Production Capacity To Be Reduced At Firestone USA
Bridgestone/Firestone will cut production capacity in two of its US plants as a result of the tyre recall and decline in demand for Firestone tyres. Approximately another 1,100 employees will lose their jobs.
Continue ReadingDr. Paolo Masera New Boss Of Pirelli Reifenwerke
From the 1st January, Dr Paolo Masera (58) took over the responsibilities from his predecessor Dr. Wentz, who is the same age. A few years ago, Dr. Masera was Managing Director of Pirelli UK.
Continue ReadingFinelist In Bid Rumours
There are rumours that an unnamed rival from continental Europe is to make a takeover bid for Finelist, the UK-based distributor of car components. Finelist has 40,000 trade customers and, during the last financial year, made pre-tax profits of £26.3 m (Euro 43.6 m) on a turnover of £483 m (Euro 801 m).
Continue ReadingGlobal Car or Not?
Opinions differ: In many of their components American and European cars - as can be seen at the Detroit Motor Show – seem to be becoming more like each other. The advance in pick-ups and vans in the USA and the boom in the small(est) cars in Europe, but much more in Japan, however, leaves room for doubt that the recurring theme of the global car is a real possibility mid-term.
Continue ReadingMercedes and Vergölst
Especially for Mercedes-Benz customers buying new commercial vehicles Vergölst offers a breakdown service all through the night for a fixed price.
Continue ReadingKiekert and Phoenix Stay In German MDAX
Contrary to rumours, Kiekert and Phoenix, two German automotive suppliers, will remain among the top 110 German companies in the MDAX.
Continue ReadingVredestein To Produce Bicycle Tyres In Malaysia
Vredestein BV has announced an imminent joint venture with Fung Keong Rubber Manufactory in Malaysia, for the production of bicycle tyres. Production will take place at a new local site. Ian Wilson, Managing Director, Vredestein UK informed TYRES & ACCESSORIES The new venture with Fung Keong represents a step forward in the right direction and highlights our policy of continually exploiting lucrative market opportunities.
Continue ReadingHans J. Rupp At Hofmann
Hans J. Rupp has been appointed Director of Sales worldwide at Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik (Pfungstadt/Germany).
Continue ReadingCarlos Ghosn Becomes Nissan President
Carlos Ghosn, once top man of Michelin in the USA will become President of Nissan, effective 1st April 2000, in addition to his post as Chief Operating Officer. Ghosn is interested in speeding up the Nissan Revival Plan, implemented in October last year.
Continue ReadingGerman Insurer “Allianz” To Sponsor Formula 1 Team
The German insurance company Allianz wants to become involved in Formula 1. As the newspaper Die Welt announced recently, Aliens wants to sponsor the Williams-BMW team. Already with the coming German Grand Prix in two weeks at the Nürburgring, the company label will be on the racing car of the British team. It was mentioned that the insurance intends to invest 50 million DM (£16.3 million) in the team of Ralf Schuhmacher and Jensen Button.
Continue ReadingNew Managing Director For Kwik-Fit GB
Bryan Liddle has been appointed MD of Kwik-Fit GB. A former professional footballer, Bryan has worked with several large plcs and he joins Kwik-Fit from Associated Heating Distributors, where he was MD.
Continue ReadingManagement Changes At Nokian
Lasse Kurkilahti, President and CEO of Nokian Tyres, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Raisio group from September 1st. He will continue as a director of Nokian. The Raisio group is active in the margarine, grain and chemical industries and employs 2,900 people. No decision has yet been made as to who will succeed Mr. Kurkilahti as Nokians President, but Chairman Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said that the search for a replacement would begin soon.
Continue ReadingGlobal Players – An In-Depth Analysis
More and more nowadays, we hear that the tyre industry is becoming increasingly global and ever-more companies describe themselves as a global player. But what exactly makes a company a true global player? An in-depth article in TYRES & ACCESSORIES 6/2000 looks at the criteria by which a so-called ‘global player’ should be judged and concludes that the only three companies that merit this term are Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin. The article examines in detail each company’s performance in the world’s most important markets, their market shares and turnover figures, their strengths and weaknesses and their prospects for the future. The article goes on to examine the home markets of the global players (USA, Europe and Asia) and discusses the performances of the lesser players and what is likely to happen to them. Todays global tyre market is one of acquisitions and alliances, mergers and new technological advances. Competition is intense and, in terms of market share, none of the big three seems able to leave its rivals standing, neither is the gap between the big three and the second three growing. Having said that, none of the second three stands a realistic chance of becoming a true global player in the future. The article gives a detailed, objective assessment of today’s tyre industry, together with some speculation concerning what might happen in the future.
Continue ReadingMore Organosilanes From Degussa-Hüls
Degussa-Hüls AG is doubling capacity at one of its production plants in Antwerp, Belgium for sulphur-functionalised organosilanes. These rubber silanes are used as coupling components when precipitated silicas are used as fillers to reinforce rubber. Together with rubber silanes and rubber carbon blacks, precipitated silicas are the major component in Green Tyres which feature reduced rolling resistance and thus help to cut fuel consumption.
Continue ReadingOpening Of New Michelin Agricultural Service Centre
The Michelin Group has officially opened a new agricultural service centre in Germany, handling the Michelin, Kléber, Taurus and Stomil brands. In Germany, the group controls more than one third of the agricultural tyre market.
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