Deldo Announces Exclusive Sailun Contract
When Tyres & Accessories recently spoke to TRIB managing director Harvey Brodsky, he singled out Sailun as a Chinese manufacturer of new tyres that has in recent times paid close attention to product quality. “You will hear more from them,” stated Brodsky. One place we will hear more from them is through the Belgian based wholesaler Deldo.
Continue ReadingSchaeffler Bullish Over Koerfer Ruling
Responding to yesterday’s ruling by the Hanover court that its chosen Continental chairman would be blocked from taking up the position, Schaeffler has issued a statement in support of Rolf Koerfer. The German courts believe there may be a conflict of interests in light of Koerfer’s position as a Schaeffler family adviser, while the ball bearing manufacturer believes that Koerfer has the right to take up the position in the manner of a “shareholder representative.”
Continue ReadingEconomy Issues Putting Squeeze on Goodyear HQ Plans
The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Goodyear’s plans for an all-new headquarters complex is pressing ahead, but at a far slower pace than planned, victimized by the concurrent downturn in credit and automotive markets. Akron Developer Stuart Lichter, who plans to buy Goodyear’s current headquarters facilities and convert them to retail and office space while building an new headquarters complex for the tyre maker, is being hamstrung by an unprecedented meltdown of the credit markets, according to the newspaper. Lichter told the newspaper that the city of Akron and county officials are working on bridge financing to make up shortfalls and keep the project moving forward. There was nothing to indicate that the deal might fall apart. Anyone whos shocked that this developer cant get financing has been asleep for the last six months to a year, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic was quoted as saying. The Plain Dealer said that the Summit County Port Authority “hopes to issue bonds by June 1, making Lichters purchase possible without the aid of banks or other private sources. Lichter would personally guarantee the bonds, with Akron and Summit County backing him up. He would repay the debt, with interest, using rent from Goodyear, which will lease back its buildings after the property sale. After three years, Lichter would pay off the remaining debt or refinance using other money sources.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingBrisa & Pirelli Production Resumes in Turkey
Production is one more underway at the Brisa/Bridgestone and Pirelli factories in Turkey. Both companies halted the manufacture of tyres late in February to realign output with demand, and resumed operations on March 3. Production at the two companies factories restarted with the midnight shift on March 3, said labour union representative Hüseyin Çakar. Over the past week 2,200 workers, 1,072 at Brisa Bridgestone and the remainder at Turk Pirelli Tire Corporation, were placed on paid leave.
Continue ReadingLassa Competes With Competus Range
Lassa’s 4x4 offering focuses on its Competus range of on/off road four-wheel drive radials. According to company literature the Competus design philosophy was to produce a tyre that can “handle all types of weather on all kinds of driving surfaces including snow, mud and dirt.”
Continue ReadingDunlop India Shahgunj Facility Re-Opening
Dunlop India’s factory in Shahgunj will re-open on March 6 after sitting idle for three months. On March 3 the company released a statement saying the plant’s maintenance and engineering division would be the first back on the job, with 229 workers undertaking the task of repairing the factory and making it production ready. The suspension of operations at the plant was announced on November 30, 2008, and company management says it now hopes to resolve all outstanding issues with labour unions one the repair work is under way. Dunlop India has also indicated that assurances have been received from banks regarding the disbursement of working capital as required for the plant’s sustained operation.
Continue ReadingToyo to Appear at ‘The Valley’
This year Toyo Tires has secured perimeter advertising at ‘The Valley’ home of Charlton Athletic Football Club. The 50 metres of TV facing, perimeter advertising is positioned on the goal line in full view of the national TV cameras. Sky broadcast matches reportedly attract an average audience of 1,000,000 viewers per game, not to mention news coverage and the highlights shown on ITV’s Championship on Sunday mornings. By the end of the nine months of the Championship season, the hoardings will have been shown at 22 home fixtures.
Continue ReadingContinental Increases its European OE Market Share
During 2008, Continental’s market share of the European original equipment market is said to have increased from 30 per cent to over 32 per cent. In contrast to this growth, the company reports it “sacrificed” some of its “unprofitable business” in the NAFTA states and South America, reducing its market share to 14 per cent – as planned. In total, Continental sold almost 40 million original equipment passenger and light truck tyres last year. The German company is anticipating fewer sales to vehicle manufacturers in 2009 and expects the market will pick up again in the fourth quarter. At the same time, Conti reports it will continue to focus on profitable deals in NAFTA countries. Supplies to Asian car manufacturers, which last year accounted for 0.7 million tyres, are forecast to remain fundamentally unchanged.
