Career Tracks Archives - Page 34 of 39 - Tyrepress

Tyre industry jobs, appointments and personnel-related information.

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Conti Expresses Openness to MAG Clairoix Proposal

As of May 6 Continental AG reports that its talks with Dubai’s Moaffaq Al Gaddah (MAG) Group are ‘continuing’, with discussions centring on jointly defining the terms of a possible takeover proposal for Conti’s Clairoix plant. This meeting began the day after management from MAG visited the French factory, 24 hours later than originally planned – the visit was delayed for a day at the request of France’s Ministry for the Economy, Finances and Employment on safety grounds, the site having been closed temporarily following the destruction of fire prevention, alarm and surveillance systems.

7th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo’s Vredestein Acquisition Worth $300 Million – Analyst

The Apollo Tyres acquisition of Vredestein Banden, which should be finalised in late May, is said to be a deal worth in the vicinity of US$300 million. This figure was put forward by India’s Hindustan Times and was provided by an industry analyst who wishes to remain anonymous.

“Vredestein was bought over by Amtel in 2005 for $260 million so this acquisition would at least amount to $300 million,” said the analyst. “The deal is a win-win situation for Apollo as it not only gets access to high-end technology which it can also bring into India, but also a firm marketing and sales foothold in Europe.”

7th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Project Recreates Lunar Vehicle

Forty years have now passed since the moment when Neil Armstrong’s boots pressed the first ever footprints on the surface of the moon. Several years later the lunar surface encountered the roll of a specially manufactured moon tyre when the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) became the first vehicle to literally offer out of this world performance. Those with a hankering to get better acquainted with the LRV can now do so thanks to Marangoni, who has produced a replica of this groundbreaking vehicle.

5th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook CEO ‘Looking Forward’ to What Lies Ahead

Hankook Tire reports that effective cost management and initial signs of a reviving market have helped it recover from negative territory in the previous financial quarter to post sales of KRW 1.1346 trillion (£599.7 million) in the first quarter of 2009. This result, 13.8 per cent up on a year earlier, is supplemented by operating profits of KRT 35.3 billion (£18.6 million), despite the market remaining, in Hankook’s words, a “challenging” one.

During the first quarter exports from Korea rose 7.3 per cent year-on-year, with export demand showing a 19.9 per cent increase to North America and 8.9 per cent to Europe from a year earlier. The company also states that its Hungarian plant, the main production facility for the European market, has seen a “significant” 24.7 per cent growth in sales from the final quarter of 2008 and an 87.0 per cent increase from a year earlier.

5th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Amerityre Appoints New President & CEO

Amerityre Corporation’s Board of Directors has implemented a management restructuring that has resulted in the resignation of company president and chief executive officer Gary Benninger and the appointment of incubent vice president of marketing Michael Kapral in his place. Mr. Benninger joined the Company in October 2005, initially serving as its chief operating officer, before becoming president and CEO in September 2007. Mr. Benninger will continue to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

“Gary has worked hard to put the Company in a position to begin manufacturing and selling solid polyurethane forklift tires,” commented Louis Haynie, chairman of Amerityre’s Board of Directors. “Now, with Mike taking the reins, we expect his knowledge and experience in the tyre and tyre product markets will launch those tyres successfully,” he added.

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Wins Kings Road Tyres Supplier of the Year Award

Kings Road Tyres has named Bridgestone UK as “Supplier of the Year” for 2008. The award was presented to Julie Plumb, head of UK truck sales, who commented: “We are delighted that Kings Road Tyres have recognised Bridgestone UK with this prestigious award for our overall performance in supply. We pride ourselves on our customer service and, as a long term partner of Kings Road Tyres, this shows that they value our partnership.”

Adrian Bader, managing director of Kings Road Tyres, explained: “This award is in recognition of the tremendous support received from Bridgestone’s sales team and all other departments. Bridgestone’s professionalism and service was of the highest degree and goes to show that two companies working together in partnership can be truly successful.” Personnel from several departments were asked to rate suppliers on areas such as product availability, call centre efficiency, sales personnel customer service, marketing support and the provision of product and staff training.

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Camera Found in Toilet at Melksham, UK Tyre Plant

The management of Cooper Tire Europe has offered “its sincere apologies to anyone who was affected”, after a camera was found in the men’s toilet by employees. The Wiltshire Times reports that the camera “was installed by a maintenance contractor at the request of a Cooper Tires manager,” who suspected employees of substance abuse. The Unite Union representative John McGookin told the paper that he has discussed the incident with company management, saying, “This was somebody’s misguided approach to a concern. It’s something we have asked that the company ensures does not happen again.”

