Tyres & Accessories Subscribers Area
From next Tuesday 19th April, our websites subscribers area can only be accessed by subscribers to Tyres & Accessories magazine. Access is via a unique subscribers number only. To find out your subscribers number contact Pat Aldous by email or on +44 (0) 1255 22 22 33.
Continue ReadingUS Panel Decides to Keep Steel Tariffs
(Akron/Tire Review) The US International Trade Commission voted 4-2 yesterday to retain tariffs on steel imports, saying that removing the duties would further hurt the struggling US steel industry. The tariffs specifically cover steel from Japan, Brazil and Russia. Duties on flat-rolled steel range from 20 per cent to 50 per cent, and were imposed about five years ago.
Continue ReadingAlcoa Opens New Facility in North Carolina
Following a $6 million investment Alcoa’s Subassembly and Logistics business will open a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina. The company, a part of Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, provides wheel and tyre assemblies to the Freightliner Group, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of medium-duty and specialised commercial vehicles. The new facility is scheduled to begin production in mid-April. It will add to Alcoas presence in North Carolina, where it already has four other operating locations.
Continue ReadingGajah Tunggal Posts a Drop in Net Profit
Indonesia’s Gajah Tunggal has reported a 4.11 per cent decline in net profit to Rp478.15 billion (£31.2 million) in 2004 compared with the previous year, according to Yahoo Finance Australia. Its financial report declared net sales that rose to Rp6,807,58 billion from Rp5,729.51 billion. Its gross profit rose from Rp871.82 billion to Rp1,124.39 billion but it suffered a loss on the foreign exchange amounting to Rp436.75 billion as against gain of Rp390.65 billion in the previous year, said the report. The company’s total assets shrank from Rp12,173.26 billion to Rp6,341.12 billion as a result of a sharp fall in current assets from Rp9,096.77 billion to Rp4,491.78 billion.
Continue ReadingYokohama Tire Philippines Starts Expansion Project
Yokohama Tire Philippines has started its P5.8-billion (£56.6 million) expansion project in the Clark economic zone. This, the third expansion project of the plant is designed to boost production to 20,000 tyres a day by September 2006 from its present 9,000 tyres a day capacity.
Continue ReadingFasep Introduce Tilting Balancer
Tyre equipment manufacturer, Fasep, has introduced a new automatic tilting balancer. The Videotronic V652 allows wheels to be mounted horizontally to aid centring. It also has a pneumatic tilt system with electronic control, full automatic wheel data input and a laser system for application of adhesive weights. A 15 inch LCD monitor has also been included in the design, to ease operation of the machine.
Continue ReadingTyres & Accessories’ Subscribers Area
From next Tuesday 19th April, our websites subscribers area can only be accessed by subscribers to Tyres & Accessories magazine. Access is via a unique subscribers number only. To find out your subscribers number contact Pat Aldous by email or on +44 (0) 1255 22 22 33.
Continue ReadingChinese “Not Interested” In MG Rover
The UK Government and the administrators were informed this morning that SAIC are not willing to acquire either the whole or parts of the MG Rover or Powertrain businesses on a going concern basis out of administration, nor are they willing to establish a UK joint venture incorporating the whole or parts of the MG Rover or Powertrain businesses. The administrator, PWC, has told the Government that it will not be applying for any further government loan to stave off redundancies at the company.
Continue ReadingGE Expands to Meet Demand for Silica Tyres
GE has expanded its capacity for high technology silanes used in the production of silica tyres. Additional capacity was brought on line last week to meet the high demand for GE’s new proprietary process. “Demand has been very strong for our new NXT silane that helps enable fast and easy dispersion of silica during rubber compounding for silica tyres,” said Dr. Ian Moore, general manager for GEs global silanes business. “We are focusing resources on new products and processes, and this is another move in our long-term strategy for growth in the silica tyre segment. In fewer than 24 months of design and construction, we developed and deployed an innovative process that delivers vastly increased capacity for silanes.”
Continue ReadingExide Customer Loyalty Programme
Battery manufacturer Exide has introduced a loyalty programme, called the Exide Experience, to coincide with the introduction of its new range of batteries. Exide customers can exchange loyalty points earned on sales of batteries for any one of more than 300 experiences. The more active and adventurous can opt for astronaut training, driving a Ferrari, flying a Tiger Moth, powerboat racing, gliding or white water rafting, to name but a few. If this all sounds too strenuous and taxing, there are gentler alternatives, including dolphin watching, a luxury spa break or Feng Shui lessons. Exides marketing manager described the Exide Experience as our best-ever incentive programme, adding: The scheme is unrivalled in the industry and is one which we believe will surpass all our customers expectations.
Continue ReadingStamford Tyres Gets Stung by Fraud
Singapore company, Stamford Tyres, has discovered fraudulent acts committed by an employee responsible for its Brunei, Sarawak and Labuan markets, according to a report from Channel News Asia. No names were given, said the news source, but the company has lodged a police report. The loss arising from the fraud is estimated at S $500,000 (£159, 950). The company has insurance coverage for fraud and dishonesty by its employees to a limit of S$250,000 says the report.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Taps Rizzi to Lead Sales
(Akron/Tire Review) Marangoni Tread North America has named retreading industry veteran Donald Rizzi as its new national sales manager. Prior to joining Marangoni, Rizzi was regional manager for Goodyear’s retread systems business, regional manager for Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems, and a Six Sigma project manager for Goodyear. Through his career, Rizzi held sales management positions with Long Mile Rubber Co., Oliver Rubber Co. and Ultima Rubber Products. “We are very pleased that Don has joined us,” said Bill Sweatman, Marangoni Tread North America president. “Our business continues to grow at a rapid rate and Don will not only help us to keep that momentum going but will improve our representation and service to our valued customers, our independent dealer network.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone Launch New Tyres Qatar
Bridgestone launched its new tyres, the Turanza GR80 and the Sports Tourer MY-01, in Qatar yesterday in association with Gettco Trading. The Turanza GR80 is described as the new generation successor of one of the manufacturer’s most popular patterns, the Turanza GR50. “The new Turanza GR80, titled the ‘quiet revolution’ comes with new technologies which further enhance the core features of silence, smoothness and handling,” said Bridgestone officials. The tyre covers all the popular sizes from the 55 series to the 40 series. The Sports Tourer MY-01 is a new product for a sporty performance. Made at the Bridgestone plant in Thailand, the Sports Tourer MY-01 covers popular tyre sizes, from 60 to 40 series.
Continue ReadingCV Show and ATS – Another Success
The SMMT have described this years Commercial Vehicle Show and Automotive Trade Show as “an outstanding success.” Provisional figures show that almost 27,000 visitors attended the three-day event at the NEC last week. “The CV Show and ATS is the most successful show of its type in Europe,” said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan. “Last weeks excellent event reinforced that market-leading position, delivering multi-million pound business opportunities to 632 exhibitors and thousands of trade visitors. We know that many exhibitors made good use of the opportunities we delivered and collectively announced billions of pounds worth of new business.”
Continue ReadingCoker to Offer Michelin Lifestyle Products
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin Lifestyle Ltd. has signed a licensing deal with Coker Tire Co. for the development and marketing of Michelin-branded products, including garage accessories, apparel, personal accessories, high-end memorabilia and collectibles. According to Michelin Lifestyle, Coker will offer these products through Coker Tire’s North American catalogue operations and online store at www.coker.com.
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