Goodyear Archives - Page 156 of 243

Goodyear Modernising Taiwan Plant

(Akron/Tire Review) News reports say that by the end of this year Goodyear will spend NT$300 million (£4.5 million) on new production equipment for its tyre plant in Taoyuan, Taiwan. The company has been looking to boost its Asian market manufacturing as a means to reduce costs and gain a better foothold in the Asian market. The investment is expected to increase Goodyear’s Asian capacity to the point that by 2010 its Asian operations will represent 10 per cent of its entire global production.

19th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Appointments at Goodyear SA

Product News

South Africa’s tyre industry has recently completed a short round of musical chairs, with a couple of senior executives switching companies. Former Continental Tyre SA senior manager Dustine Gascoyne has joined Goodyear South Africa as marketing director. “The Port Elizabeth-born marketing executive has gained solid experience in the tyre industry after spending the past 14 years at Continental,” said Goodyear in its announcement. Gascoyne added: “I am delighted to be on board at Goodyear. The company feels open and team-oriented.”

Goodyear recently split the sales and marketing directorship portfolios into two separate roles, and former Hi-Q managing director Andrew Bowren has taken up the position of sales director at Goodyear South Africa.

14th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Petrochemical to Increase Synthetic Rubber Production

Product News

Kumho Petrochemical has made a total investment of 285.3 billion Korean won (£150.6 million) in extensions to its facilities as part of its goal of acquiring the largest share of the global synthetic rubber and specialty chemical market. A total of 164 billion Korean won (£86.6 million) has been invested in the company’s BR (butadiene rubber) factory and 97 billion Korean won (£51.2 million) in its SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) plant. A further 24.3 billion Korean won (£12.8 million) has been invested in the company’s specialty chemical plant, where the substance 6-PPD is produced.

When the extensions are completed, Kumho Petrochemical’s annual BR production capacity will increase from 222,000 tons to 342,000 tons, while its annual SBR production capacity will rise from 421,000 tons to 531,000 tons. The company will also produce more than twice its current volume of 6-PPD a year, increasing its capacity from 31,000 tons to 70,000 tons. Extensions to the BR plant are expected to be completed in October 2009. When this goal is achieved, Kumho Petrochemical’s annual production of BR and SBR combined will reach 763,000 tons – meaning that output will surpass that of Goodyear, who currently produce 714,000 tons per annum, placing Kumho Petrochemical at the head of the world list in terms of synthetic rubber production.

14th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marathon Runners to Follow in Goodyear’s Tyre Tracks

Premium, Product News

In the US Goodyear is taking the promotion of its tyres to the streets – literally. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on November 12 announced it is to hold the distinction of being the Official Tire of the 2007 Philadelphia Marathon. As part of the agreement, Goodyear will have the marathon’s “blue line” that leads runners through the race’s 26.2 miles painted in the pattern of the company’s signature TripleTred Technology tread pattern. This is believed to be the first occasion in the history of road racing that a marathon line has featured a branded design. The pattern will be seen by the 15,000 runners and more than 100,000 spectators anticipated to be in attendance on race day, November 18.

The tread line will be laid down via a six-foot tall replica Fortera TripleTred tyre, which will roll the line out over the entire course. During the two nights leading into the marathon, the replica Goodyear tyre will paint the patterned blue line in a biodegradable, all natural vegetable-based latex paint. Philadelphia mayor John F. Street will begin the line painting in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during a press conference on November 15.

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13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to End Pax System R&D

Product News

Michelin described it as “revolutionary” and “our biggest technological breakthrough since we patented the radial tyre in 1946,” yet news indicates that the French manufacturer is turning its back on the product about which it once said “we haven’t been this proud since we invented the radial.”

The director of research at Michelin’s Technology Center in Ladoux, France is reported to have said that the company has halted further research into its Pax run-flat system as there is “no big market demand” for the product. He added that demand for the Pax was not sufficient to justify the expense of the research invested into it.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Pay Millions in Discrimination Lawsuit

Product News

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has been ordered to pay a woman in the US nearly $4.4 million after a jury in Seattle found the company demoted her subsequent to her complaint of being the victim of discrimination due to her sexual orientation. The lawsuit was filed by Melissa Sheffield, 47, who had been employed in a Goodyear owned retail store in Seattle for a decade before the alleged problems began in 2003.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

RMA Sets US National Tire Safety Week Dates

Product News

(Akron/Tire Review) In the US the seventh annual National Tire Safety Week will be held between April 20 and 26, 2008, the RMA has announced. The event is part of RMA’s “Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART” program. RMA said that National Tire Safety Week participation grew from 15,000 retail outlets in 2006 to 18,500 in 2007. Partners in RMA’s Be Tire Smart program include a wide range of independent tyre dealers, such as American Car Care Centers, Big 10 Tires, Belle Tire, Big O Tires, Discount Tire Co., Expert Tire, Just Tires, Kaufman Tire, Les Schwab, Merchant’s Tire, National Tire and Battery (NTB), Northwest Tire, Peerless Tires, STS Tire and Auto Centers, Sullivan Tires, Tire Factory, Tire Kingdom, Tire One, Tires Plus, Tire Warehouse, Town Fair Tires, VIP Parts, Tires and Service, and many others.

Also supporting the RMA program are non-independents and trade groups such as the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), Pep Boys, Sears Automotive Centers, Firestone Complete Auto Care, GCR Tire Centers, Goodyear Auto Centers, Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Express, Costco, Automotive Service Excellence, Tire Industry Association (TIA) and AAA.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Defence Spending Allocated to Goodyear

Product News

The US House of Representatives approved a military spending bill that, amongst numerous projects, earmarks US$1.2 million for Goodyear’s production facility in Topeka, Kansas for the production of tyres for the military. The Defense Appropriations bill was approved by 400 votes to 15 on November 8, and now proceeds to the US Senate for a second vote.

Upon final approval of the bill Goodyear will be commissioned to manufacture tyres for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a unit designed to replace the military’s Humvee. This new vehicle – intended to provide greater versatility and survivability in the event of an attack than existing designs – is still currently at the prototype stage, with military officials considering various options from 18 different manufacturers. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is not expected to enter production until 2012, at which stage up to 160,000 of the vehicles will most likely be produced.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Over 100,000 Vehicles on Goodyear FleetOnlineSolutions Contracts

News

FleetOnlineSolutions, Goodyear’s internet-based truck and bus fleet tyre management system, has hit a significant milestone for the company. The system, which provides fleets with consistent high quality service and agreed pricing across Europe, now has more than 100,000 vehicles on contract – a ten-fold increase in just two years. The business has grown from just 10,000 vehicles in early 2005 to a sector now worth approaching 25 million euros, covering 23 countries and with 280 fleets on contract.

FleetOnlineSolutions integrates with Goodyear’s main computer systems. It works via the internet linking Goodyear, the customer and the service providers. Customers with FleetOnlineSolutions (FOS) contracts have all their vehicle data and contract details on the system. Goodyear TruckForce service providers, whether they are the fleets’ regular workshop or in another country providing roadside assistance, can access the FOS website. This provides information in their own language and enables them to carry out all necessary work, create invoices and update the system.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Names New Supply Chain VP for EU and EEMEA

Product News

Goodyear Dunlop has announced the appointment of Robert Scholte as vice president of supply chain for the company’s EU and EEMEA regions. Scholte joins the company from Nestle Purina Petcare where, for the past 3 years, he has been European Supply chain director. The appointment is effective 1 January 2008.

In a joint statement, Arthur de Bok, president EU, and Jarro Kaplan, president, EEMEA, said: “This appointment follows our recent announcement of the new supply chain organization across both regions. Robert joins us with an outstanding background, covering all the supply chain elements….he has held senior positions with responsibilities for raw materials, manufacturing, logistics, through to the final delivery of products to customers. We have underlined the strategic importance of this position and have found an individual who will work with all areas of the company to provide the most effective supply chain to our customers.“

5th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

More Praise for Goodyear’s Eagle F1

Motorsport

Goodyear’s UHP Eagle F1 Asymmetric has bagged another award, this time at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The widely read US publication Popular Mechanics selected the new for 2007 Goodyear rubber from the 4,000 plus displays and countless new products at the SEMA exhibition and awarded the tyre its Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award for New Products.

“It is an honour to receive this award on behalf of Goodyear and the engineers who invented this tyre for the demanding enthusiasts in this segment,” said Bob Toth, marketing manager for Goodyear Auto Tires. “Goodyear’s Eagle brand of tyres have long been known for ultimate performance, and this recognition again helps to provide further credibility.”

2nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Elects to End Tyre Production at Tyler Plant

Product News

On October 30 Goodyear announced its intention to end tyre production at its Tyler facility in the US state of Texas, ending months of speculation over the plant’s fate upon expiry of the one-year stay of execution granted by the signing of the United Steelworkers’ three-year master contract in December 2006.

Goodyear announced that production will end in January, the exact date falling some time in the first fortnight of the year. The end of tyre production will be accompanied by the loss of more than 600 of the plant’s 740 hourly jobs, the company added.

The tyremaker issued the USW a Worker Adjustment Relocation Notice (WARN) Act notification on the afternoon of October 30. By law a company must issue a WARN Act notification 60 days prior to beginning redundancies that will affect more than one-third of the workforce.

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Reports ‘All-Time Record’ Q3 Sales

Product News

Titan International reports that its third quarter sales reached an all-time record figure of US$195.5 million, an increase of 25.2 per cent over the previous year’s third quarter result. This strong result has contributed towards record year to date sales of $632.1 million, a 23 per cent increase on the nine-month figures for 2006. Gross profit was $18.3 million for the third quarter, a 7 per cent increase over the $17.1 million obtained in the third quarter of 2006.

“The agricultural market for wheels and tyres is finally starting to show the growth we’ve been waiting for since 2006,” said Titan chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “The orders for wheels and tyres are as strong as we’ve seen since 2004, and we believe it could continue to grow not only through 2008, but also into 2009 and beyond.

“The OTR mining tyre business remains strong. Since Titan announced the decision to build super giant 57- and 63-inch tyres, almost every mining company in the top 30 has made plant visits to Titan and found that we will be able to supply them with both wheels and tyres for all equipment they use in open-pit or underground mining. This should add tremendous volume going forward for Titan.

30th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Sales Up Despite Lower Volumes

Product News

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has reported record third quarter sales of US$5.1 billion, up 3 per cent from last year. The company’s Asia Pacific Tire, Latin American Tire, European Union Tire, and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire divisions all achieved record sales during the quarter despite Latin America being the only region to actually sell a greater volume of tyres. Goodyear claims it has successfully offset lower volumes through price increases and a richer product mix. These price and product mix changes in all five business units led to a 7 per cent increase in revenue per tyre over the 2006 quarter, and Goodyear adds that the quarter’s lower sales volume – 51.7 million tyres worldwide as opposed to 55.8 million in third quarter 2006 – reflects the company’s strategic decision to quit “certain segments” of the North American private label tyre market, along with other weak markets.

Total segment operating income from continuing operations was $382 million in the third quarter of 2007, another all-time high and up 35 per cent from the 2006 period. All five business units had higher segment operating income compared to last year, with Asia Pacific Tire and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa Tire setting records for any quarter.

30th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Closure Deadline Looms

Product News

(Akron/Tire Review – Tyler Morning Telegraph) By Thursday November 1, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. employees at the Tyler plant may know more about what the company plans to do with the facility – and their jobs – at the start of the New Year. Then again, they may not know a whole lot more than they do now. In December 2006, the United Steelworkers ratified a three-year master contract with Goodyear that stipulated the company would keep the Tyler plant open at least one year. The next month, Goodyear, in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, indicated it might close the plant in the first three months of 2008. Companies must file a Form 8-K to announce major events of which their shareholders should be aware.

29th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

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