Rapid Growth In European Fast Fit
Business analysis specialists Datamonitor predict that the European Fast Fit Market will have an annual growth of more than 4 per cent each year and reach 11 billion Euros by 2004. It is also anticipated that new competitors Ford (who acquired Kwik-Fit) and Fiat (who acquired Midas) will significantly increase their standing in the market during this period.
Continue ReadingContinental Introduces Two New Winter Tyre Tread Patterns
For the launch of its two new winter tyre models, the ContiWinterContact TS 780 and the transporter and van tyre VancoWinter at the beginning of October the Continental AG management chose a very special venue: Iceland. However, a blizzard that raged for days prevented practical tests of the new tyres on the selected glacier. Developers of winter tyres are always faced with the classic dilemma: Do they design for optimum grip on snow or on dry roads? The development of the TS 780 for vehicles of the compact and lower medium classes aimed at reducing the discrepancy between the two objectives. An important innovation is a sipe construction which tries to emulate the architecture of beehives with its honeycomb shape. According to the manufacturer, the honeycomb sipe has clear safety advantages when cornering on snow. A directional tread pattern and the latest silica compound technology are additional features responsible for the new tyre’s good driving characteristics in wintry conditions as well as on dry and wet roads. It is available in all European markets needing winter tyres, initially in 13 sizes from 145/80 R 13 75Q to 185/60 R 14 82T. The VancoWinter was specially developed for medium and heavy vans. Traction on ice and snow is provided by sipes which are incorporated in the tread blocks. To achieve a significant improvement over its predecessor, the LMS 70, the VancoWinter’s sipes and blocks are twice as high. Its behaviour on icy roads is to be improved by distributing the pressure on the ground more evenly. The van tyre is immediately available, at first in nine sizes (from 185 R 14C to 195/65 R 16C).
Continue ReadingBridgestone/Firestone Europe Appoints General Manager OE Sales
Bridgestone/Firestone Europe (BFE) has appointed Mr. Uwe Kaster as General Manager of European OE Sales. He will be based at Bridgestone/Firestone Deutschland. The company says that the appointment has been made in response to its increasing growth with European vehicle producers. Mr. Kaster joins BFE from the Rutgers Automotive Group.
Continue Reading7th VDI Conference on Tyres, Chassis, Roads
The contact area between tyre and road surface is generally compared to the size of a postcard. An area, whose smallness bears no relation to its importance as the central spot where the interaction between motorcar and supporting ground takes place. Generations of experts have thought long and hard how to optimise this A6-sized contact area in the interest of road safety. The 21st and 22nd October saw the beginning of a new round in the eternal quest for more knowledge. On these dates the seventh conference in twelve years of the Association of German Engineers (VDI) took place under the headline Reifen – Fahrwerk – Fahrbahn (Tyres – Chassis – Road Surface) at the Hanover Congress Centre. As at several earlier meetings, the wheel was not studied in isolation but as the link between chassis and road surface. The central theme of the meeting was therefore the interaction between those three components. Each lecture or discussion session consisted of three half-hour presentations grouped together under subject matters such as Reciprocal influences between tyres and road surface, Tyre noise, Measuring and devising models, Warning and run-flat systems, Vibration and comfort as well as Chassis concepts. Almost 225 VDI members from the sectors of research and manufacturing had accepted the invitation. Apart from many car manufacturers the tyre industry was also well represented in Hanover and thanks to the disciplined lecturing techniques and to well-informed and motivated questions from the public the conference was able to live up as a genuine discussion forum to a large extent.
Continue ReadingM+S Tyres Mandatory In Finland
Finland has followed its neighbour Sweden by passing a law which means that, from 1st December to 29th February, all cars in Finland must be fitted with M+S tyres, having a minimum tread depth of at least three millimetres. The law applies not only to Finnish motorists, but to foreign drivers too.
Continue ReadingGratifying Half-Yearly Result for Continental
The management has undertaken an upward revision of the turnover and profit forecasts. Due to increased turnover all business divisions were able to improve their margins, but it seems that General Tire did not entirely come up to the expectations of institutional investors. The Teves result (half-yearly turnover: 1.278 billion euros, EBIT: 27 million euros) came as a pleasant surprise to banking circles. After the first six months group turnover reached 4.449 billion euros, and the EBIT of 263 million euros was roughly ten per cent above expectations. Stock exchange experts value the potential of the Continental share with 25 to 26 euros, which has as yet not been realised. The slightly worrying aspect is the fear that Continental could be lumped together with other, normal tyre manufacturers, e.g. Michelin, Goodyear and Pirelli, which produced rather sobering results.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Pulls Out Of IRL And CART
Goodyear, who stopped supplying tyres for Formula 1 last season, has announced that, from next year, it will no longer supply tyres to the Indy Racing League (IRL) and Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) in the USA. The company will concentrate on other forms of racing, such as NASCAR. Stu Grant, general manager for global race tyres, said that the decision will be reviewed and that he would not rule out a return to IRL, CART, nor Formula 1 competition.
Continue ReadingConti Boss Kessel Still Interested In Pirelli’s Tyre Division
During an analysts conference in New York, Conti boss, Dr Stephan Kessel, restated his continuing interest in a joint venture/merger with Pirellis Tyre Division.
Continue ReadingRecord Figures for Car Winter Tyres
Approximately 29 million winter tyres will be sold in Central Europe (i.e. without Scandinavia) this winter. In Germany alone the figure will be well in excess of 16 million units (55 p.c.). Germany’s motorists will spend about three billion marks this year on tyres and services when refitting their vehicles with winter tyres.
Continue ReadingPirelli Calendar 2000
American photographer Annie Leibovitz was inspired by classic Rubens and Botticelli pictures when creating the Pirelli Calendar 2000, which was recently presented in London. Leibowitz was also involved in Pirelli’s 1994 advertising compaign showing Carl Lewis in red high heels.
Continue ReadingGummi-Mayer Goes to Viborg
Assuming the approval of the Competition Commission, the Danish tyre dealer and retreading company Viborg Gruppen together with the British Legal & General Ventures Limited (LGV) will take over all the tyre distribution activities (150 service centres) of Gummi-Mayer retrospectively from 30th September 1999. The integration of Gummi-Mayer into the existing companies of Viborg Gruppen will create the largest independent distribution and service company in the European tyre business. At the beginning of the year Viborg/LGV took over the tyre distribution activities of Stinnes AG in Germany, Holland, France, Austria and Switzerland and now has a close-knit Europe-wide service net. The sale includes all domestic tyre distribution and service activities trading in Germany under the names Gummi-Mayer and Autechna. All employees will be retained by Viborg, which has the right to the use of the Gummi-Mayer name initially for a period of ten years. Pending the approval of the Competition Commission, Gummi-Mayer will continue to be run by Hans and Franz Mayer. After the incorporation of Gummi-Mayer Viborg Gruppen will have a turnover of nearly 1.4 billion marks with more than 3,000 employees.
Continue ReadingVredestein Fietsbanden Relocates Production To Low-Wage Countries
In order to return to profitability, Vredestein Fietsbanden BV says that it will phase out production of bicycle tyres in Doetinchem, The Netherlands and gradually start up production in countries where the wages are lower. A period of two years has been planned for this and around 125 jobs will be lost in Doetinchem, most of them in the year 2001. The sales and marketing operations will continue to be run from The Netherlands.
Continue ReadingVredestein Trend Continues Upwards
The Vredestein NV group consists of five companies with activities in car, transporter, agricultural and industrial as well as bicycle tyres, boots for consumer markets and industrial applications, recycled rubber, compounds and sealing extrusions. The company employs about 2,200 people in total. The first half of 1999 developed according to forecast, with net profits increased to 600,000 euros – 200,000 euros more than in the first half of 1998. Consolidated net turnover yields rose by ten per cent from 98.1 million euros to 108 million euros, and during the period in question cash-flow was up by 1.1 million to 9.9 million euros. Vredestein Banden’s turnover increased during the first quarter due to the long winter and the resulting good opportunities for selling winter tyres. The first half year was characterised by the Sportrac introduction, a new tyre for the high speed sector (up to 240 km/h) developed in close conjunction with Guigiaro Design, the renowned Italian designer firm. Sales of the new Sportrac have exceeded expectations, according to the manufacturer. Several sizes are not yet available, so the impact of its introduction should be felt in full during the second half of 1999. In the agricultural tyre sector the recently launched AS radial (Traxion+) was well received. Industrial tyre sales developed positively. An important part of the Vredestein group’s annual result is traditionally achieved in the second half of the year, mainly due to the strong influence of Vredestein Banden’s winter tyre sales. Assuming that economic conditions remain stable in the most important European markets, the company is optimistic that it will once again be able to increase last year’s profit.
Continue ReadingMichelin back in Formula 1?
There are persistent rumours that Michelin will be entering Formula 1 from the year 2001. BMW/Williams is the most likely partner. It is expected that Michelin will make an announcement in December this year. Other rumours say that Goodyear intends to return to Formula 1 Racing as well, but research carried out by NEUE REIFENZEITUNG confirmed them to be unfounded. Very recently the Americans even anounced to pull out of the IRL and CART Series in the USA.
Continue ReadingOil Prices To Rise
In the past few days, oil prices have risen US$4.20 to US$26 per barrel. This has caused concern among tyre manufacturers as raw materials comprise about 40-50% of the cost of sales.
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