car tyres Archives - Page 106 of 122 - Tyrepress

Posts

Michelin Tables Plant Re-Organisations & Closures for France, Spain

Michelin has outlined plans affecting the company’s operations in France and Spain. These plans, according to the tyremaker, constitute a new phase in Michelin’s industrial strategy in the two countries, and are aimed at strengthening the group’s competitiveness in Western Europe. Michelin adds that “significant investments” have been earmarked for plant modernisation projects.”

As part of the strategy, production at the company’s factory in the French town of Toul is scheduled to cease in 2009. The facility produces mid-range passenger car tyres, a market experiencing intense competition from low production cost countries that have massively invested in this specific segment during the past five years. Michelin claim that, in spite of significant investment into the operations at Toul in recent years and the streamlining of industrial processes, production costs at the plant are 50 per cent higher than those of the French manufacturer’s competitors, therefore Toul is no longer a competitive site. The company adds that the market currently has an overcapacity in the tyre sizes manufactured in Toul.

4th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Sales – and Losses – Increase for Amtel-Vredestein

Amtel-Vredestein has recorded an increase in net losses during the first half, an occurrence attributed to losses at its AV-TO operation and growing debt service expenses. Net loss for the period was US$33.5 million, up from $22 million last year, and to this negative figure the AV-TO unit contributed $17 million.

On a brighter note, the tyremaker reported net sales increasing 26 per cent in the first half, with the company delivering “strong operational results in its core passenger car tyre business.” Net revenue from passenger car tyres grew 24.5 per cent to $258.2 million from $207.5 in the first half of 2006.

A company statement reported Amtel-Vredestein is continuing to project sales of approximately $1 billion for 2007 and plans to be operationally profitable during the second half, subject to any potential asset impairments charges and provisions required by IFRS as a result of acquisitions and disposals made in 2006. However, the company expects to continue showing losses on a consolidated basis due to negative contributions by its AV-TO business and high interest expenses.

3rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Linglong to Build New 40,000 m2 Factory

Shandong Linglong Rubber Co. has announced plans to construct a new 40,000 m2 factory for the production of passenger-car/light truck tyres. Online news sources quoted Jiang Guibo, Shandong Linglong's import and export business business chief, as saying that the new plant will be built in Shandong province, will cost 1.5 billion yuan (£100 million, 141 million euros), and will focus on high performance products.

26th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TUV Test: Michelin Tyres Have Longest Life

Michelin car tyres have the longest life according to Auto Express. Tests carried out by independent testing body TUV Sud, and witnessed by Auto Express, compared Michelin tyres with six of their main European competitors. The 15-inch Michelin Energy E3A tyres showed a 35 per cent longer tyre life than the worst performing tyre in the test and a significant 18 per cent advantage over the second best tyre.

26th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Service The Key For Stapleton’s

As one of the UK’s largest wholesale distributors of passenger car tyres, Stapleton’s understands the needs of the fast moving tyre retail market and is committed to ensuring customers have a wholesaler they can rely on.

25th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Wondraschek: New Business and Old Traditions

For smaller companies involved in the tyre business it is sometimes equally important to stick to good old traditions as it is to find a way to develop the business creatively. A company that has obviously succeeded in both over the years is the retreader and tyre dealer “Reifen Wondraschek” from the Austrian city of Linz. While in the past the company was mainly known for its activities in the retreading business, today the company engages in an increasing range of new activities, such as exclusive distribution of the Cooper brand in Austria or – as of this year – the exclusive rights to market the Nexen brand in Austria. And just as Reifen Wondraschek is embarking on new businesses, old ones are being phased out. At the end of last year the company ceased producing retreaded tyres for passenger cars. This step was necessary, although painful at the same time as passenger car tyre retreading was once the core business of Reifen Wondraschek, which was founded in the 1930s as a vulcanising company.

31st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

North Carolina Governor May Veto Goodyear Support Proposal

(Akron/Tire Review – McClatchy Newspapers) Governor Mike Easley is considering vetoing legislation that gives up to $40 million in incentives to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to modernise its Fayetteville, North Carolina plant and keep it running, according to the company’s lobbyist and lawmakers involved in the legislation.

The move would be a sharp reversal by the Easley administration, which has used incentives to lure technology giants Google and Dell. But critics in the General Assembly emphasise that those earlier handouts were used to lure new jobs, not keep existing companies happy.

Easley has to act by September 1 or the bill, which passed the House and Senate, becomes law. Fayetteville area legislators and Goodyear’s lobbyist John Bode met with administration officials about the bill Monday.

“He’s seriously entertaining a veto,” said Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat.

28th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Deldo – the Winter Tyre ‘Specialist’

Deldo Autobanden markets itself as the European specialist for winter tyres, a claim based on the many years the company has participated in this seasonal market. Today in its Antwerp warehouse Deldo stocks more than 25 brands of cold weather tyres, including its exclusive Wanli and Sunny brands.

The two exclusive brands are manufactured in South China Tire & Rubber’s year old factory in China’s Guangzhou Province, and Wanli and Sunny offer an extensive range of tyres for passenger and commercial vehicles, with more than 80 studdable and non-studdable sizes available for the winter tyre segment alone. In mid July Deldo commented that it was “happy” with the level of pre sales for winter tyres ahead of the upcoming cold season, stating they had already reached a respectable 65 per cent.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Infinity Truck Tyres Roll On

The Infinity tyre brand is a private brand, owned by the Dubai-based Al Dobowi group and manufactured by Chinese company Shandong Linglong Rubber Co. Infinity has always had a strong presence in European markets, where the distribution is controlled by Goldspark Trading, an Al Dobowi company.

In turn, Goldspark has appointed Kings Road Tyres as the main truck tyre distributor for the UK and Ireland, with Dutch company Heuver Banden looking after the countries in mainland Europe. The product range is continually being developed and added to, with new steer and drive patterns in sizes 295/80 R22.5 and 315/80 R22.5 creating a great deal of interest in the market.

Goldspark’s General Manager Rob Henderson describes the truck tyre brand as “excellent value for money” and, when it comes to the extent of the range, he points out that it encompasses sizes from 16″ tyres up to 445/65 R22.5.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Coming Soon to the Tate Modern?

They’re just so useful…..not only do they serve as our vehicles’ only point of contact with the road; they safely pad our children’s playgrounds, provide a comfortable track for equestrian facilities and provide a key component for the construction of affordable earthquake resistant dwellings. And, according to Australia’s Brendan Lee, tyres are also art.

In mid August a total of 95 car tyres made their way to the Bendigo Art Gallery in the state of Victoria as part of a new exhibition from the Melbourne based artist. Mr. Lee says he hopes the tyres will transform the way we view objects.

“I was trying to create something quite beautiful…out of something which is particularly ugly, dirty, and to be recycled,” said Lee to Australian media. “So I’ve got bike tyres for the leaves of the ferns and car tyres for the base of the ferns, with a green light in the centre. They’re actually outdoor party lights so it adds the domestic quality of the install.”

When asked why he chose tyres as a motif for his latest creation, Lee replied that “I’m not particularly interested in artwork that looks like it comes from Ikea.”

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers Thinking Globally

With India’s vehicle industry experiencing a slowdown of late, the country’s tyremakers have needed to consider how to best maintain their profits. According to a report published in India’s Business Standard newspaper, a number of manufacturers including Apollo, Ceat, JK Tyre and MRF are increasingly thinking internationally in the face of this new challenge. Not only are Indian tyremakers looking at establishing overseas manufacturing plants – at least one is also casting its gaze at established manufacturers in other countries with a view to acquiring one of these firms.

The nation’s second largest tyre manufacturer, Delhi based Apollo Tyres is reportedly actively pursuing the acquisition of an overseas tyremaker. It seems most likely that Apollo will seek the purchase of a company based in Europe, although an acquisition in the Americas is by no means out of the question. “Margins are better in Europe with good product acceptability and confidence in technology,” commented Neeraj Kanwar, joint managing director and COO, Apollo Tyres. The company has seen European market demand for radials increase substantially in recent times, and on the back of this Apollo aims to become a major player in Europe in the next half decade or so.

13th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Overview: Triangle Tyre

Since its establishment 31 years ago (1976) in Weihai (Shandong province) Triangle Tyre has developed strongly and many things have changed over the years. Firstly, the company was founded as Weihai Factory; later on it was renamed as Shandong Tire Factory. Twenty years after it was first set up the company was finally given its current name: Shandong Triangle Tire Co. Ltd.

