Plimsoll Report Tackles Rising Insolvencies Prediction
A new report from business intelligence analysts Plimsoll investigates the prediction by restructuring specialists that the number of UK insolvencies will soar by 55 per cent towards the end of 2009, a figure that has more than doubled since the credit crunch. Addressed specifically to the needs of the 156 UK tyres, exhausts and batteries companies rated as being at high risk of failure, the report suggests that if they are to survive, they must start to fix their problems now. Copies of the report are to be sold for £350.
Continue ReadingBreathe Easy This Allergy Season
With the rate of allergies rising and spring on its way, air conditioning and air purity should be top priority says Beissbarth UK. The company has introduced Saniflux, a new purification system which can be easily integrated into their advanced technology MAC aircon range. Managing director Philip Hodges said: Saniflux is highly efficient in terms of eliminating allergens, purifying the aircon system and neutralising annoying odours in the car interior.
Continue ReadingContinental to Close Hanover and Clairoix Tyre Plants
Continental AG has opted to end production at its Hanover, Germany (truck tyre) and Clairoix (passenger car) production plants. Some 1900 employees at the two plants will be affected (780 in Hanover and 1120 in Clairoix). Truck tyre production at the company’s Puchov, Slovakia, (Continental Matador Rubber) will also be cut by 20 per cent. Describing the current OE and replacement market trends as “steadfastly dire” a Continental statement explained that the company is basing the production cuts on the prediction that the market will not recover enough in the short or medium-term future to utilise existing production levels. Officials explained that the lack of demand has resulted in overcapacities of 15 million passenger and 1.7 million commercial vehicle tyres. The planned cuts focus on the Hanover and Clairoix plants, the statement added.
Continue ReadingToyota Cuts Pay and Production by 10%
Toyota has announced that its two British factories in Burnaston, Derbyshire and Deeside, Flintshire will attempt to stave off the effects of recession in 2009 by reducing pay and production by 10 per cent. Affecting 4,500 workers across the two sites, the cutbacks will come in to bat on 1 April. The Japanese car giant stated that “the measures we have announced give us a greater opportunity to maintain employment through this difficult period,” while it was revealed in mid-February that managers will not receive any bonuses this year. Reaction from unions has been noticeably free of ululating dissent, with Unite representative Peter Tsouvallaris telling The Guardian newspaper, “the agreement we have reached with Toyota will ensure none of our members benefits are eroded and that these skilled workers will remain in place and at work ready for when the upturn comes.” The news comes at a time when car makers are meeting with business minister Ian Pearson to discuss planned bailouts for the struggling industry.
Continue ReadingEU Adopts Noise, Rolling Resistance, Wet Grip and Labelling rules
The EU has rubber-stamped the tyre noise, rolling resistance, wet grip and labelling regulations that have been the subject of public discussion since the beginning of 2008. Despite complaints from some leading premium tyre manufacturers that the balance of improvements demanded is simply unworkable in the timeframe given, the commission said it should assess the feasibility of “strengthening the requirements for wet grip for tyres, and if appropriate, propose an amendment to this Regulation.” The decisions follow the EU’s adoption of a report which includes calls for tyre rolling resistance, noise and safety regulations as part of “a simpler, standardised system for the type-approval of motor vehicles.” The new regulation will reportedly apply from 1 November 2011, a year earlier than the commission proposed. Some of the rules on tyre standards have also been revised. Measures to regulate tyre rolling resistance and monitor inflation pressures appear to have been made stricter. The rule also makes the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) compulsory on new private cars. MEPs did not vote to extend this TPMS requirement to trucks, but they did beef up the rules on the effectiveness and reliability of such systems, without preferring either direct or indirect pressure monitoring technology.
Continue ReadingAnalysts Upgrade Goodyear and Cooper Shares
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., both experienced gains in their share prices after analysts raised their ratings for the two firms’ stock. According to Bloomberg, Cooper climbed 17 per cent after CRT Capital Group Inc. rated the stock as “fair value,” up from “sell.” Goodyear gained 15 per cent after KeyBanc Capital upped its rating to “hold” from “underweight.”
Continue ReadingBandvulc Cuts 20 Jobs
Leading retread manufacturer and fleet service provider, Bandvulc is to shed about 20 jobs at its factory due to reduced commercial haulage. The company, which has contracts with most of the leading supermarket fleets and the likes of Boots and frozen food giant Yearsley Group, has previously performed well in recessions as a result of fleets trying to save money. However, this time around managing director Patrick O’Connell has highlighted the fact that “smaller local firms,” such as Bandvulc, are not benefiting from large scale Government investment. As a result the firm has reportedly “started the process” of reducing its workforce by about 20. Bandvulc is a family company which is owned and operates locally. It is therefore especially difficult for us to face the fact that we must reduce the number of our employees. We are acutely aware of the problem it causes those affected, but we must run a viable company which will be strong and able to capitalise on the upturn when it comes to again to create good jobs,” O’Connell told thisiscornwall.co.uk.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg to Distribute GPX Galaxy Tyres in Europe
Galaxy-branded farm, forestry, agri-industrial and and OTR will be distributed exclusively by Trelleborg Wheel Systems following an agreement between the companies to form a strategic alliance. The agreement will be effective from 1 April, and covers 25 European countries: Albania, Belgium, Belarus, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Germany, Georgia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ukraine. The range of Galaxy-branded pneumatic products covered by the agreement includes tyres for diverse and demanding applications such as: agricultural radial and bias, skid steer, forestry, lawn and garden, OTR, backhoe and telescopic handlers, as well as other agricultural and industrial segments. GPX will continue to market its range of Forklift Industrial, Inter-Modal port and full range of solid tyres independently.
Continue ReadingBritish Carmakers Overtaken On Continent, Race for Euro Funds
Only two UK-based car manufacturers have applied for European financial support, leading the Financial Times to conclude that the British automotive sector is being slow in applying. According to FT, cabinet ministers don’t want UK-based companies to miss out on European Investment Bank funding which is said to be unlikely to exceed 7 billion euros (£6.5 billion), significantly less than the 40 billion euros the industry had previously sought. This is in addition the government’s £2.5 billion automotive support package, which includes £1.3 billion of guarantees to back loans from the European Investment Bank and £1 billion of guarantees for other loans. According to the FT, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover have both applied for EIB financing to support research and development work. Jaguar said it was waiting for Wednesday’s meeting to get details of the non-EIB guarantees. Neither General Motors nor Ford Motor had yet applied for EIB-backed loans in the UK, the companies said.
Continue ReadingSEMA Membership Directory Expands Reach
Changes to the 2009 SEMA Membership Directory will bring increased circulation and added opportunities for more than 7,400 member companies listed in the annual book. Rather than being printed as a stand-alone publication, the directory was bound with the March issue of SEMA News, the association’s monthly print magazine. This change increased the directory’s circulation to 30,000 and is giving the companies listed in the publication greater visibility. In addition, the directory is designed in an easy-to-use format. Companies can be searched in a variety of ways, including, by name, company type or product. The SEMA Membership Directory also features useful information about the association and its benefits. A digital version, which mirrors the printed copy exactly, is available at no cost by visiting http://catalog.proemags.com/publication/7c2138a3#/7c2138a3/1. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingConti Launches Next Tyre in Extreme Series
First introduced at the 2008 SEMA show, Continental Tire North America is now launching its ExtremeContact DW at a ride-and-drive event in sunny California. The UHP tyre, designed to deliver serious performance on both dry and wet roads, is part of a new line of performance tyres from Continental that also includes the ExtremeContact DWS and the ExtremeWinterContact. The ExtremeContact DW offers chamfered edges and a solid outer shoulder to enhance dry performance; dynamic temperature distribution to reduce distortion for enhanced energy delivery, lower rolling resistance and improved tread-life; and a high void to tread ratio with enhanced groove curvature to improve water evacuation for outstanding wet handling, the tyre maker said. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingLand Rover to Receive £27 million Government Grant
Jaguar Land Rover is to receive a government grant of up to £27 million to help develop the “smallest, lightest and most efficient” vehicle it has produced. The announcement came as motor industry representatives met in London to discuss a £2.3bn support package. According to BBC News, the new model will be made at the companys Halewood plant in Merseyside. The project will cost £400 million and a final decision on whether to proceed with production is due later this year.
Continue ReadingMaxxis, Grouptyre Unveil New Dealer Support Programme
An all-expenses-paid trip to Thailand – including a trip to a tyre making plant – is one of the prizes up for grabs for Maxxis’ Grouptyre dealers in the UK as the manufacturer and its exclusive distributor unveil their new incentive programme called Maxxis Rewards. The top ten retailers – based on the volume of Maxxis car, van and 4x4 tyres they purchase during the promotional period of 1 January to 30 September, 2009 – will win a seven-day holiday in Thailand. Flat screen TVs, DVD recorders and digital cameras are among the prizes up for grabs in a series of quarterly draws, while dealers can also pick up Argos vouchers and Maxxis branded merchandise. “Through the Maxxis Rewards programme we want to help retailers gain a better understanding of Maxxis and our aims both here in the UK and the 200 countries in which the brand is sold,” says Maxxis International UK managing director Derek McMartin. “Since retailers will be able to see for themselves the state of the art production facilities involved in manufacturing a million tyres and tubes a day and the scale of our operation, the trip to our Thailand factory will give them a real insight into the brand and their role in its future development.”
Continue ReadingFederal Introduces Xtramile XR01
Federal has introduced its new Xtramile XR01, a tyre designed for “reducing gas consumption”, according to the company. It also states that the tyre will feature “improved grip in a long-lasting tyre by utilising a blend of wear-resistant compound along with increased tread depth to offer prolonged tyre life.” Other features, says Federal, will include a distinctive tread pattern, four bold grooves for stability and increased water expulsion, dual layers of polyester carcass ply and strengthened sidewalls, alongside reduced road noise. Federal dealers will begin selling 12 popular sizes, through 13- to 15-inch rim diameters from 55-70 series. These offerings comprise H- to V-speed ratings and will be available in the first quarter of 2009. A more comprehensive range will be added later. Size Range 195/55R15 185/60R14 195/60R14 195/60R15 205/60R15 165/65R13 185/65R15 195/65R15 205/65R15 165/70R13 175/70R13 165/70R14
Continue ReadingHalf of All Britons Unable to Change Tyres
The population of Britain is in danger of losing skills that have long been considered vital, including sewing, DIY and changing a tyre, according to a poll conducted by the website Ask.com. The survey says that, while particularly under-30 year olds are acquiring essential abilities such as setting up a profile on Facebook more easily than previous generations, that age demographic is also the one least likely to be able to change its cars’ rubber. The problem is not merely confined to the younger generation; only just under half of all Britons would struggle to change the tyre on a pushbike, let alone a motorised vehicle. Though the survey revealed that illegally downloading films and music would represent a comparatively small challenge for many, it did not go into how many know the correct method for sitting on a toilet seat.
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