Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Walsall tyre technicians Dave Carrier and Chris Bunce have received certificates from Bridgestone UK technical training manager Phil Thirsk, having passed a health and safety course run by the tyre manufacturer. The course is part of a training scheme endorsed by the Institute of the Motor Industry, and the two technicians, who work at First Stop dealership Lodge Tyres on Pleck Road, are now well on their way to achieving full accreditation.
(Akron/Tire Review) NHTSA has agreed to again review Firestone Steeltex tyres, prompted by the continuing efforts of California attorney Joseph Lisoni to get Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (FBNAT) to recall the line.
(Akron/Tire Review) Formal negotiations between the United Steeelworkers (USW) and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for a new master contract have opened, and already it appears negotiations will be difficult. Both sides exchanged their basic contract proposals this past weekend in Cincinnati, with the USW finding the tyremaker’s proposal “unacceptable.” Talks are scheduled to open 13 June.
The wait is nearly over for one of the most eagerly anticipated new car models of the year, as Audi prepares to deliver the first UK specification versions of its Q7 sport utility vehicle (SUV) next month. The striking newcomer is the company’s first-ever large off-road vehicle, and will be the first car on UK roads to be fitted with Bridgestone’s new Dueler H/P Sport tyres.
For the second year running, Bridgestone Poland has won the ‘Best investor in Poland’ award from Poland’s Rzeczpospolita newspaper, the country’s respected business and political daily. The award was received by Mr Hiroyoshi Takigawa, President of Bridgestone Poland Sp z o.o., from the Polish ministers of Finance and State Treasury at a ceremony on 25 April 2006.
Rzeczpospolita is renowned in Poland for its annual ranking and review of the country’s top 500 companies, including both locally-owned firms and subsidiaries of foreign companies. At the same time, a jury appointed by the newspaper makes awards to outstanding companies across several categories.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) is recalling a handful of Firestone brand tyres due to possible innerliner damage. Only 10 Firestone Destination A/T tyres, in size P265/75R16, are being recalled. The tyres were produced between 29 January and 4 February this year. BFNAT said one of the machines used to produce the tyres was improperly set up, leaving a small area of the inside of the tyre with inadequate innerliner coverage.
Hankook Tire is stepping up efforts to defend its position in the Chinese tyre market by investing in a new local R&D centre, extending production facilities and expanding its sales network. The company announced detailed plans for China its Jiaxing plant on 29 May.
Hankook Tire recently completed the expansion of its production facilities in Jiaxing, enhancing annual capacity to 2.5 million units. As the main production base for the company in China, the Jiaxing plant will undergo further expansion work in the latter half of this year. Once completed by the end of 2006, Hankook Tire will secure total production capacity of 28 million units per year from its Jiaxing and Jiangsu plants in China.
Bridgestone Europe has announced that work has started on in its Tatabanya, Hungary high-performance passenger and light truck tyre plant. Construction of the about 190 million euro complex is being financed and managed by Bridgestone Hungary Manufacturing Ltd – a newly-formed subsidiary of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA – with completion due at the end of 2007. Production is scheduled to reach more than 8,000 tyres a day by 2009. The company expects to employ more than 200 people by 2009.
Yokohoma has announced plans to build a light truck and motorcycle tyre plant in Vietnam over the coming 13 months. According to analysts reports, the plant is expected to come on-line by June 2007, with annual capacity of 3,100 metric tonnes of mixed rubber.
Think you’re up to scratch with your tyre history? Here’s your chance to prove it. Tyres & Accessories wanted to share its cheery anniversary mood with our loyal readers and so has teamed up with Blaupunkt to give away two of the satellite navigation manufacturer’s latest Travel Pilot Lucca portable satnav units. So if you want to get your hands on one of these two gizmos, then answer the six simple questions (one question for each decade Tyres & Acccessories has been in print) in the subscribers area. For more details on the Travelpilot Lucca search “Lucca” in the quickfinder at www.tyrepress.com.
Competition entries must be received before the closing date of 31 July.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) will invest approximately $44 million to build a 1 million-square foot distribution centre at Cecil Commerce Center North in Jacksonville, Florida.
The announcement was made in a joint release by Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership and Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport).
A big-hearted Dartford tyre dealer is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime in aid of charity. Paul Vanner is joining 99 other people from across the UK in a project called Riders for Health, which aims to provide remote African villages with motorbikes, which are vital to enable them to obtain medical supplies from towns often hundreds of miles away.
Bridgestone Corporation has confirmed that its European subsidiary, Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (BSEU), is to build a radial truck and bus tyre production plant in Poland. Approximately 200 million euros (¥28 billion) has been earmarked for the project. The new plant will be operated by a wholly-owned subsidiary of BSEU that is to be established. Construction will begin in the first half of 2007, with production expected to get underway in the first half of 2009. Production capacity is projected to be around 5,000 tyres a day.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Corp. has earned OE positions on a number of new Audi car and SUV models. The new fitments include: Bridgestone Potenza RE050 on the Audi A6 and A4, the Turanza ER300 on the Audi A6 Avant and A4, and the Dueler H/P Sport on the Audi Q7 SUV.
Bridgestone Corp has reported that it has developed the thinnest electronic screen in the world. The “electronic paper,” with a thickness of only 0.29mm, is expected to be utilised in e-books and hanging posters in trains, among other applications, Bridgestone said. The new material has a plastic base and is designed to prevent the deformation of stored images even when it is bent. It shows characters and images when voltage is applied to special particles sandwiched between transparent plastic sheets.
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