Philippines Plant Closure For Goodyear
Goodyear has announced the closure of its factory at Marikina in the Philippines on February 1st. Overcapacity and weakening demand were cited as the reasons. The plant employed 175 people and produced 1,200 tyres a day. Goodyear Asia Region tyre manufacturing director Harold Smith said that the Philippines tyre market was highly competitive with a flood of low-cost imports from China and South East Asia. The company has another factory in the Philippines, at Las Pinas, and some associates from Marikina may transfer there.
Continue ReadingAfrican Expansion For Maxiprest
South African tyre distributor and retreader Bridgestone/Firestone Maxiprest is set to expand with distribution ventures in Namibia and Mozambique. The company has taken a 51 per cent stake in Namibian distributor Quality Tyre and a 60 per cent stake in another tyre distributor, based in Mozambique. BF Maxiprest already has subsidiaries in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Continue ReadingA New Nokian Winter Tyre For Fast Driving
Nokian Tyres has launched its new WR high performance winter tyre. It has been developed with the particular needs of drivers in Central Europe and North America in mind and replaces the Nokian NRW winter tyre. One particular size in the comprehensive range, 235/50 R18W, is intended for top speed driving, up to 270 km/hour, and is – according to the Finish tyre manufacturer – the worlds fastest winter tyre. The products will be available worldwide for consumers in the Autumn of this year. This reflects the design expertise of the Nordic tyre factory, Nokian says.
Continue ReadingGood Fourth Quarter For Cooper
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company reported fourth quarter Net Income of 16 million dollars, or 22 cents per share, on a revenue of 777 million dollars. This compares to a revenue of 820 million or 9 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2000. However, excluding charges for restructuring earnings per share for the quarter were 25 cents for 2001 (37 cents for 2000). Net Income for the year totalled 69 million dollars (excluding settlement of class-action suits and non-recurring costs) on 3.2 billion dollars of sales. This compared to a Net Income for 2000 of 129 million dollars.
Continue ReadingRecall For BMW 5-Series
BMW in North America is in the process of recalling around 1,300 of its 2002 5-series cars with standard suspension and fitted with ContiTouringContact CH95 EcoPlus tyres, 225/65R16 95H, with DOT Codes 4001, 4101, and 4201. The outer sidewall surface of the tyres could have been damaged by a sharp object and the cars are being recalled as a precautionary measure. Dealers will replace the damaged tyres free of charge.
Continue ReadingSales Increase For Michelin
Michelin Group net sales have shown a 2.5 per cent increase for 2001 to 15.77 billion Euro, a slower rate of growth than for the previous five years. However volumes sold have fallen by almost 3 per cent with all markets on a downward trend except passenger car and light truck. Michelin estimate that the operating margin for the year 2001 will lie between 6.2 and 6.8 per cent of net sales.
Continue ReadingRainbow’s End At Arc-En-Ciel
The French buying group, Arc-en-Ciel, is to make a transformation from a buying group to a retailing group. The change starts with a new name, Group Eurotyre, and will result in a three-tier level of excellence for members. Those failing to reach the specified standards will be asked to leave the organisation by the end of 2002. One reason for the change of direction has been a realisation of the limits on the viability of the buying group imposed by heavy and increasing competition.
Continue ReadingAnother Setback For Reifen 2002 As Bridgestone/Firestone Cancels
The tyre fair Reifen 2002 in Essen has suffered another serious blow. Following Michelins pull-out, Bridgestone/Firestone has also cancelled its participation. Other tyre makers told our magazine unofficially that the large number of house exhibitions is placing too great a burden on budgets.
Continue ReadingSir Tom In Bid To Buy Kwik-Fit
Sir Tom Farmer is making a bid, rumoured to be in the region of 650 million pounds, to buy back Kwik-Fit from Ford. The bid is supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland and the HSBC. However, there is serious competition from other interested parties and the result of the sale is not a foregone conclusion.
Continue ReadingLegal Fight For Kwik-Fit
Kwik-Fit has gained permission from the High Court to challenge a previous ruling which gave unions the right to bind all its branches within the M25 for bargaining rights. The Transport and General is asking for a ballot for recognition rights at Kwik-Fit’s 110 branches located inside the M25.
Continue ReadingPostponement of Automechanika Asia 2002
Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Automechanika Asia has announced the postponement of this years exhibition, which had been scheduled to take place in Singapore from 18th - 20th April. Citing the impact of recent global events and the regional economic crises, Wolfram Diener managing director of Messe Frankfurt went on to say. This decision is based primarily upon our concern that exhibiting companies may not receive the returns they would expect for their time and financial commitments in participating in Automechanika Asia 2002.
Continue ReadingMichelin Truck Tires Are “The Best” According to Annual Driver Poll
Michelin truck tires were named “Best Tires” in the sixth annual Readers Choice poll conducted by The Trucker, America’s trucking newspaper. “It’s a real honor when U.S. truckers choose Michelin as their favorite,” said Randy Clark, vice president of marketing, Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “Michelin truck tires were rated ‘Best Tire’ in 1998, 1999 and now for the year 2001 in this one-of-a-kind poll.” The Trucker surveys its readers annually to find out their preferences in a wide variety of services and products. The publication is a semi-monthly national newspaper for the truckload freight industry.
Continue ReadingRetreading
Whereas the car tyre retreading sector is in difficulties and has shrunk to a niche (in some countries the niche is completely ignored), truck tyre retreading gets more and more dynamic and battles to attract the customer become ever fiercer. Michelin is particularly aggressive and tries not to ignore any aspect. Already successful with a hot cure process (Remix), the French made a cold retreading offer (Recamic). And now the carcasses of competitors are no longer taboo if they are good enough (Encore). The competitors have to react ...
Continue ReadingConfirmation Of Beru/Lear Contract
Lear and partner Beru have confirmed the award of a contract to supply Ford with Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems, as reported here earlier in January. The contract is to supply TMPS for a future model of the Ford Explorer. Sales of the Lear Beru TMPS are expected to generate several hundred million dollars as a result of federal regulations requiring TPMS devices to be fitted to every new car sold in the USA.
Continue ReadingBig White And Square
The tyre recycling issue may be about to gain a boost from the heightened awareness of waste management raised in the UK, by the increased level of dumping of domestic fridges. Inaction by the UK on the issue has led to the imminent implementation of laws requiring the controlled dismantling, recycling and disposal of various elements of old fridges. However, the facilities to dispose of the waste do not exist in the UK - resulting in a fridge mountain growing at a rate of 6,500 units per day. Increased disposal costs - as much as £70 per fridge, have resulted in fly tipping of old units. This high visibility problem has led to questions being asked in the Commons and Environment Minister, Michael Meacher denying Government responsibility, blaming the European Commission. This heightened awareness of waste management might also attract attention to the tyre problem.
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