New Board Member For Continental
Continental AG is set to expand its management board by creating a new post covering finance, controlling and legal matters. These are currently handled by Klaus Friedland, who is also responsible for Human Resources. Recent developments, such as the acquisition of Temic, has pushed Contis payroll up to 68,000 workers and increased the necessity for a full-time HR officer. No specific candidates are being considered for the Financial post at the moment, according to Conti.
Continue ReadingLogistics Centre For Continental?
There are reports in Romania that Continental is going to invest one million Euro in establishing a logistics centre and warehouse in the country. This month should also see the millionth tyre produced at Continentals Romanian factory roll off the production line.
Continue Reading“ZE-512” By Falken
Successor to the ZE-502, which proved a major market success in Europe, Japanese tyre manufacturer introduces its new product, ZE-512, to the European market. The tyre shall set new standards in friction resistance, aquaplaning and handling on wet surfaces. The development of the ZE-512 focused on comfort-oriented, well-balanced properties. The two and one profile block and the side profiles 5-phase shifted random pitch variation minimise noise and maximise steering precision throughout the entire life of the tyre. The ZE 512 will appear in 41 dimensions.
Continue ReadingNorth American Autos – Report Paints Two Scenarios
Industry consultants Autopolis have produced a report on the US Auto industry. The terrorist attacks in September make forecasting difficult, so Autopolis has developed two scenarios. The first assumes that the US economy moves back to pre-September 11th levels fairly quickly, resulting in only a typical US recession with auto sales falling 14 per cent in 2002. Scenario number two is described as bleak and presumes a prolonged war on terrorism, problems with oil supplies, rising inflation and a fall in the value of the Dollar. In this case US sales and production would fall by one third, and fall for two years before stabilising. The reality is likely to lie somewhere between these two extremes, says Autopolis, and flexibility is the key for businesses to survive and prosper.
Continue ReadingHankook Becomes OE Supplier For Renault
The Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook is developing three tyre sizes for Renault. These are 155/65-14 and 165/70-14 reinforced for the Twingo and size 185/65-15 for the Kangoo. First deliveries will start at the end of next year. At present the major OE-suppliers to Renault are Michelin, Continental and Dunlop.
Continue ReadingWheels and Brake Applications by Titan Europe
For this years Agritechnica, Titan Europe is focusing interest on its two main agricultural product areas: high speed wheel and tyre systems and brake applications for high speeds. The newly developed Titan Relocator wheel for high speed road use, will take centre stage at the show along with the new range of wedge ramp brakes, developed by the Italian Sirmac division of Titan, and which have made a significant impact on tractors of the power range 60 to 300 HP.
Continue ReadingWorse-Than-Expected Figures For Vredestein
Contrary to earlier forecasts, the Dutch Vredestein group has announced heavy losses for 2001. Sales and profitability on the German tyre market, which are very important factors in Vredesteins results, are under pressure.
Continue ReadingMichelin Warns Of Truck Tyre VAT Fraud
Michelin has warned its customers and distributors in Europe to beware of truck tyres being offered at extraordinarily low prices. These are believed to be the result of VAT fraud and Michelin is working with customs authorities and police across Europe. Investigations have already identified organised criminal networks and, as a result, a number of VAT frauds have been broken up. Michelin is concerned at potential harm to its truck tyre image and to its distributor network and it asks customers to be aware of complicity should they make illegal purchases from these criminal networks.
Continue ReadingReview Of 2001
This is a business on the move, this business is exciting. Tyres may sometimes be regarded as commodities in the eyes of marketing strategists, tyres seem to be boring, but insiders know that this is not correct. Tyres are high-tech products, the only problem is that most consumers do not realise this. Because of this we are looking for communicators who can whip up enthusiasm. The most important task of the tyre business must be to raise the image of the round black things. In reality this industry has for a long time collaborated with companies from the high tech electronics sector and there are many points of contact with the so highly-regarded IT companies. Applications in seemingly remote areas of science are checked for a possible transfer to tyres. In building tyres a revolution has happened, historical inventions since the first pneumatic tyre from John Boyd Dunlop as well as radialisation or the tubeless tyre, silica compounds or lamella technology in respect of materials or tread design, are all in the past and are only little steps in the history of the tyre. The dynamic of the tyre business in terms of technology is fantastic: a brave new world of tyres has begun. Unfortunately this feeling of progress and the many technical innovations which have had such an impact on the tyre industry and the tyre trade have not filtered through to everyday business. We – who deal with tyres day in and day out – ought also to be infected by this contagious enthusiasm which is rife in research and development departments, whose technicians are sometimes regarded by outsiders as somewhat staid. Let’s have a review of the year 2001: whoever reads the headlines of this business and comes from a totally different sector will envy us for being in such a dynamic industry.
Continue ReadingTop Executives Of Bridgestone/Ford Meet
According to Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbum, the top executives of Bridgestone Corp. and Ford Motor Co. met in Honolulu last weekend in a move towards repairing the rift between the two companies over the recall of Firestone tyres on Ford Explorers. Bridgestone CEO Shigeo Watanabe met with Nick Scheele, Ford chief operating officer, a Bridgestone spokesman said, this being the first talk at senior management level between the two companies since their 100-year relationship was severed in May. The two companies agreed to further meetings, with John Lampe, CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., participating next time, although no timetable has yet been announced. Both Ford and Bridgestone want to resume their long-standing business relationship. The Japanese tyre manufacturer will, according to industry pundits, supply Bridgestone tyres at a special price in order to contribute to the costs incurred by Ford during its voluntary and hasty Firestone tyre recall.
Continue ReadingPirelli/Trelleborg – Three New Tyres
Only two years after the joint venture, the company has launched the TM 900 High Power, the latest generation of radial tyres ideal for equipping high power tractors over 250 HP, and those requiring high load capacity. Furthermore the company is going to launch the first Trelleborg radial implement tyre in Hanover, which is the result of the technological synergy between the two brands. At the same time the Trelleborg TM2000 is being shown; the new generation of radial tyres for combine harvesters, created using Pirellis considerable agricultural experience.
Continue ReadingChanges To Trelleborg Board
Chairman of Trelleborg AB Rune Andersson and Deputy Chairman Lennart Nilsson will retire at the companys Annual General Meeting next April. Andersson was appointed President and elected to the Trelleborg board in 1983, becoming Chairman in 1990. His replacement will be current Group Senior Vice President Anders Narvinger (53).
Continue ReadingTyres And Motor Sports
Of course, most media interest in respect of tyres in motor sports nowadays is in Formula 1. In this top discipline Bridgestone and Michelin are the rivals, even the phrase war of tyres has been coined. But there are also World Championships in Motor Cycle Sports, national competitions with an exclusive tyre supplier or different tyre manufacturers take place. Sometimes the engagement in motor sports may lead to technical progress for tyres, but in the first line it is an instrument of marketing.
Continue ReadingConti’s Santa Claus Event in Scotland
It has become a tradition that the tyre producer Continental invites the press to a Santa Claus Event around the 6th of December each year, presenting a certain topic/issue about the market. Whereas the group had been international for a couple of years, Conti returned to the original concept of an only German speaking group in 2001. Last years topic was the development and construction of 4x4 winter tyres and the problems this presents in addressing the contradictions in the expectations of performance. In addition, an optimisation of existing test methods of 4x4 tyres off the road was discussed with the journalists. The event took place in the Scottish Highlands. One outcome: Tyre suggestions for 4x4 cars can only ever be just a compromise - even if on a high level. The tyre has to perform well off the road and on the road. Safety aspects have to be taken into consideration as well: braking, handling and high speed performance have to be convincing as well. In addition there is the strong goal-conflict between driving performance and rollover danger. To put it in a nutshell: The ideal tyre that fits perfectly on every SUV for every use does not exist. This statement is as true as it is simple - and was demonstrated to the journalists group in the Highlands. The cars (Land Rover and M-Class) that had been equipped with Continentals 4x4WinterContact had to capitulate very soon in the muddy ground, because the tyres have been developed for different ground conditions. What makes it even more difficult for tyre producers is the fact, that there are insufficient testing standards for tyres on 4x4 cars. Tests are made either by the car industry of by the car magazines. Uniform procedures have not been developed yet. There can only be recommendations for the best case scenario.
Continue ReadingWaste Tyres: A Problem Or A Resource?
Waste tyres are a problem around the world. The prominence given to dealing with the problem varies, depending upon the local conditions. So, on searching for news on illegal tyre dumping, we will find it is accepted that tyre disposal is recognised as a problem in all the leading, or developed, economies. The USA, Britain, Germany, New Zealand and Australia amongst others, all have severe problems with disposing of waste tyres. In many third world countries there is less of a problem, possibly due to a lower level of use, to lower environmental awareness, and, partly to economic pressures in catching up on the developed world. In the race to catch up many developing nations feel they have the right to use the same freedom from environmental restrictions that were enjoyed in the developed nations during the first 200 years of the industrial revolution. It is difficult for them to look at the USA or Europe and see what we have lost and compare it to what they have yet to lose. It might be argued that the burden of dealing with the environmental problems in the developing nations is possibly a problem which ought to be carried by the leading economies, rather than by the embryonic economies around the world. Whoever carries the cost, we must surely recognise that the tyre industry has a duty to ensure that the products created have as efficient a life span as possible. The production and the ultimate destruction of the tyres created must also be as efficient and as least damaging to the environment as is feasible. Right now, the leading nations are taking steps to address the problem of waste tyres. The biggest single step is the ultimate banning in landfill of waste tyres. However, this in turn, creates other problems for the tyre industry. If we produce millions of waste tyres every year, they will all, one day, have to be disposed of. It is estimated that some 21% of these tyres currently get landfilled. They get landfilled because there are no other uses for these tyres. If there are no other uses and the tyres can no longer be landfilled, what do we do with them? Alternative uses for old tyres would indubitably be more beneficial and more economic in the long-term. The environmental lobbyists at Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace continually scream that recycling old tyres as retreads is a far better option than burying or burning. However, there are problems associated with that too. The obvious one is that there is an insufficient market for retreaded tyres. The industry could doubtless remanufacture as many tyres as it could get its hands on, but where are they going to be sold? Instead of having massive stockpiles of old tyres, we end up with massive stockpiles of retreaded tyres no-one wants to buy. And in todays Just-In-Time economy, no manufacturer wants to stockpile unwanted goods. So that is not a real solution to the problem. Then, again, there is the reality of retreading. That it is only extending the life of the tyre, and, at the end of the day, it will still need to be disposed of. Retreading could reduce the number of new tyres manufactured and extend the lifespan of a tyre carcass, reducing the demand for raw materials - which most would argue is a good thing. The producers of the raw materials in South East Asia and the oil producing companies might disagree. So we need to find other uses for the end product. Turn the waste tyre into a raw material which can be mined to create a new product. This is not a new idea, and there are a number of possibilities available. Each though has its own costs and benefits which must, in turn, be considered. Sometimes the obvious options turn out to be less acceptable than we might expect.
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