Truck 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 ReadingOn Its Way To Becoming A Global Tyre Brand
Vredestein boss Rob Oudshoorn is interested in making the Vredestein brand – already well-known in Europe – a global brand. In Asia, T-Trac and Protrac tyres are produced by sister company Elangperdana Indonesia for use in the Asia region of Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China etc. The Importer Tyreland is the business partner at the other end of the world in New Zealand. This has been learned from the latest company brochure News Flashes which is distributed to the trade. At the moment it is not easy to cover Vredestein stories due to the fact that there is obviously no press office in the Dutch company.
Continue ReadingFire Remains In Firestone
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has acquired a majority shareholding in Morgan Tire & Auto. This equity has, after it purchased rival Tire Plus Limited in the summer of last year, more than 550 depots in 24 states of the USA and was second biggest independent equity in the USA, referred to as a retail-powerhouse. Turnover of Morgan Tire & Auto exceeds 800 million Euro. Larry Morgan, who began his career as an employee of Firestone, remains CEO. The acquisition is a clear sign that, despite the Firestone recall disaster in the USA, the tyre manufacturer intends to stay in the market with the Firestone brand.
Continue ReadingShare Of Tyres In Pirelli Turnover Falling
In the first half of the year 2000, tyre business accounted for 40 per cent of Pirellis turnover, but this has now fallen to only 37 per cent, whereas cables/systems/communications increased to 63 per cent. There was an improvement in tyre business figures for the first six months, but this could not match the results of the other business units. The main reason was the economic problems in Turkey and America, which are very important markets for Pirelli.
Continue ReadingReceivership For Colway and Motorway
KPMG has been appointed as official receiver for Colway Tyres and Motorway tyres. Production at both firms has ceased and the assets of the firms are to be sold. Total output from the retreading operations amounted to some 1,000,000 tyres in the preceding year. The demise of the retreading operation will indubitably have an effect on the UK retread market, and potentially on the waste tyre problem.
Continue Reading“Break Even” Forecast For South Pacific Tyres
Pacific Dunlop Chairman John Ralph told shareholders at the companys AGM that joint venture company South Pacific Tyres could return to a break even position by the end of the financial year. Earlier this year, 890 jobs were lost at SPT as the company restructured in a bid to cut losses, blamed on an influx of cheap tyres from overseas.
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.
Continue ReadingOE Success For Hankook
Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook has received an order from Volvo to supply the spare tyre (size T 125/80 R17) for the models V70, S60 and S80, from 1st July this year. It is said that Michelin, who produced these tyres up till now, has delivery problems due to a reduction of production in Great Britain. The order from Volvo is worth around 5 million Euros and for Hankook, it is another foot in the Ford door after the company won its first OE order from Ford last year.
Continue ReadingMotorsport Earns Five Billion Pounds For UK
A report commissioned by the Motorsport Industry Association and researched by various universities and management schools has concluded that the motorsport industry is worth nearly 5 billion Pounds a year to the UK economy. It also earns over 2.2 bn Pounds in export earnings; more than steel and agriculture combined, as well as employing 40,000 people. Three quarters of the worlds single seater racing cars are made in Britain and, in F1, 7 of last years 11 teams were based there.
Continue ReadingRubberNetwork.com Joined By Yokohama
Within days of RubberNetwork.com receiving the all clear from the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt), Yokohama Rubber Co has joined Continental, Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Sumitomo and Cooper in the global electronic purchasing and procurement market. The RubberNetwork marketplace will be open to all tyre and rubber industry manufacturers and suppliers. The European launch of the market is scheduled for early July.
Continue ReadingAggressive Expansion Plans From Pit Stop
Pit Stop, the fast-fit group belonging to Kwik-Fit (and thus, ultimately, Ford) is pushing ahead with plans to open up to 400 centres in Germany within the next two years. Pit Stop focuses on exhausts, brakes, shock absorbers, etc., as well as selling tyres.
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