New Agricultural Tyre From Michelin
Michelin has introduced the MachXbib – a tubeless radial designed for high-powered tractors. It combines high load carrying capacity with low soil compaction. On the road, it permits heavy load transportation at sp eeds up to 50 km/hr. It is available in two sizes: 900/50 R42 TL and 710/55 R30 TL.
Continue ReadingNo Agreement Signed Yet
Continental has not been able to sign – as planned – a contract with Moscow tyre plant. Weeks ago the company said it would invest 43 million US-$ over the next 3 years into Moscow tyre plant, making Continental the majority shareholder. The company now says that as yet there are some legal questions unanswered and it is sure to sign the contract within the next few weeks.
Continue Reading50 Years of Eibach
In Mid-September, the Spring-, Suspension- and Chassis-specialist celebrated its 50th anniversary in Finnentrop, with the slogan: 50 years of experience – Ready for the future. More than 400 guests accepted the invitation for the central celebration event, approximately 50 percent of them being customers, coming from 40 countries. The terror attacks in the USA had their effect on this event too: is it possible to celebrate an anniversary thinking about thousands of victims in the States and the pain of their families? The main impact has come from our colleagues in the United States, who wanted us to continue with the programme. We also want to give a example of multinational understanding and positive relations, declared a visibly-moved Wilfried Eibach, head of the family owned company. The success story started in 1951 with the production of industry springs. In the Seventies the department for automotive springs was founded. Nowadays the name Eibach is known world-wide as a synonym for leading chassis technology. For some years the programme has gone far beyond the pure spring. The construction process has been supported by CAD-applications and it has carried out pioneer work in the field of new methods of corrosion-protection. Also the chassis system harmonisation is a huge field of activities in the year 2001. Today Eibach AG stands as a family holding on top of the German company group, consisting of four daughter companies. Abroad, Eibach is represented with production, engineering and/or distribution facilities in Irvine (California, USA), Broughton Astley (Leicestershire, GB), Tokyo (Japan) and Warriewood (New South Wales, Australia) and through more than 50 exclusive distributors. In Germany the 250 employees have achieved a turnover of 25.2 million Euro. The world-wide turnover in 2000 of the 400 employees amounted to 48 million Euro. During the celebration guests had practical experience of the secret of Eibach’s success: the fact that – beyond the many technological qualifications – the family owners have never neglected the human dimension, and they have always been aware of their social responsibilities.
Continue ReadingFailure To Sell Costs Conti
The collapse of talks to sell ContiTech are said to be behind the resignation of Stephan Kessel, who has been replaced by Manfred Wennemer, who was until recently the head of ContiTech. Analysts have been taken by surprise by the move and many believe it will result in a loss of confidence in Continental. The sale of ContiTech had been expected to fund moves into electronics and complete automotive systems, without these funds the execution of that strategy may have to change.
Continue ReadingSelf-Rescue Plan For Kumho
Kumho Industrial, parent company of, among others, Kumho Tires, is currently overwhelmed with debt, due largely to the performance of is Asiana Airlines subsidiary. The company has formulated a self-rescue plan, which involves raising money through selling shares in the tyre company. Few details are publicly available, but it is believed that two foreign financial institutions (one from Hong Kong, the other from the USA) have taken a shareholding worth US$ 1.2 billion in the tyre manufacturer, which will continue to run with the same management. The plan also involves Kumho selling off one of its three petrochemical plants.
Continue ReadingHanford, California Plant Closed By Pirelli
Pirelli Tyre ceased operations at its Hanford, California plant. This follows a six month notice issued to the facility in October 2000 stating that the plants cost structure was not competitive with other Pirelli plants costs. Production capacity will be transferred from Hanford to plants in Europe and South America.
Continue ReadingAgreement Ends Strike At Goodyear Chemical Plant
A 64-day strike at Goodyears chemical plant in Houston ended when union members signed an agreement. Under the agreement, some jobs will be consolidated or outsourced and wages reduced for some non-core positions. On the benefits side is an improved pension scheme, a lump sum first year wage increase and later increases linked to plant earnings. The Houston plant employs 600 and makes synthetic rubber used in the manufacture of tyres and several other products.
Continue ReadingHigher Turnover for Audi
The turnover of car manufacturer Audi increased last year to 39 billion DM (1999: 29.6 bn DM). The Italian importer Autogerma S.p.A., which distributes Volkswagen cars in Italy, is included in this figure for the first time. Worldwide, Audi sold 653,404 cars in 2000; a 2.9 per cent increase over 1999.
