Michelin, Dynamic Settle Lawsuits
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin and Dynamic Tire Corp. have entered into a settlement agreement resolving the infringement of intellectual property rights.
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Closure Looms for Tyler’s Goodyear Plant Amid Labor Stalemate
Product News(Akron/Tire Review – Associated Press) The possible closure of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s plant in Tyler, Texas, is among the sticking points in labor negotiations that could lead to a nationwide strike of some 14,000 employees this week, union officials said Tuesday. The primary obstacle in negotiations in Cincinnati between Goodyear officials and the United Steelworkers union revolves around the company’s desire to close plants in Tyler and Gadsden, Ala., union representatives in both cities said. The strike could start as early as Thursday afternoon.
USW Seems Poised For Goodyear Strike
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) It appears the United Steelworkers plan to go out on strike against Goodyear today. According to the most recent Solidarity Alert issued by the USW’s Goodyear contract negotiating team, union workers at 12 Goodyear plants will go on strike at 1 p.m. EST on Oct. 5. On Monday, the USW gave Goodyear the required 72-hour notice that it would discontinue working day-to-day under terms of its previous contract with the company.“This morning the company made a comprehensive proposal to the Union, reiterating their full “cut and gut” agenda. In response, your USW Policy Committee issued a 72-hour contract termination notice,” the Alert said. “If no tentative agreement is reached, a strike will begin at 1 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Oct. 5.” Goodyear and the USW continue their negotiations in Cincinnati. Before the Thursday deadline, the two sides could agree to extend the current contract for a set period if the two sides feel an agreement is close.
Autopromotec Makes The Going Easy
Product NewsThe organisers of Autopromotec 2007 have entered into a number of agreements with travel companies and hotels in order to make it easier for visitors to travel to and find accommodation close to the exhibition, which is scheduled for Bologna from 23-27 May next year.
Lear Corp and Transense Cooperate
Product NewsAutomotive supplier Lear Corp. has signed an agreement with Transense Technologies PLC to develop a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that does not require batteries and will comply with US federal regulations. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Michelin Wins London Central Contract
Product NewsMichelin has won a tyre contract with London Central, a division of the Go-Ahead Group, which operates 600 buses in south east and central London from depots in Bexleyheath, Camberwell, New Cross and Peckham. The contract sees London Central switch to a three year ‘pence per mile’ contract, similar to the agreement Michelin already has with London General, a separate division of the Go-Ahead Group, comprising a fleet of 700 vehicles in south west and central London.
Goodyear Says It Wants BFS-Union Deal Done First
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) In an interesting twist to the current round of master contract talks, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has told the United Steelworkers that it wants the union to reach a deal with Bridgestone/Firestone before it will continue negotiations. It was expected that talks between Goodyear and the USW were further along than those between the union and Bridgestone/Firestone, and that the union’s talks with Bridgestone/Firestone would be more difficult.
Another Contract for SmarTire
Product NewsIn the USA, SmarTire has been selected by ABC Companies to supply its SmartWave tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) on the company’s Van Hool motorcoaches, for whom ABC is the exclusive US distributor. ABC is a leader in the sale and leasing of new and pre-owned highway coaches.
Hayes Lemmerz Licenses Russian Wheel Producer
Product NewsHayes Lemmerz International, Inc has announced that its wholly-owned German subsidiary, Hayes Lemmerz Holding GmbH, has entered into a license agreement with Tolyatinskiy Zavod Stalnih Kolyos (TZSK) of Togliatti, Russia, a manufacturer of steel wheels. Under terms of the agreement, Hayes Lemmerz has granted a license to TZSK to use certain technology in the manufacture and sale of certain passenger car steel wheels to specific Russian vehicle manufacturers.
Pirelli Offers Workers 3 per cent Rise
Product NewsPirelli Tyre has offered workers a total 3 per cent pay rise in a move that means the manufacturer can avoid strike action at its UK production plants, Tyres & Accessories has learnt. The new offer, which the Transport & General Workers Union described as “improved,” will be phased in from the beginning of 2007. Workers will first receive a 2.2 per cent pay rise in February followed by a further 0.8 per cent in June 2007. The total new pay deal equates to more than double the original 1.1 per cent pay increase Pirelli offered workers in April. “Pirelli believe this to be a sensible agreement which will enable us to move forward from our national dispute and will help to maintain the competitiveness of our industrial operations in the UK,” a Pirelli spokesperson told T&A, commenting on the news.
John Bean Sponsors Jonny Milner Rally Team
Product NewsAlignment system manufacturer, John Bean has announced its sponsorship of the Jonny Milner Rally Team. Jonny is twice winner of the British Rally Championship winning the event in 2002 and 2003. This year Jonny is driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and currently leads Group N Lancer Evolution Challenge following an excellent win at the Isle of Man Rally.
Goodyear Tyres Going to GM’s New Lansing Plant
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) The Lansing State Journal and other media have reported that GM and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. have come to an agreement that will continue OE tyre shipments to the automaker’s new assembly plant in Lansing. Last week, GM sued Goodyear after Goodyear allegedly cut tyre shipments to GM in a pricing dispute. There was no word if the agreement will cover shipments other than those for the Lansing facility.
Varta and Manbat in Distribution Deal
Product NewsVarta Automotive Batteries has made changes to its product distribution, extending its agreement with major supply partner Manbat Ltd. The new distribution arrangements for both Varta and Freedom branded batteries have been introduced to provide improved levels of service to Varta’s network of more than 150 independent agents and support the long-term co-operation with Manbat. Critical to the new arrangement was the agreement of automotive buying group Group Auto Union in accepting Varta and Manbat as joint suppliers.
Manbat – Approved Supplier to Group Auto Union
Product NewsManbat has become an approved supplier of batteries to automotive buying group Group Auto Union (UK). As part of the agreement, the company, the UK’s largest battery distributor, will offer GAU distributors the high profile Numax and Varta brands of batteries, which both offer 99 per cent coverage of UK car parc.
GAU recognised Manbat for its excellent sales support package, which encompasses high quality cataloguing, point of sale, extensive availability and range of product.
VECO Moves in to Northern Ireland
Product NewsThe VECO range of automotive components is now available in Northern Ireland after Belfast-based SIA Agencies teamed up with GP Automotive, the official distributor of the brand in to the UK aftermarket. Under the new agreement, SIA Agencies has become the exclusive new VECO distributor in Northern Ireland and components are available immediately from the company’s warehouse in Belfast. The VECO label has gone from strength-to-strength since GP took over the brand last September. Its range of braking, clutch, water pump, cables, wheel bearings, and steering and suspension components have proved popular with aftermarket retailers seeking a cost-effective and reliable hard parts programme. The current VECO range exceeds 11,000 part numbers.
