpo Asia 2005 has stepped up a gear following the organisers’ announcement that the show is now officially open for pre-registration on www.eci-international.com. The exhibition currently has 100 exhibitors from over 45 different countries highlighting the international nature of the show. Exhibitor numbers and square metre take-up have exceeded all other previous Tyrexpo Asia events, the organisers report. Industry sectors represented include: new tyres, wheels, retreads and retreading equipment, fast fit and tyre repair equipment, tyre changers and balancing equipment, buffing and grinding equipment, disposal and recycling equipment and other tyre accessories. Tyrexpo Asia will run from the 13 to 15 September, Hall 2, Singapore Expo Centre.
Continue ReadingHankook Chooses Slovakia
Hankook Tire Co has chosen Slovakia as the location of its new Eastern European factory, Slovakia’s economy minister, Pavol Rusko, is quoted as saying. The company, now plans to make an investment worth around 500 million euros in the country.
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