19th Autopromotec in Bologna – Good and Bad got close
From May 23rd to 27th, 2001, the 19th Autopromotec took place in Bologna’s exhibition center, where nearly everybody could have met who is traditionally engaged with some kind of vehicle care and repair. 924 exhibitors (7 percent more than in 1999) from more than 30 countries were presenting their products on the whole site of more than 90,000 square meters, divided into 12 exhibition halls and an outdoor area. Again, the complete service sector concerning the car was represented there: Garage alignment suppliers, remoulders with their material and equipment suppliers, garagists, manufacturers of wheels and vehicle parts, and last but not least, tyre industry as well as wholesaler and special trade organisations and companies. Visitors had been as international as the exhibitors – the organisers did expect more than 80,000 car repair specialists from more than 100 different countries. Although in the end there had been some 3,000 more, but without visiting every hall equally. And again, those halls got the visitors’ main interest where garage alignment suppliers, i.e. the manufacturers of balancing machines, alignment gauges, hydraulic ramps or even complete test lane automates had their stands. However, there had been considerably less visitors in hall 23, where remoulding technology was concentrated.
Continue ReadingAlliance For The Development Of Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
Lear Corporation (Southfield, Michigan/USA) and Beru (Ludwigsburg/Germany) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly design and develop Tyre Pressure Monitoring systems for the global automotive market. Under this strategic partnership, the two companies will develop Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems that will relay information to drivers through the electronic architecture used for the Remote Keyless Entry System. The joint venture will combine Lears capabilities as the North American leader in Remote Keyless Entry Systems with that of Beru, the market leader in Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems in Europe.
Continue ReadingTurnover Up, Net Earnings Down For Marangoni
Italian tyre and retreading group Marangoni has revealed its financial results for last year. Turnover rose by almost 10 per cent to 264.5 million Euro, but net earnings plummeted by just over 76 per cent to 1.79 million Euro. There were mixed sales performances from the different divisions: new tyre sales were 70 m Euro (+18.3 per cent), retreading material sales 90.8 m Euro (+7 per cent) and retreaded tyre sales were 63.1 m Euro (+12.8 per cent). It is indicative of the state of the retreading industry that sales of equipment used for retreading and recycling were 6 m Euro; down by over 14 per cent. Marangoni cited increased raw material costs as the main reason for the fall in profits.
Continue ReadingTwo More Tyres For Europe From Cooper-Avon
Cooper-Avon has introduced another two new tyres to its range of products available in Europe. First of these is the Lifeliner Touring SLE (Sport Luxury Edition) and it is the first premium touring tyre from Cooper to be available in three speed ratings; T, H and V. The second product is the Discoverer M+S, which is a winter tyre made in Findlay Ohio, but designed for European roads. It features a number of pin holes for those countries where studded tyres are acceptable.
Continue ReadingGood Second Quarter Results From Nokian
Nokian Tyres has reported its Q2 results, which proved better than analysts expected. While sales were as forecast (up 11.7 per cent to 95 million Euro), operating income was much higher than predicted at 8.5 million Euro, with an operating margin of 8.9 per cent (last year, 3.5 per cent). Results were helped by the 1.9 million Euro operating profit recorded by the Vianor retail chain. Analysts are cautious about the outlook for the second half of the year, with much depending on winter tyre sales.
Continue ReadingRecalled Tyres Potential Recycling Nightmare
The 13 million recalled Firestone tyres in the USA may be about to create another set of problems.Ford has contracted Recovery Technologies Group (RTG) to collect and recycle 6 million of the tyres. The company is having to use sub-contractors to collect, so may not be fully in control of the collection and it is feared that many tyres may be returned to the road. Additionally, RTG, can currently only shred 500 tyres per day, which equates to 32 years of non-stop shredding. Even if the firm does shred and crumb every tyre, there are serious doubts about the available market for the end product.
Continue ReadingOn Its Way To Becoming A Global Tyre Brand
Vredestein boss Rob Oudshoorn is interested in making the Vredestein brand – already well-known in Europe – a global brand. In Asia, T-Trac and Protrac tyres are produced by sister company Elangperdana Indonesia for use in the Asia region of Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China etc. The Importer Tyreland is the business partner at the other end of the world in New Zealand. This has been learned from the latest company brochure News Flashes which is distributed to the trade. At the moment it is not easy to cover Vredestein stories due to the fact that there is obviously no press office in the Dutch company.
Continue ReadingIs It likely That The Ford-Family Will Fire CEO Nasser?
An article in a German daily newspaper (Ford, a terribly nice family) speculates that CEO Nasser might be fired in the near future. Under his guidance Ford has suffered several recalls of newly launched cars because of quality problems. Furthermore the Ford-family is not happy with the public dispute between Ford and Firestone, says the newspaper.
Continue ReadingEuropean E-Commerce Director For Goodyear
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed George Rietbergen (37) as its European director of e-commerce. He comes to the tyre manufacturer from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, where his most recent post was director, e-commerce and commercial development.
Continue ReadingA Question Of Statistics: Influence Of Tyre Pressure On Traffic Safety
Three percent of all traffic accidents in Germany occur due to technical defects on the cars, more than half of which are tyre defects; in total round about two percent of all accidents are due to the tyres. This figure seems to be reassuring, but they apply only to accidents caused directly and undoubtedly from the tyres – for example a puncture. The question what was the reason for the puncture? – maybe a long-term inner defect – is never asked. In the common statistics no hint is given on the influence of reduced tyre pressure on traffic safety. Nobody can give information about how many accidents happened because of faulty steering or below-standard characteristics in bends or hydroplaning safety. Also accidents involving stationary vehicles parked on the street are not counted in the statistics. Collisions with objects on the roads are mentioned, but the objects are not specified. Very often these objects are tyres or parts of tyres, which can be a very dangerous obstacle – especially when the objects are truck tyres. For the statistics regarding accidents caused by faulty tyres it is still correct what was mentioned in an analysis in 1985 – and it sounds ironical: one result of the report is that it is not possible to make concrete declarations about the reasons for accidents. All we know is that low pressure in the tyres has an influence on the number of accidents – but nobody can say how much.
Continue ReadingReturn To Number One Ranking For Bridgestone
Figures published by US journal Rubber & Plastics News for the year 2000 show Bridgestone back at the number one position for global tyre companies, with tyre sales of almost 14 billion US Dollars.
Continue ReadingIntelligent Tyre From Siemens And Conti
It is reported that the German company Siemens has developed an intelligent tyre in collaboration with Continental. The tyre incorporates small sensors that can give advance warning of wear, low pressure or imminent sudden deflation. They can also detect on-road hazards such as black ice and can help to keep the car under safe control in these conditions. In addition to the sensor technology, the tyres will be more fuel efficient and last longer. Testing in extreme conditions is currently being carried out and Siemens says that the tyres should be on the market in 2001. Not so, is the reaction of those close to the market, saying that there is no way that the tyre could be produced as a range this year. Nobody from Continental was available to comment.
Continue ReadingCut In Earnings Forecast By Bridgestone
In Tokyo, the Bridgestone Corporation has slashed its earnings forecast for the year by 81%. The revised forecast is US$ 116 million, down from the August estimate of US$ 596.6 million. Bridgestone also said that it would take a US$ 750 million charge to cover the costs of the recall and possible lawsuits; more than double the original charge estimate of US$ 350 million.
Continue Reading405 More Jobs To Go At Tenneco Automotive
Back in October, Tenneco Automotive announced that 285 jobs were to be cut in the USA, as part of a plan to reduce salaried staff by 700 by the end of this year. The company has announced another 405 salaried job losses worldwide, blamed on the state of the global automotive aftermarket and reduced vehicle production in the USA.
Continue ReadingDelphi Finish Year On A Positive Note
Delphi, the global automotive systems supplier reports a positive year, despite disappointing fourth quarter results due to the sharp drop in fourth quarter vehicle volumes and resultant decline in revenues. Although annual sales are down, net income has increased by $11 million to $1.1 billion. This concludes a good first year for Delphi as an independent,publicly owned company
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