Today the Triangle group, with the tyre factory at its core, has 6,300 employees. Last year, the group generated an annual turnover of about 727 million euros, and during the past three years alone turnover has increased by 50 per cent. Triangle has a production capacity of around 11 million tyres, eight million of which are radials, produced at the Triangle facility since the mid 1990s.

Currently the company has plans to expand and restructure its production capacity. By the end of next year output will increase to 14 million units and by 2009 to as much as 17 million units. The Triangle group mainly produces – next to passenger car tyres – truck, OTR, industrial, agricultural and other tyre types; thus is a strong commercial tyre producer.
Triangle tyres are DOT- and E-marked and carry the CCC Chinese approval mark and the local Chinese market. They are not only sold on the Chinese and international replacement markets but also to many Chinese OE customers. According to the company, Triangle sells tyres to more than 100 countries. The tyre manufacturer is certified according to ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 as well as QS9000.

9th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Overview: Cheng Shin Rubber (Maxxis)

Taiwan’s Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd.’s decision to establish a production base in the People’s Republic of China makes sense because of the obvious linguistic and cultural similarities and the regional proximity. This tyre manufacturer is one of the most rapidly expanding companies participating in the Chinese tyre market and is also well represented in European replacement markets with its brand Maxxis; the company also produces the Cheng Shin brand.
Since Cheng Shin Rubber (Xiamen) Ind. Ltd. – a 100 per cent subsidiary of Cheng Shin Rubber from Taiwan – first began producing tyres in the city of Xiamen (Fujian province), the site has been continuously expanded. Today, the Xiamen facility mainly produces commercial tyres but also manufactures motorcycle and bicycle tyres as well as passenger car tyres. It goes without saying that the Triangle products are DOT- and E-marked for export markets and that the production facility is also certified according to ISO and QS. According to estimates the factory has a production capacity of about 12 to 13 million units.

8th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Reports Strong Growth, Especially in Key Markets

Nokian Tyres’ interim report for the period between January and June 2007 was released on August 8, and the figures contained within show sales and profits heading in a welcome direction. In contrast with the figures recorded during the January-June 2006 period, sales increased by 23.8 per cent during the recent half year and totalled 432.5 million euros. Operating profit was 89.2 million euros, up from 48.6 million a year earlier. Net profit, which in January-June 2006 was 31.8 million euros, more than doubled to reach 70.1 million euros. Also more than doubled was earnings per share, which jumped from 0.26 euros to 0.57 euros.

“Nokian Tyres had a clearly better second quarter and first half of the year in 2007 compared to the previous year,” said Nokian president and CEO Kim Gran. “Net sales increased and operating profit improved in all profit centres in the company’s core markets. While most of the increase in sales came from Russia, steep year-over-year sales growth was also recorded in Eastern Europe and the Nordic countries. Passenger car tyre sales mainly consisted of winter tyres, but summer tyres also sold well. The latter were boosted by the Nokian Hakka summer tyre family, which saw its first season in consumer sales. Average tyre prices rose as a result of the improved sales mix, price increases and new products. The benefits gained from manufacturing operations in Russia improved profitability. The outlook for the rest of the year is good and the order book is strong, but sales growth and profit improvement will be more moderate than in the first part of the year.”

8th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook’s Explosive Growth

Company News, International News

With so much recent media coverage of Hankook’s European activities and new state of the art facility in Hungary, it is easy to forget that Europe is only one market in which the South Korean tyremaker has plans. And while those living in Europe will naturally pay more attention to activities taking place close to home, Hankook is by no means neglecting its Asian markets, and is in fact paying particular attention to China. Recently Tyres & Accessories was given the opportunity to interview Hankook global CEO Suh Seung Hwa and find out more about the company’s aims for the large and still growing Chinese tyre market.

“China is a vibrant market,” declared Mr. Suh when asked if Hankook’s recent activity in Europe signalled any shift in priorities. He added that the tyremaker expected a large increase in sales from its Chinese operations in 2007. Between 2002 and 2004 the Chinese tyre market experienced what Mr. Suh called “explosive growth,” and by 2006 the passenger car tyre market was still increasing by more than 15 per cent per year, the largest growth of any market the tyremaker participates in.

8th August 2007/by Arno