Pirelli has been named a co-beneficiary of the £950 million to be handed out in the second round of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund. On October 31, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced details of the 119 successful bids; while the level of support Pirelli will receive was not specified, it is believed the funds heading Pirelli’s way will aid in the development of low carbon tyre production methods.
Industrial design associates, Dolton & Dex, has announced the launch of the world's first concept tyre design service. According to reports, director Bob Dolton has spent many years working on concept tyres for a number of OEMs. "More often than not, it is an area of the vehicle that designers feel they have a lack of control over," said Dolton.
Italian tyre giant Pirelli could be considering an investment in the future of its Carlisle plant according to a report by regional newspaper The Cumberland News. The paper reports a conversation with Pirelli’s UK Industrial director Paolo Battistini, who suggested that the company has some “investment forecast for this factory.” Battistini also reiterated the company’s desire to stay in Carlisle, while engineering manager Allan Wilson told the paper that “We want to develop new products in Carlisle for the UK. We’re constantly putting forward our case for investment.”
The North of England and Scotland’s largest tyre collection firm, Envirotyre, has gone into administration according to various reports. Based on the Kingmoor Industrial Estate in Carlisle, the company provides tyre disposal services to around 1,500 tyre outlets across the region, and was the recipient of the 2010 TAFF Environment Award. Local news source, Carlisle’s News & Star says that the company’s administrators RSM Tenon is urging interested buyers to come forward for the company’s assets, valued at £1.822 million at the beginning of 2010. The company also possesses the UK licence for the Compactyre technology, a “patented, hydraulically-driven compactor that punctures and compresses a tyre to less than one-quarter of its original size”, making waste tyres easier to handle.
Michelin reports that a pair of Agilis van tyres fitted to a vehicle owned by Cumbria-based courier Bryan Davidson have clocked up an impressive 353,000 miles – enough to have taken the van more than 14 times around the world. The 215/75 R 16C Agilis tyres were shipped as an original equipment fitment on the rear axle of Davidson’s 2004 Citroen Relay LWB Hi-Roof van from new and have just been changed – with the odometer reading 353,000 miles. The front tyres lasted around 120,000 miles.
It’s been more than eight years since Her Majesty the Queen last had new tyres fitted on her Bentley, and although she’s probably not clocked up excessive miles in the limousine, some tyre and vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing tyres every six years to avoid risks associated with tyre aging. Perhaps with this in mind, a replacement set has been ordered for her 2002 Bentley – a procedure a little more involved than just popping into the local fast-fit centre.
In a press release, Carlisle Tire & Wheel has confirmed production will end at its namesake Carlisle facility before the end of 2010. News of the site’s impending closure was first announced in July 2009 and relocation of production to a plant in Jackson, Tennessee began last April. Following the factory’s closure Carlisle’s 24,000 square metre distribution facility will remain operating in the town.
Carlisle Companies Incorporated reported net sales from continuing operations of US$709.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, an 11 per cent increase from the second quarter of 2009. Income from continuing operations decreased 32 per cent to $38.9 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, and net income was $38.6 million, compared to net income of $55.5 million for the second quarter 2009.
Following prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, Pirelli Tyres Ltd has been fined £9,000 for an incident in which an employee’s leg was broken when he was hit by a forklift vehicle in the tyre maker’s Carlisle plant. Allan Miller, a 62-year-old contractor, was walking through an area within the curing department at the Dalston Road site when he was struck from behind by a pallet being carried on a forklift truck. He has been unable to return to his normal duties, the HSE reports.
The Michelin Group and the Group Taquipneu have signed a cooperation agreement that sees the global tyre manufacturer take “a minority stake” in commercial vehicle and industrial tyre distribution specialists Taquipneu SA. Details of the size of the stake and the value of the deal have not been released.
The strategy is for the two companies to work together in a mutually beneficial partnership that sees Michelin transfer some tyre and trade know-how, while Taquipneu Group offers what Michelin representatives called its customer facing “operational excellence.” The intention is said to be for Michelin to grow in the segment, with Taquipneu strengthening its sustainability and the two companies respecting each others’ independence.
Feedback gained from competitors in previous events has led to changes been made for the 2010 Pirelli Historic Rally. The organiser of the Pirelli sponsored event, the Cumberland Sporting Car Club, states the “radical shake-up” it is bringing to the format will give it a “totally new look” when it is held on April 24.
On January 20 Carlisle Companies Incorporated announced it has combined its tyre and wheel business with its power transmission belt business. Explaining the decision, company chairman, president and CEO David A. Roberts commented: “We announced plans to sell our power transmission belt business in April 2008. We were close to selling the business to a strategic buyer late last year when our transaction was derailed by the financial crises. During our extended sales process, we also considered retaining the belt business, which has remained profitable, and combining it with one of our other businesses. Though we recently received an offer near book value, the decision was made to retain and combine the belt business with our tyre and wheel business.
Carlisle Companies Inc. has appointed BorgWarner executive vice president, CFO and CEO Robin J. Adams to its Board of Directors. Mr. Adams also serves as a member of BorgWarner’s Board of Directors and on the Supervisory Board of Beru AG. “We are pleased to have Robin join our board,” commented Carlisle chairman, president and CEO David A. Roberts. “His wide range of financial experience and expertise, coupled with his 30 years of worldwide industry experience, will serve our shareholders well as we expand our company globally.”
(Tire Review) Carlisle Companies Inc. posted third quarter profit of $45 million against a sharp decline in sales. Net income for the diversified company, which produces and sells specialty tyres among its products, was still down versus the same period last year. Sales for the quarter fell 27 per cent to $604.6 million. Company officials said Carlisle expects the next two quarters to be “challenging” due to rising raw materials costs. At the same time, Carlisle expects total 2009 revenue to come in at $2.97 billion, down 25 per cent compared to fiscal 2008.
Kings Road Tyres & Repairs Ltd (KRT) was fined £30,000 with £10,000 costs on 25 September at Carlisle Crown Court after a jury found the company guilty of a breach of the 1994 Health and Safety at Work Act at its Carlisle warehouse. The guilty verdict related to the fact that a pile of truck tyres stacked 19 high contravened the company’s health and safety policy. The jury cleared the firm of two other charges relating to an accident in which a roofer had fallen through a skylight. Peter Gaster, KRT group MD accepted that KRT staff failed to apply the correct measures in this instance of over stacking, but maintains the company had to defend its position against unfair and frivolous claims in respect of the roofing incident.
In addition to the court case there was also some controversy over local newspaper, the News & Star’s, coverage of the case. The News & Star reported that Judge Barbara Forrester issued the fine after taking into account several “aggravating factors about the firm’s storage of tyres.” However, Peter Gaster told Tyres & Accessories the paper’s reference to “aggravating factors about our storage of tyres…is incorrect and was not mentioned by the Judge.”
“We reported the roofing incident under RIDDOR, and this caused Carlisle City Council Health and Safety Inspectors to visit our premises to discuss the accident. Whilst on our premises they noticed a rather high stack of tyres. At no time then or previously has anyone been injured or has there been any accidents resulting from our storage policy,” he explained.
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