Reports: Tyre Majors Cancel Rubber Contracts
In a sign of the pressure on manufacturers that are supplying the automotive industry, news agency Reuters is reporting that at least three leading tyre makers have cancelled long-term Indonesian rubber contracts. Dealers told Reuters that SMPT, the rubber purchasing arm of Michelin, Yokohama Rubber and Continental have all abandoned provisional agreements with rubber suppliers.
Continue ReadingCGS Gains Top Fendt Supplier Rating in Germany
The German sales company for CGS Tyres, CGS Reifen Deutschland, has been awarded the highest rating in the supplier programme operated by tractor Manufacturer Fendt. The company was given an A rating in all the categories evaluated, which include quality, logistics, service and environment. We are delighted to have gained the highest award, which our customer Fendt has conferred on us for several years in succession commented Andrew Mabin, Marketing and Sales managing director at MITAS a.s./CGS Tyres.
Continue ReadingMichelin Makes Appearance in UK ‘Superbrands’ Top Ten
Michelin has been named amongst the top ten “superbrands” in the UK. The top ten new arrival secured a berth at number eight on the list of the Business Superbrands Top 500, which is compiled by the London based Centre for Brand Analysis. The Superbrands research is very thorough and its quite an achievement for us to be recognised as a stronger business brand than companies like BP and Bupa,” commented Michelin head of communications Peter Snelling. “These are challenging times, and to be rated so highly by our peers can only be seen as a very positive sign for the future of our business.
Continue ReadingButstraen appointed President of Rhodia Silcea
On March 4 Rhodia announced the appointment of Emmanuel Butstraen as president of the company’s SILCEA Enterprise and member of the Extended General Management Committee. Furthermore, Butstraen will take over the representation of the Group in France’s Rhône-Alpes region. Emmanuel Butstraen is an Agricultural engineer and graduate of the Institute of Business Administration in Lille, France. He joined the BASF Group in 1992, where he held several sales & marketing positions, before being appointed as general manager of BASF Agro in Lyon. Since 2005, he has been group vice president, Global Strategic Marketing, of the company’s Plant Protection Division.
Continue ReadingOne Equity Becomes Sole Owner of Columbian Chemicals
A decision taken by the European Commission on March 2 means that the way is clear for JPMorgan Chase & Co.s ‘One Equity’ private equity unit to take on sole ownership of carbon black manufacturer Columbian Chemicals. The former minority shareholder will pay US$150 million for a 66.75 per cent chunk in the Columbian Chemicals, which is currently owned by South Koreas DC Chemical Co. Ltd. The South Korea based Columbian Chemicals facilities will, however, continue to be owned and operated by DC Chemical.
Continue ReadingNexen Adds Touring Tyre
Nexen Tire USA has added the CP672 to its passenger tyre line-up. Nexen said the touring tyre “was designed for mainstream drivers with comfort and performance in mind.” The all-season CP672 will be available in 14- to 17-inch sizes covering 50-65 series. The non-directional tread tyre has a UTQG of 500AA. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingKumho Official US Series Tyre
Kumho has been named the official tyre of the new Traxxas Off Road Championship (TORC) Series. In addition, Kumho will supply tyres to Scott Douglas in the Pro 4 class and to Chad Hord in Pro Lite class of the short course off-road racing series. “We’re looking forward to continuing our participation in short course off-road racing,” said Rudy Consolacion, Kumho Tire USA’s motorsport manager. “This will be our ninth year of competition, and we’ll once again run with some of the best in the business. Scott and Chad have both won short course off-road championships and prove the performance, toughness and durability of our light truck tyres every time they take the green flag.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingFormula Two Re-Launches on Avon Tyres
Avon Tyres has been named official tyre supplier for the FIA Formula Two Championship, a series re-launched in 2009 after a quarter-century absence from the motorsport calendar. The first round of the championship will take place at Valencia, Spain, on 31 May. The championship, which will feature 24 identical cars designed by the Williams F1 team, has been created to be the ultimate feeder category for Formula One, while remaining an affordable series for aspiring young drivers.
Continue ReadingBlackcircles.com Opens Dutch Web Shop
British e-Tailer Blackcircles.com has thrown its hat into the ring in The Netherlands, seeking to do battle with competitors who, managing director Mike Welch says, “are growing on the back of offering customers an inferior deal.” Autobandenshop.com will offer Dutch motorists access to all the major tyre brands carried by the British website. Welch continues, “One of the core guiding principles of Blackcircles.com is that there should be no barriers to tyre safety and we are delighted to be helping Dutch motorists to stay safe on the road. Our aim in Holland is to set a new standard for low cost tyres combined with high quality service.”
