USWA Ends Asheboro Unionisation Plans
The USWA has halted plans to unionise Goodyear’s Asheboro, North Carolina plant. So far there is no information about when the activity at the plant stopped or when the union will be allowed to mount a new campaign. According to information provided by the National Right to Work Foundation (NRWF), “Under the terms of the settlement, USWA union officials may not use the ‘card check’ unionisation schemes in any future organisation attempts at the Asheboro Goodyear facility.” In a statement Goodyear North America communications manager, Amy Brei stated that the company has cooperated fully with the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) and will continue to do so. She said charges in the complaint centred around whether a neutral arbitrator properly accounted for employees who revoked written union authorisation cards they had previously signed. “Goodyear did not ‘ignore’ the revocations; they were presented to the neutral arbitrator for his consideration. Goodyear associates have been - and always will be - free to choose whether or not they want union representation.” Speaking to local newspaper the Asheboro Courier, USWA area representative Brad Smoyer stated a desire to continue the organising drive, adding that the USWA will assist workers in that effort. He said officials found no evidence of coercion by the USWA or Goodyear during the 2004 union drive. The NRWF was clearly pleased with the result: “This victory is a step towards holding union officials across the country to account for trampling workers’ rights under abusive ‘card check’ schemes,” said Foundation vice president Stefan Gleason in a press release. “While encouraging, its an outrage that Goodyear struck a backroom deal with USWA officials in the first place to deny these workers the freedom to decide their own representation through the less abusive secret ballot election process.” cja
Continue ReadingChina to Formulate Tyre Industry Policy
The Asia Pulse new agency is reporting that an official from the Chinese State Development and Reform Commission recently said the government is soliciting suggestions from relevant parties on a draft tyre industry policy. The policy, devised by the China Association of Rubber Industry and China International Engineering Consulting Corp, is expected to be made public in the first half of 2005, after it has been revised. The new industrial policy is expected to support enterprises developing advanced technology, encourage the production of radial tyres and slow down the production of bias tyres. According to the draft policy, China will adopt market access management for tyre industry and work out compulsory technical rules relating to tyre quality, safety, environment protection, energy-conservation and raw material consumption. A memorandum and approval system will be introduced to newly established tyre factories or tyre expansion projects invested by domestic and foreign investors. Relevant requirements will be imposed on the amount of investment, technical ability and products for new tyre projects. The policy will also standardise the tyre import market and ban any forms of waste or used tyre import.
Continue Reading2005 Golden Opportunity for Michelin
The new Formula 1 season will bring with it a “giant chance” to finally challenge for the world championship, Niki Lauda told the Home of F1 news services. The former Ferrari driver said new regulations often represent a “golden” opportunity to beat the pacesetter. “Above all I see the new tyre rule as a chance for them” Niki Lauder said referring to the new rule limiting teams to a single set of tyres for both qualifying and the grand prix. When it comes to developing a brand new F1 tyre, he continued, Michelin have a distinct advantage for 2005. “They have much more data, for example of Mercedes, BMW, Honda and Toyota, while Bridgestone has only Ferrari. And we know that tyres dictate victory and defeat,” he explained.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Makes Tsunami Donation
Bridgestone is to donate 100 million yen (roughly £500,000) to disaster relief aid intended for victims of the recent Indian Ocean Tsunami. The money will be distributed through the Japan Red Cross which will allocate funds at its discretion. The company’s subsidiaries in Thailand, India, Indonesia and Malaysia will make separate contributions to local relief efforts. Continental and Michelin have also donated to the cause.
Continue ReadingBandag Continuum with OTR
Bandag is set to introduce a new line of off-the-road precure retreads to the American tyre market. The new range, Continuum, is designed for light and medium earthmover tyres and includes two serpentine tread designs, which, in Bandag’s words have been created to offer “greater flexibility than other retread application methods and products.”
Continue ReadingBorgWarner Executes Majority Takeover of BERU
BorgWarner Germany GmbH, Heidelberg, has announced that the closed share purchase agreement to purchase the majority of BERU AG’s shares, has been enforced. The announcement follows confirmation that BorgWarner Germany had agreed a share purchase agreement with The Carlyle Group and a group of family shareholders. This agreement accounted for 62.21per cent of BERU AG’s shares. As a result, two representatives of the Carlyle Group (Mr Gregor Böhm and Mr Heinrich Rutt) and two other businessman resigned from the supervisory board.
Continue ReadingFun and Games in an Eventful F1 Season
The end of one era…and the beginning of another Yes Michael Schumacher won his seventh championship and yes he set a new record for the number of wins in a season, but the fact remains that however great his achievements have been, many Formula 1 enthusiasts want to see different faces on the podium. However, those observers without any Ferrari allegiances need not complain. Whatever they say about the predictability of Formula 1 races, it has certainly been an eventful year off the track. In fact, some would say there has been more manoeuvring in the pit-lane and the boardroom than on the tarmac, with suggestions of team poaching, tyre stealing and driver pinching coming from every direction. In the midst of it all tyres have played a central role in both on and off track excitement.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Shares Fall
Bloomberg has reported that Bridgestone Corporation shares fell by up to two per cent after the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported that the company is expecting its first decline in pretax profit in four years. Bridgestone stock fell by as much as 40 yen to 1990 yen after gaining 42 per cent during the course of the last year. The Nihon Keizai reported that the tyre manufacturer’s pre-tax profits are likely to fall by 17 per cent to 150 billion yen (£763 million) because of an increase in the price of oil and other raw materials. The newspaper did not specify where it obtained its information. “It is based on the newspapers own reporting,” Bridgestones spokeswoman Setsuko Ozaki said, declining to comment on the report. According to Bloomberg, Bridgestones 2005 sales may rise 4 per cent to 2.5 trillion yen. Bridgestone may also report a record group net income of about 140 billion yen, up 30 per cent, after changing its employee pension fund system, the Nikkei newspaper said. Last month Bridgestone said it would raise the price of its tyres in 2005 in order to protect earning from rising raw material costs. Bridgestone and Firestone branded tyres used in passenger cars, trucks and buses will rise by between 5 per cent and 10 per cent, the Tokyo-based company said on 8 December.
Continue Reading‘Welcome to the World of Motortainment’
The new A1 Grand Prix series is set to commence in autumn next year. As the latest edition to the motorsports calendar it is not being viewed as competition to F1 and has managed to position itself in a different sector of single seater racing. Known as the World Cup of Motorsport, A1 differs from the current F1, in that the contenders will represent their home countries and all cars will have the exact same specifications having been built by the same manufacturer. The sport will use 3.4-litre V8 engines, mounted on a Lola chassis and fitted with Cooper tyres. Founded by Sheikh Maktoum, a member of the ruling family of Dubai, and businessmen Brian Menell and Antonio Teixeira, the FIA sanctioned series will run in motor racing’s traditional ‘off’ season. It is described by the organisers as being unique in the fact that it brings together a sustainable business model with the high speed excitement of motorsport. Amongst the countries that have secured their place so far are the UK, South Africa, China, Portugal, Pakistan, Lebanon, Australia, Canada and Malaysia. The participants represent more than 80 per cent of the world’s population. And Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, China, South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Australia have already been selected to host the first A1 Grand Prix season, and there is still the possibility of a further two events. There has been much emphasis put on the fact that the sport will provide a patriotic atmosphere between contenders and their supporters, with chairman of the South African team, Tokyo Sexwale, commenting: “ It will create a new patriotic edge to the sport, and add a new dimension to one of the most popular sports in the world. We are proud and pleased that there will be a South African entrant in this exciting global event. We fully subscribe to the need to spread motor racing away from its traditional European and North American roots and into the developing world. Welcome to the world of Motortainment.” One of the essential elements of the A1 GP is that it needs to be thrilling to watch. The belief that it will be a compelling spectacle for all motorsport fans was strongly endorsed when Sky Sports bought the broadcasting rights for live coverage in the UK, of not only the races, but also the practice and qualifying sessions. Sky Sports managing director Vic Wakeling said: “We have been sold on the concept of a genuine test of driving skills and it has the added attraction of providing us with more international sport throughout the winter months.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Shares Fall: Update
Deutsche Bank analysts have cast doubt on the negative predictions published in the Japanese business press. According to the market observers, reports that Bridgestone’s recurring profit is set to fall 17 per cent year-on-year may not be as accurate as they seem. Although the article cites high raw material costs and yen appreciation, it fails to take into account tyre price increases, which started being implemented in Japan last year. The analysts explained that in the last few year Bridgestone has recorded strong earnings, defying the Nikkei’s projections. As a result the bank says it will not change its earning projections or rating, adding that if the share price dips below 2000 yen this would represent “an attractive investment opportunity.”
Continue ReadingEurope’s Evanescent Motorsport Culture
Pierre Dupasquier Looks Forward to New Formula 1 Season Motorsport isn’t just about speedy overtaking manoeuvres and exciting finishes. Instead a major part of its attraction is owed to the people that live for motorsports and who – if missing – would make the event that bit less interesting. Without doubt one of these people is Pierre Dupasquier. For 30 years the Michelin motorsport director has been generally regarded as the driving force behind the French tyre manufacturer’s involvement. In addition, he is one of the few who, although not a driver himself, is allowed to comment on races on TV. Tyres & Accessories had the opportunity to meet the passionate 67 year old Frenchman and talk about the coming season. For a long time Pierre Dupasquier has been part of the Formula 1 circus, having worked for his employer Michelin in a number different fields. Be it Formula 1, the World Rally Championship (WRC) or MotoGP, he lives for everything that’s fast and runs on two or more wheels. Although interested in and involved in all sorts of motorsports, Mr Dupasquier’s committed to the premier league of motorsports, namely Formula 1. This season wasn’t as glorious as it might have been for Michelin. Out of the 18 races Bridgestone, its only competitor in the Formula 1, won 15. Michelin’s problem? The domination of Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari with its Bridgestone tyres.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres Aims At Europe
Large-scale Indian tyre manufacturer, Apollo Tyres, is investing 2.5 billion rupees (more than £30 million) in production expansion and is aiming to export more to the European market, Indian news sources are reporting. Company chairman and managing director Onkar S Kanwar told Financial Express: “We are looking at investing [2.5 billion rupees] in the existing facilities in the next fiscal ending March 2006.” Mr Kanwar explained that nearly half of the spending would be pumped into the Gujarat unit alone. “This calendar, we are more aggressively looking at tapping the European market. This can be through direct marketing or even through distribution alliances,” he added. At the moment the company makes between 15 and 20 per cent of its revenues from exports to other countries besides Japan and Europe. Apollo Tyres also recently entered into a joint venture with Michelin. The joint venture, Michelin Apollo Tyre Pvt Ltd, is focusing on manufacturing, marketing and sales of truck and bus radial tyres. “In the first phase, we will manufacture truck and bus radials and sell under the Michelin and Apollo brand. These products will be sold across the country,” he said.
Continue ReadingWaste Not – Want not
The story of a successful industry initiative The EU Landfill Directive prohibited the landfill of whole tyres from 1 July 2003 in all EU states and will ban the landfill of shredded tyres by 1 July 2006. Fortunately, however, the UK has a well-developed collection system and a diverse recycling infrastructure for old tyres when compared to many countries. Currently most of Britain’s tyres end up in some kind of beneficial re-use. Britain’s motorists, hauliers and others collectively generate over 400,000 tonnes of waste tyres annually. Industry estimates suggest that at least three quarters of these are already re-used in some form or other. Some of the many ways in which tyres can be reused include as fuel, carpet underlay, recreational surfaces and in the form of granulates. In the truck sector retreading is a highly efficient re-use of a worn tyre. Using tyres as fuel for cement kilns is another way of re-using large quantities of tyres. And there is considerable remaining capacity for the UK’s cement kilns to take additional tonnage. At the same time the number of new uses for old tyres continues to increase. The fact that tyres have a very high calorific value means, as a fuel, they are not dissimilar to coal. Furthermore, when burned as a co-fuel, tyres can improve the general combustion quality considerably. For all of these reasons tyre manufacturers, with the help of the TIC’s Responsible Recycler Scheme, are confident that the UK will continue to meet the terms of this major EU directive. If there is a downside to this positive story it is that beneficial and responsible recycling comes at a price – albeit a modest one. However small though, it is a price that a few companies still seem unwilling to pay. To promote some more robust standards in the collection and disposal of end-of-life tyres and to help eradicate the scourge of ‘fly-tipping’ and rogue operators, Tyre Industry Council launched its Responsible Recycler Scheme in late 1999 and although just five years old, this flagship initiative has come a long way in a short time. Though initially restricted to just tyre collection companies, it was quickly realised that the commonality of interests between collectors and reprocessers demanded that the Scheme’s remit be widened to include reprocessors as well. Behind the formation of the scheme was the clear recognition that used tyre collection and re-processing were businesses which deserved recognition in their own right and which together had an important role to play in helping tyre manufacturers, retailers and indeed government itself to meet the EU Landfill Directive on used tyres. Those leading the scheme realised at an early stage that whether or not the concept of producer responsibility was introduced into the UK there was a need for collectors and re-processors alike to adopt concepts of “best practice” in response to the challenges ahead. That is why today the scheme puts great emphasis on its audit regime and believes it can demonstrate full traceability, something that is essential for maintaining a good reputation. For the TIC, transparency, traceability and accountability are cornerstones of its scheme. Responsible retailers, fleet companies and other tyre users that work with scheme members are guaranteed that the tyres collected by the Responsible Recycler Scheme companies are disposed of in an environmentally friendly and acceptable method. Whether they are recycled or used as fuel in cement kilns, the Responsible Recycler Scheme helps its members comply with their duty of care obligations as well as protecting the environment. As a measure of its success the scheme continues to grow and to attract international interest. From a single founder member in 1999, it now has reached a temporary ‘high’ of 22, with more applications in the pipeline. In fact such is the sense of purpose and collective professionalism that the scheme has engendered that its members elected to become a trade body in their own right, known as the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA). Apart from operating the Responsible Recycler Scheme, which is now a registered trade mark, on behalf of the Tyre Industry Council, the TRA will have the independent ability to pursue specific issues at both industry and government levels, generate performance data specific to its members businesses, as well as develop stronger international links right across Europe.
Continue ReadingWeber Hydraulik UK Goes It Alone
After nearly three years of preparation, Weber Hydraulik (UK) recently completed a management buyout becoming a wholly independent company. The business was previously managed by parent company Weber Hydraulik GmbH based in Gϋglingen, Germany. As a stand-alone company, Weber Hydraulik (UK) will continue to be a top supplier of hydraulic equipment to the automotive industry. It is now a stand-alone firm, managing sales, service and marketing from its head office at the Broomhills Industrial Estate in Braintree, Essex. The company’s new senior management team, travelled to Germany to present Weber Hydraulik GmbH’s chief executive, Dr Haselman, with a “big cheque” to conclude the deal. One of the new directors, Doug Tokley, commented: “We will continue to provide the level of service our customers have come to expect and are now looking forward to a very prosperous future.”
Continue ReadingSEMA goes hip-hop?
Last year 105,000 people attended the SEMA show. This time around the association expects to have attracted a similar number, roughly half of which are likely to be national or international buyers. According to the association, “early analysis of show activity and reports from members suggests a significant increase in buyer participation and business.” The success of the show has obviously been influenced by the large amounts of publicity that it generates. Tyres & Accessories reviews some of the highlights of a show that has all the glitz and glamour one would expect from an exhibition held in Las Vegas. Cashing in on the hip-hop culture and its associated appetite for vehicle modification, the SEMA show’s organisers were keen to point out that “car enthusiast celebrities” Snoop Dogg and Usher were present. Not to mention the television production companies responsible for a new generation of fly-on-the-wall automotive tuning programmes including Overhaulin and Pimp My Ride. The show’s organisers also noted the presence of celebrities with just a little less street cred, namely Jay Leno and Hulk Hogan, not to mention motorsport luminaries like Mario Andretti. In recent times, a number of manufacturers have tried to cash in on the novelty value of both tuning and the lucrative street-culture attached to it. Pirelli tyres, for example make regular appearances on MTV’s Pimp My Ride. The Italian manufacturer’s products have also successfully managed to find their way into the lyrics of various rappers and an association with one of the world’s most famous basketball players. According to those behind the specialist equipment extravaganza, “the SEMA show has become a magnet for anyone connected with the automotive culture.” And this is exactly what the they want to market the show as, a show that is all things to all people. In the organisers’ words: “Only at the SEMA Show can you find: a classic roadster alongside the newest in off-road racing and performance technologies; a place where Shaquille O’Neal’s DUB-customised Cadillac Escalade competes for attention with the hot new Dodge Magnum or Chrysler 300C alongside Jay Leno’s totally unique Oldsmobile Toronado.” During SEMA 2004, tyre manufacturers were keen to make sure their products were the centre of attention, with some going to greater lengths than others to ensure that this was the case.
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