Continue ReadingWestminster Eyes On Tyre Manufacturing
On Thursday the 18th January , in response to a question from Mr. Peter Pike MP for Burnley, the Minister for Trade, Mr Richard Caborn announced that the Government was to commission a competitive study to examine the entire rubber industry, and especially the tyre sector. Peter Pike MP quoted cuts in tyre production in the UK (Michelin, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental) and advised the Minister that there was concern in his constituency, Burnley, home of a Michelin plant, for the future of the Tyre industry in the UK. The Minister responded with figures showing overall tyre production standing at £1 billion, and exports at £800 million, and some 8,000 people still employed directly in the tyre manufacturing industry. He added that with electronics playing an increasing part in production we (the government) wanted to ensure the country was at the leading edge of technology, and quoted Pirellis new robotics line as evidence the UK Tyre industry has a future. Sir Sydney Chapman MP for Chipping Barnet asked whether, given the sharp decline of the Euro against Sterling should the government not have eased the tax and regulatory burden on the industry? The Ministers response was that the governments policies had been welcomed by the industry; that three of the five major tyre manufacturers were operational in the UK and that they were looking to the government to give a lead on a foresight programme to develop new technology for those industries. He added that the standing of the Euro had had little or no effect on the global re-organisation of the tyre manufacturers. In a follow-on question, Barry Sheerman MP for Huddersfield asked if the Minister thought that if a multinational closed down a UK operation, that the UK consumer should be encouraged to be discriminatory about the products he or she buys, to favour UK industries. In response the Minister stated that he did not think this to be an acceptable way forward, that the way forward was to expand the global economy in a managed way that will produce a good result for the consumer.
Continue ReadingMakeover For Kleber Dynaxer – And The Kleber Logo
Kleber is introducing its new Dynaxer DR series of tyres, in 31 different sizes, for wheels from 14 to 18 and H, V and W speed ratings. The new tyres have been developed from the previous generation Dynaxer DR 502 and 503 series of tyres, with the emphasis being placed on three core areas; the compound, the mould design and the optimisation of the tread pattern. The compound has been chosen for its properties in grip and wear and the tread pattern designed for maximum water evacuation – these features make the Dynaxer an excellent wet-weather performer. A large number of tread blocks means lower noise and lateral grooves positioned along the tread patterns flow lines allows the even dispersion of water, giving peace of mind, whatever the weather. The mould contributes to the tyres good wear rate, thanks to its ability to evenly distribute the pressures enforced. This contributes too to reduced tyre noise and ride comfort. At the same time as the new tyre is introduced, Kleber has revamped its logo. The new logo is said to reflect Klebers three core values of peace of mind, serenity and reliability and is aimed at the trade and general public alike. Although not the most famous name in tyres, Kleber claims to be Europes sixth-best-selling range and has OE contracts with such manufacturers as Audi, Renault, Peugeot and Vauxhall.
Continue ReadingAdvertising To Be Boosted By Michelin USA And Goodyear
In order to expand its approach to marketing Michelin North America is reviewing its US advertising policy and will be evaluating new agencies after a 17 year relationship with New York agency DBB. At the same time Goodyear are set to increase world-wide advertising spend by 30 per cent. The annual advertising spend for Goodyear is estimated to be $60m.
Continue ReadingDirector Of Marketing Appointed At Goodyear USA
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed Kevin Kramer to the post of director of marketing, consumer tyres for North American Tire. Kramer has been with Goodyear for 18 years and has held numerous marketing appointments in the USA and Singapore. He is replaced in his former post of general business manager for the Southern Region by Steve McClellan, recently general manager of Allied Tires, a Goodyear-owned subsidiary.
Continue ReadingNew European Director Of Advertising For Goodyear
Eric Bequin, Manager of Advertising at Goodyear Luxembourg, will become the new Director of Advertising, Europe, from the 1st of May. He succeeds Rainer Keinath, who is leaving the company voluntarily.
Continue ReadingRubber Prices Down In The Dumps
The price of rubber, at US$0.54, is the lowest for 30 years. Tyre producers, who buy two-thirds of rubber production, are being very cautious in view of the falling demand for cars in the large industrial countries. Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia want to keep prices high through a cartel but to date have not been very successful. Competitors Vietnam and Cambodia are increasing production, which has kept prices low. The rubber producers are pinning their hopes on China which – if it joins the World Trade Organisation – will import more rubber.
Continue ReadingNo Interests In Aluminium Wheels?
Alcoa Inc. of the U.S. and Dooray Air Metal Co. Ltd. of Korea have jointly announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding for Alcoa to acquire Dooray Air Metals extrusion business, located in Changwon, Korea. Doorays production of aluminium wheels is not affected.
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