Brazilian Recall For Bridgestone/Firestone
The Brazilian subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone is recalling almost 40,000 tyres, fitted on Ford F-250 and F-350 pick-ups. This follows 16 tread separation incidents, but Bridgestone/Firestone stresses that the recall is purely a preventative measure and there have been no accidents or injuries reported.
Continue ReadingNew Sizes for Vredestein
Dutch tyre manufacturer Vredestein is adding some new sizes to its existing product range, for example the dimension 350/60-16 12 PR TL to the Flotation+ profile. With the new Traxion+ sizes 420/70 R 28 and 520 R 38 it is also possible to choose extra wide tyres in the most popular horse power categories. Last but not least the Flotation Pro in 22.5 inches is now suitable for speeds up to 65 km/h. Additional sizes are also in preparation, such as 600/55 R 26.5, 700/50 R 26.5 and 800/40 R 26.5.
Continue ReadingCash Injection For Firestone From Parent
The Bridgestone Corporation is to inject $1.3 billion (1.46 bn Euro) into its North American subsidiary, which is expected to post a loss of $1.6 billion for this year. Debts currently stand at $2.7 billion and BF Inc. has suffered from costs involved in the closure of its Decatur plant, litigation costs and falling sales following the recall. It was announced that BF Inc. is to be reorganised under a holding company structure and Bridgestone President Shigeo Watanabe is optimistic that the company would soon return to profitability, saying that the company has become a leaner and more efficient organisation.
Continue ReadingTravel Ban At Continental
Employees of the business unit Continental International are being encouraged to travel less and to hold more video conferences instead. It is understandable that travel in dangerous regions or countries is not advisable, but the complete travelling prohibition is just justified by the need to save money. The complete business unit is highly insecure and seems to be on the point of collapsing. In any case the directory board has made it clear that acquisitions in the Asian region are no longer to be considered and that the restructuring process has only just started. By this means the advances made in past years have been wiped out.
Continue ReadingFour New Motorcycle Tyres From Bridgestone
Bridgestone has launched four new motorcycle tyres. The first is the Battlax BT-090 an ultra-high performance tyre for mid-sized motorcycles. The tyre uses cutting edge technologies to create an ideal sporting on-road and race tyre. The second, the Battlax BT 012SS, is designed to give uncompromising performance for motorcycles over 600cc. Also announced are two new motocross tyres for medium and medium to hard circuits, the M401 (front) and M402 (rear) for medium terrain, and the M601 (front) and M602 (rear) for hard terrain.
Continue ReadingTruck Racing Loses Its Sponsor Continental
Continental wants to guarantee the supply of race tyres for the Truck Racing Championship next season. However, the sponsorship activities will be finished at the end of this season. This cost saving activity is justified with the promise of other accents on marketing, by which fleet managers can be targeted more efficiently.
Continue ReadingNew Tyre Concept From Goodyear
Concerning tyre design its no longer the geometric dimensions which represent the state of development, but rather the intended application. Goodyear is meeting this challenge with its most recent generation of radial tyres, the Optitrac product family. Segmentations which were popular in the 70s or 65s series have been replaced by the terms wide or volume. The launch of the Optitrac DT818 as a super-wide tyre and the DT824 as a volume tyre is regarded as a considerable step forwards towards the completion of this concept.
Continue ReadingNew Structure At Goodyear USA
In the USA, Goodyear has appointed Ted J. Fick to the newly-created position of vice president, commercial systems, which makes him responsible for leading Goodyears commercial tyre business unit in the North American market. Fick joins Goodyear from Toyota subsidiary Hino Diesel Trucks, where he was senior vice president and COO. This is one move in the introduction of a new structure, focused on distinct business segments; eight US regional offices will be closed and functional support activities run from Akron.
Continue ReadingHeinz-Theo Pecher To Take Over Top Position At VRG
Heinz-Theo Pecher (57), who has spent 26 years working in the tyre industry in different leading positions, is now working for VRG in Norderstedt/Hamburg. VRG is a large buying group for tyre dealers. On 1st January 2002 Pecher will take over as managing director from Klaus Heymann, who is to retire but will act as a consultant until the end of June 2002. Pecher came from Continental, where he was responsible for the German truck business replacement market (all brands). He sees excellent opportunities for VRG in a fast moving market. In the future, VRG will focus not only on Germany but also on Austria, Switzerland and Denmark, as well as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
Continue ReadingRise in Pirelli Management
The Board of Directors appointed Giovanni Ferrario Managing Director, who also keeps the position of General Manager Pirelli. Responsibilities for all Operating activities are delegated to Giovanni Ferrario. Finally, Francesco Gori was appointed General Manager Tyre Sector.
Continue ReadingInnovation Award For Michelin PAX System
Michelins PAX System has been named as the runner up in the Transport section of the Business Innovation Awards, handed out by the Wall Street Journal Europe. A panel of fifteen judges, covering all aspects of business disciplines, decided on the winners from more than 220 nominations. The paper also revealed that the PAX system is to be incorporated on the Edonis, a car from Italian company B. Engineering SRL, designed to break the world speed record.
Continue ReadingExclusive Distribution of Alliance
German wholesaler Bohnenkamp (Osnabrück) has been the exclusive distributor for the Israeli agricultural tyre manufacturer Alliance in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic since the beginning of July. With this step Bohnenkamp intends to underline its leading position in the distribution of imported tyres. The company has been chosen by Alliance due to its elaborate distribution network and flexible logistics. Alliance offers more than 500 different sizes in the agricultural, MPT-, EM- and industrial tyres sectors and presents – in the neighbourhood of Bohnenkamp – a completely renewed product range with many new profiles and dimensions.
Continue ReadingAnother Loss Warning From Ford
Ford has warned that it expects to lose $900 million in the fourth quarter; which will be the companys third consecutive quarterly loss. This figure is in addition to the estimated $700 million one-off charge that the company will make to facilitate restructuring. Fords shares fell by 3.8 per cent at the news, despite a general rise in the stock market.
Continue ReadingExclusive Race Deal With Goodyear/Dunlop In US
The Grand American Road Racing Association has chosen Goodyear and Dunlop as exclusive tyre suppliers from next year to 2004. Goodyear radials will be used exclusively in Grand Ams SportsRacing Prototype I and GTS classes, and Goodyear bias-ply tyres will be used in the American GT class. Dunlop will be the exclusive tyres for the SportsRacing Prototype II and GT classes.
Continue ReadingLight At The End Of The Tunnel For Firestone?
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has taken a major step forward in its efforts to draw a line under the tyre recall saga by hammering out a settlement to avoid lawsuits by US States. The company will pay $500,000 to each of the 50 states and to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. BF Inc. will also spend $5 million on a consumer education campaign and a further $10 million for the states legal costs. Up to another $10 million could be spent reimbursing those motorists who have not yet replaced their tyres. Total costs could reach $51.5 million (57.5 Million Euro).
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