New Sizes for Vredestein
Dutch tyre manufacturer Vredestein is adding some new sizes to its existing product range, for example the dimension 350/60-16 12 PR TL to the Flotation+ profile. With the new Traxion+ sizes 420/70 R 28 and 520 R 38 it is also possible to choose extra wide tyres in the most popular horse power categories. Last but not least the Flotation Pro in 22.5 inches is now suitable for speeds up to 65 km/h. Additional sizes are also in preparation, such as 600/55 R 26.5, 700/50 R 26.5 and 800/40 R 26.5.
Continue ReadingChanges To Trelleborg Board
Chairman of Trelleborg AB Rune Andersson and Deputy Chairman Lennart Nilsson will retire at the companys Annual General Meeting next April. Andersson was appointed President and elected to the Trelleborg board in 1983, becoming Chairman in 1990. His replacement will be current Group Senior Vice President Anders Narvinger (53).
Continue ReadingWorld’s Largest Tyre From Bridgestone
Bridgestone has developed the worlds largest tyre, the 59/80R63 V-Steel E-Lug S, a radial tyre for dump trucks carrying loads of 380-400 tons. Customers in the mining industry are using increasingly larger equipment and tyres are evolving to match. The new tyre, which will go on sale next spring, stands 4.02 metres (13 ft 2.5 ins) tall and is 1.47 metres (4 ft 10 ins) across. Each tyre weighs 5.1 tonnes and has a load rating of 101 tonnes.
Continue ReadingFour New Motorcycle Tyres From Bridgestone
Bridgestone has launched four new motorcycle tyres. The first is the Battlax BT-090 an ultra-high performance tyre for mid-sized motorcycles. The tyre uses cutting edge technologies to create an ideal sporting on-road and race tyre. The second, the Battlax BT 012SS, is designed to give uncompromising performance for motorcycles over 600cc. Also announced are two new motocross tyres for medium and medium to hard circuits, the M401 (front) and M402 (rear) for medium terrain, and the M601 (front) and M602 (rear) for hard terrain.
Continue ReadingMore News On Kumho Sale
In South Korea, Kumho has revealed that it is on the verge of selling 80 per cent of its tyre unit for a price between $1.2 and $1.5 billion. The buyer is named only as a foreign investment fund but unconfirmed reports link the sale with J P Morgan and the private equity fund Carlyle Group. Carlyle was favourite to buy the ContiTech division when it was up for sale. Another report says that three foreign potential purchasers are in the running and an agreement should be reached in the next few months. The Kumho Group is having to sell assets in order to pay off debts; it currently has debts of $2.52 billion against assets of $3.3 billion.
Continue ReadingNew Tyre Concept From Goodyear
Concerning tyre design its no longer the geometric dimensions which represent the state of development, but rather the intended application. Goodyear is meeting this challenge with its most recent generation of radial tyres, the Optitrac product family. Segmentations which were popular in the 70s or 65s series have been replaced by the terms wide or volume. The launch of the Optitrac DT818 as a super-wide tyre and the DT824 as a volume tyre is regarded as a considerable step forwards towards the completion of this concept.
Continue ReadingRestructuring For Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.
US company Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has announced a new corporate structure from Dec. 1st. The reorganised company will be known as Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Inc (BFAH), which will be the holding company for a number of subsidiaries. John Lampe will be CEO and president of BFAH. The change has been made to take advantage of better financing rates and to re-focus on core businesses.
Continue ReadingExtended Break For Pirelli Factory
Workers at the Pirelli factory in Carlisle, UK, will enjoy a longer-than-usual break this Christmas. The plant will be closed from Christmas Eve to New Years Eve, instead of re-opening as planned on December 28th. Pirelli UK says that the move is in accordance with a decision by the parent company to reduce stock levels worldwide and it has been taken with the full agreement of the Unions. The Carlisle factory produces 10,000 tyres a day.
Continue ReadingRise in Pirelli Management
The Board of Directors appointed Giovanni Ferrario Managing Director, who also keeps the position of General Manager Pirelli. Responsibilities for all Operating activities are delegated to Giovanni Ferrario. Finally, Francesco Gori was appointed General Manager Tyre Sector.
Continue ReadingBrazilian Recall For Bridgestone/Firestone
The Brazilian subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone is recalling almost 40,000 tyres, fitted on Ford F-250 and F-350 pick-ups. This follows 16 tread separation incidents, but Bridgestone/Firestone stresses that the recall is purely a preventative measure and there have been no accidents or injuries reported.
Continue ReadingExclusive Distribution of Alliance
German wholesaler Bohnenkamp (Osnabrück) has been the exclusive distributor for the Israeli agricultural tyre manufacturer Alliance in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic since the beginning of July. With this step Bohnenkamp intends to underline its leading position in the distribution of imported tyres. The company has been chosen by Alliance due to its elaborate distribution network and flexible logistics. Alliance offers more than 500 different sizes in the agricultural, MPT-, EM- and industrial tyres sectors and presents – in the neighbourhood of Bohnenkamp – a completely renewed product range with many new profiles and dimensions.
Continue ReadingTie-Up Between Titan And Case New Holland
In the USA, Titan tyres and wheels will be available from any of the thousands of Case New Holland dealers. CNH is the second largest North American company in farm equipment sales. Titans aim is to generate an additional $100 million of business over the next few years and the offer may be extended to other equipment dealers.
Continue ReadingTravel Ban At Continental
Employees of the business unit Continental International are being encouraged to travel less and to hold more video conferences instead. It is understandable that travel in dangerous regions or countries is not advisable, but the complete travelling prohibition is just justified by the need to save money. The complete business unit is highly insecure and seems to be on the point of collapsing. In any case the directory board has made it clear that acquisitions in the Asian region are no longer to be considered and that the restructuring process has only just started. By this means the advances made in past years have been wiped out.
Continue ReadingLight At The End Of The Tunnel For Firestone?
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has taken a major step forward in its efforts to draw a line under the tyre recall saga by hammering out a settlement to avoid lawsuits by US States. The company will pay $500,000 to each of the 50 states and to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. BF Inc. will also spend $5 million on a consumer education campaign and a further $10 million for the states legal costs. Up to another $10 million could be spent reimbursing those motorists who have not yet replaced their tyres. Total costs could reach $51.5 million (57.5 Million Euro).
Continue ReadingTruck Racing Loses Its Sponsor Continental
Continental wants to guarantee the supply of race tyres for the Truck Racing Championship next season. However, the sponsorship activities will be finished at the end of this season. This cost saving activity is justified with the promise of other accents on marketing, by which fleet managers can be targeted more efficiently.
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