Nexen Takes it Up a Gear
No expense was spared when it came to the construction and presentation of the Nexen stand - both signs that Nexen wants to be to seen to be taking its image “up a gear.” Tyres & Accessories met with managing director, David Sul, and found out about the sales growth that is propelling the company’s promotional drive. The scale of Nexen’s Essen stand, placed near the centre of Hall 3, was probably the most surprising thing about the exhibit. Not only was it just seconds away from most of the premium manufacturers, but the large stand featured a Nexen-shod Ferrari 430 Spider – a move that can only be interpreted as a suggestion that the company has increasingly high aspirations. (Interestingly Hankook’s stand also featured a Ferrari 430)
Continue ReadingContinental Makes Forbes “Global High Performers” List
Business analysts Forbes have published their Global 2000 High Performers list, featuring companies that stand out among the rest. Germanys Continental AG is featured in the consumer durables section and makes the list at number 403. It is the only European company in the top six of this category.
Continue ReadingTRIB Makes a Splash at Truck World 2006
(Akron/Tire Review) The Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) recently participated in Canadas national truck show – Truck World 2006 – as both a featured presenter and an exhibitor. Held at the International Centre-Toronto on Apr. 2-22, the event brought nearly 20,000 trucking industry senior executives, fleet managers, owner-operators and drivers.
Continue ReadingBibendum Flies the Flag for Michelin
Beginning this year, Bibendum the Michelin Man will once again serve as Michelins spokesman in the UK and Europe. Still funny and playful at 108, he is returning to centre stage in Michelin’s advertising — after several years absence — in a multi-media European campaign which started in late January 2006 and extending throughout the year. In the UK, the Michelin Man will be featured on radio, in magazines and newspapers, and on the Internet and in sales outlets.
Continue ReadingDouble S Provides Exhaust for Sea Tractor
At High Tide the only way you can get to Burgh Island off the South Devon Coast is by boarding its unique Sea Tractor. The owners of the Island recently decided to refurbish this special vehicle and commissioned Double S Exhausts to design a salt-spray friendly stainless steel exhaust system out of Grade 316 marine quality material.
Continue ReadingReifen 06 – First Choice for Tyre Professionals
With 440 exhibitors from 42 nations, Reifen 2006 – the 24th International tyre exhibition - will register a new record number of participants and will thus confirm its position as the leading global fair in the sector. Being held at Essen from May 23 to 26, the range of products and services on offer will be wider than ever before: an exhibition area of around 43,000 m² in seven halls will act as a showcase for the world premiere of the latest innovations in the sector.
Continue ReadingToyo Sponsors Drag and Rock Crawling Series
(Akron/Tire Review) Toyo Tire USA Corp. will sponsor both the NOPI Drag Racing Association (NDRA) and the Xtreme Rock race Association (XRRA) in 2006. NDRA includes an array of competitions, including burnout contests, car shows, dyno contests, db drags and bikini contests. NDRA will hold 12 events this year. The XRRA title sponsorship includes the series being featured on Speed Channel’s “Lucas Oil Presents” programme. XRRA events, unlike conventional rock crawling, are timed races.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Summer Tyres Top German Tyre Tests
Bridgestone tyres have topped a number of comparative tests in some of Germany’s leading automotive publications. The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A was one of just two models to receive the top ‘highly recommendable’ rating in its category from ‘ADAC Motorwelt’. The respected journal of Germany’s automobile association compared a line-up of 17 225/45 R17 Y/W tyres running on a Mercedes C-Class 230 – with dry handling evaluated at the Nürburgring; and wet performance, comfort, noise and rolling resistance measured at the Contidrom complex near Hamburg.
Continue ReadingMannino and Turner on Discussion Panel
Gaetano Mannino, president of Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA), was one of the participants in a panel discussion on “Views from Italian and US Business Leaders” at Emory University earlier this week. Also on the panel was Ted Turner, CNN Founder and philanthropist, David Abney, president of UPS International, and Giancarlo Fantappie, president and CEO of Ansaldobreda, Inc.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Fleet Survey Shows Neglect
A survey of fleet decision makers and company car drivers, carried out by Kwik-Fit Fleet, has revealed a lack of basic maintenance among car drivers. The survey questioned 183 company car drivers nationwide and found that one third checked their tyre pressures and tread depths only quarterly, while 21 per cent never undertook checks. 45 per cent checked tread and pressures monthly.
Continue ReadingFord Fiesta Turns 30
The Ford Focus might be Britain’s most popular vehicle, but the smaller Fiesta is still one of Britain’s best-loved drives. And today is the small car’s not so small 30th birthday. More than 3.2 million Fiestas – enough to stretch bumper to bumper from London to New York and back – have been sold in the UK since the first one rolled off the assembly line in 1976. The £1,856 entry-level model featured then state-of-the-art extras such as a folding rear seat, rubber floor mats and two-speed windscreen wipers. It was all a world away from the 2006 model, which offers motorists high-tech technology like voice recognition, satellite navigation, MP3 capability and Bluetooth capability.
Continue ReadingSuccessful Debut For IQPC “Intelligent Tire Technology“Conference
At the end of last year the International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC) organised its first conference dedicated to tyre related topics. As the name of the event suggests, it mainly dealt with intelligent tyre technologies - meaning run-flat tyres and tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Participants were invited to take part in a day-long workshop immediately before the two-day conference with the first day completely focusing on new developments. The second conference day featured information about a wide range of different topics like for example tyre/road noise, chassis control and the design of alloy wheels.
Continue ReadingDinan Tuner Cars to Ride on Advan Neova Tyres
(Akron/Tire Review) Yokohama Tire Corp.’s Advan Neova tyre brand has been named the exclusive tyre for Dinan’s modified BMWs and Minis. Dinan, which featured Advan Neova tyres on its cars at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January, will offer Advan tyres exclusively, according to Yokohama. More than 130 Dinan-authorised BMW/MINI Performance Centres will offer the tyres.
Continue ReadingMatador Supports British Off-Road Championship
Matador (UK) Ltd has become the headline sponsor of the 2006 MSA British Off Road Championship. Company representatives are obviously pleased to have taken on the position, and commented: “2006 looks like it may be a defining year for off-road motorsport in the UK.” “Ultimately we want people to enjoy themselves watching and participating in 4x4 competition,” explained Matador Tyre Sport UK MD, Graham Middleton, adding: “At the same time it brings a different angle to Matador’s sporting portfolio. We competed in the ‘clubman’ section of the championship last year, and were impressed with the way that the organisers listened to the competitors.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone Concept Tyres Exhibited in Detroit
Bridgestone Corporation has equipped two concept vehicles with custom-made Bridgestone Potenza tyres for an exhibition stand at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The one-off Bridgestone brand tyres were built in cooperation with Mazda and Infiniti, the original equipment automotive manufacturers’ vehicles on which they will be featured.
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