Pirelli Looks Towards India?
Indian news sources have reported that Pirelli is setting up a “liaison office” in Dehli, inferring that the company plans to start production in the country. According to the reports, the new office will be led by Pirelli executive Lorrenzo Arrigone. In the past there have been rumours about a possible investment worth $500 million, although nothing has materialised to date.
Continue ReadingUSW Workers Ratify BFNAT Contract
(Akron/Tire Review) Workers at six Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) and Bridgestone Americas Holding (BAH) plants have ratified a new three-year master contract. The contract proposal was accepted by wide margins at BFNAT tyre facilities in Akron; LaVergne, Tennessee.; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa; and Bloomington, Illinois. United Steelworkers (USW) workers at BFNAT’s truck tyre plant in warren County, Tennessee, previously rejected the contract. There was no word what action, if any, union workers there might – or could – take.
Continue ReadingAXA Increases Continental Stake
AXA has increased its stake in Continental AG to 10.5 per cent of voting rights, Continental said in a notice in German newspaper, Boersen-Zeitung. Most of the shares are reportedly held by AXA’s US units AXA Financial Inc, AXA Financial Services LLC, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company and Alliance Capital Management LP.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Invests 17 billion yen in OTR Expansion
Bridgestone is to invest 17 billion yen (£86 million) in increasing production of large and ultra-large radial tyres for mining and construction equipment. The company plans to spend the money in expanding production at its Shimonoseki, Saga, and Hofu plants. Bridgestone said that the move has been taken in response to growing global demand for this specific type of tyres. The investment is also said to be part of a “sweeping capital spending programme” that the Bridgestone Group is undertaking worldwide.
Continue ReadingThe Search for Britain’s Most Energetic Boss
Small business employees across the country are being encouraged to nominate their boss as the most energetic in the country. Powergen’s ‘Britain’s Most Energetic Boss 2005’ is looking for bosses with positive energy, whose enthusiasm and commitment to their employees or community makes going to work fun and rewarding, not a chore. The search aims to reward the hard work and dedication of the bosses of the UK’s 3.7 million small businesses.Employees who nominate their boss at www.energeticboss.co.uk between 4 July and 12 August 2005 could win a case of champagne for themselves, and a well deserved break of a lifetime to New Zealand for their boss.
Continue ReadingCTNA Files Charges Against Union
Continental Tire North America, Inc. (CTNA) has filed an unfair labour practice charge against the United Steelworkers union (USW) in relation to its Bryan Ohio OTR tyre manufacturing facility. The announcement follows attempts by Rodos Giants (part of the Roesler Group) to buy the plant. The union refused to enter into a labour agreement with the company.
Continue ReadingCanadian Autoparts Toyota to Increase Wheel Capacity 17 per cent
Canadian Autoparts Toyota Inc, which makes aluminium wheels for Toyota Motor Corp, is expanding its operations in British Columbia with a $39-million investment. The expansion will increase wheel capacity at the Delta site by almost 17 per cent to 1.68 million units annually, starting July 2007. The 19,000-square-metre plant produces 22 wheel models for Toyotas vehicles and employs about 230 people, a number that is set to increase to increase to 260.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz Sells Equipment and Engineering Division
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc has sold its wholly owned Equipment and Engineering subsidiary, located in Au Gres, Michigan. The equipment business was sold to Todd G Carlson and former Hayes Lemmerz employee Daniel D Minor. The business will be renamed CMI - Equipment and Engineering, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Continue ReadingCabot Further Expands Chinese Carbon Production
Cabot Corporation has announced that it will build a new specialty carbon black unit at its plant in the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area (TEDA) in China. Cabot Performance Products (Tianjin), a joint venture with Shanghai Coking Chemical Company, will invest nearly $30 million in building the special unit that is set to have a capacity of approximately 20,000 tonnes. The unit is scheduled to begin production in the second half of 2006.
Continue ReadingYokohama Opens Chinese Sealant and Hose Assembly Plants
Yokohama subsidiaries, Yokohama Hamatite, a passenger car sealants supplier, and Yokohama Hoses & Coupling have held a joint opening ceremony of their new Chinese factories. Yokohama Hoses & Coupling (Hangzhou) will start by assembling 2,500 hoses monthly, raising output 10,000 units monthly through 2008. The capital investment for equipment and facilities will total $350,000, the company reports.
Continue ReadingAnsell Cuts Value Of Australian Goodyear JV
Australia’s Ansell Ltd has slashed the value of its tyre-making joint venture with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co by more than half, citing the impact of an influx of cheaper imports and rising raw material costs. In a move largely factored into analysts’ estimates, Ansell said it plans to write down the carrying value of its investment in South Pacific Tyres, or SPT, by $80 million Australian dollars to about A$58 million.
Continue ReadingFederal Introduces FZ-101 Limited Edition Slick
Federal Tire has expanded its Federal Motorsport line with the introduction of the FZ-101, the first slick tyre in the FZ Combat Series. Exclusively produced in limited numbers for professional use only. Engineers at Federal are reported to have collaborated closely with Japanese racing professionals to deliver a tyre best suited to their needs.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Names OTR General Manager
Goodyear has appointed John Sweeney, former general manager for the company’s chemical division since November 2004, said he seeks to improve OTR operations and financial performance. The business has faced an industry-wide product shortage since last year. “We must refocus on customer and end-user needs. In these challenging times, demand has risen dramatically, and we must take the necessary steps to lessen the impact of this shortage on their operations,” Sweeney said.
Continue ReadingLead Weight Ban – Mission Accomplished?
It’s official: lead balancing weights are no longer allowed to be used on passenger cars or light trucks. Although there is much talk about the possible negative impact of the end-of-life vehicle directive, today tyre businesses across Europe seem to have adapted to the new situation without any major difficulties. However, the new market conditions have also brought consequences for manufacturers and suppliers. As all the parties involved get up to speed, what has to be taken into account when changing from lead balancing weights to alternative materials? Tyres & Accessories examines the effects of this legislation and the steps that need to be taken by companies across the continent.
Continue ReadingNo More Weighting Around
By the time you read this article, European directive 2000/53/EC will have come fully into force. This regulation, more commonly known as the end of life vehicle (ELV) directive, will have a profound effect on the tyre trade - banning the sale of lead balancing weights. But is the trade ready? Tyres & Accessories spoke to representatives from weight manufacturers Trax and Remog in order to find out more.
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