Xiamen-based Shengjeng Machinery Co, Ltd was founded in 2000. Since then, the rubber mould manufacturer’s customer base has swollen to include well-known companies such as Chengshin (the maker of Maxxis tyres). The company employs more than 150 people and reportedly turns over $1,000,000 each year. 40 per cent of the moulds they produce are for export.
More than 200 dealerships across the country are now certified to replace run-flat tyres, as part of Bridgestone’s comprehensive Run-Flat Certificate Programme.
The scheme comprises of free training for tyre dealers and fitters. To date 203 dealerships and in excess of 600 UK fitters and store managers have attained certification, and more than 400 machines have already been inspected and accredited by Bridgestone.
Rome, Georgia-based Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA) has received ISO 9001:2000 accreditation and ISO/TS 16949:2002 technical specification. Guy Mannino, PTNA’s president, was informed at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas that the company had been awarded the coveted certification.
Calling it the “next generation of SUV tyre technology,” Goodyear is introducing the new 4×4 Fortera(R) tyre, featuring TripleTred Technology. The tyre seeks to “respond to SUV drivers’ demands for confidence and security while driving on rain-soaked, snowy or dry roads,” according to Todd Hershberger, Goodyear’s marketing manager, light-truck tyres.
Bridgestone continued its programme of preparing First Stop dealers for a rise in run-flat replacement fitments by inviting them to test the technology at a specially designed event in Bedford.
Dealers were given the chance to drive BMW 3-Series cars fitted with original-equipment Bridgestone Potenza RE050 RFT run-flat tyres around a track designed to simulate a variety of different road conditions, in order to test the tyres for themselves.
An American law firm has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Bridgestone Firestone North American Tires LLC and Bridgestone Firestone Corp, seeking damages and the recall of 30 million Firestone Steeltex tyres the firms says are defective. The action, filed last week in Los Angeles Federal Court by Lisoni & Lisoni, involves Firestone Steeltex R4S, R4SII and A/T tyres, local newspaper, The Whittier Daily News reported.
Fulda’s high performance tyre, Attiro, has topped the medium/large car category in the recent Which? tyre tests.
ArvinMeritor Inc has been awarded Q1 certification from Ford Motor Company. The award, which was presented by Terry Revord, Ford North American Supplier Technical Assistance Engineer, recognises Ford suppliers who demonstrate excellence in product quality, on-time delivery and outstanding customer service.
When presenting the award, Revord said: “The Q1 award symbolises that ArvinMeritor Chickasha is among the very best suppliers to Ford Motor Company, with the commitment and processes in place to consistently provide the highest quality parts to our customers.”
“We are very proud to receive Q1 certification today,” added Paul Rogers, director of operations for the Chickasha facility. “Our employees have worked very hard for almost a year to meet Ford’s stringent requirements to be certified Q1. We value our relationship with Ford and look forward to supplying them with superior ride control products for many years to come.”
The Chickasha facility has more than 650 employees and manufactures automotive shock absorbers and MacPherson struts. The Q1 celebration included a cookout served to employees by facility management.
Hayes Lemmerz International has announced that all facilities in its Brake and Powertrain Components Group have achieved ISO/TS 16949:2002 (with design) Certification, from the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), a worldwide consortium of automotive manufacturers and trade associations. The group’s systems were audited and certified by Smithers Quality Assessments Inc. (SQA), an independent accredited registrar. ISO/TS 16949 is an international quality management system that aligns existing American (QS-9000), German (VDA 6.1), French (EAQF) and Italian (AVSQ) automotive quality systems into a single standard, thereby eliminating the need for multiple certifications.
Goodyear Philippines Inc. has been recommended to receive the latest global quality certification standard, ISO/TS 16949:2002. The standard specifies quality system requirements for design, development, production and installation of automotive-related products. Goodyear Philippines is the first of the company’s factories in the ASEAN region to achieve the new standard.
Goodyear’s North American Tire region has been recommended for certification to ISO 14001 environmental standard. The standard requires an organisation to identify and reduce its impact on the environment beyond legal requirements.
American Racing Equipment has been awarded ISO 14001 certificate of registration for its environmental management system. ISO 14001 provides a framework for managing environmental impact, similar to the way in which the ISO 9000 standard addresses issues of product or service quality. The International Standards Organization (ISO) awards the 14001 certification to companies whose environmental management systems conform to specified requirements and demonstrate a serious commitment to ensuring that company operations do not harm the environment.
Superior Industries International is expanding its commitment to customers, employees and the environment by ensuring that its production facilities are all certified to ISO 14001 within the next six months. Already, plants at Pittsburg, Kansas, Arkansas, Chihuahua, Mexico and Tatabanya, Hungary are registered to ISO 14001, other plants at Arkansas, California and Tennessee should also gain certification within six months. Executive Vice President, Steven J. Borick said,” ISO 14001 certification underscores our commitment to quality and productivity, as well as to the quality of life of our employees and the communities in which we work.”
Tyres are among 132 different products which will have to carry the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark from next month if they are to be sold in the People’s Republic of China. This applies to domestically-produced and imported products. The CCC mark is a product safety and quality certification system and the mark can be acquired from the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the PRC.
All of Goodyear’s North American manufacturing plants have been recommended for certification to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard. The plants were audited by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Ltd. John Loulan, vice president of North American Tire operations said, “North American Tire is well ahead of the requirements set by major automotive manufacturers and also ahead of internal goals set for the end of 2002.” ISO 14001 is an international standard defining the requirements for environmental management systems used by an organisation to identify and manage potential impacts on the environment from its activities.
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