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

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Meeting the Demands of Today’s Tyre Business

Tyre technicians throughout the UK are benefiting from a training scheme aimed at improving industry standards, and the first group of delegates have now successfully completed their courses. The awards scheme, run by Bridgestone UK, recognises excellence in tyre servicing and care, together with professional customer service delivery. The scheme offers three different levels of achievement for both car and truck categories – gold, silver and bronze – which are attained by completing a set number of training courses.

Bronze award achievers are required to pass four modules in either car or truck tyre training. They cover subjects such as health and safety, customer care, tyre knowledge and roadside breakdown assistance. Courses at this level are held at training locations across the UK. Upon passing each module, technicians are awarded a Bridgestone certificate of achievement, and when all four modules are completed, they receive the bronze award, which is recognised by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). They also become eligible for IMI membership. The more advanced silver and gold awards cover tyre technology, specialist tyre care and management skills. Some of these courses are held at Bridgestone’s European Education Centre in Rome.

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Chief Executive for National Tyres and Autocare

Tony Neill, formerly Managing Director of National Tyres and Autocare, has been promoted to the post of Chief Executive Officer. Neil has worked with National for the past 24 years in a variety of operational and senior management positions including, Operations Director, Purchasing Director and most recently as Managing Director for National’s 200+ retail operation.

Neil’s appointment follows the recent strategic business review headed by Price Waterhouse Coopers, which led to speculation of a takeover. Big names such as Kwik-Fit and Bridgestone had been linked to a possible deal. However, talk of this subject has now gone quiet and officially the company is now saying the review and the appointment “signals the start of a new strategic plan for the business going forward.”

19th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Reports £831 million Sales in 2006

Kwik-Fit’s 2006 accounts show the company achieved turnover of £830.9 million (up 4.4 per cent) during its full year since being sold to PAI. EBITDA increased to £100 million in 2006, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year. In August 2005 CVC Capital Partners sold Kwik-Fit to PAI for around £800 million, despite reported bidding from a Bridgestone/Mitsubishi partnership.

According to reports, the group traded in line with expectations during the early part of 2007 with growth in sales boosted by new services like MOT testing in the UK and fleet business in continental Europe.

There are also said to be plans to open 50 new outlets across Europe. In addition, the company is expected to upgrade its estate in the UK, France and Holland with significant capital investment.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Supply Manac Trailers in North America

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) has been chosen as the standard tyre supplier for the Manac and CPS brand trailers produced by Canada’s Manac Inc. The Quebec based company operates four trailer manufacturing plants in North America, and builds an extensive line of customised trailer designs for a variety of service applications.

“At Manac, our quality standards are uncompromising, and we expect the same from our business partners,” said Charles Dutil, president and CEO of Manac. “Bridgestone is essential to our commitment to provide our customers with best-in-class value and service.”

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s Yamada Happy to Work with Rossi

Bridgestone Motorsport’s Hiroshi Yamada appears to have put his past criticisms of Valentino Rossi’s bid to switch tyre supplier for the 2008 MotoGP season behind him, and is reported to have said he is looking forward to working with the Italian rider next year. Comments to this effect, made by the manager of Motorcycle Sport regarding Valentino’s switch from Michelin to Bridgestone Rubber, have been published by Motorcycle News.

“Always we like to have a good rider and obviously Valentino is one of the greatest riders in history and still I believe he has top potential,” Yamada told Motorcycle News. He added, however, that working with the current number three ranked rider would also require a few adjustments. “We are happy to have such a great rider, but this is also a new challenge because we have no experience with Yamaha. We have never worked together. This is a big challenge but we will try hard.”

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

40 Years of Business for Tyre Firm

A family business is celebrating after four decades in the tyre industry. J Whieldon Tyres has been serving the people of Leek since founder Jack Whieldon first opened his doors to customers in 1967. After he died in 1986, his son Pete took over and moved the business to its current premises in Regent Street. Since then, the four-strong team has continued to offer a range of vehicle services, including tyres, batteries and exhausts.

Pete Whieldon said that the company, which is a member of Bridgestone UK’s growing First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships, had over the years remained committed to providing first-class customer care. “The only real changes I’ve seen have been to our location and to the staff,” he said. “Our aim of providing a reliable and friendly service to all of our customers is the same as it always was.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Gets Star Billing at Super Bowl

Tyres will be given a high profile during the United States’ most watched televised event thanks to an agreement cemented between Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) and the National Football League (NFL). The deal, announced on November 7, gives Bridgestone title sponsorship of the NFL Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLIII, as well as of the “Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime Show” on both occasions.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the Bridgestone brand to the world,” said John Gamauf, president of Consumer Tire Replacement Sales, BFNT. “We’re thrilled to partner with the NFL brand in presenting one of the most high-profile and entertaining programs in all of sports: The Bridgestone Super Bowl Halftime Show.”

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Officially Opens New Manufacturing Facility

November 7 marks the official grand opening of the first tyre manufacturing facility outside of Japan to utilise Bridgestone’s “BIRD” technology. National, state and regional officials from the Republic of Mexico will join representatives from Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire and Bridgestone Neumáticos de Monterrey (BSMR) at the company’s new plant in Monterrey, in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, to commemorate the occasion.

With a production capacity of about 8,000 tyres a day, the Monterrey plant has generated more than US$200 million in investment to date. As previously mentioned, the facility employs Bridgestone’s new BIRD tyre production system, which stands for “Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development.” According to Bridgestone, BIRD is the world’s first production system for tyres that completely automates all stages of tyre manufacturing, from the initial processing of materials to final inspection of the finished product. Additionally, the manufacturer reports that the BIRD system allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs because of its capacity to make several different types and sizes of tyre simultaneously.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Develops Thinnest Flexible Displays

First Bridgestone developed Electronic Liquid Powder, in 2002. Then in October 2004 Bridgestone became the first in the world to develop electronic paper for use as electronic price tags that retain their images after the electrical power has been turned off. Now Bridgestone has succeeded in the development of full-colour A3 displays – surpassing the previous world record of A4.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Independent Thinking – Bridgestone UK’s retail strategy

Bridgestone UK’s general strategy of focusing on independent dealers is clear with 90 per cent of its sales going through this channel and only 10 per cent going through equities such as Kingsway, ATS Euromaster and HiQ. If anything the management sees its relationships with key independent dealers as even more important to truck tyre sales. Sales figures given at the Truck Point conference seem demonstrate this: 94 per cent of Bridgestone CV products are supplied through Truck Point dealers.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Yamaha Riders Divided Over Tyres

Reports say that Yamaha has confirmed that its two main riders in the 2008 MotoGP competition will be racing on different brands of rubber. Valentino Rossi, five-time world champion, is set to switch to Bridgestone tyres from his current Michelin. However, the recently-signed Jorge Lorenzo, who has won the 250cc World Championship twice, will race on Michelins. To avoid any potential problems and to ensure total confidentiality, the two riders will have separate pits, managers and technicians.

5th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Launch Ecopia EP100 Fuel-Efficiency Tyre

Bridgestone is set to compete in terms of fuel efficiency with the launch of its new Ecopia EP100 passenger car tyre. According to the company, the tyres will boast “outstanding braking performance in wet conditions in level with the B’Style Ex tyre as well as a 30 per cent reduction in rolling resistance.” The tyre will go on sale from 1 April 2008 in 195/55R16, 185/65R15 and 195/65R15. There are said to be plans to expand this range in a stepwise manner. Prices are all set at the manufacturer’s recommended retail price.

5th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Super Jumbo to Roll on Bridgestone Tyres

Bridgestone has reported that its aircraft radial tyres were those chosen for fitment to the first production model Airbus A380. The super sized airliner was delivered to Singapore Airlines and entered service on October 25, its maiden flight taking place on the Singapore to Sydney route. Subsequent A380 airliners shipped to global carriers will also come mounted with the tyres, which Bridgestone claims offer superb safety and fuel efficiency.

In order to accommodate takeoff and landing speeds of up to 370 km/h and takeoff gross weights of as much as 560 tons, Bridgestone manufactures aircraft tyres using what it calls its “Revolutionary Reinforced Radial” (RRR) design, a radial structure with high elastic modulus/strength cords. The construction of an RRR technology tyre includes an inner belt that minimises tyre expansion in the radial direction and an outer belt that resists external damage. By suppressing tread tension the RRR structure also reduces the possibility of damage from running over objects. Should the tyre be damaged, the structure minimises the possibility of tyre destruction through bursting or tread separation.

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Reports Improved Third Quarter Sales & Net Income

Bridgestone announced its third quarter results on November 1, along with combined results for the first three quarters of the year. These figures revealed a 303.7 billion (£1.28 billion) or 14 per cent increase in net sales for the first nine months of the year, with sales for Q1 to Q3 2007 recorded as 2,466.7 billion yen (£10.36 billion). Operating income increased 32 per cent during the same period, rising to 162.8 billion yen (£683 million), with net income jumping 64 per cent to 82.3 billion yen (£345.6 million).

The company received 1,993 billion yen (£8.37 billion) through the sale of tyres during the first nine months of the year, 16 per cent more than for the same period of 2006. Operating income for Bridgestone’s tyre operation was 123.1 billion yen (£516.9 million), an increase of 44 per cent over 2006. Bridgestone reports that it worked to “maximise sales momentum by introducing appealing new products worldwide, while at the same time improving and expanding strategic production sites around the world in support of those products that have been identified as strategic and important to the company’s future growth.”

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Manny Cicero Named Alliance President

(Akron/Tire Review) Manny Cicero, former president of both Denman Tire Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s OTR unit, has been named president of Alliance Tire USA.

31st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors