Hans J. Rupp At Hofmann
Hans J. Rupp has been appointed Director of Sales worldwide at Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik (Pfungstadt/Germany).
Continue ReadingMichelin Mourns For Pascal Hoffmann
Aged only 40, Pascal Hoffmann, responsible for truck tyre aftermarket business in Germany, has died unexpectedly. From 1995 until 1997 Hoffmann headed Michelin Austria, he joined the French tyre maker in 1986.
Continue ReadingFirst Quarter Results Of Michelin Better Than Expected
Michelins Q1 sales rose by 14.8% to 3.59 bn Euro; 464 m Euro more than for the same period last year. The EBIT level is, as expected, in the region of 10% of turnover.
Continue ReadingContiTech To Increase Stake in Kühner
After procuring 51 percent of Kühner (Oppenheim) in order to strengthen its market position, ContiTech now intends to acquire a further 35 percent of the company, which produces hoses for air conditioning equipment. The deal is planned to become effective 1st May.
Continue ReadingTragedy In Vredestein’s Home Town
Vredesteins home town, Enschede, was devastated by the recent explosion in a fireworks factory and subsequent fire. One Vredestein employee, his wife and one child are missing, another employee lost two children and his in-laws. 14 employees lost their houses and another 29 were damaged. Throughout the fire, the Vredestein voluntary fire brigade was active and helped the official firefighters. Obviously tyre production was affected, but was soon back to normal.
Continue ReadingStenhoj Buys Gemco
The assets of UK company Gemco Ltd have been purchased by Stenhoj, of Denmark. A new company, called Gemco 2000 Ltd. will begin trading. Gemco provides a range of garage equipment and services and Stenhoj was the companys biggest supplier. Stenhoj consists of 8 companies, 4 of which are foreign subsidiaries.
Continue ReadingNew Arrangements For Bergougnan Distribution
After having acquired Monarch (USA), Bergougnan (Belgium) and Vorwerk (Germany, now Rotatec) the new parent company Trelleborg Wheel Systems has re-arranged the distribution in several countries. After changes in France and Italy now the German partner Wenzel-Industrie has exclusive distribution rights for the Bergougnan brand, which, up to May, it shared with Industriereifenkontor Lüdtke.
Continue ReadingOff-Take Agreement Between Nokian Tyres And Michelin
Nokian Tyres announced an off-take agreement with Michelin, mostly for heavy tyres but also for car tyres. A month ago, Continental also seemed to be interested, but obviously finished runners-up.
Continue ReadingFastest Corvette With Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar Tyres
Chevrolet is calling its 2001 Corvette Z06 a production vehicle thats ready for the racetrack. The P265/40ZR17 (front) and P295/35ZR18 (rear) Eagle F1 Supercar tyres weigh 23.4 pounds less than the run-flat tyres. The weight savings comes from removing the run-flat reinforcements as well as using lighter weight internal components.
Continue ReadingPirelli With Ford In World Rally Championships
Pirelli will supply the Ford Focus WRC from the beginning of 2001 in the World Rally Championships. Drivers will be Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. Pirelli also equips Subaru with rally tyres as part of a long-term contract and cooperates with Seat.
Continue ReadingETRA Conference Discusses Scrap Tyres
The problem of scrap tyres (or, as ETRA prefers to call them, post-consumer tyres) is one which affects every country where tyres are sold. ETRA, the European Tyre Recycling Association, is the only European organisation devoted exclusively to tyre and rubber recycling and in July, the association held a conference in the UK to discuss the scale of the problem, assess progress and look at possible solutions. ETRA regards post-consumer tyres as a readily available and inexpensive resource rather than merely a problem and the association is keen to get this viewpoint across to the industry, governments and the public. Around 2.5 million scrap tyres arise every year in the EU, of which 61% are re-used or recycled in some form. 39% go to landfill, which will be banned shortly. The conference programme was a full one, with a variety of speakers, including representatives from enforcement and licensing agencies, trade associations and those involved in developing new processes and uses for scrap tyres. Among the solutions discussed were rubberised asphalt, rubberised sports surfaces, the emotive subject of using tyres as artificial reefs and a method of using microwaves to break down tyres into their component parts. The effective and environmental disposal of scrap tyres is a problem for all parts of the industry and one which will become even more acute when landfilling of tyres is banned in a few years.
Continue ReadingFast Fit For All Brands At VW
Authorised VW dealers will integrate a fast fit service in Germany under the name Car Center by the end of 2001 open to all car brands. Besides brakes, exhausts and shock absorbers the offer will also include accessories like alloy wheels.
Continue ReadingTop Management Change At Fulda
55-year old John P. Jentgen is moving on from the board of directors at Gummiwerk Fulda – effective 1st November 2000. As Director Manufacturing at the Luxembourg Complex he will be responsible for the four production plants manufacturing tyres, wires, cords and moulds. Mr. Jengtens successor as Production Director is Robert Schmit.
Continue ReadingTaken To The Web: The Ford/Firestone Recall
Ford Motor Co are using the Internet to publicise their part in the Bridgestone/Firestone recall. A banner advert used on some 200 sites leads surfers to a comprehensive Ford run website publicising the recall and the details of the tyres involved, advises replacement tyres and authorised replacement dealers. The publicity has the potential to reach 564 million readers.
Continue ReadingCall For Resignations At DaimlerChrysler
Some shareholders are calling for the resignations of DaimlerChrysler chairman Jürgen Schrempp and head of the supervisory board Hilmar Kopper, following the recent controversy and lawsuits resulting from alleged misrepresentation at the time of the merger of the two companies.
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