Bridgestone Archives - Page 197 of 277 - Tyrepress

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

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KRT Appointed Michelin UK Agricultural Tyre Wholesaler

After over 30 years of specialising in the marketing and distribution of agricultural tyres, the latest news from Kings Road Tyres (KRT) is that the Michelin recently appointed the wholesale specialist as its Agricultural Tyre Wholesaler for the UK. The announcement comes two years after Michelin appointed Kings Road Tyres as the sole supplier of its Taurus agricultural tyres to the UK. And this move in itself followed KRT’s appointment as sole supplier of the Stomil-Olsztyn / Kormoran range of products, another Michelin Group brand.

4th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

German Readers Vote Bridgestone Best Brand of 2007

A survey in German motor sport publication Motorsport aktuell has named Bridgestone brand of the year for car and motorcycle tyres. Motorsport aktuell belongs to the Motorpresse Stuttgart group and reaches over 60,000 car and motor sports enthusiasts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Readers were asked this autumn to compare and choose the “most convincing tyre” amongst 14 different car tyre brands and 6 motorcycle tyre brands. In the car tyre category, Bridgestone came out on top with 60.8 per cent; while 58.1 per cent of motorcycle tyre voters made Bridgestone their first choice.

3rd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ME OTR Shortage Leads to 300% Price Hike in Two Years

Those buying OTR tyres in the Middle East are likely to encounter further price hikes of 20 to 30 per cent. According to an Emirates Business report, a tyre that cost £15,000 in 2005 cost as much as £45,000 2007. Now this is expected to increase by a further 20 to 30 per cent by the end of the first half of 2008.

As a result major tyre manufacturers including Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Pirelli have all increased product prices three times a year since 2005, the report continued. Bridgestone is likely to increase prices in the region by 10 per cent in January followed by another 10 per cent in June. Goodyear is also expected to increase prices between five and 15 per cent.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Climbs Nikkei Environment Rankings

The Bridgestone Corporation jumped to 2nd place in the 2007 Nikkei Environmental Management Survey in Japan on 1st December 2007. The research was conducted by Japan’s leading business newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc., abbreviated as Nikkei and known the world over for its Tokyo stock market index.

The survey monitors environmental policies and practices, both in Japan and around the world, of leading Japanese companies in all major industry sectors. Findings are converted into scores to produce a ranking for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies. According to the company, Bridgestone’s strong showing is partly due to earning the maximum 100 points for “product measures”, defined by the company’s global commitment to reduce the environmental impact of tyres right through the product life cycle.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Firestone Employee Contract Extension Approved

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) has announced that a substantial majority of workers at its Bloomington, Illinois OTR tyre facility have voted in favour of extending a contract covering work conditions through to 2012.

The agreement between BFNT and Local 787 of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) covers 300 employees at the plant, which makes large heavy-duty off road tyres for construction and mining applications. Under the agreement, workers at the facility will receive the same wage and benefit provisions contained in a separate “master” contract between the USW and the company as other BFNT locations and have agreed to a no-strike clause during the entire term of the extension.

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US to Impose Duties on Chinese OTR Tyres

The US Department of Commerce has decided upon the implementation of countervailing duties on new OTR tyres imported from China, a move based upon assertions that the manufacturers of these products are financially benefiting from Chinese government subsidies. The Department found that OTR tyre manufacturers in China received subsidies including loans from government-owned banks, tax breaks, government grants, and access to low-cost rubber and land, with subsidy margins for Chinese tyremakers ranging from 2.38 to 6.59 per cent.

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Aiming for 40% of Oman PCR Market

While visiting Oman for the launch of Bridgestone’s Adrenalin Potenza RE001 tyre, the company’s general manager for the Gulf, East Africa and Nigeria, Takahiro Mitsui, spoke about the company’s activities and ambitions for the region, and the measures being taken to ensure global supply keeps pace with demand.

