Russian – Made Tyres For Conti?
An article in the newspaper Handelsblatt suggested that Continental is about to open a tyre factory in Moscow and that negotiations were close to final agreement. An investment in the region of 30 million Euros was reported. In September last year, Neue Reifenzeitung reported on negotiations between Continental and Moskauer Reifenwerke, which was very close to bankruptcy, although the financial situation may have improved as the main shareholder Yukos has sold its stake in the company. NEUE REIFENZEITUNG asked Continental for more details, but the company said it was not in a position to comment and could not confirm the figures quoted. Continental is only one of the tyre companies involved in negotiations in this area, with Michelin being another.
Continue ReadingStrength in Unity: The MFP 2000 Annual Meeting in Karlsruhe
The fifth annual meeting of the MFP partners, held by invitation of Michelin this year at Karlsruhe, had new performance standards for market progress, Markt-Förderungs-Programm (MFP), and current products as the main themes of its agenda. Approximately 500 guests had gathered under the slogan Gemeinsam am Markt erfolgreich (Successful in the Market Through Unity). Patrice Kéfalas, as spokesman for Michelin Germany’s sales management and the person responsible for the car and transporter tyre division, combined in his welcoming address the question: What added value can the MFP partner expect from the Michelin group? with a short résumé/look ahead, We have increased our car and truck tyre production capacity considerably and improved price competitiveness. Now we are vigorously investing in our high-performance tyres. We shall also rejuvenate the Kléber and Riken products and their brand images. And we are doing all this with the aim of being successful with our partners and more successful than the competition. The strength of the Michelin group with its more than ten per cent worldwide turnover growth last year also safeguards its partners’ future security, he said. Of increasing importance for the Clermont-Ferrand tyre manufacturer is the high-performance tyre market, not only because of the company’s commitment to Formula One. The market in fast tyres is booming, and Michelin is determined to emphasise its strong presence in this market with the new Pilot Primacy and Pilot Exalto. In order to be successful in the market through unity Michelin offers quite a number of solutions, which are described in the May issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Continue ReadingDedicated Dunlop Tyre Lines Available At Goodyear Retailers
In the USA, Goodyear has announced that three new dedicated Dunlop tyre lines will be available from Goodyear and Gemini outlets. These are the Dunlop Citation, the Citation HP (both for passenger cars) and Dunlop Pioneer for 4x4 vehicles.
Continue ReadingFurther Investment In The Aiken Factory From Bridgestone/Firestone
Bridgestone/Firestone is to invest another US$ 24 million to expand the mixing capacity of its Aiken factory. This plant was built with an investment of US$ 435 million and was opened in November 1999. The factory produces nearly 20,000 SUV tyres daily and employs around 800 people, or team members.
Continue ReadingGood Start For Continental In The First Quarter
Continental increased its turnover in the first quarter of this year by around 10.7 p.c. compared with the first three months of the previous year to 2.426 billion Euro. The EBIT comes to 135 million Euro, 65 million Euro coming from the tyre business. ContiTech contributed 46 million Euro and the balance comes from the Teves business. Despite the increased turnover in the tyre business from 1.1 billion Euro up to 1.228 billion Euro, tyres contributed 14 million Euro less to the EBIT, which is a consequence of the ongoing decline in prices.
Continue ReadingMitas Buys Trelleborg Motorcycle Tyre Business
Czech tyre manufacturer Mitas is to purchase the motorcycle tyre manufacturing business from Trelleborg. The purchase (the price of which was not revealed) includes the license of the trade mark Trelleborg and increases the Mitas motorcycle tyre portfolio by 15 designs in 57 sizes.
Continue ReadingBlimp Celebrates Its 75th Birthday
Even more so than the original symbol of tyre maker Goodyear – the Wingfoot – the Goodyear Blimp has become a corporate icon. In June 1925 the Pilgrim, first of what was to be hundreds of Blimps, was launched at Wingfoot Lake airship facility near Akron, still headquarters of the worlds # 1 in tyres.
Continue ReadingContinental To Buy Back Own Shares
Continental AG is to buy back up to 10% of its own shares, worth around 260 million Euros at the moment. This could be seen as a precautionary defensive measure in light of the rumours regarding a planned takeover attempt by a German conglomerate. Weeks ago, Klaus Friedland, Chief Financial Officer of the Group, said that it was likely that the Group would buy back shares in order to give these to interested institutional investors at a later date.
Continue ReadingNo Fixed Price For Rubber
The top three natural rubber producers, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, want to set a minimum price for rubber on the world market and to limit supply. However, despite meeting twice in the past month, the three countries are unable to agree how these objectives might be achieved.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Invests In Tyre Inflation Systems
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has taken a minority interest in the Cycloid Company, of Pennsylvania. Cycloid markets ACS (Air Compressor System) which uses a compressor mounted at the centre of the wheel to maintain air pressure in truck tyres. The companies are looking to develop similar systems for cars, vans and light trucks.
Continue ReadingNatural Rubber Prices Hit 11-Week High, Oil Prices Down
Mixed news on the raw material front, as natural rubber prices rose to 36.75 cents/pound, the highest price for eleven weeks. Fear of a supply shortage was the cause. Crude oil prices fell slightly, following the ten-year high prices of last month.
Continue ReadingDT 830 – New Supervolume Agricultural Tyre From Goodyear
Goodyear has introduced a new, supermodern agricultural tyre specifically for harvesters and tractor units. The new products have been developed with soil protection and high load resistance in mind. Thanks to its 900 mm width, tractor units equipped with the new DT830 remain within the three metre maximum legal width for highway use without the need for a special license. With a maximum pressure of 2.2 bar the new tyre is capable of carrying loads up to 11.8 tons. For use on delicate soil conditions the DT830 is well qualified with a low pressure of 0.8 bar and a wheel load of 7.5tons it creates a footprint of 96 cm by almost 90 cm, offering a contact area of more than 0.8 square metres. In addition the radial belt cords guarantee an even distribution of pressure over the whole contact area. Goodyear offers the DT830 in three sizes; The 900/55 R 32 to be available in Spring 2001, the 900/60 R 32 available in pre-series at present, and the 900/50 R 42 which is already available through Goodyear outlets. Find out more in the November issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Continue ReadingRecall Burdens Ford Results
Ford Motor Company has suffered a reduced profit of 888 million US-$ in the third quarter, compared to the same period for 1999 (959 m). Ford Chairman Jacques Nasser attributes the results to the Firestone recall. To provide good tyres to Ford customers is more important than realising short term profits.
Continue Reading“SP Super Sport 9000” From Dunlop
At the Essen Motor-Show, tyre manufacturer Dunlop is showing a new high performance tyre, called SP Super Sport 9000. It is a mixture of the SP 9000 and the racing tyre which is supplied exclusively to the German Tourcar Masters. The new tyre will be available in 17 and 18 inch sizes and it will be released in spring 2001.
Continue ReadingNew Order For Dunlop Sales Department
At the beginning of November, Hans-Burkhard Brandt became Sales Director for the Truck Tyre Department at Dunlop. His predecessor, Frank Pickshaus, becomes Assistant General Manager of the distribution section of the OE-department. At the beginning of 2001, the present Dunlop Sales Director Hans Jürgen Wagner will become General Manager in Hanau. Christian Stein, now Sales Director Commerce, will be promoted to Sales Director.
Continue Reading
