Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
As Bridgestone prepares for its role as Formula One’s solitary supplier, the tyremaker has disclosed that in 2007 it will supply teams with only four different specifications of dry weather tyres – Hard, Medium, Soft, and Super Soft.
One of the UK’s leading tyre wholesalers and a globally renown brand in motorcycle braking products have become the latest big names to confirm their involvement at May’s Brityrex International 07, according to a recent press statement released by the exhibition’s organisers.
Bandag EMEA has released a press statement in which they describe their outlook for 2007 as ‘optimistic’. Despite what the company describes as a difficult year for the business unit, with setbacks including the loss of their major fleet customer GE TIP, Bandag believes this year will be one of opportunities, with the growth of their dealer base in 2006, which reached 5.8 per cent, continuing this year.
Bridgestone Corporation expects its profits to increase by almost six per cent this year due to improving sales in the U.S. and Europe. In a media statement, Bridgestone said that it projects net income to increase to 90 billion yen (£384 million) as sales rise 3 per cent, to 3.08 trillion yen (£13.2 billion). Net income in 2006 fell 53% to 85.1 billion yen (£364 million) on sales of 2.99 trillion yen (£12.8 billion), compared to a net income of 180.7 billion yen (£772 million) a year earlier.
Bridgestone India intends to increase its production capacity by 1,000 tyres a day to a daily capacity of 11,00 tyres at its plant in the central state of Madhya Pradesh and is gearing up to cater for the commercial vehicle market to a greater extent.
As the 51/49 per cent joint venture between Michelin and Apollo Tyres has failed to materialise, the French tyremaker now plans to establish its own truck and bus radial manufacturing facility in the Indian city of Pune.
Members of the NTDA have voted for their favourite companies in the six categories of the prestigious TAFF Awards and the winners will be announced at the TAFF Awards Dinner in Manchester’s Palace Hotel on 2 May. The nominations are:
Tyre Manufacturer of the Year
-Bridgestone UK Ltd
-Continental Tyre Group Ltd
-Goodyear/Dunlop Tyres Ltd
-Kumho Tyre
-Michelin Tyre plc
Product Innovation Award
-Bridgestone UK Ltd
-Continental CS Easy
-Goodyear/Dunlop Tyres
-Michelin Tyre plc
-Rema Tip Top UK Ltd
At the beginning of February, GPX International was sued by Bridgestone over a range of tyres for forestry vehicles that the Japanese manufacturer said infringed its rights. Bridgestone accused GPX of unfairly competing by its Firestone Rock Master brand name and advertising slogans.
Following the accusations GPX published an official statement “strongly denying” the accusations, which it said were an attempt to “besmirch its reputation.” The manufacturer said it was not aware that the Rock Master name was trade marked and has voluntarily “removed all reference to Rock Master from its website and will change the name of the tyres currently produced under the Rock Master name.”
A Swansea First Stop dealership is renewing its support for a campaign raising vital funds for impoverished and neglected youngsters in South Wales. It is the third year running that Harris Brothers Tyres will be the headline sponsor of radio stations ’The Wave’ and ‘Swansea Sound’s’ Cash for Kids initiative. Last year alone the business worked with the stations to help raise more than £30,000 for good causes. That included a £10,000 donation to Childline following a glitzy ball and auction where Esther Rantzen was the special guest of honour.
(Akron/Tire Review) New television ads supporting the recently launched consumer campaign for Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) were revealed at the Chicago Auto Show this week.
Produced by Dallas-based The Richards Group, the commercials will air this year on national TV networks and more than 15,000 movie screens across the country. BFNAT said it will also conduct an extensive print and online ad campaign to complement the broadcast message. In addition, “Bridgestone or Nothing” ads will be displayed on the tyremaker’s fleet of customer delivery service vehicles.
(Akron/Tire Review) At the Chicago Auto Show this month, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) introduced the Bridgestone Turanza all-season tyre with “Serenity technology” and the Bridgestone Duravis heavy-duty light truck and commercial tyre.
Bandag Incorporated has reported consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter 2006 of US$253.7 million compared to consolidated net sales of US$252.3 million in the fourth quarter 2005, an increase of 1 percent. Consolidated net sales were positively impacted by approximately US$2.6 million due to the effect of converting foreign currency net sales into U.S. dollars.
Kimi Raikkonen has added his voice to that of Robert Kubica in complaining that Bridgestone’s 2007-spec Formula One tyres do not suit his driving style. BMW driver Kubica was the first driver to air his concerns about the harder Bridgestone compounds following tests last December.
When Autosport asked Raikkonen at Jerez whether he thought that the tyres suited his driving style the Finn replied, “No, not really”. He added “I think we need to work on the car to make it work for me. It is getting better all the time but it takes time to get used to (the tyres).”
The historic city of Cologne was the venue Bridgestone decided upon for the official release of the two newest additions to its two-wheel range. And these two tyres highlight just how diversified the motorcycle tyre sector has become.
Bridgestone’s Brazilian subsidiary, Bridgestone Firestone do Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda., has inaugurated its second Brazilian facility, approximately two years after the announcement of plans to invest in the State of Bahia. Built to meet both domestic and export demand, the 7-hectare plant will focus on the production of car and light truck tyres and is set to directly generate 500 jobs, with a further 1,200 or so jobs expected to be generated in related fields.
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