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Beru Appoints New CEO

During a meeting on August 27 the Supervisory Board of Beru AG agreed upon the appointment of Dr.-Ing. Thomas Waldhier as member and chairman of its Board of Management, a position that he will commence on October 1.

Dr. Waldhier has more than ten years of experience as a member of management boards in companies supplying the automotive industry. Since April 2004 he has been member of the management board at SAS Autosystemtechnik, Karlsruhe, a joint venture company between Faurecia and SiemensVDO.

28th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Petr Zolotarev Appointed Amtel-Vredestein CEO

Petr Zolotarev recently stepped into the role of CEO of Amtel-Vredestein, following the anticipated resignation of Alexi Gurin. The company has further announced the appointment on July 1 of Vadim Pesochinsky as company CFO.

Mr Gurin initially intended to leave the company once the terms of his departure were completed following his resignation becoming effective on July 1. However Mr Gurin agreed to remain as a member of the Executive Board until August 1 to aid in the transition to new management and to assist with the completion of the Company’s debut Eurobond.

Petr Zolotarev was most recently the chief executive officer of OJSC Russian Machines, which includes Group GAZ, aviation plant Aviacor and carriage-building enterprise Abakanvagonmash. Mr. Zolotarev also holds the position of chairman of the board of GAZ, the leading Russian commercial vehicle producer. Previously, he was acting president of Yukos Refining and Marketing.

28th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz Names Yost Executive Vice President

Hayes Lemmerz International has promoted vice president, finance and chief financial officer to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Along with gaining the world “executive” to his title Mr. Yost is responsible for the company’s global finance and information technology functions, and will continue to report to Curtis J. Clawson, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board.

The global wheel and automotive component manufacturer states that Mr. Yost has strengthened the company’s finance team and enhanced internal accounting controls across the Company. Furthermore, Hayes Lemmerz gives Mr. Yost much credit for the success of the recent equity rights offering and debt refinancing, which raised new equity, retired high cost debt, and strengthened the company’s balance sheet.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Chairman Named at Monro Muffler

(Akron/Tire Review) Monro Muffler Brake has named Robert Gross, 49, currently the company’s president and CEO, as its chairman of the board.Gross succeeds Peter Solomon, 68, who will remain on the board. Gross will remain as president and CEO.

“In his role as president and CEO, Gross has done an outstanding job of building Monro through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth, while expanding Monro’s reputation as a trusted service provider,” said Solomon. “We are confident that Rob’s election will serve to benefit the long-term growth of the Company as well as serve to maximise return on investment for our shareholders.”

Separately, Elizabeth Wolszon, 53, was elected to the board, replacing Robert Mellor, 63, who resigned to devote more time to other professional duties. Wolszon is senior vice president of marketing, human resources and strategic planning for the Safelite Group Inc.

23rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Settlement Reached in Ex-Union Workers’ Complaint

(Akron/Tire Review) Avoiding a formal hearing before the National Labor Relations Board, USW Local 2 (Akron) reached a settlement in the complaint made by former union members who claimed they were fined and harassed after crossing picket lines during the 86-day USW strike against Goodyear.

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which represented the three former union workers, said the settlement was reached last week.

The former union members claimed they were fined $620 each and subjected to harassment at their homes and on the job. USW Local 2 claimed it had the right to fine the members for quitting the union during a strike, but denied the harassment claims.

The settlement calls for Local 2 to post a document in the Akron Goodyear plant telling union members to refrain from ”threatening bargaining unit employees with internal union fines and termination,” and to not attempt to intimidate employees at their homes or otherwise attempt to coerce them. The union will also drop all internal charges against the three workers and expunge their union records.

While the settlement states that the agreement ”does not constitute an admission that the Charged Party violated the National Relations Act,” it does allow the three workers to pursue civil action against the union.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TRIB Sets Vegas Board Meeting

(Akron/Tire Review) Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) plans to hold its Board of Directors Meeting on Monday, October 29, the day before the SEMA Show starts.

The meeting will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas; the specific meeting room will be announced later.

TRIB said its board meetings are open to guests and the tyre industry press.

15th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop India to Retain Factory Land – For Now

Dunlop India’s battle to retain a legitimate claim to a piece of land at its factory in Ambattur, Chennai has been given a boost by a decision made by a district court in Chennai. The court has ordered that, for the time being, the land seized by real estate company VGN Enterprises should remain in the hands of the tyremaker.

The court official, Ponneri executive magistrate and revenue district officer, M.S. Sangeeta, said in an interim order that “the impugned land should be placed in as-is-where-is condition without any change, construction, removal of machinery or apparatus and [the] status quo should be maintained.”

This interim order lends weight to the Ruia group’s argument that the sale of 60.86 acres of factory land to VGN Enterprises in 2004, a transaction made by Dunlop India’s previous owners, was illegal.

15th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

PCL’s Digital Inflators Improve Starco Performance

Operators in the fitting area at Stafford-based Starco were have taken up to 10 minutes of assembly time by using PCL inflators. The team was previously using manual gauges on fitted machines, which proved time-consuming not just to inflate the tyres but to make continuous checks for accuracy. After ordering 8 wall-mounted Accura 12 inflation units there has been a significant improvement in tyre inflation times, with one particular assembly having its inflation time reduced from 15 minutes 34 seconds to 4 minutes 26 seconds. They have seen a clear and definite improvement across the board in inflation times, and this is enabling Starco to improve output and efficiency.

Operations Manager Craig Addison said: “The change to PCL’s digital unit has given us a greater level of control and an assurance that what is on the display is exactly what is going into the tyre. Before that we were constantly having to secondary check, which was taking up more operator time. It’s also good for our OEM customers to see, it reassures them that our tyre inflation is carried out using equipment with a high safety specification, providing the highest levels of accuracy.”

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hopes High for End to South African Strike

Tyre manufacturers and unions in South Africa are hopeful that the three-week old industry strike may be coming to an end. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said it hoped a final settlement may be reached on August 14.

“One outstanding issue was that Goodyear tyre should come out with a plan on how they intend to phase out labour brokers in their employment,” said union spokesperson Maziwakhe Hlangani. Goodyear has agreed that 100 of the 250 contract workers will be absorbed into permanent staff compliment.

“Other issues involved are labour costs, which include shift allowances, and increases in provident funds contributions, which should be tackled again, said Hlangani.

According to Numsa, the Employers’ New Tyre Industry Association was offering wage increases ranging from 8.5 per cent for the lowest paid workers, 8 per cent across-the-board and 7.5 per cent for those earning above the maximum grade levels

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Board Authorises Debt Repurchase

The board of directors at Cooper Tire agreed at their August 3 meeting to authorise the repurchase of up to US$200 million of the company’s publicly traded notes. According to a statement released by Cooper, the repurchase of debt may be accomplished through open market transactions, a tender offer, or a combination of the two.

7th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Siemens Selling VDO Unit to Conti

Continental AG will become the proud new owner of Siemens’ VDO automotive electronics unit after agreeing upon a deal worth 11.4 billion euros. The details of the sale were confirmed at a meeting of Siemens’ supervisory board on July 25. Following the sale, which must first be granted approval from the relevant antitrust authorities, Continental will become one of the world’s five largest automotive suppliers. Assuming no delays in antitrust clearance occur, the sale should be closed towards the end of this year’s fourth quarter. Integration will be concluded by the end of 2009.

The sale to Continental spells an end to the possibility of an IPO for the VDO unit as previously considered. At the same time as this deal was approved Siemens also announced its intention to purchase the US manufacturer of medical equipment Dade Behring for US$7 billion

25th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TiWheel Directors Quit, Factory Remains Shut

Bidvest’s Alan Salomon tendered his resignation from the board of Tiger Wheel Limited on July 18, one day after the resignation of Brian Joffe was received. According to Tiger Wheel founder and chairman Eddie Keizan, the two men alternated as directors with each other, so once the first resignation was given it was logical that the second was imminent. Salomon’s was given a day later as he was travelling overseas.

The company’s factory in Babelegi, about 40km from Pretoria, has been closed and is not permitted to recommence operations until given the all clear by the liquidators. In the meantime, according to Keizan, customers have been left “shouting for wheels.”

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Board Taps Croswell as Secretary

(Akron/Tire Review) ASA Tire Systems president Wayne Croswell has been elected secretary of the Tire Industry Association (TIA), putting him in line to become TIA president in 2009. Croswell was elected by the TIA Board of Directors during its June 29 meeting in Toronto.

“We are very pleased to have Wayne fill the position of Secretary,” said current TIA President Paul Hyatt. “Wayne has demonstrated his leadership abilities as a TIA board member on numerous occasions. I believe TIA and the industry will benefit from Wayne’s experience and commitment to the growth of the tyre industry.”

Croswell currently serves as chairman of TIA’s Member Services and Benefits Committee and also serves on the Public Relations and Marketing Committee, Strategic Planning and Bylaws Committee, and on the State Association Executives Council.

12th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NLRB Denies Union’s Appeal Against CTNA

(Akron/Tire Review) The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has denied an administrative appeal filed by the United Steelworkers (USW) union contesting the NLRB’s earlier decision to dismiss the union’s suit against Continental Tire North America (CTNA).

The USW alleged unfair labour practices in the 2005-2006 labour negotiations between CTNA and the union at the tyremaker’s Charlotte, North Carolina manufacturing plant.

The NLRB’s general counsel concluded that CTNA’s decision to curtail tyre manufacturing at its Charlotte plant was lawful and that the company complied with its legal obligations to negotiate with the union about the decision.

“This determination resolves the legal dispute between CTNA and the union pertaining to the company’s efforts to restructure the Charlotte plant,” said CTNA. “The determination is final, and there are no other opportunities for appeal.”

6th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Moscow Tyre Plant Elects New BOD

According to a company report, the shareholders of the MShZ (Moscow Tyre Plant) elected a new board of directors at the manufacturer’s annual meeting on June 28. The Moscow Tyre Plant, which is owned by Amtel-Vredestein, has a share capital of 343.2 million roubles (£6.6 million). Amtel-Vredestein announced its intention to acquire the Moscow Tyre Plant last July, and in September commenced the production of tyres under the Amtel brand name.

4th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors