Lanxess Underpins its BRIC Strategy with Two Acquisitions
Lanxess is currently in the process of acquiring two new companies in Asia. And while, admittedly, these new acquisitions will not deal directly with the firm’s tyre industry chemical supply business, Lanxess says the purchase “is underpinning its long-term growth strategy in the BRIC countries.” The companies to be acquired by Lanxess are India’s Gwalior Chemical Industries Ltd, which comes with an 82.4 million euro price tag, and Chinese company Jiangsu Polyols Chemical Co Ltd, which is to be acquired for an undisclosed sum. “These acquisitions in India and China are further milestones in our company’s long-term growth strategy in the BRIC countries,” said Axel C. Heitmann, chairman of Lanxess’s Board of Management. “Gwalior’s business complements the portfolio of our Basic Chemicals business unit and our first acquisition in India will strengthen our production base in this exciting market.”
Continue ReadingPirelli Exclusive Tyre Supplier to Volvo Video Game
Computer bound employees around the world have been blessed with the opportunity for a spot of workplace skiving (an activity the responsible and hard-working lads at T&A would, of course, never condone) courtesy of a new video game called “Volvo – The Game”. This timely coffee break tip has been passed on by Pirelli, who is present in the game as exclusive tyre provider. The racing game has been developed by the Swedish company SimBin, a firm noted for its racing related titles. During the course of the action, users are offered the chance to drive a range Volvo cars, from the oldest to the new concept S60 unveiled at the previous Detroit Auto Show.
Continue ReadingDates Announced for New Look CV Show
Following several weeks’ consultation with transport sector suppliers, the Commercial Vehicle Show Partnership has announced dates for the next “Commercial Vehicle Operator Show”. The exhibition will be held between April 13 and 15, 2010 at the Birmingham NEC. The event, reports the organiser, will enable exhibitors to present the widest possible range of products and services used in the day to day running of commercial vehicles of all sizes and types, with a particular accent on environmental impact, improved efficiency and profitability. The following year (2011) will see the first of a new Commercial Vehicle Show series.
Continue ReadingOrganiser Reports Successful Automechanika Middle East
A total of 15,431 visitors attended Automechanika Middle East during the three-day event. Of this number, notes organiser Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH, 46 per cent were international visitors, converging on Dubai from a total of 114 countries. According to the organiser, buyers arrived in large numbers from the GCC, Middle East, Iran, Africa, CIS and India. Considering the tough economic climate, adds Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Automechanika Middle East registered a remarkable increase in the number of exhibitors; a total of 966 exhibitors from 46 countries were present, and exhibition space this year occupied 31,000 square metres at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Continue ReadingConti Executive Board to Assess Viability of Schaeffler Merger
During its June 8 meeting in Hanover, Germany, the Continental AG Supervisory Board deliberated on various future scenarios for the company, including the option of a merger between it and Schaeffler under the umbrella of a publicly listed Continental AG. In exploring this possible course of action, the Supervisory Board has asked Conti’s Executive Board to assess all aspects of a merger between Continental and Schaeffler, in particular the financial feasibility of such a joining. This process is to be completed by the end of July. At the same time, notes Continental, the Executive Board shall continue to analyse further alternatives and their possible implementation.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire to Close Iowa Distribution Centre
Cooper Tire intends to close its Cedar Rapids, Iowa distribution centre later this year, local newspaper The Gazette reports. According to an article published on June 4, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the representative union for employees at the site, has been informed and union representatives have begun negotiations over severance payments. Deb Hansen, president of the local union chapter, says that no definite date has been given for the centre’s closing, and further commented that the union wasn’t surprised when Cooper announced its intention to close the site. “They had been tossing it around for some time, even when we were negotiating,” Hansen said, adding that the economic has probably also contributed to the decision.
Continue ReadingIndian Tyre Dealers Voice Opposition to Import Duty
Trouble is brewing between Indian tyre manufacturers and dealers. A duty on passenger car tyres imported from China is expected to be introduced by the end of June, and the two parties hold differing views on the matter. “We have invited views from all concerned. We will look at all representations before taking a decision. However, on the face of it, there does seem to be a case for application of safeguard duties,” a government official told India’s Economic Times newspaper on condition of anonymity.
Continue ReadingGoodyear, USW Begin Negotiations Over New Contract
Almost three years have passed since the agreement between Goodyear and the United Steelworkers of America on a new master contract ended several months of strike action, and on July 18 the contract is set to expire. Negotiations between the two parties on a new contract began on June 8 – but whether or not mutually agreeable terms can be reached without revisiting the events of 2006 remains to be seen. The existing three-year contract covers some 10,300 workers as seven Goodyear factories in the US, and while the USW states its goal in negotiations will be to improve pay and benefits, it acknowledges that job security will overshadow other issues.
Continue ReadingMcGuinness Break world record at TT on Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop’s road race pairing of John McGuinness and Steve Plater scored top honours for Dunlop on the Isle of Man, finishing first and second in the TT Superbike race. The duo were the only two riders to break through the 130mph average lap speed – with McGuinness setting yet another lap record of 130.442mph (17mins 21.29 seconds) on his second of the six lap race, as well as breaking the race distance record with a time of 1:46.07.16. His Dunlop tyres were specifically designed and built in the Birmingham-based Fort Dunlop factory. The Morecambe man also furthered his and legendary TT status, by claiming his 15th TT win, placing him second in the line-up of all time TT victories behind the great Joey Dunlop. Following the decision to postpone racing on Saturday due to poor weather conditions covering the 37.73 mile mountain course, both McGuinness and Plater were itching to take to the seats of their CBR1000RR Fireblades in Monday’s welcomed clear and warm racing conditions.
Continue ReadingHiQ Mechanic Given BTCC Tyre Changing Opportunity
Brian Hurman, a mobile tyre mechanic with HiQ in Longlands Road, Middlesbrough will celebrate his 30th anniversary at a HiQ fast fit centre in style, when he swaps the forecourt for the fast lane of the British Touring Car Championship. Hurman will be working trackside at Croft race circuit this weekend (13 and 14 June), changing tyres for Matt Neal, Jason Plato, and all the stars of the series, which HiQ supports as a title sponsor. The 30th anniversary gift represents a gesture of thanks for all his work at the centre and the North-East area over the period. Hurman said: “It’s a dream come true to be changing the tyres for Vauxhall and all the teams in the touring car championship. I am a huge fan of the BTCC so it was such a lovely shock when I was told I had been given this opportunity.”
Continue ReadingMaxxis Expands Drift Tyre Size Range
Maxxis has announced that its speciality drifting and track racing tyre, the MA-Z1 Drift, is now in stock in an expanded range of sizes. The tyre has been praised by Maxxis-sponsored professional drift driver Declan Hicks, who declared the difference between the specialist drift tyre and standard road tyres to be “quite astounding”. E-marked and fully street legal, it is now available in the following sizes: •195/45 R16 MAZ1 DRIFT 84V XL •195/50 R15 MAZ1 DRIFT 86V XL •205/40 ZR17 MAZ1 DRIFT 84W XL •225/40 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 92W XL •225/45 ZR17 MAZ1 DRIFT 94W XL •235/35 ZR19 MAZ1 DRIFT 91W XL •235/40 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 95W XL •245/40 ZR17 MAZ1 DRIFT 95W XL •245/40 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 97W XL •255/35 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 94W XL
Continue ReadingTitan Tire Faces Fines for Safety Violations
Titan Tire has been cited by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration for violations of federal safety rules. According to Toledo based newspaper The Blade, the company’s Bryan giant tyre facility is facing tentative fines of US$24,500 for four serious violations at the site. The violations were observed during inspections in November, December, and February. Titan has indicated it will appeal the charges.
Continue ReadingConti Outlines Clairoix Redundancy Package
The deal for Continental’s Clairoix workers first made public by the French CGT union in late May has been officially confirmed. Conti reports that an agreement between its French and German management and trade union and French government representatives was reached on June 6. Upon announcing this agreement, Continental’s Dr. Thomas Winkelmann declared “we are pleased that we have already come up with a solution before the end of the four-week negotiation phase.” An understanding, as Conti noted in a press statement, was not reached without difficulties. According to the German company, French union representatives “impeded the entire negotiations by rigidly focusing on negotiating the highest possible uniform one-off severance payment” for all affected employees. “The one-off payment of 50,000 euros for each employee is now a component of the overall solution – not more, but also not less, commented Winkelmann.
Continue ReadingSumitomo Sales Drop 24% in Q1 2009
Sumitomo Rubber has seen its sales decrease 24 per cent year-on-year
Continue ReadingLanxess to Increase R&D by 10%
Specialty chemicals manufacturer Lanxess AG has announced plans to increase its research and development budget. Speaking at the company’s Innovation Day on June 5, Board of Management member Werner Breuers stated “innovation is an essential prerequisite if the company is to achieve sustainable long-term success, especially in these difficult economic times. That’s why we’ve increased this year’s investment budget to around 110 million euros, up 10 per cent on 2008.”
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