A Cooper statement said that, “Following an extensive, independent investigation into the discovery of a camera in a toilet, it has been established that:-

1. Although there was suspicion of substance abuse on site, the decision to position a camera in a toilet was unacceptable
2. The company has a policy to deal with suspected substance abuse and this was not followed
3. The camera equipment was not made operational
4. Although the motives were genuine, as the company treats substance abuse seriously, this was a major error of judgement and therefore disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible
5. Procedures are being changed to ensure that such an incident cannot be repeated in future”

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ContiTech Moves Spanish Hose & Pipe Production to Hungary

Continental is also making changes outside of its tyre business – the company has announced plans to end vehicle hose and pipe production in its Industrias del Caucho site facility in Spain to two existing Hungarian facilities, Vác and Makó. Machinery from the Spanish factory has already been installed in Hungary, and further equipment will be added later in the year.

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Partnership ‘Renewed’ through Porsche Panamera, States Pirelli

Tyres & Accessories recently printed news of Michelin’s OE supply to Porsche for the new Panamera; Pirelli has also indicated that the new vehicle will utilise its tyres. The Italian manufacturer reports that “the technology partnership between Pirelli and Porsche is renewed with the much-awaited Panamera sportscar, which will feature Pirelli tyres both in summer and in winter.”

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

AME International – Working Closely with Customers

US based tyre-changing tool and equipment supplier AME International brought to Singapore a product portfolio that includes bead breakers, hydraulic pumps, the ‘X-tend’ pneumatic tyre spreader and the Titan Pro Series of tyre tools and garage equipment.

“We pride ourselves on working closely with our customers in order to provide them with the products that best suit their needs,” said AME president, Keith Jarman. “The tools we produce are manufactured using the very latest technology, thereby ensuring the highest possible standards of quality.”

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bond International Developing a Stronger Foothold in Asia

As a major importer of far eastern manufactured tyres, Bond International’s presence at Tyrexpo Asia was significant. The company, which has been established for more than forty years, has acquired during its time in the business vast experience in the import and export of tyres to and from the UK. Today Bond International can provide unrivalled delivery service thanks to its four warehouses and stock level of over 600,000 tyres. As well as distributing all leading premium brand tyres the company is also the agent for Marshal, Admiral, Infinity, Sumo, Firenza, Rotalla and Gerutti.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Extends Duravis Line-Up

The Bridgestone Duravis heavy-duty light truck commercial tyre range, originally introduced onto the North American market in 2007, is being extended through the introduction of the Duravis M895. Key features on this new all-season tyre are steel reinforced sidewalls and an on/off road capability.

Like the Duravis R250, the design features of the Duravis M895 includes a reinforced steel casing for long life and retreadability, and other enhanced technologies for optimum performance. Bridgestone says the closed shoulder of the Duravis M895 contributes to improved wear and the tyre’s stone rejecter design offers enhanced casing durability. To further reinforce the overall performance of the Duravis M895, the tyre features a dual sidewall protector to help resist cuts and scrapes. Its heavy-duty construction helps protect the tyre in the most challenging applications and environments, Bridgestone notes.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Snap-On’s Pinchuk Takes on Third Office

The board of directors at Snap-On Incorporated have elected current company president and CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk to the position of chairman. Pinchuk succeeds Jack D. Michaels, who is leaving the Snap-on board of upon the expiration of his term on April 23, 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to have Nick as Snap-on’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, and look forward to him continuing to build on the foundation he has laid during his past seven years with the company,” said W. Dudley Lehman, chairman of the company’s Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee. “Nick’s election as chairman is a further indication of the board’s confidence in his leadership.”

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Sales 14.2% Down in First Quarter

To call what we have experienced in the first quarter of 2009 a bear market would be something of an understatement. And while in such ursine conditions the 14.2 per cent drop in net sales reported by Michelin is by no means any worse a performance than that experienced throughout the tyre industry, it is safe to say the French manufacturer is eagerly awaiting the next hibernation season.

Group net sales for the three months to March 31 totalled 3.512 billion euros, of which the greatest chunk – 1.946 billion euros – came from the sale of passenger and light truck tyres. Truck tyres accounted for a further 1.006 billion euros, and the company’s specialty tyre business the remaining 561 million euros. All of these segments experienced a year-on-year decline in sales during the quarter; sales of truck tyres, in terms of income, declined 24.2 per cent.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Vredestein Banden Bought by Apollo Tyres

Apollo Tyres has agreed to buy Vredestein Banden following approval from the trustee in bankruptcy at the Almelo Court in the Netherlands which rubber stamped Apollo Tyres’ offer to acquire a 100 per cent stake in Vredestein Banden B.V. (VBBV), a 100 per cent subsidiary of Russia’s largest tyre manufacturer Amtel-Vredestein NV (AVNV). No details of price or further conditions have yet been released, however, according to an official statement on the matter, the parties will only be in a position to disclose this after “certain conditions have been met and certain approvals, including regulatory and statutory approvals are granted, wherever required.”

According to a statement Apollo Tyres’ board of directors gave their approval to the management to proceed with the acquisition of Vredestein Banden today (29 April 2009). Dutch newspaper, De Twentchse Courant Tubantia quoted Vredestein Banden CEO Rob Oudshoorn as saying: “We are relieved and happy…We have had good connections with Indian market leader Apollo for 15 years.”

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors