Goodyear Turnaround “On Track”
After a bad year in 1999, Goodyear has announced that the company is now on track with its turnaround strategy.
Continue Reading“Snowprox S950” – Toyo’s New Winter Tyre
In the autumn Snowprox S950 will be available in 55/50/45/40-series. According to Toyo, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in Germany this year, the new winter tyre has (compared with its predecessor M+S 920) improved its performance dramatically.
Continue ReadingEagle F1 Tread Pattern In Le Mans
While, for example Michelin, declares the demands of Le Mans comparable with Formula 1, Goodyear is fitting the Corvette of the official Chevrolet team and a private BMW prototype with the Eagle F1 street tread pattern.
Continue ReadingSignificant Decreases For General Tire USA
A spokesman for Continental, in answer to a question from NEUE REIFENZEITUNG, agreed that the figures from General Tire for the first half of this year are significantly less than figures for the same period last year. Continental will officially release the half year figures on August 9th.
Continue ReadingDTM: Opel Changes To ATS
During a racing series, changes from one tyre or wheel supplier to another one are very rare. In the very popular German Touring Cars Championship (DTM – Deutsche Tourenwagen-Masters) Dunlop is the exclusive tyre supplier. Now Opel-Phoenix has decided to change from BBS wheels to conventional cast alloy wheels from ATS, so that the Bad Durkheim-based wheel manufacturer is now the biggest supplier of racing wheels in this series. AMG-Mercedes has also used ATS wheels since the beginning of the series.
Continue ReadingNew Vice President For Hayes Lemmerz N. A. Cast Wheel Operations
Hayes Lemmerz has appointed Jesus Bonilla-Valdez to the position of Vice President Operations responsible for its six-plant cast wheel operations in North America.
Continue ReadingNew Plan Aims To Make National Tyre Service Profitable Within Five Years
When Continental bought the UK retail chain National Tyre Service a decade ago, the company regarded its equity as a way of gaining a foothold in the market and increasing its market share. To put it simply, National was merely a vehicle for moving tyres. In the last few years, the German parent has realised the strategic importance and benefits of having its own chain and has re-thought its attitude. National turns over £150 m annually and it is no secret that the company has been making a loss over recent years but this, says Chief Executive Adrian Dunleavy, is due to change within the next five years, with the aim being profit and a sustainable market share. In an exclusive interview with TYRES & ACCESSORIES, Dunleavy discusses the details of the plan and the investment promised by Continental. He also gives frank answers to the critics of National’s two tyres for the price of one offer, who regard this as being responsible for today’s price cutting. And how does he respond to the widespread condemnation of the National Motor Dealer offer, which was designed to encourage motor dealers into the tyre business? The five-year plan requires time and investment and Continental have granted both. Dunleavy accepts that the pressure is on him to deliver results within the designated time frame.
Continue ReadingGold-Mine For Pirelli
Pirelli sold a 90% share (Cisco holds 10%) in the very young company Optical Technologies. OT has around 100 employees and a first half-year turnover of US$ 12 m. Turnover for the whole year is expected to be US$ 30 m. Optimistic observers speculated that the price would be around US$ 1 bn, while Pirelli in fact received slightly over US$ 3 bn (after tax) in cash. According to the management, acquisitions in the tyre field are unlikely, but it may be that Pirelli can bring forward the introduction of its MIRS system faster than expected. Pirelli is, and will remain, in partnership with Michelin and Goodyear to promote the PAX system.
Continue ReadingQuality Award For Dunlop
Dunlop Germany has been awarded a top level Formula Q award by the Volkswagen Group. Dunlop was the only tyre producer to gain the award for Supply Reliability, Productivity and Error-free Quality. Every year Volkswagen awards 20 of its 8,000 suppliers for their outstanding performance.
Continue ReadingProduction Cut By Bridgestone/Firestone
In a move unconnected, according to Bridgestone/Firestone, to the recall, production is being cut at three tyre production plants in response to oversupply. Cutbacks will affect LaVergne, Tennessee, Oklahoma City, and at Decatur, Illinois. Some 450 employees are also being laid off indefinitely at the Decatur plant, centre of attention in the recall.
Continue ReadingBrazilian Carbon Black Plant For Degussa Hüls
German company Degussa Hüls is building what it says will be one of the most modern industrial carbon black plants in the world at Paulinia, near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Production will begin in early 2002 and initial annual capacity will be 60,000 tonnes. Degussa Hüls says the new site will strengthen its role as a global partner of the rubber industry.
Continue ReadingManagement Changes At Yokohama GmbH
Junichi Okishima, who has been managing director of Yokohama Germany for five years, is returning to Tokyo at the end of this year to take up new challenges within the group. His successor will be Noria Karashima.
Continue ReadingVredestein Offers Sportrac As A ‘Collector’s Item’
With a limited production of only 2,000 units in the single size 205/55 R16, Vredestein is offering a Millennium Edition of the Sportrac with a specially-produced sidewall. It is anticipated that the tyre will become a collectors item.
Continue ReadingViborg Gets Take-over OK
The Viborg Group/Dorana has been given the go-ahead to take over Gummi Mayer by the European Competition Authorities.
Continue ReadingBridgestone’s Excellent EBIT Margin
Despite the fact that the EBIT is down 5% and the net profit down 15% compared with 1998, Bridgestones EBIT Margin of 11.3% of sales is the highest among the major players in the tyre market.
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