(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) has extended its sponsorship of the famed Bigfoot monster truck team through 2010. BFNAT began its sponsorship of Bigfoot in 1991, and the multi-vehicle team uses specially prepared Firestone tyres.
Leeds-based ContiNetwork member Tyre Maintenance Ltd is this year celebrating 25 years in business. The family-run company now has two depots in Leeds and Gateshead and 14 recovery vehicles, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive independent tyre providers in West Yorkshire and the North East. Run separately from their locally managed business, Tyre Maintenance also operates its own fleet contracts department, offering national fleet business various contractual options including fixed cost and PPK payment solutions.
The legendary Morgan 4/4 launched in 1936 and still produced today is about to become even more special. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Morgan Motor Company has unveiled a limited edition Morgan 4/4 slightly smaller than its Plus 4 and Roadster siblings. Just 142 “70th Anniversary” Morgan 4/4 cars will be built – two cars for every year of its production life since launch. Each car will be individually marked with the year it honours, finished in period style and fitted with Continental 165/80R15 CT22 tyres.
The latest marketing campaign for Marangoni tyres rivals those of front line manufacturers, says Group Tyre (UK), distributor of the brand. A series of teaser adverts have appeared under the headline ‘are you intelligent?’ featuring stereotypically intelligent professionals such as a lawyer, doctor, astronaut, inventor and scientist. These teasers appear as a tease and reveal combo, with the final, reveal ad; ‘The Intelligent Tyre Retailer’ who recommends Marangoni, because of the tyre’s performance.
Bridgestone Australia Ltd has unveiled a new Tyre Assembly Machine (TAM) at its Salisbury, Australia facility. According to the company, the new TAM represents a “significant investment” and will be used to manufacture 17 inch tyres, which are currently sourced from outside Australia.
A 33 per cent increase in the number of UK First Stop dealerships reaching Bridgestone’s highest customer service standard has topped a memorable year for the thriving network, the company has reported. Eight outlets across the country are now proudly operating as five star dealerships, with an equally impressive 37 having reached the very respectable four star grade.
Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited (TAL) a subsidiary of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co, Ltd, opened its new rubber mixing plant in Australia on the 20 October. Located in Minto, New South Wales, TAL’s new rubber mixing plant employs 61 people and is situated on a 76,900 m2 site.
Supply Direct, the sales division of Equipment Services has celebrated its first anniversary by holding an open night to thank its customers for their help. The open night offered discounts on all brands with live demonstrations in the company’s fully functional showroom including their brand new Automated Test Lane.
Bridgestone has announced that its Potenza RE050 tyres will be fitted onto the Ferrari GG50 concept car designed by world- designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Ferrari GG50 was designed by Giugiaro to celebrate his 50th year engaged in car design. The concept model, based on the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, is the only one of its kind in the world and is not intended for production or sale.
Supply Direct is holding an open night on the 19 October in celebration of its first birthday. The event is being held in celebration of a successful first year for the garage equipment wholesalers. “The open night will offer massive discounts on brand new equipment for that night only with demonstrations on all equipment in their fully functional showroom. The new ATL (Automated Test Lane) will also be included in the showroom demonstrations,” the company said in a statement.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced plans to launch a new airship in the spring of 2006 to be deployed to its Pompano Beach, Florida operation. The new airship has been in production for the past two years as a previously scheduled 2006 replacement for the Stars & Stripes, which has operated in Florida since 1992.
The John Bean Visualiner 3D Arago aligner picked up the Bodyshop Product of the Year Award for 2005 at the Bodyshop Magazine’s Industry awards ceremony held at the Novotel in West London 16th September. The Visualiner 3D Arago fought off competition from a number of other high-tech products but obviously the features that the Visualiner 3D Arago offers bodyshop owners proved a winner in the end. “It is the only 3 dimensional digital alignment system, and the only self-calibrating alignment system in the world. The award is testament to it’s unique and innovative design. In my 30 years of selling wheel alignment I’ve never seen a product that has advanced alignment technology more so than the Visualiner 3D Arago,” commented Stewart Levitt, Alignment Specialist at UK Equipment, who accepted the award.
On the 10 September Matador celebrated its 100th anniversary at a ceremonial gala evening, held at the Slovak National Opera Theatre of Bratislava. Matador, ranked 40 in a list of the world’s top tyre manufacturers in 2004, invited more than 500 guests to its World Meeting. These included friends, customers and partners from all over the world. Matador welcomed, the president of the Slovak Republic as well as top managers from manufacturers including JJ Tyres, Addis Tyre and Continental.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s (BFNAT) lone Canadian tyre plant is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week. The celebrations at the Joliette, Quebec, plant included a large family event, attended by nearly 1,000 workers and their families, as well as local and provincial officials.
“We are very proud of how far we’ve come in 40 years and are confident for the future of the plant, now favourably positioned to face world competition,” said plant general manager Isaku Motohashi. The nearly one-million-square-foot plant employs some 1,250 workers, and produces passenger and light truck/SUV tyres.
On 8 September 2005, Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH will celebrate its 150th anniversary at the company’s Hamburg-Harburg site. Guests will include the mayor of Hamburg, Mr Ole von Beust. The senator for trade and industry, Mr Gunnar Uldall will also give a speech. Further guests expected include the president of Harburg’s Technical University, Prof Dr Edwin Kreuzer, his predecessor, Prof Dr Christian Nedeß, and the chairman of the parentcompany Lübeck-based Possehl, Mr Uwe Lüders.
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