Continue ReadingPolish Tyre Storage Specialist Expanding in Export Markets
Arcom was founded in 1996 and is run by its two partners; Artur Wilk and Robert Zieba. There are 80 staff in all and Arcom is situated in the town of Rzezawa, 45 kilometres east of Cracow. The company manufactures welded metal structures, mainly for the automotive industry. The core products are pallets, racks and carts for consumers from the tyre-manufacturing industry: tyre manufacturers, wholesale stores, warehouses and workshops. These products are used for storing all kinds of tyres, from small tyres for fork lift trucks, quads, scooters and bikes, through tyres for passenger cars, off-road vehicles, delivery vans, lorries, agricultural and industrial tyres, to large-sized tyres, weighing even several hundred kgs. For 10 years, Arcom has increased its output and market share and, in 2008, growth in excess of 20 per cent was recorded, despite the fact that production was being carried out in a plant with outdated machinery. Today, Arcom is undoubtedly a leader in tyre pallet manufacturing in Poland and is one of the top three manufacturers of these products in Europe. Exports form a major part of Arcoms business – over 95 per cent of products are sold abroad, with customers in more than 30 countries on four continents.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Names Finalists for 26th Highway Hero Award
Every year Goodyear runs its “Highway Hero” awards in the US, honouring professional truck drivers who go out of their way, often risking their own safety, to help others. Finalists in this, the 26th annual Goodyear North America Highway Hero Awards, include a team of two professional truck drivers from Illinois who reacted to a collision with an out-of-control van by pulling the unconscious driver to safety after the crash; a California truck driver who noticed a glow off the freeway and followed it to find a car in flames and a driver trapped inside; a Tennessee truck driver who made a quick decision to pull a man from a disabled car seconds before it was fully engulfed in flames; and a Colorado driver hauling grain who was shocked when his truck was hit head-on in a fiery collision, but then had the presence of mind to save two young lives. Nikolay Zashev, Tihomir Tanev, Willie Wilson, Roy Hackett and Jorge Orozco Sanchez, were on March 3 named finalists in this highly esteemed award for trucking heroism.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Appoints Official Malta Distributor
A new official Goodyear distributor has been appointed in Malta, United Automobile Limited (UAL). The beginning of this relationship was marked at a UAL service centre in Lija, and was attended by Goodyear’s Mediterranean regional business leader, Martin Lumb.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Names New CMO for NAT
The NFL has its Bill Parcells coaching tree. Goodyear has its Proctor & Gamble marketing tree. The Akron tiremaker dipped back into the P&G pond by selecting R. Scott Rogers as the new chief marketing officer for its North American Tire unit. Goodyear said it is a new position. Rogers, 39, will oversee all aspects of advertising and marketing for the companys consumer tyre business, including the Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly brands. HE comes to Goodyear after serving as senior vice president of marketing and sales for Norwegian Cruise Lines, and a number of marketing posts with P&G. Former P&G marketer Cathryn Fischer was hired by Goodyear in 2001 to serve as vice president and chief marketing officer. She resigned two years later. In late 2007, Goodyear promoted Brett Ponton to the then new position of vice president of marketing for the North American consumer replacement business. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingToyo Adds Nine New Sizes
Toyo Tire USA has added nine new sizes to its passenger and light truck/SUV tires lines: the Versado LX is now available in 215/50R16, 215/55R18 and 235/45R18, the Proxes T1R in 245/45ZR19, the Proxes R1R in 225/45ZR17, the Proxes 4 in 265/25ZR30, the Proxes R888 in 265/30ZR19 and the Open Country H/T: P265/65R18 and LT285/75R16 LRE. The company has also introduced the street legal drag radial, the Proxes TQ, in six sizes, ranging from 16- to 18-inches in wheel diameter. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingAmerican Truck Orders Reach Lowest Level in Six Years
FTR Associates’ preliminary data shows that Class 8 total net orders for all major North American OEMs fell to 6,167 units in February, the lowest order rate in over six years. The figure includes orders for the US, Canada, Mexico and for export. February orders, said FTR, declined 21 per cent from January levels and fell some 60 per cent against February 2008. Eric Starks, president of FTR Associates, said, “we have been anticipating this slow-down in order activity for some time now and expect orders to drop to 5,000 units or below over the next several months.” (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingHanover Court Blocks Schaeffler’s Koerfer Appointment
A ruling by the German courts in Hanover has prevented Schaeffler from appointing its chosen chairman for Continental. The manufacturer wanted to install attorney Rolf Koerfer, a Schaeffler family adviser, as the head of the German manufacturer, a court spokesman said on 3 March. The decision was made following a complaint from a member of Germanys corporate governance commission that Koerfler may have a conflict of interest. The ball bearing manufacturer, which holds a direct 49.9 per cent voting stake in Continental, put forward Koerfer for the position at an extraordinary supervisory board meeting in January. In addition to Schaeffler’s holding, the group has transferred another 40 per cent block of its stake in Conti to the banks in order to remain below 50 per cent, as agreed to end a takeover conflict. The court has given board members until 10 March to comment on the case.
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