Based in Japan, Bridgestone Corporation is the world’s largest tyre and rubber company.
The first production road car to be developed by Volvo’s Polestar Racing team went on sale in June 2013; Volvo chose the Australian market for a pilot launch of its four wheel drive S60 Polestar, and future introduction in other markets depends on how it is received in Australia. The Swedish manufacturer selected Bridgestone’s Potenza as original equipment, and the tyre will be fitted to the S60 Polestar in size 235/40 R19 96Y.
Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) voted to ratify a new four-year contract with Bridgestone Americas, which covers 4,500 workers at six facilities. Following several months of negotiations, the union and tyre maker reached an agreement on a new contract in late July, and USW union members have now voted to accept the new agreement by a margin of 2 to 1.
Milton Keynes-based Bridgestone truck tyre specialist, Robbs Tyre Services is to use Cam Systems’ UniServ and Cameo platforms from August as it supports its network of 10 vans. The addition of UniSerV’s Integrated Casing Management module is designed to streamline Robbs Tyres’ job sheet processing while managing its truck casings from cradle to grave.
Bridgestone Corporation’s consolidated financial statements for the second quarter and first half of 2013 show a considerable increase in net sales, operating and net income during the period. Net sales amounted to 1,705 billion yen (£11.4 billion) between 1 January and 30 June 2013, 14.4 per cent higher than in the same period of 2012. Operating income rose 42.3 per cent to 190.4 billion yen (£1.3 billion) and net income was up 55.5 per cent to 117.0 billion yen (£784.3 million). Net income per share increased from 96.17 yen to 149.52 yen (£1.00).
Very high load capacity, an avoidance of downtime during harvesting and minimal soil compaction – these three qualities are priorities when agricultural operators purchase new tyres, and Firestone says its latest product for this market segment was launched to meet these criteria. Bridgestone Europe reports that this tyre, the new Firestone Maxi Traction Combine, is now available in several sizes for replacement market and original equipment fitment.
Bridgestone’s training and marketing departments have taken part in an informal testing session of the brand’s latest premium product at the Prestwold Driving Centre in Leicestershire. Members of Bridgestone’s technical team presented the tyre to colleagues in an informal approach, which, according to the company, allowed staff to “feel the difference” between the Potenza Adrenalin RE002 and competitor products. Bridgestone is targeting the sport replacement market with the tyre, which it says is tuned mainly for dry performance.
Continental Tyres has renewed its contract with Norbert Dentressangle for a further five years, including “a significant extension” to the scope of the operation. In addition to acting as Continental’s UK and Ireland National Distribution Centre (NDC), under the new contract, Norbert Dentressangle’s site at Rugby will also act as a consolidation point for orders which were previously delivered as full loads direct from Continental’s European manufacturing plants to major wholesale customers in the UK.
Bridgestone’s title sponsorship of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational has been extended through to 2018. The continuation of this arrangement, which began in 2006, was announced by Bridgestone Corporation CEO Masaaki Tsuya and Bridgestone Americas CEO and president Gary Garfield together with Commissioner Tim Finchem, who represents the International Federation of PGA Tours, during a press conference prior to the leaders teeing off for the final round of the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational. Bridgestone also extended its official marketing partner relationship with the PGA Tour through 2018 and will remain the “Official Tire of the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.”
It only got underway in early June, yet within less than two months Bridgestone’s new ‘Everywhere’ campaign website has received a million visits from across Europe. The beeneverywhere.eu site and campaign, which is video-rich and pairs with social media, is described by Bridgestone Europe as innovative and fun, a tweaking of the Bridgestone ‘Your Journey, Our Passion’ corporate slogan with an interactive road trip ‘driven by you’.
Two biking fanatics have received prizes from Bridgestone’s motorcycle team, responding to contests conducted at a recent motorcycle festival, and on the company’s social networking pages. Katrina Rex beat dozens of men to win a set of premium Bridgestone radial bike tyres at the recent Shropshire Bike Festival, holding out tyres on her outstretched arms for a longer period of time than anyone else. Meanwhile, Steve Trudgeon from St Austell triumphed in a Bridgestone Facebook competition, earning a place at the Honda Ron Haslam Race School at Donington.
BFGoodrich has joined Goodyear and Bridgestone in reaching a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers. The tyre maker and union negotiating teams have nutted out a three-year contract covering 2,400 workers at the company’s Tuscaloosa and Fort Wayne plants in the US.
Both Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone Americas have reached tentative agreements with the United Steelworkers (USW), avoiding strikes in several plants across the US.
Goodyear reached a tentative agreement with USW on 27 July, the deadline for its former contract. The deal, covering 8,500 employees, still needs to be approved by the majority of the six local USW unions.
The deadline for reaching a new contract agreement at a number of Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone plants in the US is Saturday, and the likelihood this will be settled to the satisfaction of both tyre makers and union decreases with every hour.
Fortune has released this year’s ‘Global 500’ list, which names the world’s largest companies in respect to turnover for the fiscal year ending before or on 31 March 2013. While no tyre firm could hold a candle to Royal Dutch Shell, whose revenues of US$481.7 billion propelled it into the number one position, three leading tyre majors made it onto the list.
Bridgestone has taken its inflatable exhibition stand to the Warwickshire countryside for three days, where 129,000 visited Ragley Hall, Alcester to see around 900 exhibits at the CLA Game Fair Show. Featuring farming, shooting, fishing, archery and craft stands, the manufacturer says it presented a good opportunity to show off its tyres, including motorcycle, passenger car, all-weather and 4×4 ranges.
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