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Richard Lyons new GITI Tire Europe head, plus new European structure

GITI Tire has appointed Richard Lyons as general manager as part of a series of moves that sees the firm implement a new organisational structure for its European operations. The new structure, which took effect 1 May 2011, has been established following the departure of Michael Andre in March. Andre previously held the role of marketing director for passenger car tyres Europe and was managing director of the company’s Giti Tire Germany GmbH German subsidiary.

Hervé Richert, GITI’s executive director, international sales and marketing described the new-look team a “direct consequence of GITI Tire Europe’s growth of business over recent years.” Writing in a statement detailing the reshuffle, he explained that it also follows the company’s “clearly defined strategy of building on strong relationships with its partners and customers with a focus on key markets in Europe and emerging markets” such as CIS and Russia:

5th May 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Hungarian Bandag franchisee ‘strengthens’ Bridgestone’s fleet package

On 14th April the new Hungarian Bandag franchise dealership, 5-Let Ltd., inaugurated its new retreading facility. Established with an investment of 2 million euros, the plant in the town of Mezőszilas began production on March 30 and is expected to produce 2,500 retreads this year; this number should double by 2013.

27th April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Laurent Reifen – “we’ve never sold so many tyres”

Following a crisis related dip in business in 2009, last year Laurent Reifen GmbH was able to once again set its sights on growth. While financial statements for the crisis year show the retreader still managed to sell more than 80,000 retreaded truck tyres and by doing so reduced its stock levels, last year turnover increased by a “clear double figure amount; we’ve never sold so many tyres,” as sales manager Dirk Schierhorn told Tyres & Accessories. Amongst other things, the Michelin Group owned retreader used last year’s business recovery to fine-tune the company for further shifts in the market.

1st April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni establishes new Corporate Center in Rovereto

For more than a year the Marangoni Group has operated its retreading business out of a central holding company. The Italian retreader also recently established a new corporate headquarters at its Rovereto site and consequently closed its centre in Verona. These actions were taken in response to structural changes within the market that necessitate increased speed and responsiveness. In an interview with Tyres & Accessories, Marangoni Group CEO Massimo De Alessandri explained the company’s current position in terms of its consolidation, the motivations driving it and the future facing those parts of the company not belonging to its retreading business.

1st April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Bandag pursuing a “fair share” approach to price increases

Last year Bridgestone Bandag – one of the largest competitors in the European retreading market – only announced minor price increases. In February this year, however, the manufacturer and franchisor needed to raise its prices by an average of six per cent. As Harald Van Ooteghem, Brussels based senior manager for TBR/Retread Business Planning at Bridgestone Europe, explains to Tyres & Accessories, in the event of price increases an attempt is made to implement a “fair share” approach by which both partners – the supplier and customer – share the extra burden.

1st April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Ecopia truck retreads and rolling resistance

At the launch at the IAA in September 2010 of Bridgestone’s latest range of truck tyres under the Ecopia brand, Europe CEO Mac Ohashi said a range of Ecopia retread patterns would follow for the M749 and R109 drive and trailer tyres. The former was released through the company’s European Bandag dealer network in January 2011 as a replacement for the Qualitread M749, while the company says the R109 Ecopia retread – a completely new product previously unavailable in the exiting Qualitread range – will follow later in the year. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Bridgestone Europe’s TBR/Retread Business Unit about the development of the Ecopia retread range and how it is presented to the market.

23rd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

European launch for Bandag mixed service treads

Two new mixed service treads have been added to the European Bandag range, and Bridgestone Europe says both products deliver up to 15 per cent higher mileage, along with a lower cost per kilometre, than their predecessor treads, the BDY3 and BZY2. The treads are the Bandag Drive Mixed Service (BDM1) and the Bandag Rib Mixed Service (BRM1), an all-position tyre for on/off road use.

17th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone go double the distance for haulier David Murray

Haulier David Murray reports that Bridgestone’s M729 drive tyre has achieved twice the performance of a standard competitor. David Murray Transport has been a customer to Bridgestone for over 12 years now and tyre performance and reliability has been a significant contributing factor to the loyalty shown. Managing director, David Murray, commented: “It is vital that all our components meet the high standards required, to provide a first-class service to our customers. Good quality, good wearing tyres provided by Bridgestone play a key role in delivering this.”

10th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Further Bridgestone Americas price increases

In addition to previously announced price adjustments in its Bandag and truck tyre businesses, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has announced price increases for two of its off-road divisions. The company’s Off Road Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division (BAOR) has announced plans to increase prices by 12 per cent with some in-line adjustments. The price increases will affect all mining, construction and industrial tyres marketed by BAOR and are scheduled to begin March 1. Furthermore, the Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales division (BAAG), has announced a four per cent price increase on Firestone branded agricultural, construction and forestry tyres; Bridgestone branded garden tyres and Regency branded tyres sold in the United States and Canada replacement markets. The new pricing will be effective April 1, 2011.

8th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo to raise passenger car and light truck tyre prices in Japan

From 1 April Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd will increase the price of tyres for passenger cars and light trucks sold in the Japanese domestic replacement market by an average of 7 per cent. Despite the fact the price hike takes effect on April fool’s day, the increase is not joke and applies to both Toyo’s summer and winter tyres. In fact the cost of some size of light truck tyres will rise sooner, with their Japanese domestic market price increase scheduled to take effect on 1 March 2011.

7th February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone's 12% Truck Tyre Price Hike Won't Cover Increased Costs – Analysts

Bridgestone’s decision to impose a drastic 12 per cent increase of North American truck and bus tyre prices in only likely to recoup roughly a fifth of the increased rubber costs the tyre manufacturer has had to pay recent, Deutsche Bank analysts reported.

3rd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

500th roadside tyre technician trained by Bridgestone UK

Lodge Tyres technician John Lane, based at the firm’s Walsall branch, recently became the 500th technician to attend and pass the Vehicle Roadside Technician training provided by Bridgestone UK Ltd, training department.

2nd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandag prices up 12% in North America

Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions has announced a 12 per cent price increase on its Bridgestone and Firestone brand truck and bus radial tyres, effective immediately. Upon announcing the pricing changes, company president Kurt Danielson stated “unfortunately, severely escalating raw material costs, as well as energy and other costs related to manufacturing, have made a price increase of this level unavoidable. We remain committed always to provide a premium package of quality and value to our customers.”

2nd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone launches first product in Ecopia retread range

The first retread product in Bridgestone’s Ecopia truck tyre range has been released through the company’s European Bandag dealer network. The M749 highway drive pattern was released as a retread in January 2011 and utilises the Ecopia casing, which Bridgestone says contributes around 60 per cent to the tyre’s rolling resistance qualities. In announcing the introduction of the M749 retread, the tyre maker commented that “by making the M749 Ecopia available as a retread, Bridgestone can now offer long-haul operators the double benefit of cost savings over the full tyre life and a reduction in the ecological tyre print of the fleet.”

31st January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Continues Qualitread Rebranding

The rebranding of Qualitread retreading products in Europe under the Bridgestone brand name continues in January with the renaming of the M729 drive tread and R168 trailer tread as Bridgestone Retread products. In April the Qualitread M729 EVO regional drive tyre will also join the Bridgestone Retread line-up.

20th January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors