Uncertainties Stop Michelin’s Plans For India
Reduced profits in the Indian tyre market and an uncertainty about acceptance of radial truck and bus tyres has forced Michelin to take stock of its plans for the continent. Plans for a $115m plant at Maharashta have been put on hold. In the meantime Michelin is testing the market with imported radials before making a final decision.
Continue ReadingNew Leader For Goodyear’s Global Marketing/Brand Management
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has elected Cathryn M. Fischer, vice president and chief marketing officer. Fischer, 39, will be responsible for the worlds largest tiremakers global marketing and brand management efforts. She will report to Robert J. Keegan, president and chief operating officer.
Continue ReadingReshuffle at Goodyear
Goodyear has announced a reshuffle at its European businesses. Sylvain G. Valensi, the outgoing president of the European Union business unit, will be on special assignment, reporting directly to Robert Keegan, Goodyears president and COE. Valensi will be replaced by Michael J. Roney, who transfers from the Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East Business Unit. Roney is in turn replaced by Jarro F. Kaplan, who previously held the post of managing director for Goodyear UK, and latterly of Goodyear Germany. Both Roney and Kaplan will report directly to Robert Keegan.
Continue ReadingJapanese Truck Tyre Recall For Michelin
In a precautionary move, Michelin is recalling 55,000 truck tyres manufactured in Italy and sold in Japan between October 1999 and March this year. There have been no accidents but a change in design to the steel cord used in the sidewall has reduced the tyres resistance to over-inflation that could lead to rupturing of the sidewall.
Continue ReadingNo Interests In Aluminium Wheels?
Alcoa Inc. of the U.S. and Dooray Air Metal Co. Ltd. of Korea have jointly announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding for Alcoa to acquire Dooray Air Metals extrusion business, located in Changwon, Korea. Doorays production of aluminium wheels is not affected.
Continue ReadingTruck Point – Independent Service
The formation of ContiNetwork, a service based partnership with independent dealers, has been much in the news recently. Bridgestone/Firestone UK has been running a similar network for over five years, called Truck Point, and the company was embarking on an exercise to raise the profile of the network. Our article examines whats on offer to the dealer and to the fleet operator – the timing of the article is particularly appropriate, as Bridgestone/Firestone UK recently announced that it had won the contract to service the 3,000-strong BRS commercial rental fleet.
Continue ReadingCracks In CT22 “No Danger” – Conti
Continental has played down UK press reports that cracks have appeared in their CT22 pattern tyre, fitted as OE to the Skoda Felicia. Technical Services Manager Steve Howat described the cracks as cosmetic, caused by the Otrokovice factory using a different cement to ensure adhesion at the splice of the tread strip. The tyre is of dual-compound construction and Conti says there is no danger that the superficial cracks (which are only in the top tread compound)could pose a safety or longevity problem - the tyres will continue to perform well throughout a normal lifespan. Conti says that it has CT22 tyres which have been removed due to normal wear and tear and they show no signs of structural damage. Nevertheless, Conti is offering to replace tyres for customers who are worried about the cosmetic appearance.
Continue ReadingEngineers “Tread” Toward Quieter Tyres
Engineers at the University of Purdue (Indiana/USA) have developed a new technique for analysing tyre vibrations that identifies which features produce the most noise, a step toward designing quieter tyres and reducing highway noise. A mathematical model is used to identify which parts of a tyre produce the most noise. The vibrations are characterised on a graph, a visual representation thats like a fingerprint of each tyre’s vibration pattern.
Continue ReadingCradle To Grave Tracking Standards Announced
The Automotive Industry Action Group – Radio Frequency Identification – Tire and Wheel Work Group, has developed a two stage standard for labelling of OE tyres, allowing tracking from cradle to grave. The first stage is a simple label and RFID tag. The second stage will be the approval of an RFID read write chip inserted in the tyre at the point of manufacture. The AIAG will be carrying out evaluation and testing of suitable systems later in the year. (For further information on smart tyre technology see the July 2001 issue of TYRES & ACCESSORIES.
Continue Reading5th International Autosalon Opens In Moscow
The 5th International Autosalon in Moscow looks set to be the most successful yet. More than 600 exhibitors from 27 countries are showing their latest products. It is expected that the number of vehicles in use in Russia will double by 2005.
Continue ReadingEarly Entry Into 500cc Bike Racing For Bridgestone
Bridgestone has announced that it will supply tyres next year to competitors in World Grand Prix 500cc motorcycle racing, one year earlier than originally planned. The company only began testing the tyres this January, in conjunction with Kanemoto Racing; the team that will ride on Bridgestones next season, fitted to NSR 500 bikes from Honda Racing. Bridgestone has supplied tyres for 125cc racing for the past decade and the latest move is designed to enhance the companys image in the ultra high performance tyre sector.
Continue Reading“Innovation And High Performance” From Michelin
The Michelin stand at Frankfurt, the new technological development partner for Bosch presents developments which will particularly enhance the cars of today and tomorrow. As a wood, metal and glass structure, the booth aims to highlight the high technology of the exhibited products, whilst being user friendly for visitors. Innovation (PAX, Chassis Systems, concept tyres) and high performance (tyre product families) are the two messages transmitted through this architecture. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to test the PAX system on two Renault Scénics in the outer area of the fairground.
Continue ReadingSales Down And Net Loss For Titan In 3rd Quarter
Titan Internationals financial figures for the third quarter have been released. Turnover was $100.5 million, compared with $119.8 m for the same period last year. Titan recorded a net loss for the quarter of $9.5 m (Q3 2000: $7.4 m). The net loss for the year to date was $13.3 m, compared to a net profit for YTD last year of $12.5 m. President and CEO Maurice Taylor Jr. was optimistic that Titan would turn the corner next year, pointing to the end of the 40-month strike at the Des Moines plant and the gaining of a $45 million military contract as positive factors.
Continue ReadingReport Predicts 20 Per Cent Fall In US Auto Market
A report from automotive intelligence firm Autopolis predicts hard times ahead for the US auto industry, with demand falling by 10 per cent this year and 8.5 percent next. Sales of cars and pickups are forecast to fall until the first half of 2003 at 14.1 million units, down 20 per cent on the 2000 sales figure of 17.6 million units.
Continue ReadingThird Quarter Figures From Hayes Lemmerz
Hayes Lemmerz International has issued its third quarter figures. Sales for the three months ending 31.10.2000 were down to $558 million ($599 million in third quarter 1999). Sales for the first nine months totalled 1,696 million ($1,731 m). A drop in sales to the North American heavy truck industry and the weak Euro were cited as reasons for the decrease. Hayes Lemmerz has initiated restructuring programmes to reduce spending and dispose of surplus assets. The workforce will be reduced by 1,200 globally.
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