Michelin’s Guide to Great Britain and Ireland
Michelin has published its latest guide, this time to Great Britain and Ireland. Out tomorrow this year’s guide sees the addition of two new symbols, one indicating a good wine list and the other relaxation and well being facilities.
Continue ReadingT&G to Ballot for Action at Michelin
Members of the Transport and General Worker’s Union (T&G) at Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent factory will be balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay. According to the union, the action comes after a majority of members rejected the company’s December 2004 pay deal. The company has refused to alter its lump sum offer. Michelin representatives expressed their disappointment that the deal was rejected, but confirmed that they were committed to finding a solution. The company also offered the deal to workers at its Ballymena and Dundee plants.
Continue ReadingFulda Kick-Starts 2005 With Exelero Launch
Fulda is hailing its participation at the recent Autosport Show as a success, saying it has kick-started 2005 with the launch of its Exelero high performance tyre. In addition to showcasing its latest release, the company highlighted the activities of the UK Fulda Challenge team and its support of the show’s live action arena.
Continue ReadingTargeting the Lifestyle Consumer
Dunlop’s appearance at the Autosport show saw the company launch a new 22 inch SP Sport Maxx size and promote its 2005 Race Academy. There was even the opportunity to virtually compete, with a race simulator. The motivation behind all this? In order to increase its exposure amongst the key “lifestyle” target audience. The Autosport show was the first time that Dunlop has exhibited the 22 inch version of its SP Sport Maxx tyre in the UK. Developed in association with tuning companies that build modified BMW and Mercedes machinery, the company says the new tyres are designed to complement the existing product range which begins with a more humble 16 inch fitment. The SP Sport Maxx will now be available in 265/35R22, 285/30R22 and 305/30R22 sizes.
Continue ReadingConti North America Figures Turn ‘Blood Red’
According to sources the North American arm of Continental has suffered further financial losses, with negative figures resting around the hundred million mark (euros). A North American source claims that the losses would be greater still, if it were not for the support given by the European division of the group.
Continue ReadingWorkers Buy Euzkadi Plant Tax Free
Mexican workers have bought the Euzkadi factory that Continental Tire had planned to close. By investing the severance packages that they received when the closure was announced in December 2001 the union workers have acquired 50 per cent of the factory that will shortly be renamed Cooperativa de Trabajadores Democráticos de Occidente. The remaining 50 per cent was purchased by Llanti Systems, a former customer of the factory and its Pneustone brand. At the same time the Mexican government honoured an agreement stating that union members who invested in the joint enterprise will be exempt from income tax. Euzkadi’s closure left 1,164 workers unemployed, after claims that the factory was financially impracticable. The fist tyre manufactured by the new enterprise is expected to be roll of the production line by mid 2005. The new company will have a capacity of between 10,000 and 13,000 tyres per day, a level similar to that of Euzkadi plant prior to its closure.
Continue ReadingBoard Changes at Bridgestone Australia
Bridgestone Australia has announced that Mr Junichi Otsuka has resigned as a director of the company. The decision will take effect as of 18 February when Mr Otsuka will begin a new overseas assignment. In response Mr Shin Yamasaki, currently based in Spain, has been appointed as a director of the company from the same date.
Continue ReadingContinental To Sell Another US Plant?
Continental AG reportedly plans to sell its Bryan, Ohio, OTR tyre production plant, according to a German Reuters report. Other sources indicate that the company is in talks with an unknown buyer. Continental declined to make any further comment. The Bryan plant is said to have nearly 300 employees and the capacity to produce up to 300 off-the-road tyres each day. Last October, Continental sold its worldwide agricultural division to Ceska Gumarenska Spolecnost (CGS). As part of the agreement, the Czech company continues to produce and trade Continental, Semperit, Barum and Euzkadi tyres.
Continue ReadingFirestone Launch New Agricultural Tyre
According to Firestone the European market for vineyard (and orchard) tyres is likely to grow, despite the wet weather of 2004 it claims that farmers are re-evaluating their crops and considering fruits and vegetables that may not have been viable decades ago. Hence it has introduced a new range of radial tyres for the Central European market, and UK vineyards.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Appoints Trade Marketing Agency
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has announced that it has appointed the RLA Group as its trade marketing agency. The agency will be responsible for developing and coordinating a trade marketing programme covering all group activities. RLA will represent the Goodyear, Dunlop and Fulda tyre brands and the Hi-Q retail vehicle and tyre service network.
Continue ReadingFamous Motoring Journalist Criticises Continental
Well-known motoring journalist, Robert Collin, has accused Continental of doing “anything to win magazine tyre tests.” In an article published by the Swedish Aftonbladet magazine, the journalist suggests that the company has won tests by supplying “special” tyres. The apparent motivation for the alleged underhanded behaviour is simple. Winning a tyre test can mean an increase in sales and is therefore big business. The Aftonbladet reports that this effect is particularly marked in countries like Germany and France and so the temptation for manufacturers is great. From a magazine’s point of view, the problem is that when the latest tyres are reviewed, they are generally not available in the shops and so testers have to trust manufacturers when they provide tyres for testing.
Continue ReadingMichelin Innovations Signify Long-Term Strategy
In addition to the recently publicised Tweel and Airless Wheel puncture-proof products, Michelin has unveiled a third concept aimed at pioneering the development of the tyre. As a company Michelin spends around 4.5 per cent of its turnover on research and development, the Active Wheel is just one result of this. Aimed at electric and fuel-cell cars, the Active Wheel is an integrated module, which is made up of a conventional tyre, active electric suspension, a disc brake and an electric motor, which is designed to provide traction and much of the braking power. According to the manufacturer, the Active Wheel is the result of a total rethink of the movement transmission process. In addition to rolling and driving forward, as any wheel does, the new concept also acts as a suspension unit. The result is that the need for a gearbox, clutch, shock absorbers and transmission shaft is removed, saving considerable amounts of weight. Michelin is shying away from whole-heartedly backing any one of its products but instead appears to be playing the opening gambit of a long-term strategy. It is conceivable that in a decade or two any one of these innovations will be accepted as standard.
Continue ReadingMichelin Celebrates 20 Million Tyres
Michelin reached the 20 million tyre mark at its Waterville plant in Nova Scotia, on Friday. To mark the occasion the manufacturer donated $1,000 each to 20 local charities chosen by the 1,100 employees, reports Canada east.
Continue ReadingPeterhansel Retains Dakar Title
Mitsubishi driver, Stephane Peterhansel, has won the Dakar rally for the second consecutive year. The Frenchman finished in an overall time of 52 hours, 31 minutes and 39 seconds - 27 minutes and 14 seconds ahead of compatriot Luc Alphand. Third place was taken by Vokswagen’s Jutta Kleinschmidt, with Giniel de Villiers of Nissan and Volkwagen’s Bruno Saby taking fourth and fifth places. At the finish, Stephane Peterhansel told BBC news it was a huge relief just to have finally finished. “We were very stressed this morning and everything went well so its really a big, big relief,” he said. This year BF Goodrich supplied all of the main manufacturers’ and some private teams. The teams tackled the notoriously difficult desert terrain with the company’s Baja T/A Rock tyres in 235/85 R16.
Continue ReadingMichelin Announces New Accreditation Programme
Michelin has announced the creation of a new UK/Ireland car tyre dealer accreditation programme. The scheme is designed to help consumers find good tyre distributors where they can expect excellent service. The new programme will be wholly funded by Michelin and managed by an independent company. In order to achieve accreditation individual tyre outlets will be asked to meet minimum requirements in the services and facilities they provide, the cleanliness of the centre and the quality of the staff and operational procedures. This will be audited annually by anonymous professional shoppers and by an on-site technical inspection.
Continue Reading