Hanford, California Plant Closed By Pirelli
Pirelli Tyre ceased operations at its Hanford, California plant. This follows a six month notice issued to the facility in October 2000 stating that the plants cost structure was not competitive with other Pirelli plants costs. Production capacity will be transferred from Hanford to plants in Europe and South America.
Continue ReadingAgreement Ends Strike At Goodyear Chemical Plant
A 64-day strike at Goodyears chemical plant in Houston ended when union members signed an agreement. Under the agreement, some jobs will be consolidated or outsourced and wages reduced for some non-core positions. On the benefits side is an improved pension scheme, a lump sum first year wage increase and later increases linked to plant earnings. The Houston plant employs 600 and makes synthetic rubber used in the manufacture of tyres and several other products.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Stop Bandwagon
Bridgestone Firestone lawyers have made attempts in a pre-trial hearing in Indianapolis, to limit the number of legal suits being filed against the company. Whilst the consumers attorneys sought to expand the recall, Firestone lawyers asked for the dismissal of some 80 claims where the claimant had suffered no fiscal or physical harm, therefore leaving nothing to be remedied at law. If successful in having these claims dismissed, this would reduce the cases against the firm by 40%. The hearing continues in March.
Continue ReadingNew Management Team At Pneumant
Gerd Stubenvoll (39), who has worked for Dunlop for ten years in different positions in the mid-European sales companies, has been named as managing director of Pneumant, with special responsibility for sales. Jeffrey Smith (53) has been appointed production director in Fürstenwalde. His predecessor, Alexander Bleider (42) is now responsible for production at the Luxembourg plant. Dr. Rainer Schieben (38), MD of Pneumant until last autumn, has, for some months, been responsible for sales as sales and marketing director for associated brands at Goodyears European HQ in Brussels.
Continue ReadingLegal Action Threatened In Poland Against Michelin
Press reports say that financial investors in Stomil Olsztyn, the Polish tyre maker, are threatening to take Michelin to court over alleged abuse of the rights of minority shareholders. There is a shareholders meeting, at which the disaffected investors are set to demand the appointment of an independent auditor to look into the financial links between Stomil and Michelin. Failing this, legal action will be taken, says the investors group.
Continue ReadingFocus On Core Business As Continental Seeks To Sell ContiTech
The executive board of Continental has said that it is looking to sell major parts of the ContiTech group in order to reinforce Contis core business as a supplier of chassis technology to the auto industry. The revenue generated will enable Conti to make further acquisitions. ContiTechs sales last year were 1.4 billion Euros and it employs 14,000.
Continue ReadingDirector Of Marketing Appointed At Goodyear USA
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has appointed Kevin Kramer to the post of director of marketing, consumer tyres for North American Tire. Kramer has been with Goodyear for 18 years and has held numerous marketing appointments in the USA and Singapore. He is replaced in his former post of general business manager for the Southern Region by Steve McClellan, recently general manager of Allied Tires, a Goodyear-owned subsidiary.
Continue ReadingNew Brake Venture Plans For Future
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Denso Corporation, Aisin Seiki and Toyota have announced a joint venture to share technology in a brake development and sales operation. Aisin Seiko will hold 40% of share, each of the other contributors taking 20% each. The new products will address requirements of ABS, Vehicle Stability Control, and the need for regenerative brake systems in hybrid and electric vehicles. Operations are due to begin in October 2001 with a sales target of 250 billion yen in 2005.
Continue ReadingMexican Plant To Be Closed By Goodyear
Goodyear has announced that it is to close its tyre manufacturing factory at Tultitlan, Mexico. 1,559 employees will be paid off. The plant was opened in 1941 and Goodyear said that the reason for closure was that the plants high costs are incompatible with current economic conditions.
Continue ReadingAlliance For The Development Of Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
Lear Corporation (Southfield, Michigan/USA) and Beru (Ludwigsburg/Germany) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly design and develop Tyre Pressure Monitoring systems for the global automotive market. Under this strategic partnership, the two companies will develop Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems that will relay information to drivers through the electronic architecture used for the Remote Keyless Entry System. The joint venture will combine Lears capabilities as the North American leader in Remote Keyless Entry Systems with that of Beru, the market leader in Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems in Europe.
Continue Reading“Business As Usual” As Trelleborg Acquires All Of TWS
The Trelleborg group has purchased Pirellis 40% share of the agricultural joint venture company Trelleborg Wheel Systems. Recently-appointed President of TWS, Maurizio Vischi, said that the customer would not notice any difference in products or service and that TWS would continue to have a close relationship with Pirelli. Later on this year TWS will manufacture Trelleborg-branded radial tyres at its Tivoli factory.
Continue ReadingSeat Arosa Saves Fuel With Conti Tyres
With an average consumption of 3.18 litres Diesel per 100 kilometres, a series Seat Arosa 1.4 TDI completed the 6,367 kilometres distance from Nordkap to Tarifa in the south of Spain. Across Europe In 100 hours, For 200 Euro was the target of the fuel saving ride, made on ContiEcoContact EP tyres with an insignificantly higher-than usual pressure (2.8 bar) and at an average speed of 83 km/h.
Continue ReadingStrengthening of Continental Brake Business
Continental Teves plans a joint venture with the Shanghai Automotive Brake Company (SABC) – subject to the approval of the Chinese authorities. The aim is to provide the market with a complete brake systems package from one source. SABC already manufactures Continental Teves brake components under license, and produces components for both Volkswagen and General Motors.
Continue ReadingBlimps Support Tire Safety Awareness
Goodyear is sending its biggest attention getter across America to support a consumer awareness campaign focused on tire safety. Starting in July, Goodyears fleet of North American airships is visiting more than 25 major cities on a Safety Tour promoting tire care and educating consumers concerning what they can do to aid in the safe operation of their tires.
Continue ReadingOE Tyre Satisfaction Study Rates Dunlop And Michelin
The latest study by J.D. Power & Associates, measuring OE tyre satisfaction, puts Dunlop at the head of light truck OE tyres for the first time and Michelin tops for passenger vehicles, for the fourth year running. The study sought the views of more than 39,000 consumers in their first three years of vehicle ownership.
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