Agricultural
Vredestein has launched a new agricultural tyre, which it describes as “the new standard for modern medium-class tractors.” The Traxion85 represents the latest stage of development of the company’s Traxion+ series, which has been on the market since 1997. The new tyre is available in 14 sizes.
Continental defended its World Champion title at this year’s World Ploughing contest held in Prague, with team representative Bernhard Altmann winning a gold medal for ‘Conventional Ploughing’.
Bernhard Altmann, who was World Champion in 1998 and 2002 drove on Continental AC 85 agricultural tyres “The ContiContract AC 85 proved to be particularly suitable for the ploughing requirements,” said Robert Gaubinger, coach of the Austrian ploughing team. The team intends to compete on Continental tyres next year at the 53rd World Ploughing Contest that will take place in Carlow, Ireland.
Alliance Tire has reported total sales of $78.5 million compared to $63.6 million in the first half of 2004, up 23.4 per cent. Net income in the second quarter of 2005 grew 278 per cent, amounting to $4.6 million, compared to $1.2 million in the same quarter of 2004. “Marketing efforts, product mix and business conditions were the main factors to fuel the sales growth and profitability,” said company CEO Isia Tchetchik.
The positive business results of Alliance Tire Company have been rewarded by a vote of confidence from investors’ side. The company is currently producing around 120,000 agricultural tyres at around US $ 42 million a year and has been the second best Israeli stock market investment of the year. Company share grew at 160% from the beginning of 2005.
Michelin has published its financial results for the first half of the year, showing a 0.1 per cent increase in net sales over 1H 2004 to 7.49 bn euros and a rise in net income of 5.5 per cent to 385.9 m euros.
At first reading, these results seem to indicate stability and “business as usual”, but in fact the story behind them is one of wildly differing performances in the various geographic and product sectors, set against a background of inexorably rising raw material costs.
Of the 7.49 bn euros turnover, car tyre sales were 4.12 bn, while truck tyre sales accounted for 2.41 bn euros. Operating income was 679 m euros, of which 383 m was car tyres and 283 m truck tyres.
Since John McNaught took over at Bridgestone UK there have been a number of changes including some high profile acquisitions in the commercial vehicle sector. But in general the developments of the last few years can be summed up in one word, growth.
It has been a “phenomenally busy period,” John McNaught told Tyres & Accessories at the company’s Warwick, headquarters. “Bridgestone is in a very high period of growth and for all our staff it is a tremendously busy and rewarding time,” said Mr McNaught explaining that this is part of a long-term plan developed in conjunction with the company’s European management based in Brussels. John McNaught praised the efforts of all his team and highlighted the fact that the company has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People award.
(Akron/Tire Review) For the second time this year, Michelin North America (MNA) is raising prices on some of its commercial tyre product lines. Prices on Michelin and BFGoodrich branded replacement medium truck tyres will jump three to five per cent, MNA said. The increase will hit direct-billed fleet accounts as of 1 July, but won’t hit dealer accounts until 1 September, the company said.
Prices on OTR tyres sold in North America will increase by an average of 7 per cent, from the same date. Prices on replacement market agricultural tyres sold in Canada will go up five per cent on average, while agricultural tyre prices for US customers will increase by an average of eight per cent, also from 1 July.
Firestone has launched what it claims it the world’s widest agricultural tyre. At 1250 millimetres wide, the company reports that the agricultural tyre is a full 200 millimetres wider than the nearest competitor.
(Akron/Tire Review) Sweden’s Trelleborg Wheel Systems has approved Arnco’s SuperFlex and RePneu flatproofing fill for use in its branded agricultural tyres. Arnco European Sales Manager Andrew Elliot said the results of extensive laboratory and field testing conducted by Trelleborg were a major factor in the decision.
Commenting on the testing, Trelleborg field engineering manager Bo Lenander said: “The end-user specially pointed out the positive side of being spared the expensive tire repairs, wrecked tires and the difficult and expensive down time. It was also noted that they were let off the continuing tyre pressure checks and the otherwise constant concern for air leakage.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Titan International Inc has reported record first-quarter net income of $11.2 million, up 111 per cent from last year’s first quarter. Net sales were $136.1 million for the first quarter, ended 31 March and gross profit was $24 million. Basic earnings per share also set a record at $0.68 for the quarter, the company said. Classified by segment, revenues were $89 million for agricultural, $39 million for earthmoving/construction and $7.5 million for consumer.
Carlos Ghosn, former chief operating officer of Michelin North America, has been appointed as chief executive of Renault. The well-known executive, also known as “the cost killer,” is a celebrity in Japan due to the radical turnaround he led at Nissan.
“Unfortunately, the best news is the worst news for many Russian news agencies,” according to Sibur press attaché, Anna Stepanova. The Russian tyre manufacturer’s spokesperson made these comments in response to reports stating that the company had reduced first quarter tyre production by 25.5 per cent. While the reports were not inaccurate, Sibur’s management does not agree with the conclusions drawn by Russia’s Analytical News Agency (ANA) and says that numbers went down due to production improvements and capacity transfers.
This year Trelleborg is 100 years young. The company’s name is fairly well recognised in the UK market but there is still room for improvement. Ask where the company comes from, what it’s up to on the UK market, or how Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) fits into the picture and the response is often vague. However the manufacturer is addressing these brand awareness issues and is beginning to focus more and more on its agricultural division as well as marketing itself as a specialist in agricultural tyres. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Ian Gillespie, managing director of Trelleborg Wheel Systems UK, to discern its UK market approach.
In the aftermath of yesterday’s not-too-surprising announcement that Goodyear will sell its agricultural tyre operations to Titan International, more details have come to light, reports Tire Review.
Goodyear agreed to sell the assets of its agricultural group, including its farm tyre plant in Freeport, Illinois, to Titan for approximately $100 million. The deal also gives Titan the right to produce and market agricultural tyres under the Goodyear brand name. However, under Goodyear’s current master contract with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), any facility sale is contingent on the union and the prospective new owner reaching agreement on a new contract for the plant in question.
One of the biggest events in the agricultural community’s calendar is the Smithfield show. The exhibition’s organisers say that the show aims to respond to the needs of the ever evolving farming industry, by providing a number of new and exciting initiatives designed to advise and enlighten those involved. This year’s show attracted a farming audience of nearly 44,000. Tyres & Accessories was also present amongst the livestock and the potato sorting machinery, reporting on developments in the world of agricultural tyres.
A number of competitions took place at the show including the Smithfield New Machinery Award, which was won by Richard Larrington of Boston, Lincolnshire, for his ingenious Potato loading machine. Michelin also won an award. This year the French tyre manufacturer picked up the gold award for consistent commitment to agricultural machinery. According to the company, this one will be added to the silver RASE award it won for the CargoXbib at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh.
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