New Tyre From Debica: Passio
Their latest product, the summer tyre Passio with a T-speed rating was presented to the European press and public at the end of January. This tyre is intended to succeed the Debica Vivo. For Zdzislaw Chabowski there is no doubt that in future his factory in Debica will be very important within Goodyear’s integrated production system all over the world. This article presents the new product, the company and the management. The product is a summer tyre, a so called bread and butter tyre, with speed index T, being developed in Goodyear’s research and development centre (GTCL) in Luxemburg. Afterwards it will be comprehensively tested on gravel roads, motorways and also on the race track in Vallelunga, Italy. According to the manufacturer, comfort and driving conditions on both wet and dry roads have been improved. Noise levels have been reduced, and compared to its predecessor, Passio should be able to reduce the braking distance on both dry and wet surfaces. Passio is a tyre for both the original equipment and the replacement market which soon will be available in nearly every European country. Debica Tyres was founded in 1939 and transformed into a public limited company in 1991, whose shares have been traded at the Warsaw stock exchange. The Polish government found a strategic investor in Goodyear at the end of 1995, who, in two steps, has increased its financial interest in the company and has become the majority shareholder meanwhile.
Continue ReadingNo Price Reductions For Chrysler
Goodyear, Chryslers number one tyre supplier in the USA, has resisted pressure to drop prices by 5%. Tire market competitor Cooper does not deliver tyres to Chrysler but its Technical Rubber Products generates every fourth dollar from business with Chrysler. We will see whether Cooper can resist the pressure from Chrysler to drop prices for products from its Technical Rubber Division.
Continue ReadingConcorde “Had History Of Tyre Failures”
A report by French air accident investigators reveals that Concorde suffered damaged fuel tanks caused by tyre blowouts on no fewer than six occasions before the fatal crash in Paris last summer. The report also states that, since Concorde began flying in 1976, there have been 57 incidents of tyres bursting on the runway.
Continue ReadingJapanese Firestones More Durable?
An Arizona-based panel of experts assembled by an attorney acting against Firestone has stated that Firestone tyres made in Japan are more durable than those made in America. The ATX tyres manufactured in Japan are claimed to carry thicker layers of key rubber materials, which prevents damaging cracks from appearing. Firestone denied the claim, admitting differences in production but not in durability, the company added that the findings are not based on scientific analysis but on anecdotes and unsupported theories.
Continue ReadingStart Of The Motorbike Season
Each year the motorcycle exhibition in Dortmund attracts many visitors, even though Munich has established a bigger show (every other year) for two-wheel fans in the meantime. More than 400 exhibitors took part in the 17th show from 28 February to 4 March and around 1,000 motorbikes could be seen in Dortmund. And on the tyre side? Only Dunlop presented a new tyre: the tyre manufacturer says that the D208 GP (front tyre 120/70 ZR 17, rear tyre 180/55 ZR 17) was developed based on experiences in motorsport. But apart from this, no more information was available. Dunlop couldn’t even tell NEUE REIFENZEITUNG a date for the official launch of the new product in Germany. And at all other tyre manufacturers‘ stands – Bridgestone, Cooper-Avon, Metzeler/Pirelli, Michelin – one could only see exactly the same product range as presented at Intermot last autumn – very disappointing so far. The only excitement for this year’s motorbike season will arise from the question if Bridgestone will be able to pass Metzeler and can climb to number one of the German market for motorbike tyres.
Continue ReadingA “Near Death Experience” – Simex Europe
Simex Europe has been in existence since 1988, gradually increasing the size of its Monza range of car tyres and steadily increasing sales volumes. Then, in August last year, disaster struck when the Montinex group went into Administrative Receivership, as the group was Simexs biggest customer, accounting for 60% of its turnover. With most of its eggs in one basket, it was, according to MD Raof Daud, a near death experience for the company. Simex fought back by going into car tyre distribution and growing its dealer network, and the come-back has been long and hard, with the company poised to be back in the black for the first time since the crisis. An exciting time for a new man to come in to take charge – Mr. A. K. Lee has recently taken over as General Manager, as Raof Daud has moved to another company within the Sime Darby group after nine years as MD of Simex.
Continue ReadingDetention Order For GT Tycoon
Reports in the Straits Times claim that a 20 day detention order has been issued against Gajah Tunggal President Sjamsul Nursalim on money-swindling charges. There has been speculation that the move, which is one of a number against businessmen, might be politically motivated. A separate report asks whether the group will have to sell off assets to repay debts.
Continue ReadingFactory Expansion Planned For Sime Tyres
Managing Director of Malaysian tyre manufacturer Sime Tyres International, Ahmad Zubir Murshid, is reported as saying that the company has plans to spend the equivalent of US$ 2.65 million on expansion of its factory. This would double tyre output to 20,000 pieces a day. Rising demand, both domestically and in Europe and the Middle East, was given as the reason for the expansion, which is scheduled to begin at the end of this year and take three years to complete.
Continue ReadingNo Recommendation For Conti Shares At The Moment
Analysts regard the price of Conti shares as relatively cheap, at 16.5 Euro. On the other hand, prospects for the group do not look very good; Continentals Letter to Investors revealed that results in Europe for the first quarter of the year were better than expected. However, the situation for Conti General in the USA is very difficult, with results much worse than forecast and with little prospect of improvement. The plan to sell off the profitable Conti-Tech division will probably have a negative impact on the share price, analysts also believe.
Continue ReadingTAMS For PAX
A new wheel bearing unit named TAMS (Tyre Air Management System) for an active tyre pressure regulation has been revealed by car supplier SKF for the Michelin-patented revolutionary tyre system PAX.
Continue ReadingBoard Appointment For Goodyear
Philip A. Laskawy, (60) who retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Ernst & Young LLP on June 30, has been elected to the board of directors of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Mr. Laskawy successfully led Ernst & Youngs re-engineering effort that resulted in higher levels of customer service, greater diversity and outstanding revenue growth, said Goodyear chairman and CEO Samir G. Gibara. His experience and focus on change management will be a valuable addition to our Board as Goodyear seeks to get even closer to its customers.
Continue ReadingDeath Of Former Fulda Sales Director Mühlisch
Former Sales Director and member of the board of Fulda Reifen, Günter Mühlisch, who retired in the summer of 1995, died on Monday 23rd of July, aged 69.
Continue ReadingWinter Tyres From Continental For Porsche
Tyre manufacturer Continental is producing a special edition of its WinterContact TS 790 V tyre exclusively for Porsche. The tyre – already mounted on the rim – will be distributed in Germany by Porsche dealers only.
Continue ReadingDeal Expected between Goodyear and Pacific Dunlop
Beleaguered Pacific Dunlop is expected to announce job cuts in a restructuring of its joint venture tyre division. It is also expected that Pacific Dunlop will announce plans to withdraw from the tyre venture, leaving Goodyear the controlling influence in the business. This comes as the group is about to release its latest profit figures which are expected to show a collapse in the performance of the tyre joint venture, Southern Pacific Tyres. Pacific Dunlop CEO, Tony Daniels, has so far declined to comment, other than to say that the JV partners were committed to manufacturing in Victoria, Australia.
Continue ReadingNew Managing Director For Bridgestone In Brazil
Bridgestone/Firestone Brazils former vice president of legal and government affairs has been promoted to the managing directors post upon the retiral of Vito De Florio on 1st October.
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