Coker 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.
Continue ReadingWorker Dies at Goodyear Plant
(Akron/Tire Review) News reports say that a contract worker at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s plant in Lawton, Okla., was found dead on 10 April, with part of his body wedged between the spools of a rubber calendar. As of Monday, Lawton law enforcement authorities were trying to determine if the man died as a result of being trapped in the machine, or if he suffered a heart attack or other illness and fell into the equipment. The unidentified man was employed by a temporary employment agency that provides workers to the facility, said reports. According to news sources it was the first fatality ever for the plant.
Continue ReadingOld Fords Remind Kumho of its Humble Start
(Akron/Tire Review) Few people know that South Korea’s Kumho Tire started as a taxi company back in 1946. To celebrate its humble beginnings, Kumho recently purchased two 1933 Ford sedans, similar to those that the now international firm began with. The cars are on display at Kumho Asiana Group’s headquarters in Yongin.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz Appoints ArvinMeritor Director
Hayes Lemmerz International has appointed Christine M. Sweda as director of taxes, reporting to James Yost, vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Sweda comes to Hayes Lemmerz’ from its competitor ArvinMeritor where she worked as director of domestic tax. Prior to her seven year tenure at ArvinMeritor, Sweda worked as a tax manager for T&N Industries Inc., and in various positions at Arthur Andersen LLP.
Continue ReadingThe German Motoring Press Awards Pirelli
Pirelli has won several summer tyre tests carried out by German motoring publications. Products ranging from the ultra high performance sector to the balanced performance ranges were put through their paces. In particular, Pirelli’s UHP tyre, P Zero Nero, fitted to BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz C 320 Sport Coupé, Audi A3 and Audi TT and the P Zero Rosso fitted to Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 returned performances of “extremely high levels,” says the manufacturer, winning tests on both wet and dry asphalt. Pirelli’s SUV Scorpion STR tyre, tested on a Jeep Cherokee, also received recognition, as did the high performance P6 on a Volkswagen Golf V and P3000 Energy on a Ford Fiesta.
Continue ReadingDr. Schieben Leaves Goodyear Germany
Dr. Rainer Schieben (42), managing director of Goodyear GmbH & Co. KG, the German distribution leg of the tyre manufacturer, has left the company “by his own decision,” writes Goodyear Germany in a press release. During the 10 years Dr. Schieben worked for the Goodyear-Dunlop group, he has held several executive positions. He took up the position of managing director as of June 2001. Gerd Grünenwald, chairman of the managing board of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany GmbH, and Dr. Schieben’s superior, praised the former managing director as somebody who has delivered “a positive contribution” to the success of the organisation. A successor will be proclaimed soon, according to Goodyear’s press release.
Continue ReadingUSWA, PACE Vote on Proposed Merger in Las Vegas
(Tire Review/Akron) Delegates from the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) International Union will vote on a proposed merger between the two at each of their annual conventions being held this week in Las Vegas. The USWA convention is being held 11-14 April at the Las Vegas Hilton Conference Center, and the PACE International convention is being held at the Las Vegas Riviera Hotel 12-14 April. A combined convention of 5,000 delegates from both unions will meet on 14 April at the Hilton, subject to approval of the merger. The merger will reportedly create the largest industrial union in North America.
Continue ReadingInvestcorp Acquire American Tire
Investcorp, investment group, has officially acquired American Tire Distributors, one of the leading distributors of tyres in the United States. American Tire has 71 distribution centers and a fleet of 700 trucks providing coverage to 36 US states. It offers 60,000 products serving an average of 35,000 customers each month says the investment company. Annual revenue is $1.4 billion giving the company an approximate six per cent share of the total $24.3 billion market for replacement tyres in the US.
Continue ReadingTyre Companies Invest in China
According to a report from Bloomberg, foreign direct investment in China rose by 9.5 per cent in the first quarter. It attributes this to companies such as Avon Products and Goodyear Tire & Rubber that are expanding in the market and furthering their attempts to tap rising demand in Asias second-largest economy.
Continue ReadingAnd Then There Were Three
The live finals of the Top Technician 2005 competition were held at the Automotive Trade Show last week. The event saw 12 finalists competing in three challenges under the eyes of ReMIT assessors Terence Smith and Melvyn Morgan and chairman of judges, Dave Garratt. The three finalists were Clive Atthowe AMIMI, of Clive Atthowe Tuning, Iain Kershaw MIMI, of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and John Tinham CAE AMIMI, of John Tinham Motor Engineer. They will each go forward to the award ceremony, which takes place in London next month, but only one can win the £2000 cash prize. “The level of skill and knowledge exhibited by finalists was incredible and marks were very high across all twelve,” said Dave Garratt.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Constructs New Retread Factory
Goodyear Canada has announced that it will construct a new truck retreading factory in Beloeil replacing the existing facility Ville St-Laurent. The move represents a “strategic choice for Goodyear Canada” said Mr Bernard Plante, general manager for Goodyear Canada. 5.2 million Canadian dollars will be invested in the project, which will produce a 69,000 sq ft building.
Continue ReadingMarch Car Registrations Down
European passenger car registrations amounted to 1,709,616 units in March this year. The figure represents a decrease of 4.7 per cent compared to March 2004. According to the ACEA the statistics were affected by the Easter break falling in March this year, adding that there had been a, “sluggish economic environment in the first quarter of 2005.” The UK felt a decrease of 5.1 per cent, along with Germany (-0.4%), Spain (-3.6%) and Italy (-8.6 %). France was the only country that posted a national increase, of 2.5 per cent. The UK recorded 442,940 passenger car registrations in March compared with 466,954 last year.
Continue ReadingMichelin to Construct New OTR Plant in Brazil
(Akron/Tire Review) Groupe Michelin has announced plans to build a new OTR tyre plant in Brazil near its existing tyre plant in Campo Grande. The new plant, scheduled to begin producing tyres in the second half of 2007, will produce 25- to 49-inch tyres. Initial capacity will be 40,000 tons, according to Michelin, while long-range capacity could reach 55,000 tons. Michelin said in a statement that the new plant will help it better serve its North and South American OTR customers.
Continue ReadingContinental Automotive Appoints Director
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Automotive Systems has appointed David M. Mestdagh as director of the company’s North American aftermarket business. Mestdagh will be responsible for overall business strategy, product quality and performance and will oversee development of sales and marketing activities for the company’s ATE brand. Previously, Mestdagh served as national accounts sales manager for Visteon Corp.’s aftermarket group and has held various positions – including national retail sales manager, program group manager and sales and marketing development manager – at Federal-Mogul Corp.
Continue ReadingBMW goes on the “Attack”
BMW has chosen the Continental Road Attack as original equipment for its R1200RT motorcycle. The sports-touring tyre is the first OE contract for the new radial. The tyre was developed “hand in hand” with BMW to achieve the contract and was specifically tailored to the R1200RT performance requirements, says UK distributor Cambrian Tyres. BMW has also extended homologation to fit the tyre to the R1100S, R1150R and K1200RS models. Continental is also original equipment supplier to BMW’s GS range in the form of the “world conquering” TKC80 enduro tyre, that fitted to the bikes of Charley Boorman and Ewan Mcgregor in their “Long Way Round” project.
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