Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
Bridgestone/Firestone Canada Inc. is searching the highways for a driver worthy of the 50th Bridgestone/Firestone Canadian Truck Hero Award. The 2004 campaign was launched this week and will recognize a commercial truck driver who exhibits courage, quick thinking and integrity in the face of an emergency. Nominations must be received by October 15, 2004, writes Today’s Trucking from Canada.
German online service, F1Total is reporting that Bridgestone has declared its innocence in the recently tyre ‘theft’ fiasco. The company made its comments in response to accusations that Jenson Button’s blown Michelin could have ended up in Bridgestone’s possession. Bridgestone spokesman, Adrian Atkinson, said there was nothing in the accusations and that the Japanese tyre supplier had no parts of Button’s tyre. Observers expect that it is just a matter of time before the whole issue blows over.
Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it will introduce a ‘next-generation’ production system to the company’s Hikone Plant.
The Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello drove to victory at Monza for the Brazilian’s first win of the season.
While Rubens Barrichello was gaining pole position in preparation for his first win of the season, the Minardi Formula 1 team found itself at the centre of controversy. According to the ‘Home of F1’ online news service, Michelin Motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier, has accused Minardi of stealing the remains of Jenson Button’s burst Michelin tyre. Mr Dupasquier alleges that the tyre was taken off a truck when Zsolt Baumgartner’s crashed Minardi was returned to pit lane, at the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks ago. The Minardi team, who run on Bridgestone tyres, have vehemently denied the accusation.
Bridgestone Australia has announced that the company has appointed Makio Ohashi as chairman of directors and chief executive. The appointment follows the resignation of former director and chairman, Fumio Okuma, who had acted as company chairman for three and a half years. According to Bridgestone, Mr Okuma resigned in ordre to take up a new position overseas. Mr Ohashi is due to begin in his new role as chairman and chief executive immediately.
Makoto Tamada surprised spectators with his impressive performance at the Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend. In his Bridgestone-fitted Camel Honda RC 211 V the Japanese driver, who won the Rio-Grand Prix in July, took second place in the race. World Champion Valentino Rossi took pole position and Brazilian Alex Barros came in third place.
Bridgestone believes the result “confirmed the qualities of the latest Bridgestone compound generation.” John Hopkins claimed sixth place on his Suzuki GSV-R he commented: ” After qualifying, I knew that our Bridgestone tyres had very consistent grip, so I saved it all for a final attack on Carlos Checa. I managed to get ahead of him onto the back straight, but then I ran onto the white line and went wide, and he got by again. Horsepower is our biggest issue at the moment, and you have to ride the corners really hard to make up for it. But even though I would have liked to finish fifth, this was a great race. My team gave me a good bike today, and the tyres were exceptional.”
Far eastern news agency, Asia Pulse, has reported that Kumho Tire Co has signed a preliminary deal to build its second Chinese factory.
Michael Schumacher has claimed a record-breaking seventh world championship title at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Amtel Holdings Holland has announced a 64 per cent increase in profits as part of its consolidated results for the 2003 financial year.
Bridgestone Firestone North American is recalling 25,600 of its tyres. The ‘voluntary safety’ recall follows concerns that “a small percentage” of Dueler A/T 693 tyres, size LT285/75R16, load range D, imported into the US from Japan, could suffer belt detachment.
The new Lemans Champion PLE, an associate brand touring tyre, manufactured by Bridgestone Firestone North American, is now stocked at a selection of Firestone Tire & Service Centers and ExpertTire locations.
The T-speed rated tyre is available in 17 sizes, 70 – 55 Series, 13 – 16 inch. It features an ultra-wide tread for wet handling and comes with an 80,000-mile limited tread wear warranty.
It is available in a “serrated band” black sidewall option, with two sizes available in white stripe sidewalls. The tyre also features a UTQG rating of 640 for tread wear, an “A” for traction and “B” for temperature.
As expected, Bridgestone is among the tyre manufacturers exhibiting at this year’s 60th International Commercial Vehicles Motor Show (IAA) in Hanover. The Japanese tyre manufacturer is going to present an exhaustive array of its innovative range of products to visitors to Hanover from 23 September to 30 September. The new super-single tyre “Greatec” with its unique Aircept technology will be part be among the products on display.
In a strange request, Pierre Dupasquier, head of Michelin Motorsport, suggested that Formula 1 teams should not only be able to use any rubber compound, but also be free to choose which manufacturer’s products they will use. The proposal would give teams the freedom to decide from race to race whether to use Michelin or Bridgestone tyres.
Operations at Bridgestone’s Amagi plant have resumed after a fire, which burned for two hours, was put out last Friday. As a result of the fire, and the resultant clean-up operation, the Amagi factory had been closed for five days. The financial implications of the fire have been described by analysts as minimal due to the company’s strong “earnings momentum.” The same Deutsche Bank analysts have predicted that the financial impact, in terms of operating profit, will at most approach 2 billion yen (£10 million).
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