Continue ReadingIn Tyres & Accessories, April 2009:
Private Brands
Wheel Report
Wheel Alignment
Private Business The opportunity to exclusively offer a range of tyres is very attractive, and gives a business a point of difference between it and the competitor around the corner. The UK is reported to have one of the most active private brand markets in the world, with new labels regularly added to the healthy range currently available. A good private brand in the portfolio can make noticeable difference to a company’s sales figures – just one reason to include April’s Private Brands feature on your monthly must-read list. At the Centre of Things It takes more than a tyre to make a wheel, and without that metal bit in the middle we’d be left with a rubber circle flopping about on the road. Thank goodness then for rims, the oft-overlooked partner to the tyre. The April edition of Tyres & Accessories puts the centre part of the wheel on centre stage: See next month’s Wheel Report for the latest product and industry news. No Deviation Allowed If you’ve ever strayed from the straight and narrow, gone off the beaten track or exhibited divergent characteristics, don’t spend too much time in soul searching – it was probably just your vehicle’s wheel alignment. While the Department for Transport attributes only around 4 per cent of MOT failures to steering defects, undetected wheel alignment issues are much more frequent and are a key cause of premature tyre wear. Next month’s Wheel Alignment feature will help you stay trim and true with all things alignment-related.
Continue ReadingSurvey Investigates Servicing Loyalty
Almost half of UK car owners (47 per cent) would get their car serviced at a local garage rather than take it to the dealer they bought the car from. They are even less likely to use a franchised dealer that sells the same brand of car to service their vehicle (13 per cent), according to a survey by information and marketing services provider Experian. The survey also revealed a clear difference between new and used car owners. 64 per cent of used car owners would go to a local garage to get their car serviced, compared to just 23 per cent of new car owners. Meanwhile, half (51 per cent) of new car owners would prefer to use the dealer they bought their car from (compared to 13 per cent of used car owners).
Continue ReadingSuperior Industries Reports $26.1 Million 2008 Loss
Wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International has reported a net loss of US$20.1 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008. This result is compares with a net income of $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of the previous financial year. For the 2008 full year, net loss was $26.1 million, compared to net income of $9.3 million in 2007. “Our results included a number of non-recurring items related to asset impairments for the two announced plant closures, other workforce reductions, as well as an inventory write-down to recognize lower aluminium rates,” said company chairman, CEO and president Steven Borick. “In aggregate, these special adjustments totalled $23.3 million for the full year 2008. The workforce reductions and plant closings were severe measures, but steps that we believe were necessary in order to right-size our capacity and position the company to operate more efficiently. Perhaps most important, our actions will serve to protect our balance sheet and cash, allowing us to weather this unprecedented business cycle. Despite the economic challenges, we maintained a positive cash flow in 2008.
Continue ReadingSapphire Merges With Glacier
Sapphire Energy Recovery – now fully-owned by Lafarge Cement UK following a buy-out of joint venture shares from Michelin Tyre plc – has restructured in what it describes as an aim to operate closer to the sources of waste and further improve customer service. The business has completed a merger with sister Lafarge resource recovery company Glacier, which was dedicated to sourcing alternative raw materials and fuels for the cement business. The Glacier name will go, and the new company will operate across the waste spectrum with one management team. Headed by General Manager Jamie Randall, the new-look Sapphire Energy Recovery will continue to serve the tyre recovery market, and even has plans for growth despite the current downturn. Thanks to recent new contracts, it expects to process well over 18 million tyres in 2009; a significant increase on previous years’ averages of 16 million.
Continue ReadingToyo Builds on “Fastest SUV” Fitment
Toyo retained its title as tyre of the “fastest SUV in the world” with the Proxes S/T on Sportec’s modified Porsche Cayenne Turbo at high speed oval course, the ATP in Germany. Selected for its ability to deliver the handling and stability required of a 4x4 of the modified Cayenne’s magnitude, the Proxes range exemplifies the ultra-high performance range of Toyo’s 4x4 line, though the company also recognises that not all off road vehicles are driven by off-road enthusiasts; it carries a wide range of tyres to suit all sectors of the 4x4 market, whether it is a sporty tyre for those who rarely venture away from the tarmac, or a true off-roader who loves to tear around the muddy terrains.
Continue ReadingLockout at Apollo Outsourced Factory Resolved
Late in the evening of March 4, union and management representatives met in an attempt to parry a continuation of the deadlock over negotiations at PTL Enterprises’ Kalamassery, India tyre manufacturing unit, a plant outsourced to Apollo Tyres. According to Apollo, the meeting resulted in an agreement that the unit would re-enter production on March 6. As agreed in the previous meeting, held on February 24, the unions remain committed to sorting out 10 of 12 issues at hand within a month of reopening the plant. The two pending issues, those of moving out the mixing process and machinery and increasing the capacity from the current 86 to 98 tonnes per day, have not yet been fully resolved.
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