Goodyear Confidence For Latin America
US tyre manufacturer Goodyear has announced its confidence in the Latin American market during the year 2000. The company believes it will be able to increase its Ebit-margin significantly.
Continue ReadingMichelin Pilot Primacy – Second Generation for this Growth Segment
With the new Michelin Pilot Primacy, introduced to the trade press at the beginning of March and available through the trade this spring in a total of 33 sizes, the company intends to strengthen further its dominant role as original equipment supplier of high-performance tyres. Dynamic market development can be observed in all European states in this exacting segment, sometimes up to double-digit annual growth rates. Michelin, too, puts its faith in significant growth in this segment by introducing the second generation of the Pilot family, up-dated by the Primacy, a tyre conceived for original equipment but later also to be supplied to the refit market. The new tyre was specially designed for the requirements of high-mileage drivers, who expect not only safety reserves but also a high level of comfort during frequently long journeys in their fast top and upper medium-class cars. Among the car manufacturers’ specifications highest priority has been given to weight reduction, safety, ride comfort and easy handling. In the April issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG you can learn more about how Michelin wants to meet these requirements.
Continue ReadingNew Radial Industrial Tyre
Continental has introduced a new radial industrial tyre, the ConRAD HT in size 8.25 R15. It will also be available in a clean version for applications such as the food industry.
Continue ReadingPrice Increases In US Tyre Market
There are rumours in the market that the industry will raise tyre prices – maybe even this week – to cover increases in raw materials (rubber, oil, carbon black). As production capacities have been expanded during the last 24 months, it is doubted whether any increase will stick due to market pressure.
Continue ReadingFrench Car Manufacturers Do Well In France
Despite a slight fall in new car registrations in France during April, the market so far this year has risen 6% compared to 1999. French manufacturers have done exceptionally well, with Renault sales up 6% and Peugeot up 12%. Not so happy in April were Fiat (down 28%) and Ford (down 25%).
Continue ReadingBridgestone Announces US Price Hike
Bridgestone is to join Goodyear, Continental, Michelin, Cooper, Pirelli, Yokohama and others in raising tyre prices in the USA to compensate for raw material price increases. Effective June 1st, Bridgestone tyre prices will rise 4%. Historically, Bridgestone has taken advantage of other manufacturers price increases in order to gain market share, so this latest announcement seems to indicate that this time the price rises will stick.
Continue ReadingLand Rover Sale Finally Agreed
The sale of Land Rover to Ford by BMW – a deal which was in doubt recently – has been finalised. BMW agreed to Fords stipulation that one third of the asking price of 3 bn Euros will not be paid until the year 2005.
Continue ReadingStahlgruber Forms Best Enterprise Alliance
Over the years the Stahlgruber group and its international subsidiaries has sold tens of thousands of items of capital equipment to the tyre industry. The company feels that consolidation in the equipment manufacturing industry has led to a narrowing of sourcing opportunities and a consequent adverse effect on price and customer choice. The answer was to form a ‘Best Enterprise Alliance’ in which a number of companies group together to form a product range, based on their individual areas of expertise. These companies are Stahlgruber, Butler (the Stahlgruber-owned manufacturer of tyre changers), Cemb, Hunter and Rotary Lifts. Butler will make a range of tyre changers, called Promont, and Cemb a range of wheel balancers, called Probalance, which will be exclusive to Stahlgruber and its subsidiaries. Hunter wheel alignment equipment and Rotary lifts will also be sold. Stahlgruber will continue to sell Butler tyre changers alongside the Promont range. Further information on what the alliance means to the companies involved, and of the ‘own name’ ranges of machines can be found in TYRES & ACCESSORIES 6/2000.
Continue ReadingMore Organosilanes From Degussa-Hüls
Degussa-Hüls AG is doubling capacity at one of its production plants in Antwerp, Belgium for sulphur-functionalised organosilanes. These rubber silanes are used as coupling components when precipitated silicas are used as fillers to reinforce rubber. Together with rubber silanes and rubber carbon blacks, precipitated silicas are the major component in Green Tyres which feature reduced rolling resistance and thus help to cut fuel consumption.
Continue ReadingBlimp Celebrates Its 75th Birthday
Even more so than the original symbol of tyre maker Goodyear – the Wingfoot – the Goodyear Blimp has become a corporate icon. In June 1925 the Pilgrim, first of what was to be hundreds of Blimps, was launched at Wingfoot Lake airship facility near Akron, still headquarters of the worlds # 1 in tyres.
Continue ReadingAll-Time Records For Superior
Superior Industries (Van Nuys/California), North Americas Leading oe supplier of aluminium wheels, announced record revenues of more than 331 m US-$ (+13.5%) and record net income to more than 40 m US-$ (+16.3%) after tax.
Continue ReadingTop Tyre In Test: ContiPremiumContact
The UK consumer motoring magazine Auto Express recently put ten tyre brands through a series of wet and dry braking and handling tests. Continentals PremiumContact came out on top, followed by the Vredestein Sportrac and Goodyears Eagle Ventura.
Continue ReadingFord Wants Faster Recall
Ford Chief Executive Jacques Nasser has described the news that the recall of Firestone tyres in the USA might take until next spring as unacceptable. Originally, the recall was scheduled to take until summer, but Bridgestone/Firestone announced the revised spring time scale this week. Production of Firestone tyres has doubled and imports have been increased to meet demand. Ford is said to be considering a number of ideas to quicken the recall, including providing rental vehicles for those who are anxious about the delay.
Continue ReadingNow Continental General Tire Responsible For 18 Deaths?
Tyre failures of the product General 52 S for the Ford Bronco are responsible for the deaths of 18 people, say lawyers in the USA who have filed a law suit against the Group. The lawyers also claim that Continental has deliberately covered up safety faults. Continental rejects all accusations and claims that it has cooperated fully with the NHTSA at all times.
Continue ReadingNo Improvements In Sight For Goodyear Group
Goodyear, together with Michelin, has benefited from the Firestone crisis, increasing turnover but not able to improve profits. Last year the company paid a dividend per share of US$ 1.41; in 1998 the figure was $4.43 per share. It is expected that this years dividend will be similar to last years. Perhaps the turnaround might happen next year.
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