Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone has launched the Adrenalin RE002, in an extension its premium Potenza sport tyre line-up. The Potenza Adrenalin RE002 provides a contrast with Bridgestone’s original equipment and replacement market flagship, the Potenza S001, by offering a sportier feel, largely tuned for dry performance. It is designed to increase steering response and handling for the two-seat roadster, hot hatchback or tuned car driver.
Bridgestone completed its first round of pre-season MotoGP testing in early February, taking its latest hard and extra-hard front, and medium and hard rear compounds to Sepang, Malaysia. The tyre supplier also took the opportunity to meet with series organiser Dorna’s safety advisor, Loris Capirossi, who was there to “continue the good work Bridgestone and I started at Valencia last November”, in his words. He also scotched media reports of critical comments he was alleged to have made about Bridgestone’s rubber, saying he has “shared a long and positive relationship” with the supplier. “[In] Malaysia we made our plans for the season and most importantly for this time, we discussed the 2012 specification tyres and how the riders’ are responding to them,” he told the media.
More bus and coach workshop technicians have taken part in the Bridgestone Roadside course; a two-day initiative that trains technicians in health and safety, customer care and assessing the roadside situation. Three member companies of the Guild of British Coach Operators – Skills Coaches from Nottingham, Selwyns from Runcorn and Richmond's from Cambridge – have attended the course, which qualifies delegates for 14 hours of Driver CPC accreditation under JUAPT (CRS 1280 and 1117 modules) and awards them with a Roadside Technician ID card.
Bridgestone is to be the title sponsor of field hockey’s equivalent of cricket’s Indian Premier League, a competition designed to raise the profile of the sport in one of its key markets. The eight-franchise Bridgestone World Series Hockey competition starts on 29 February in Chandigarh, with the home Comets taking on the Bhopal Badshahs. The tournament will be broadcast in India on the Neo Sports network, with international coverage providers still to be announced. In addition to the 150 Indians, players will participate from around the world, including some from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
There was a time when four-wheel drive vehicles were direct descendants of hard-nosed ‘working’ and agricultural vehicles – so the choice of suitable tyres was pretty straightforward. These days, though, drivers are faced with what can be a bewildering array of specialist tyres for specific types of 4×4 and SUV – and for an ever-widening range of applications – which makes it challenging for the retailer to stock the answer to every request they’re likely to hear from their 4×4 customers. Stapleton’s seeks to answer these questions with what it describes as one of the widest ranges of on and off-road 4×4 tyres available.
Bridgestone Taiwan has announced the establishment of its first Bandag retreading facility in the country. The new truck and bus radial retreading plant in the city of Taichung was officially opened on 15 February. According to an article published by the China Economic News Service the facility has been set up with an investment of NT$110 million (£2.3 million).
Bridgestone UK has appointed former TBR area sales manager, Neil Collison as its new National Fleet Executive. The new position is part of a restructuring of the company’s national fleet approach, which has seen the formation of specialist new business and account management teams.
Goodyear Dunlop has launched a new web-based Fuel Efficiency Calculator, modelling the conditions under which Europe’s road haulers operate to predict the effect tyre choice, investments in driver training, and various aerodynamic retrofit solutions will have on fuel bills and companies’ environmental credentials. The calculator was developed alongside Panteia/NEA, which provided detailed market information from across Europe for increased accuracy. It is available free of charge to any European fleet operator or interested person.
Bad news for hauliers, as the price of diesel has hit a record high having rocketed by 10 pence per litre (ppl) in just 12 months – an inflation-busting 7 per cent rise – reports RMI Petrol.
The increase leaves diesel at 143.05 pence per litre (ppl), a level that could derail Government plans to curb inflation, is a disaster for motorists, and puts the livelihoods of hundreds of fuel retailers at further risk says RMI Petrol Chairman Brian Madderson.
A recently published report by TechSci Research suggests that the Brazilian replacement tyre market will grow as the country’s increasing prosperity encourages drivers away from retreaded tyres. Karan Chechi, research director with TechSci Research argues: “The Brazilian tyre market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 13 per cent for the next five years. It is forecast that its replacement tyre market will grow at a much faster pace than anticipated earlier due to the increasing number of automobiles on Brazilian roads, [which is expected] to reach 63 Million units by 2016.”
A new Bridgestone radial for larger scooters is due for release this year – The new Battlax SC will be launched in Japan on 1 April and will also be introduced into other global markets during the course of 2012, including North, Central and South America, Asian and Oceania. In Europe it will be available as a replacement tyre for maxi scooters of 300cc and above.
In its 13 years of operation, the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations plant in Aiken County, South Carolina has manufactured a tyre or two. Or 100 million. On 14 February the 100 millionth tyre rolled off the passenger car and light truck factory’s production line, and the arrival at this milestone was celebrated by company management, workers and invited guests. The tyre at the centre of the festivities is a Bridgestone Dueler A/T RH-S; this particular specimen was signed by guests attending the celebration and will be displayed in the plant’s lobby.
Production capacity of large and ultra-large off the road radials at Bridgestone’s Kitakyushu plant in Japan is to increase in order to meet growing global demand for these products. The tyre maker announced on 16 February that capacity will rise by 20 tons a day to approximately 165 tons in the first half of 2014. Alongside this increase, Bridgestone intends to increase production capacity at its Saga plant, which produces the radial steel cord used in large and ultra-large OTR tyres. As of December 2011 the Saga plant manufactured around 270 tons of steel cord a day; the size of the announced capacity increase was not disclosed in Bridgestone’s 16 February announcement. Approximately 4.7 billion yen (£38.2 million) will be invested in the two projects.
Bridgestone UK has strengthened its sales and marketing team with the announcement of new appointments within its consumer and commercial tyre operations. The new structure sees Brett Emerson and Greg Ward extend their current roles as UK consumer sales director and commercial sales director respectively into Ireland. Jackie Wherity, Ireland consumer sales manager, will support Brett Emerson with Greg Ward being supported by Ireland commercial sales manager Frank White.
Supporting truck fleet operators who are already under pressure from high fuel prices and increased competition is crucial over the next 18 months, delegates at Bridgestone’s recent Truck Point conference heard.
Just as Bridgestone is coming under greater pressure to supply tyres which help truck OE manufacturers meet their stringent European legislation on emissions, the network has a responsibility to support operators as they fight to preserve already tight margins in a tough market, according to Greg Ward, commercial sales director, Bridgestone.
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