Stenhoj 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.
Continue ReadingStrike Ends At General Tire
Employees at Continental General Tire’s plant in Bryan, Ohio USA have signed an agreement ensuring an increase in wages and pensions plus a regulation of working time (a four shift programme, seven days a week) up to the year 2006. The same agreement will apply in Charlotte, General Tire’s largest plant in North America, where employees had been on strike for over a year to achieve these improved conditions. Continental’s workforce has diminished from 1,450 to around 1,300 following the strikes.
Continue ReadingVredestein; Wider And Faster
The Dutch manufacturer has announced the introduction of a new Z and W-rated tyre later this year, aimed at sportscars and luxury cars.
Continue ReadingFocus Named ‘Car of the Year 2000’ In USA
Journalists at the Detroit Motor Show have voted the Ford Focus Car of the Year 2000. The Focus is produced in Germany, Spain and the USA.
Continue ReadingFormer Pepsico Manager Joins Goodyear
Eric A. Berg (37) - a former Pepsico Manager - has joined Goodyear as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Berg will be responsible for Goodyears future success in E-Commerce.
Continue ReadingRMA Takes Over BIPAVER Retreading Administration
At a recent BIPAVER meeting, it was agreed that the UKs Retread Manufacturers Association should take over the administration of the retreading section of BIPAVER. Said an RMA spokesman: We recognised a need for consistent representation, particularly in what is proving to be a very difficult time for the retreading industry. To form two separate divisions under the BIPAVER umbrella seemed to be both logical and sensible.
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