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Bridgestone Renews US Service Centre Deal

The North American truck drivers’ rest and service centre chain TravelCenters of America has extended its truck tyre supply agreement with Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire for a further seven years. At present more than 230 “TravelCenters of America” and “Petro: Lube” branded truck repair locations operate throughout the US and Canada. The tyremaker will continue to be the exclusive premium tyre supplier to all company owned outlets, as well as to the company’s fleet of 400 “RoadSquad” service vehicles, through to December 31, 2014.

18th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Canada Retirees to Appeal Pension Fund Decision

A Canadian newspaper reports that retired Michelin employees in that country intend to appeal the ruling that found their former employer not guilty of any wrongdoing regarding the company’s pension fund. On October 30 the Supreme Court in Nova Scotia stated that the company has fulfilled its obligations in terms of contributions to the pension plan, however, according to the Nova Scotia Chronicle Herald, court documents indicate an appeal has been lodged on behalf of all members and beneficiaries. The court documents were submitted this week by the lawyer representing Everett Smith, a member of Michelin’s pension plan.

10th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Build OTR Retread Plant in Canada

Goodyear Canada Inc is constructing a new retread plant in North Bay, scheduled to be completed in Autumn 2008. The new 80,000 square foot facility is designed using lean manufacturing principles to support continuous flow of production. “Goodyear has been a committed corporate citizen, operating a retread plant in the City of North Bay for the past 21 years,” said Glenn Bennett, Business Centre Manager, Goodyear Canada. “Our Associates are second to none in the industry,” said Mark Pillow, Director of Commercial Systems and Off Highway, Goodyear Canada. “The plant’s ISO 9001 registration is a tribute to the quality management systems they have put into place.”

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Sets Canadian Price Hike

(Tire Review/Akron) Continental Tire Canada Inc. has announced an 8 per cent price increase on all Continental, General and associate brand passenger and light truck tyres. Specific increases will vary by market line and/or size. The replacement market increase takes effect January 1, 2008.

5th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Smartire Net Loss Lower than in 2006

Canada based tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system producer SmarTire Systems has announced that the revenue for its fiscal year ending July 31, 2007 increased to $3,661,821 from $3,455,649 during fiscal 2006. However this rise in revenue was again accompanied by a net loss; $19.6 million or $0.07 per share, a reduced loss from fiscal year 2006, in which net figures were $28.8 million or ($0.10) per share in the red.

Cash used to fund operating and investing activities in fiscal 2007 decreased to $5.1 million from $8.1 million in fiscal 2006. The decrease in cash used was primarily due to the closure of the company’s UK office in late February, the reduction in the number of company employees by approximately 45 per cent and the issuance of shares to settle debt. Smartire state it anticipates that cash required for operating and investing activities in fiscal 2008 will decrease by another 50-60 per cent of the amount of the cash used to fund operating and investing activities in fiscal in fiscal 2007. The company’s operating expenses for the year increased to $7.7 million from $7.1 million in fiscal year 2006.

19th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Celebrates Double Milestone in Canada

Michelin’s Waterville facility in Canada has in November produced its 25th millionth tyre, a double milestone for a factory also celebrating its 25th year of manufacturing tyres for the commercial truck and earthmover market. Tyre number 25,000,000 was an XDA5 long haul drive tyre.

“I’m always saying that we like to do things ‘big’ here at the Waterville plant, so we’re very happy to celebrate two ‘big’ achievements at once,” said plant manager Grant Ferguson. “Our employees certainly have a lot to be proud of because they have worked hard and as a result we’ve enjoyed many significant accomplishments over the years. But, to produce our 25th millionth tyre in our 25th year is very unique indeed and twice the reason to be proud.”

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Supply Manac Trailers in North America

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) has been chosen as the standard tyre supplier for the Manac and CPS brand trailers produced by Canada’s Manac Inc. The Quebec based company operates four trailer manufacturing plants in North America, and builds an extensive line of customised trailer designs for a variety of service applications.

“At Manac, our quality standards are uncompromising, and we expect the same from our business partners,” said Charles Dutil, president and CEO of Manac. “Bridgestone is essential to our commitment to provide our customers with best-in-class value and service.”

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Automechanika Canada Changes 2008 Show Dates

(Akron/Tire Review) Organisers of Automechanika Canada have announced a change of 2008 show dates, in response to feedback from attendees and exhibitors of this year’s event. Automechanika Canada will be held June 19-21, 2008, at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Originally set to take place earlier in the week, show organisers evaluated feedback from the September show and found most attendees and exhibitors requesting the show be moved to a Thursday-Friday-Saturday format.

“It is always important to listen to your customers,” said Carol Bell-LeNoury, general manager of Business Information Group. “Automechanika Canada is focused on the needs of the marketplace and show management will continue to make proactive adjustments to address the issues that are important to our attendees and exhibitors.”

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Elects to End Tyre Production at Tyler Plant

On October 30 Goodyear announced its intention to end tyre production at its Tyler facility in the US state of Texas, ending months of speculation over the plant’s fate upon expiry of the one-year stay of execution granted by the signing of the United Steelworkers’ three-year master contract in December 2006.

Goodyear announced that production will end in January, the exact date falling some time in the first fortnight of the year. The end of tyre production will be accompanied by the loss of more than 600 of the plant’s 740 hourly jobs, the company added.

The tyremaker issued the USW a Worker Adjustment Relocation Notice (WARN) Act notification on the afternoon of October 30. By law a company must issue a WARN Act notification 60 days prior to beginning redundancies that will affect more than one-third of the workforce.

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Canada Cleared of Pension Fund Wrongdoing

A Supreme Court in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia has ruled in favour of Michelin in a dispute between the tyremaker and a number of retired employees over CA$268 million (£136 million) the retirees believe to be owed to their pension plan. Between 1984 and 1988 and then between 1995 and 2001 Michelin North America (Canada) covered its required annual contribution to the fund using a surplus in the plan. The former employees wanted Michelin to place that money back in the fund, and instigated legal proceedings to force the company to do so.

31st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Canadian Tire Announces Aggressive Growth Plans

(Akron/Tire Review) Canadian Tire Corp. says it plans to build between 60 and 70 new retail outlets across Canada each year between 2008 and 2012.

While specifics were not released, Canadian Tire retail stores include Canadian Tire, Mark’s Work Wearhouse, PartSource and Canadian Tire Petroleum.

The company expects the expansion program will bring store network growth of at least 5 per cent, averaged over five years, and retail revenue growth of 6 to 8 per cent over the same time period.

8th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bush to Promote PCL Brand Name in North America

That’s Eric Bush – Pneumatic Components Ltd’s new North America Regional Manager, Tire Gauge (USA and Canada). Recently recruited by PCL, the leading international manufacturer and supplier of tyre inflation equipment, to build brand awareness within the US and Canadian markets, Eric will be based in Virginia and is now in the process of developing a sales & distribution service for PCL throughout North America.

Eric graduated from Virginia Tech in 1998 with a degree in Marketing Management. He began his career as a Regional Sales Manager for Ingersoll-Rand’s Tool & Hoist Division, before working in Alabama for a tool distributor, Tool-Smith Company. More recently Eric was in Atlas Copco’s Tool Division – Motor Vehicle Industry, before joining PCL.

11th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Seeks Silver Anniversary Highway Hero

(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is now accepting nominations for its annual Highway Hero Awards – the 25th straight year the tyremaker will recognise the heroic actions of a North American truck driver. Nominations will be accepted through November 30.

To be considered for the award, the nominated driver must be a full-time truck driver; must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada; the incident recognised must have occurred in the U.S. or Canada; the nominee must have been on the job; and the nominee must drive a truck with 14 or more wheels. The incident being nominated must have occurred between November 16, 2006 and November 15, 2007.

“We’re hearing about the brave men and women who make our highways safer and drive our economy,” said Steve McClellan, vice president for Goodyear commercial tyre systems. ”They truly are America’s unsung heroes, and we want to honor them.”

Nomination forms and program details may be obtained by calling the Goodyear Highway Hero Hotline at 330-796-8183. Nomination forms are also available at www.goodyear.com/truck/whatsnew/hero.

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Build New Factories in Asia, Eastern Europe

On August 15 Goodyear made mention of plans to build new tyre factories in Asia and Eastern Europe in addition to expanding capacity at existing facilities. These new additions come as part of the tyremaker’s plans to increase global capacity for high margin tyre lines by 40 per cent and capacity in existing low-cost facilities by a third. According to Goodyear, these new plants and increased capacity will be instrumental in company plans to source half its global tyre production from low-cost countries by 2012.

The US tyre major also plans to inject funds into its facilities in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Gadsden, Alabama, to increase their capacity for producing higher-margin tyre lines.

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal Opens New Location in Montreal

Solideal Canada is pleased to announce the opening of a distribution centre in Montreal, Canada in July 2007. The facility allows Solideal Canada to meet the growing demand for industrial and construction products in this region. The new 13,000 sq/ft building is large enough to accommodate a full inventory of material handling tyres, an industrial tyre Shop Press, construction tyres, rubber tracks and all other products Solideal offers.

The facility is fully staffed and operational. “We are confident that our staff in Montreal will support our dealer network and will be working with them to grow the business together” adds Grant Hiller, Sales Manager for Solideal Canada.

27th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors