Blow Against Wheel Mafia
German car manufacturers initiated surprise visits of local Guardia-di-Finanza and wheel experts to smaller Italian wheel factories and wheel distributors in order to search for illegal replicas. Many were found, as well as a number of tools, which were either confiscated or sealed up.
Continue ReadingJoint-Venture Continental Teves And Nisshinbo
Continental Teves (51%) and Diversified Japanese company Nisshinbo Industries(49%) have brought together their activities in brakes and systems around the wheel in order to supply the Japanese and Korean markets.
Continue ReadingService Makes The Difference: BRV Seminar At The “Reifen 2000” Exhibition
The slogan was Service Makes The Difference. Consultants MMS GmbH, together with the German dealer association BRV (which claims to be the centre of competence), organised this interesting seminar. Regrettably, representatives from only about 30 independent tyre dealers attended, with the majority of the 150 delegates coming from the tyre industry and their equities. Hubert Hannezo, Michelins Worldwide Marketing Manager for passenger car and light truck tyres, made a very informative speech and explained to the audience what is going on, for example, in the USA and what might become popular here very soon, and why. A totally new form of service is developing through the internet, and specialists from Continental enlarged on this in detail. Larry C. Morgan, a big tyre dealer from the USA, explained his growth philosophy. He is confident that his group will sell around ten million tyres a year from 2005 on. One of his statements was Bigger is better, only if big is better and If it is to be, it is up to me. Finally, keynote speaker Sir Tom Farmer used the opportunity to explain again what Kwik-Fit is, how it has grown, and for what it stands. One criticism of the seminar might be that there was no opportunity to ask questions, nor to initiate any discussion.
Continue ReadingJoint Venture For PAX and EMT Formed By Goodyear And Michelin
Tyre giants Michelin and Goodyear are to work together in the future on their run-flat systems PAX and EMT. A joint venture company has been formed, based in the Netherlands.
Continue ReadingOpening Of New Michelin Agricultural Service Centre
The Michelin Group has officially opened a new agricultural service centre in Germany, handling the Michelin, Kléber, Taurus and Stomil brands. In Germany, the group controls more than one third of the agricultural tyre market.
Continue ReadingSwiss Tyre Dealers Association Joins BRV
The Swiss Tyre Dealers Association RVS (Reifenverband der Schweiz) has joined the equivalent German organisation BRV (Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkaniseur-Handwerk). RVS represents 43 tyre dealers in Switzerland.
Continue ReadingAnother E-Commerce Platform
Leading companies in the field of car components are to build up a new e-business solution for dealers and independent workshops. Like Bosch, Delphi, Mannesmann, VDO Sachs Tenneco and some others, Continental wants to use the new platform (for the Teves brand ATE and the ContiTech division), too.
Continue ReadingTop-Executive Succession At Continental AG
Dr. Wolfgang Ziebarth (50), former member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, will be appointed to the companys Executive Board with effect from October 1st, 2000. In December, Dr. Ziebarth is to assume responsibility for the Continental Automotive Systems Group, thus succeeding Hans Albert Beller (62) who is to begin his planned retirement after building up the unit for the past seven years.
Continue ReadingNatural Rubber Prices Hit 11-Week High, Oil Prices Down
Mixed news on the raw material front, as natural rubber prices rose to 36.75 cents/pound, the highest price for eleven weeks. Fear of a supply shortage was the cause. Crude oil prices fell slightly, following the ten-year high prices of last month.
Continue ReadingThe Commercial Vehicles Business Remains Full Of Contradictions
The German automotive association (VDA), organiser of the 58th International Commercial Vehicles Exhibition, which took place in Frankfurt this year due to EXPO utilising facilities at Hanover, has announced record results for the event. 1,318 exhibitors from 42 countries filled the exhibition, including some 725 automotive parts suppliers, more than ever before. In all, 240,000 people attended the show, 85 % of them trade visitors. Bernd Gottschalk, president of the German automotive association stated, The IAA grows in importance as a sales exhibition. He believes that the whole climate at the exhibition was one of optimism and faith in the future of the business. This may be true, but it is only one side of the coin. Despite the pre-event high hopes there remained an apprehension that the recent economic boom might soon come to a sudden end. There are many indicators that the boom may be slowing down: Dramatic decline in sales in the USA, and an accelerating rationalisation amongst manufacturers making trade more intensive for both suppliers and the fleet business. This and high fuel prices and, last but by no means least, the distortion of competition as a result of differing transport regulations within the European Union. In the final analysis, the commercial vehicle business remains as full of contradictions today, as it ever has. Find out more in the November issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Continue ReadingTelephone Jobs For Michelin Workers?
Former apprentice engineer with Michelin, now multi-millionaire businessman, John Caldwell, has pledged to try to find work within his mobile phone empire for the 950 Michelin workers facing the axe. Caldwell already employs 2,000 people in North Staffordshire and Crewe. He runs some 110 Phones 4U shops throughout the UK and has plans to take on 1,000 more people within the next year. The bulk of the new posts would be in communications positions.
Continue ReadingKaizaki Dismisses Bankruptcy Rumours
At a press conference, Bridgestone president Yoichiro Kaizaki dismissed rumours that claims for damages in the USA could force Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. into bankruptcy. The company has set aside $450 million to cover claims and any extra needed could come from the US companys reserves, estimated at $2.3 billion. Despite the reassurance, Bridgestone shares fell by over 13 per cent in Tokyo.
Continue ReadingGeneral Manager For Goodyear US Retreading Operations
Armond Boyes has been appointed general manager of Goodyears North American retreading operations. Boyes is responsible for overseeing Goodyears Next-Tred retreading program, including the design, development and sales of Next-Tred products and the installation of retread plants throughout North America.
Continue ReadingPirelli Sells “Terrestrial Optical Networking Systems”
Cisco has agreed to buy Pirellis Terrestrial Optical Networking Systems for US$ 2.15 bn and also plans to invest US$ 100 million to take a 10% stake in Pirellis Submarine Optical Transmissions. The Photronic Business accounts for a turnover of 395 million Euros.
Continue ReadingPneumant Up For An Oscar
East German tyre manufacturer Pneumant has been nominated by an international jury for the Milestones Award.The award is given to companies in recognition of their enterprising approach to innovative achievements.
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