Kumho Breaks the Million Tyre Mark in UK
Kumho broke the one million tyre barrier in 2008. According to sole distributor Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS), it was the first time that annual sales of Kumho-branded car, van and 4x4 tyres have reached this height. Wholesale director, Alan Baldwin, said he was delighted with the news and added that MTS’s sales grew 30 per cent over its full year 2007 result: “Throughout 2008 MTS and Kumho worked tirelessly to improve supply, and by a combination of better forecasting and supply chain management, product availability improved dramatically over 2007.” According to Baldwin things got even better for MTS and Kumho in the early stages of this year: “2009 has presented further challenges particularly, when as in March, the huge increases dealers were seeing in consumer demand resulted in a near 40 per cent increase over March 2008 sales.”
Continue ReadingCrypton Offers New Four Post MoT Lane
Crypton has added a four post lift option to its scissor lift Crypton Test Lane. The new four post lifts are electro hydraulic and are available for use in Class IV and Class VII stations. All of the Crypton four post lifts are supplied with turntables, hydraulically operated play detectors, brake pedal depressor and low profile platforms that are covered with aluminium checker plate finish. All the four post lifts are ‘ATL’ approved. Crypton also offer a complete drawing service for the installation of Crypton Test Lane and they also have an ‘in house’ team of installers. John Watkins chairman of Crypton said: “We are pleased to add the four post lift options to the Crypton Test Lane knowing that we are bringing the quality of product that has always been associated with Crypton to the market place. We are very proud of the complete service we offer in conjunction with our experienced and dedicated distributor network. When a customer takes the decision to install a Crypton Test Lane, we realise the significance that this level of investment means to a garage and we have the systems and experience in place to ensure the smooth running of the whole project.”
Continue ReadingPlimsoll: Rich/Poor Divide Widening in UK Tyre Market
Industry analysts Plimsoll Publishing are suggesting that the brunt of the slowdown is being felt by a fifth of the companies in the UK tyre market. However surprisingly, almost half of those surveyed have been largely unaffected, maintaining their financial strength, margins and some managing to even increase sales. Overall the market is said to be showing no growth, compared to growth of almost 7 per cent this time last year. However, 229 firms reported that they have seen their sales decline, some by as much as 13 per cent. 477 firms have seen their sales increase, some by as much as 15 per cent.
Continue ReadingBeijing Auto signals interest in Opel stake
China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Corp (BAIC) has reportedly become the fourth company to express an interest in buying into Opel/General Motors’ European operations. According to the Financial Times, BAIC wrote to Commerzbank’s Dresdner Kleinwort a day after the bidding deadline. However, the report also characterised BAIC’s offer “more an expression of interest rather than a formal bid” quoting sources close to the deal. Italy’s Fiat, Canada’s Magna, and Brussels-listed RHJ International all entered bids for the strategic stake on Wednesday, for which GM is seeking about 650 million euros ($900 million).
Continue ReadingChina Increases Scrappage Subsidy
While flagging Western markets are offering handouts to carmakers in order to lubricate sales, in China – with a car market still widely regarded as booming by comparison – has announced that it is to increase its own scrappage budget from one billion yuan (£95.6 million, $146 million) to six billion yuan (£573.6 million, $876 million). According to a China4Auto.com report, the move follows the success of the incentive program in rural areas.
Continue ReadingSunday Times Names Bandvulc One of Top 60 Green Companies
Bandvulc Tyres Ltd has been recognised as one of the Top 60 Best Green Companies in the UK by the Sunday Times. At the annual awards ceremony in London, Bandvulc’s managing director Patrick O’Connell received the award from Alistair McColl (Sunday Times Supplements Editor) for achieving a top 60 placement. Patrick O’Connell commented: “This is fantastic recognition of the hard work and commitment everyone at Bandvulc makes to ensuring we all have a sustainable future. To be in the top 60 companies raises the profile of tyre recycling to a new level and shows that this can be done to a high quality ensuring safety and sustainability in one package, bringing a complete solution to our customers that is second to none.”
Continue ReadingGoodyear to ‘Explore’ EMEA, Latin America Farm Unit Sales
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced plans that would end consumer tyre production at its Amiens, France plant and could result in the sales of its European and Latin American agricultural tyre businesses. Goodyear’s Asia Pacific farm tyre business is not included in the potential divestiture. The company sold its North American farm tyre operation in 2005. According to an official statement, ending consumer tyre production at the Amiens plant would result in the reduction of approximately 6 million units of production, which is part of Goodyears strategy to remove 15 million to 25 million units of capacity over the next two years.
Continue ReadingPirelli “Home” WRC Leg a Formidable Challenge for Tyres
Pirelli has reported a “difficult” yet problem-less three days at the all-gravel Rally d’Italia-Sardegna, the tyre-manufacturer’s home event. Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala put the brakes on Sebastien Loeb’s domination of the 2009 World Rally Championship season to claim his first win of the year, while the five Pirelli Star Drivers took part in their second round of the six they will face in total, continuing their development in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Group N cars. On an event that gave all six youngsters some extremely valuable experience of rough gravel, up-and-coming Finn Jarkko Nikara emerged best-placed of the Pirelli Star Drivers. Pirelli’s Rally Manager Mario Isola said, “These very rough conditions also taught our five Star Drivers how to blend consistency with their obvious speed, which will serve them well in the future.”
Continue ReadingContinental 2 Series Commercial Tyre: More Details
As previously published on Tyrepress.com, Continental has launched a new range of commercial vehicle tyres, representing four new design features. The tyres feature entirely new inner liner technology, dubbed “AirKeep” for its ability to stay inflated for longer, in addition to modifications to the belt, bead and contour design. The tyre will be manufactured primarily at the company’s plant in Puchov, Slovakia. It comes onto the market at a tricky time, with EU and UK new truck tyre sales down 34 and 20 per cent respectively, according to figures quoted at the launch. Conti is backing up its new range with a “Technology Truck” tour throughout Europe and the ContiCostCalculator, a new electronic tool based on research conducted by Continental and certified by DEKRA, which calculates the economic and ecological benefits of fitting the new range to customers’ fleets. These initiatives form part of the company’s response to the belief that, in these trying economic times, “you have to understand the pressures on customers and…be a business consultant,” as Conti’s general sales manager - truck replacement Barry Guildford said at the tyre launch in London. He also told Tyres & Accessories that the company was “heavily investing in training [its] salespeople”, in order to impress upon customers the long-term cost benefits of fitting the new Continentals. “It’s about educating the fleet,” he concluded.
Continue ReadingCorruption Trial Against Former Double Coin Chairman Begins
The corruption trial against former Double Coin chairman Fan Xian began in China on May 25. According to the Shanghai Daily, the 55-year old is charged with corruption involving 17.25 million yuan (£1.59 million), accepting 8.35 million yuan in bribes and embezzling 57 million yuan. At the first day of proceeding at the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate Peoples Court, Fan denied most of the charges raised by the prosecution. The Shanghai Daily reports that he “tried to avoid key questions.” When the chief judge told him to answer questions directly, he allegedly answered by saying I cant remember clearly or I dont know.
Continue ReadingToyo’s Proxes Chosen for 3rd Gen Prius
Toyota’s Prius, seen by some as the de rigueur environmental motoring statement, was released onto the Japanese market in its third generation incarnation on May 18. According to Toyo, its eco-friendly Proxes R30A tyre has been selected as an original equipment fitment for the new hybrid. Proxes R30A is a tyre with improved lower rolling resistance and super silence,” a Toyo press statement comments. “This tyre was developed for the new Prius, which aims for both overwhelming performance in eco-friendliness and fun for driving.” The new summer tyre is supplied to the Japanese market Prius in size 215/45R17 87W.
Continue ReadingContinental Industrial Tire Names Dealer of the Year
Continental Industrial Tire, a division of Continental Tire North America, named Equipment Depot, located in Irving, Texas, as the 2008 Dealer of the Year. Ed Fritz, Equipment Depot executive vice president, received the award at the Material Handling Equipment Dealer Association Convention, held at the JW Marriott Desert Spring Resort in Palm Desert, California, on 2-6 May. In its first year as a Continental Industrial distributor, Equipment Depot became Continental’s largest aftermarket distributor in North America, according to the tyre-maker. Joe Pauli, Continental’s US BUIT market manager, presented the award. “Equipment Depot has embraced the concept that industrial tires are the fastest wearing part on today’s forklifts,” said Phil Lannon, Continental’s U.S. Business Unit Industrial Tire sales manager. “We are pleased to award them the 2008 Dealer of the Year and consider them one of our most valuable aftermarket distributors.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingMichelin Resumes Truck Tyre Production in Poland
Production at Michelin Polska’s Olsztyn facility has resumed after a six-week pause. Lower demand for truck tyres led to the plant in northeast Poland halting production in April; initially a one-month stoppage was planed, however management decided to extend this by two additional weeks. Although production has now recommenced at Olsztyn, Michelin says it cannot rule out further short-term stoppages.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Paid Royal Visit at Monaco Grand Prix
Bridgestone Motorsport has described itself as “honoured” when it received a princely visit from Albert II, sovereign prince of Monaco, on the Thursday of the 67th Monaco Grand Prix. Prince Albert was welcomed into Bridgestone Motorsport’s motorhome, meeting Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport. Bridgestone has enjoyed a thirteen-year continuous association with the FIA Gold Medal Award-winning race at Monte Carlo, enjoying ever increasing global TV coverage both from its technical association and commercial signage around the track. Yasukawa said, “It was a great honour to receive Prince Albert at Bridgestone and to earn recognition from His Serene Highness for our association with the Monaco Grand Prix. This is the most important and prestigious motor race in the world. It is the jewel in the racing crown seen around the globe by one of the biggest television audiences of the year, producing the highest return in commercial value of all the races.”
Continue ReadingCalculate Costs with Conti
Continental has claimed a world first with the release of its truck tyre division’s “ContiCostCalculator”. This software employs a DEKRA-certified database and enables customers to directly compare the purchase and operating costs of commercial vehicle tyres amongst all main tyre brands. The key aim of the ContiCostCalculator, the company notes, is to help calculate a commercial vehicle’s running costs and show ways to reduce them. The ContiCostCalculator works out the ideal choice of tyre using the customer’s individual usage figures. The cost-saving potential compared with similar tyre products is calculated and the improvement in economy is shown. The application not only takes the kilometre costs and the fuel consumption into account for the overall calculation, it also covers additional income from the increased payload that a lower tyre weight makes possible.
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