On January 31, India’s Aditya Birla Group disclosed it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire US-based Columbian Chemicals Company from One Equity Partners, the merchant banking arm of J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. Aditya Birla has purchased One Equity Partners’ equity in Columbian Chemicals through its associates Alexandria Carbon Black Company and Thai Carbon Black Company Limited, along with SKI Investment, an Aditya Birla Group company.
Persistence has paid off for Blackcircles.com. The online tyre specialist has been courting Tesco, Britain’s largest retailer, for around three years and the two companies have now finally reached an agreement under which Blackcircles.com will sell its products through a Tesco operated website. The Tesco tyre site is expected to go live in February; Blackcircles.com’s managing director and founder Mike Welch – who in former times packed shelves for the retail giant – commented that Tesco’s marketing clout “will be great for us.”
Bandvulc Tyre Contracts (BTC) recently invested in new software and telephone systems in order to take the operation “to the next level of expertise,” the company said in a statement.
Trelleborg has reported signing an agreement with the European Investment Bank for an 80 million euro long term-loan. This loan, the Swedish company explains, is intended to finance a part of Trelleborg’s expenditures for selected research and development projects in number of European countries extending out into 2012. These research and development projects focus on the further development of advanced polymer technology and related products to seal, damp and protect in demanding environments.
Groupe Michelin has formally committed to building its first tyre plant in India, to be located in Chennai. An agreement on the deal was signed December 6 during the visit of French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
DSV, a global organisation that offers total logistic solutions across a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors, has re-signed an additional 12 month contract with Bridgestone. The majority of DSV’s fleet of 7500 trucks is fitted with Bridgestone Bandag 385/65R22.5.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is highlighting the European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) campaign to remind companies that new rules on classification, labelling, packaging and notification of chemical substances came into force on 1 December 2010. From December, within one-month of placing a chemical substance on the market, all companies involved in their manufacturer or import will need to notify the ECHA for their inclusion in the new Classification and Labelling Inventory.
The British Racing and Sports Car Club has chosen Avon Tyres to supply tyres to both of its Formula Ford 1600 Championships for the next three years, and will also support the club to help it promote its showpiece event – the Formula Ford Festival. “Naturally, we’re delighted to have secured the agreement to supply FF1600 for another three years,” said Paul Coates, general manager, Avon Tyres Motorsport. “We’re very keen to work with the BRSCC on further initiatives to secure the long-term future of FF1600.”
As a means of thanks for their contribution to the company’s recovery from the recession, Continental AG’s 146,000 employees worldwide will receive a one-off payment. Executive Board member responsible for human resources, Heinz-Gerhard Wente, announced that a total of 45 million euros has been set aside for this purpose. “After the serious economic and financial crises last year, our employees throughout the world demonstrated their commitment, working hard to contribute substantially to Continental’s speedier-than-expected recovery,” he said. “In recognition of this commitment, the Executive Board decided on the one-off payment for the spring of 2011, even though the company is still facing several major challenges.” Exactly how much an employee will receive depends on where he or she lives, however. While Continental’s 45,000 workers in Germany will receive 400 euros, those employed in lands with ‘lower living costs’ will receive only 200 euros.
The United Steelworkers (USW) has extended its contracts with Titan Tire at facilities in Bryan, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, and Freeport, Illinois, while negotiations for a new contract proceed.
Both sides reported progress in the current negotiations, but that there is much left to accomplish. As a result, the parties reached an agreement to extend the current contracts through 17 December so that negotiations may continue.
Pirelli recently renewed its tyre supply commitments to the British Superbike (BSB) and Supersport Championships, and now the company’s Metzeler brand has been confirmed as the control tyre supplier for the 1000ccc and 600cc National Superstock championships for a further five years. The German based manufacturer says these two “important production based classes within the prestigious MCE British Superbike series” have great importance as they offer Metzeler the chance to demonstrate the quality of its ‘over the counter’ tyres.
APT Tyre Distributors Ltd of Goole in Yorkshire has become the 800th tyre service provider to enrol into the Infleet network. APT Tyres owner Alan Payling signed the service agreement after successful negotiations with the Infleet sales manager David Tattler. The news marks rapid expansion for the fleet business which announced its 500th provider just over 18 months ago.
NFT, a leading provider of time critical logistics solutions for the food sector, has changed its tyre management solution to Tyre Maintenance Ltd, a part of the Bandvulc Group. The change sees NFT adopt a policy fitment of Bandvulc tyres and retains the majority of service operators as previously.
For NFT, David Seaton, Fleet Engineer commented: “Tyre Maintenance and Bandvulc have indirect links with NFT currently in servicing many of the same fleet customers as we do. It made sense both operationally and economically to utilise this synergy and to bring operations within the same group of companies.”
Devon-based hazardous liquid waste management specialist the Bale Group has selected Bandvulc’s product range for its tyre policy. On the basis of in-house drive and trailer axle position trials carried out by Bale, the company chose the Bandvulc produce as the most cost effective option for its operation; Bandvulc’s BD08 drive axle and B2K trailer tyres have been selected as the preferred policy fitment, supported by Continental HSR2 tyres on all steer and lift axles.
An agreement has been reached between South African trade union Solidarity and the local Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop and Goodyear operations. The union, which represents around 1,000 tyre industry workers in the bargaining council for the New Tyre Manufacturing Industry Association, released a statement on October 1 reporting the deal, which is being implemented retrospectively from July 1, 2010.
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