E-Commerce – Confused? Who Wouldn’t Be?
The tyre industry is being swamped by companies trying to grab a piece of the e-commerce cake. Whether individuals like it or not, surviving in the tyre market in the future will depend upon access to technology, and the ability to buy and sell stock on-line. Who do you turn to? ContiContact? Tyreman? Cam Systems, Team Systems, who? Do you need Internet, or EDI? What are the legalities? The whole concept is confusing to the layman and the trader alike and the pace of change can be frightening to those who are not e-literate as they feel they may be left behind by increasingly-sophisticated customers. This series of articles looks at the potential, the hazards, the products, and throws in a healthy pinch of salt but still concludes that the future is electronic.
Continue ReadingNew Tyre Introduced by Cooper
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company introduces its newest addition to its line of tyres – the Lifeliner Touring SLE (Sport Luxury Edition). The product offers optimized tread compound to balance wear and wet/winter traction. It is equipped with optimized bead contour, as well, for a more uniform fit to the rim and an improved ride quality. Offset shoulder slots bvreak up tire pitch harmonics, allowing for a more quiet ride. The Touring SLE is offered in three separate speed ratings: T, H and V.
Continue ReadingNew Technology Tyre For Concorde From Michelin
Following the tragic Concorde crash last summer, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) approached tyre manufacturers to see if any research was on-going to improve the resistance of tyres to damage by foreign objects. In Paris, Michelin unveiled its response, the radial NZG. NZG, which stands for near zero growth is described as the latest innovation in radial technology. It uses a high-modulus reinforcement material which is lighter and offers higher damage resistance. The tyre was tested by running over a 30 cm blade both at taxiing and take-off speeds and the tyre suffered no damage.
Continue ReadingChanges At Tenneco Automotive
Richard J. Sloan (62), executive vice president and md of Tenneco Automotives European operations, is to retire in mid June. He will be succeeded by Hari N. Nair (41), senior vice president and md, Tenneco Automotive International Group. Nairs replacement is Timothy R. Donovan (45), senior vice president and general counsel.
Continue ReadingTerrible News For Continental In The US
According to an article in the Washington Post, the tyre General Ameri 550 s will be subject to more claims due to tread separations than Firestone. As well as General, some other brands are under the microscope on the NHTSA-list, and their identity has not yet been revealed. It is expected that further explanations will be issued this week. A spokesman for Continental denied the accusation and said the NHTSA statement would be misleading. Ford did not comment.
Continue ReadingPhilip J. Ringo To Head New Global E-Commerce Marketplace
RubberNetwork.com, LLC, a global electronic purchasing and procurement marketplace created by nine leading companies in the tire and rubber industry, has named Philip J. Ringo Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the companys Board of Managers.
Continue ReadingGM Picks Bridgestone/Firestone As Supplier Of The Year
Good news for Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. in North America. GM has chosen the tyre manufacturer once again as their tyre supplier of the year and underlined the quality and performance of these tyres.
Continue ReadingNew Managing Director For TecCom
TecCom (Munich), an internet wholesale platform for automotive accessories, has a new Managing Director. Jürgen Buchert (44) has worked as Sales Director for Western and Eastern Europe in the automotive aftermarket division of Bosch for the past five years. At the moment 21 European automotive part manufacturers – among them tyre producer Continental – support TecCom.
Continue ReadingNon-Rubber Tyres From Goodyear In Three Years?
A partnership has been formed in the US between Goodyear and Nevada-based Amerityre to manufacture polyurethane tyres, which Goodyear says could be on the market in three to four years. Amerityre already produces urethane tyres for bicycles, lawn and garden equipment and has produced four sets of prototypes, which it has fitted to pick-ups and other vehicles. CEO Richard Steinke says that the tyres have been driven for 2,000 miles with 30 holes in each tyre. Rick Vannan, Goodyear director of advance product and process technology, says that any product will require two years of internal testing and, if urethane replaced rubber completely, 10-15 years to convert factories.
Continue ReadingExtended Payments Agreement With Viborg Group
Medium-size dealers and companies are complaining that the biggest European tyre equity Viborg Group is forcing companies who are delivering to give them 90 to 120 days for payments. If suppliers refuse to do so, they will be immediately dropped from the suppliers list. Viborg is known as the company which is asking for the cheapest price from all competitors and, in addition, for an extra fee of 10%. The Michelin group is the number one supplier for Viborg in Germany probably followed by Pirelli whereas, the Continental-group and the Bridgestone-group do not sell too many tyres to the retail chain.
Continue ReadingShare Of Tyres In Pirelli Turnover Falling
In the first half of the year 2000, tyre business accounted for 40 per cent of Pirellis turnover, but this has now fallen to only 37 per cent, whereas cables/systems/communications increased to 63 per cent. There was an improvement in tyre business figures for the first six months, but this could not match the results of the other business units. The main reason was the economic problems in Turkey and America, which are very important markets for Pirelli.
Continue ReadingTurnaround for Dunlop Africa
African tyre maker Dunlop has seen a turnaround in its fortunes, turning a loss of $18.3 million (20.23 million Euro) into a profit of $25 million (27.64 million Euro) in the first half of the year. Sales have increased by 52 percent from $577 million (637.85 million Euro) to $879.6 million (972.31 million Euro). Developments at Bulawayo and Harare, new radial tyre ranges and the development of the Common Market for Southern Africa indicate that the improvements should continue for the foreseeable future. Kenyan tyre chain Kingsway Tyres has signed a deal with Dunlop to the exclusive distribution rights to Dunlop tyres and tubes. Dunlop hopes the move will bring its products closer to the Kenyan market.
Continue ReadingReceivers Called In At Just Tyres
Just Tyres Holdings, the group consisting of the Just Tyres retail chain, the Southam Tyres wholesale business, Autostop and Autostop fleet network, has called in the Administrative Receiver. 40 of the 90 Just Tyres depots were closed down immediately, resulting in 100 job losses, or one third of the total group workforce. Autostop Fleet has also closed down. The Receiver is looking for buyers, either for the group as a whole or its component divisions separately and reports considerable interest.
Continue ReadingConsumers Association Condemns Fast Fits
A report in the magazine Which? – published by the UK Consumers Association (CA) – has accused fast-fits of recommending unnecessary work in almost a quarter of cases. The CA took a test car to 93 depots, belonging to seven of the UKs largest fast-fit chains, and says that 23, split across all seven chains, recommended unnecessary work. In response, one of the companies involved – Kwik-Fit – says that it has not been given detailed information by the CA but, on behalf of all the companies involved, it takes exception to the implication that so many in the trade would intentionally mislead the customer.
Continue ReadingPositive Signs For Goodyear?
In discussions with analysts from the DB Group, Goodyear management expressed optimism that it might achieve a larger slice of OE business from the Detroit car manufacturers, at the expense of Firestone. Goodyear said it had received an order from Ford for 1.8 million tyres and is hoping for another big order from General Motors. Spokesmen from Goodyear said that they would resist Chryslers request for price reductions in order to overcome the difficult situation at Chrysler. At the end of January, many contracts between Firestone and its dealers expire and Goodyear is confident of winning over many of these dealers. On the other hand, Goodyear admits that the medium and heavy truck business will remain difficult during 2001. All in all, the analysts see more positives than negative risks at the moment, but they did not recommend Goodyear shares.
Continue Reading