Bridgestone Archives - Page 180 of 275 - Tyrepress

Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.

Posts

Bangladesh to Double Rubber Output by 2020

Industry professionals in Bangladesh say that the country has targeted a doubling of rubber production over the next decade, in order to meet potential export figures. The current capacity stands at 30,000 tonnes, though at present the estimate for 2008 stands at 16,000 tonnes from the 1,300 nationwide rubber gardens.

Local news sources report that the country’s commerce adviser, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said on Monday that Bangladesh had started to trade rubber with Turkey, which is trying to get certificate for Bangladesh’s rubber from Bridgestone. “Bridgestone’s certification may take the Bangladeshi rubber industry to a new height,” claimed Hossain Zillur.

12th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Stock Plunges

Shares in the world’s most profitable publicly traded tyre manufacturer (according to Bloomberg), Nokian Renkaat Oyj, have experienced a sharp decline alongside most Russian stocks following the descent of the ruble in recent days. The company currently enjoys a 30 per cent share of Russia’s premium replacement market, though overtures from Bridgestone and Pirelli – who have earmarked 250 million euros for a joint venture in the country with Russian Technologies – sound out a threat to the stability of that figure.

Mika Leskinen, a fund manager at Pohjola Asset Management of Helsinki stated that “competition is set to intensify” and that reasons for the stock’s fall included a massive 37 per cent rise throughout May and the recent Russian military intervention in Georgia. He suggests that analysts recommending the stock and raising earnings estimates had been a little “too optimistic”. Bloomberg’s straw pole of 15 banks however suggests that analysts are still happy to get behind the stock, with only London-based Merrill Lynch analysts suggesting their sale.

12th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Adds to Ultra-Deep Drive Radial Lineup

In the USA, Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) is adding two sizes to its lineup of new Firestone FD690 PLUS deep drive axle radial tires: 225/70R19.5 and 245/70R19.5.

The FD690 PLUS features a continuous shoulder design specifically engineered to combat irregular wear, an aggressive block/lug design to cut through water and road films and linked center lugs to add stability against tread squirm and to fight heel and toe wear, according to the company. The tyres are available from a Firestone commercial tyre dealer or truckstop. (Tire Review/Akron)

11th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Two Bridgestone Plants Cut Production Days

Tennessee’s two Bridgestone Firestone plants have announced that they are responding to slackening sales by cutting 51 production days between them. The LaVergne plant’s 1,200 employees will miss 23 days, while the 790 working in the Warren County facility will halt production for 28 days between now and EOY.

A company statement released yesterday said that the measures were intended to align production levels with industry demand in the US passenger, light truck and bus segments. Dan McDonald, Bridgestone’s spokesman, said that the truck tyre sector had in particular been suffering in light of recent economic conditions.

10th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestones OE on New Infiniti FX

The 2009 Infiniti FX rides exclusively on Bridgestone Dueler tyres. Dueler H/P 92A tyres in size P265/60R18 109V are standard equipment on the V6-powered FX35 and FX35 AWD while the 390-horsepower, V8-powered FX50 is shod with Dueler H/L 400 tyres in size P265/45R21 104V. This Dueler H/L 400 is the first-ever application of a 21-inch tyre on Infiniti’s sporty crossover. Also available as optional equipment for the V6-powered 2009 Infiniti FX35 and FX35 AWD are size P265/50R20 106V Dueler H/P 92A tyres. Bridgestone also offers a Blizzak DM-Z3 winter tyre in all three OE sizes for the Infiniti FX, the company said. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Harris Brothers Tyres Raises £800 for Charity

Harris Brothers Tyres raised £800 for the Paul Sartori Foundation, a local charity, at the Pembrokeshire County Show. The three days of events raised a total of £814 for the charity, which provides palliative care for patients with life-limiting conditions, both from the hospice based in Haverfordwest and for patients at home.

Leighton Walker, director of Harris Brothers Tyres, commented: “Despite the British weather, the event was a huge success. Thousands of visitors came along to the stand to see the Formula One car and give the simulator a go, helping us to raise a fantastic amount for charity. Working within Bridgestone’s First Stop group, we are able to do more to give that little bit extra to our customers and also to local charities such as the Paul Sartori Foundation.”

8th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone UK Receives Award from European CEO

Bridgestone UK has received a special award from the global tyre manufacturer’s new European CEO Toru Tsuda for its outstanding business performance in the first half of 2008. Bridgestone, which is based in Warwick, continues to focus its efforts in working with independent tyre retailers and its well established Truck Point programme to strengthen its brand and market share aspirations.

With 20 Bridgestone sales companies in Europe, the CEO award is presented to the company that excels in all areas of business improvement, focusing specifically on increases in like-for-like sales, market share, category mix and profitability.

8th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyremakers Affected by Toyota’s Revised 2009 Estimate

Toyota has downward revised its projected production figures for 2009 by seven per cent; instead of the previously anticipated 10.4 million vehicles, the company now estimates that around 9.7 million Toyotas will be manufactured next year. This news comes as August sales figures for the US show 9.4 per cent fewer Toyota vehicle purchases during the month, a total of 211,533 units. Only sales of what count as smaller cars in this market, such as the Yaris, which sold 20.5 per cent more units, and the Camry and Camry hybrid were higher (3.3 per cent higher).

5th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Enters UK Bus Segment

When Bridgestone announced it had gained a contract with Swindon-based bus company Thamesdown Transport in July it marked a new stage in the Japanese manufacturer’s UK market development plans. Since then, the company has revealed that it has agreed three other strategic contracts (with Plymouth City Bus, Veolia and First Bus), designed to strengthen its position. The largest of these deals will see the company supply new Bridgestone tyres to 4000 buses. From an already strong position in the truck side of the roughly 1.4 million unit TBR market, Bridgestone is now aiming to position itself for growth in the bus side of the business too.

Speaking to Tyres & Acessories, Bridgestone UK commercial tyre director, Greg Ward, said that the manufacturer had been reviewing the market conditions for some time (about two years) before deciding 2008 was the right time to get involved with this market segment. What the company will have observed during this period is that there are many barriers to entering the part of the commercial vehicle market. And furthermore not many manufacturers are actually in a place to be able to successful serve this market in general. Asked why this was the right time to enter a marketplace that has and such a high entry point, Ward explained that Bridgestone and its partners now have the right “products, services and infrastructure,” to properly service this segment.

5th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kingsway Present Cheque to Norfolk & Norwich Hospital

First Stop tyre dealership, Kingsway Tyres has presented a cheque for £331.38 to the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital Respiratory Unit. The money was raised from a tyre safety road show which took place at Asda in Norwich, in conjunction with the Bridgestone worldwide ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign, after research showed that 90 per cent of drivers do not know their correct tyre pressure.

5th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Latitude Tour Accentuates Crossover Benefits

Despite rising fuel costs and a trend towards smaller cars, crossover SUV vehicles remain particularly popular in North America. Aware of this, Michelin has produced a tyre specifically for this unique class of vehicle. The Michelin Latitude Tour tyre is specifically designed for crossover vehicles, and the tyre major states the tyre is intended to accentuate the features that make these vehicles so popular, providing the strength of a truck tyre with the ride and comfort of a passenger car tyre.

4th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Trial Single Wet F1 Tyre

Bridgestone have revealed that they are in the process of developing a single wet tyre for Formula One cars, to replace the current choice of standard and extreme wets.

The tyre is to be based on the single wet rubber used in the GP2 Series, also supplied by the Japanese giant. It possesses a sloping block tread profile, which is designed to wear down when the track begins to dry, allowing an in-use transformation from an extreme-wet tyre to showing the characteristics of a standard wet.

4th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Better Service Peru OTR Market with New Company

Peru has become a key location for the sale of OTR tyres in recent times, and to better serve this market Bridgestone Corporation opened a newly established sales company there on September 1. Called “Bridgestone Off-The-Road Tire Peru S.A.C.”, the company is to specialise in tyres for mining and construction equipment.

3rd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dextra Makes Enlightened Switch

With logistics operations and haulage companies continuing the quest to lower their outgoings in the face of heightened fuel costs, tyre management programs are competing to offer better value; providing greater efficiency – and therefore larger earnings potential – in addition to cost-cutting measures. ATS Euromaster has been particularly active within the market recently, this month announcing two new converts to the organisation’s fleet management service.

Dextra Lighting, the largest privately owned lighting manufacturer in the UK, is switching its entire commercial vehicle fleet to Michelin tyres in a move aimed at reducing its annual tyre expenditure. The company hopes that making the switch will lower costs by up to 10 per cent. The new fitment policy will be supported by a comprehensive service package from nationwide service provider ATS Euromaster.

3rd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ATC Responds to “Various False Judgements”

American Tire Corporation has responded to an article written by US based industry magazine Tire Review, which T&A published online August 26. The company claims “various false judgements” were made in the article, and thus wishes to make its own position clear. The statement released by American Tire Corporation on August 31 is printed below, without alteration from the original text:

2nd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors