The Development Of Internationalisation – Kraiburg 2010
In the retreading business the name of Gummiwerk Kraiburg Austria, located in Geretsberg, is well known as one of the leading material suppliers for hot and cold retreading, as well as for supplying complete retreading equipment. In two further plants (Waldkraiburg and Tittmoning) a huge number of technical compounds for the automotive industry, compounds made from thermoplastic elastomers and recycling products are being manufactured. Since the middle of 1998 a fundamental restructuring process has been initiated. Under the name Kraiburg 2010, a new group structure that will prepare the company for the new challenges of the market in the 21st century, was introduced to the public a year ago. The strategic programme included investments of more than 15 million US-dollars in the tyre retreading materials sector. Direction and presentation of the company will undergo a complete revision. Internationalisation, the entering of new markets, was one of the key words of the programme. Reason enough to ask what has happened at Kraiburg the last twelve months: the company has established two new distribution organisations in Spain and Turkey. Furthermore, the European distribution structure has been divided into profit centres. With the profit centre south a new organisational entity has been created that is responsible for the markets in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovenia.
Continue ReadingCEO for Covisint Announced
Covisint, the motor manufacturer led on-line marketplace, has announced the appointment of Kevin English as its first Chief Executive Officer. English comes from Credit Suisse First Boston, where he held the post of managing director and CEO of e-commerce. The appointment should give Covisint the impetus and direction to attain its potential as the leading on-line marketplace for the automotive trade, in particular for the supply of OE equipment and services.
Continue ReadingRecall Spreads To Europe
Ford is planning to recall 23,000 vehicles sold in Europe in order to replace the tyres. The vehicles in question are mainly Explorers and the figure is around 60 per cent of Explorers sold over the past decade. Other models affected are Ford Expedition SUVs and Ranger pick-ups, although the numbers of these are small.
Continue ReadingKorean Joint Venture For Mannesmann Sachs
The Sachs Korea Suspension Company Ltd. joint venture with Kasco will take over the shock absorber and pneumatic spring activities from the leading manufacturer of automotive components with headquarters in the Pusan area and supply the Korean car manufacturers.
Continue ReadingAircraft Tyre Deal Between Boeing And Simex
Malaysian tyre manufacturer Simex Aircraft Tyre Company has signed an agreement to supply Boeing with radial tyres for the 777. Although Simex began aircraft tyre production in 1975, this will be the first time that the company has made radial aircraft tyres and production will begin next year. Simex has named Sumitomo Rubber Industries of Japan as its technical partner in the two-year deal.
Continue ReadingRingtread Marketing Begins Successfully For Ellerbrock
A short time ago there was just one production facility for Ringtread products in the whole of Europe: at Marangoni in Frosinone (Italy) which is the patent holder for this product that has already been described several times in NEUE REIFENZEITUNG. Marangonis German subsidiary Ellerbrock has invested millions of Deutsche Marks in its plant located in the north of Hamburg in order to be able to produce the tread rings for itself. In addition Ellerbrock has assumed the distribution rights from Marangoni for the Ringtread products, covering the German speaking countries and Denmark. By the end of this year Ellerbrock (turnover 2000: > 60 million DM, 125 employees) wants to achieve complete coverage for these products within Germany. Up until now three retreaders have been working with this technology. The company has completed successful negotiations with a couple of other companies, as was underlined by Clemens Zimmermann, Director of Organisation and Systems at Ellerbrock. One of these companies is Reifen Ihle; one of the largest retreaders in Germany. There will be no cannibalisation effects on the other product lines. Ringtread will be offered in addition to the conventional product range, consisting of Kontur and PRL treads. The marketing strategy is a two-dimensional one: on the one hand Ellerbrock goes with the Ringtread retreader to the customer, the end user, in order to convince him of the advantages of this technology. On the other hand Ellerbrock searches for new customer groups which have until now exclusively used new truck tyres and not considered retreads. Zimmermann is convinced that the positioning of the products following the slogan Next to the New will be a helpful argument in this context.
Continue ReadingTelecom Italia Falls To Pirelli/Benetton Bid
Pirelli and Benetton have joined together to win control of Telecom Italia and the mobile phone company TIM. Control was secured by a cash payment of 7 billion Euro to Bell for its 23 per cent stake in Olivetti; the company which controls TI. TIs market capitalisation value is 55 bn Euro.
Continue ReadingTyre Safety To Be Checked By Ford
Recent reports questioning the reliability of some of the tyres being used by Ford to replace Firestones are doubtless partly responsible for the car manufacturers plans to conduct a series of tests on replacement tyres. Fords team of around 100 engineers will carry out a number of tests, including measuring wedge thickness, temperature monitoring and how much force it takes to cause a tread separation. Other checks on the relationships between load/speed/temperature will be carried out in conjunction with tyre manufacturers as well as in-house.
Continue ReadingFirestone Settles Law Suit In Texas
Firestone has settled a court case pending in Texas, paying the person injured due to an Explorer Rollover 7.5 million US-Dollars. Earlier last month Ford and a Ford Dealer already agreed to pay 6.5 million US-$ according to articles in major US newspapers.
Continue ReadingPremio Tyre Dealers Annual Meeting
This year’s meeting of the German co-operation of independent tyre dealers under the umbrella of the retail brand premio had as its motto time for take off. Round about 125 outlets are members, with only a few having more than one service station. The downside of the premio network is that the brand premio is not well-known among end users. One reason for this is the fact that the chain is relatively young, about five years old. Of course a brand would be more popular if it were spread all over the country or – as service provider Goodyear would say – if more stations are on the net. But the premio managers are realistic, and it is not possible to grow by leaps and bounds. The competitors among the other groups of tyre dealers have restricted the market. And of course sometimes a member leaves the group after selling his business. Premio is part of the controlled distribution network of Goodyear in Germany which today covers round about 600 outlets. Premio wants one day to be what the group managers call the lighthouse of the market. Because the quantity targets have to be limited, Premio wants to be the best in terms of quality. In all criteria of an independent customer satisfaction analysis Premio performed better and even much better than the competitors – in all but two aspects, that is and these two were brand awareness and prices for endusers. It is hard to become the best in the market, but it is also hard to stay the best. How does it work? The best way is to continue to improve and optimise the modules of the system which the Premio Centre in the Goodyear headquarters makes available for the members. They not only try to develop new modules but also have to decide whether some of the older modules are no longer relevant. With more than 50 (!) modules the Premio offer is a leading player; taking just one of the modules available, the new software solution for the tyre trade called tiresoft II may well be the most modern in the market.
Continue ReadingTwo New Amcast Wheels For General Motors
Amcast Industrial Corporation has announced it has won the contract to supply two new aluminium wheels for General Motors. The wheels will appear on the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu and Cavalier. Shipment will begin during the fourth quarter of 2001.
Continue ReadingOfftake Agreement Between Nokian And Russian Producer
Nokian Tyres has entered into negotiations to start tyre manufacturing in Russia as soon as possible. The possible partner has not been named.
Continue ReadingInsolvency Of ASS Reifen- und Autoservice
ASS Reifen- und Autoservice, which has depots in Hamburg, Hanover and Berlin, has been declared insolvent. It is said that the Dunlop group (Dunlop, Pneumant and the equity Holert Konz) is the biggest creditor.
Continue ReadingSmithfield Show 2000
The most important UK exhibition for agriculture, and thus for those supplying tyres in this sector, is the biennial Smithfield Show, held in November last year. TYRES & ACCESSORIES talked to the tyre companies at the show and their views are given in our review of the event. What can the tyre producer do to help the farming community? Are things as bad as they seem, or are there grounds for optimism?
Continue ReadingTemporary Closure Of Seven Vehicle Plants In North America
In an attempt to reduce vehicle stocks, Ford and General Motors have announced the temporary closure of seven factories in North America. GM is to close five plants (sited in Oklahoma City, Ontario, Michigan and Ohio) for a week, affecting over 14,000 workers. The two plants which Ford is to close temporarily manufacture vans and are situated in Ohio, employing 4,150 hourly workers.
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