According to Mitsui, Bridgestone holds 30 per cent of Oman’s passenger car tyre aftermarket. This high percentage, he believes, is in part the result of the predominance of Japanese cars sold on this market, most of which arrive fitted with Bridgestone as OE. The activities of Bridgestone’s regional distributor, Towell Auto Centre, is another key factor, said Mitsui. From a solitary outlet in 2001 the distributor has expanded to 16 outlets by 2007. However the general manager believes that, should a sufficient supply of tyres become available, Bridgestone could feasibly hold 40 per cent of this market segment. Across all market segments, Bridgestone currently holds 35 per cent of the market.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Names 17 Excellence Centres

Bridgestone UK has unveiled 17 Centres of Excellence as part of a new reward scheme for its national First Stop network of independent tyre dealerships. The First Stop Quality Program replaces the Stars initiative. Instead of being rated as three, four or five star outlets, businesses can now qualify as Accredited Centres or Centres of Excellence. The Program covers areas such as depot appearance, staff training, telephone technique and public relations, with the top performing outlets eligible for new First Stop signage, certificates, a crystal trophy and shopping vouchers. The 2008 Quality Program is scheduled to get underway in March.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Increase Prices in all European Markets

Bridgestone Europe has announced price increases for all tyre brands and categories in every European market. Passenger car, 4×4, and light commercial vehicle tyre prices will rise by between three and five per cent, while all other sectors will be subject to increases of between five and ten per cent. These price adjustments are scheduled to be implemented as of February 1, 2008.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Major Supplier US Zinc Sold

Aluminium and alloy products manufacturer Aleris International has agreed to sell its zinc business, which operates under the name US Zinc, to affiliates of Brazil’s Votorantim Metais Ltda. for US$295 million, with certain adjustments for working capital and other items. Closure of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

US Zinc is a supplier to a number of companies within the tyre industry, including tyre majors Goodyear, Bridgestone and Michelin. Amongst other items the company produces value-added zinc products, including zinc oxide, which is utilised in the vulcanisation of rubber products. US Zinc operates six zinc facilities in the United States and a newly built zinc oxide facility in China, located outside of Shanghai.

11th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Wins 2-Year Dawsongroup Contract

Dawsongroup plc has awarded Bridgestone UK a new two-year tyre contract that runs until January 2010. Under the arrangement Bridgestone UK will supply OE, new replacement and retreaded truck tyres. Greg Ward, Bridgestone UK Commercial Director, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this contract. Over the last 12 months we have worked very hard to understand every aspect of their business and fleet requirements. We can build on this foundation and further develop our relationship with the Dawsongroup plc.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone US Retail Division Phasing Out Lead Weights

At the start of 2008 Bridgestone’s retail arm in the US, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) will begin offering its customers steel wheel balance weights, replacing millions of lead wheel weights each year with more a ecologically sensitive counterpart.

Customers who visit Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, ExpertTire or Wheel Works service centres will have the new steel wheel weights installed when they buy new tyres or have their existing tyres balanced. “We implemented this innovative plan because we believe that using steel wheel weights will have a positive environmental impact,” said BFRC environmental manager John Sheerin. “We are hopeful that others in the automotive repair industry will follow suit and join BFRC in promoting the use of steel wheel weights.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Mythos Wins Australian Tyre Test

The Marangoni Mythos UHP has come top in a tyre test conducted by Australia’s Motor Magazine. The success in the magazine comparison test comes just a year after the Marangoni new tyre brand was launched in the Australian market. Competing tyres tested included: Bridgestone Potenza RE050; Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3; Falken FK 452; Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and Maxxis MA-Z1. Motor’s test driver commented: “These [Mythos tyres] had a tonne of grip. They were sharp, balanced; really nice. In fact, they were so confidence-inspiring that you really didn’t mind having a hot go with them, because you knew they’d hang in there. They were also great on change of direction and super stable under brakes. I like them a lot.”

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Liberia Extends Charity Assistance Scheme

Bridgestone’s subsidiary in the African nation of Liberia, Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC, has announced that its cargo donation program will be extended throughout 2008. The program, which began in 2006 with the aim of helping to rebuild the civil war ravaged West African country, provides space for relief goods and other donated cargo from aid organisations on ships operated by Firestone Liberia. To date more than 30 aid organisations have signed up to ship donated goods – including medicine, vitamins, food, generators and building materials.

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Japan’s Trade Commission Issues Order Against Rubber Hose Cartel

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is taking steps against Bridgestone and four international companies that have since May been under the spotlight for rubber marine hose price fixing. The competition watchdog intends to issue an administrative order to the companies to ensure the cessation of any remaining cartel activities, the first time such an order has been issued to foreign companies. The four international companies are the UK’s Dunlop Oil and Marine, a unit of Sweden’s Trelleborg AB, and Italy’s Parker ITR and Manuli Rubber Industries.

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors