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Excellent Turnout for 80th NTDA Annual Dinner and 2009 TAFF Awards

Around 400 guests filled the Deansgate Suite at the landmark Manchester Hilton Hotel to celebrate the 80th NTDA annual dinner and the 2009 Tyre and Fast Fit (TAFF) awards ceremony. The event, held on the evening of 23 September, saw the industry’s brightest and best gather to celebrate the successes of an industry that is determined to tough out the recession. The turnout alone spoke volumes about the attitude of the business’ leaders, with NTDA chairman Peter Gaster’s speech highlighting the challenges and successes of the industry; and the TAFF awards themselves recognising the achievements of companies within the business. This year’s event was sponsored by ECI International (the organisers of Brityrex, Tyrexpo Asia, Tyrexpo Africa and now Tyrexpo India); well known logistics firm DHL and Tyres & Accessories (and website tyrepress.com), the industry’s leading tyre trade publications. The TAFF awards themselves were compered by Mark Harrison on behalf of ECI International and after dinner entertainment was provided by Ian Irving.

Following the publication of 20,000 voting slips by Tyres & Accessories and the NTDA, and after hours of dedicated vote-counting, the 2009 awards were presented to successful candidates with tyre industry equivalent of “the red carpet treatment.” The fifth NTDA TAFF Awards also differed from previous competitions as it was the first time online voting had been included. In addition to the awards decided by the normal one industry member one vote system, and the NTDA nominated chairman’s award, 2009 saw the introduction of an expert judging panel to decide this year’s innovation award. The panel was made up of the representatives from associations and trade publications including NTDA, TIF, GEA and Tyres & Accessories. And now the results…

1st October 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

KPMG Welcomes “Steady Injection of Government Support”

Following business secretary, Peter Mandelson’s announcement that the UK government will be extending its car scrappage scheme to February 2010, as well as including van owners in those eligible for scrappage discounts, the auto director at ‘Big Four’ professional services firm, KPMG has said that he welcomes the government’s support for the industry:

29th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Government Extends Scrappage Scheme to Include Vans

The UK government is to extend the successful “bangers for cash” scrappage scheme until February 2010 with £100 million in extra funding. Alongside the increased funding the government will work with manufacturers to extend the benefits to van owners with vehicles over 8 years old rather than the current 10 year requirement. Car owners will also get a boost, with the age qualification changed by 6 months to extend the benefits to cars registered on or before 29 Feb 2000 (V registration). The scheme will come to an end in February 2010 or when the funding runs out, which ever is sooner.

So far 227,750 orders have been placed through the scheme. The increased funding enables the scheme to fund a further 100,000 vehicles, bringing total budget to £400 million and covering up to 400,000 vehicles in total. The extension continues as a government and manufacturer partnership, with matched funding providing the £2,000 discount for each scrappage order.

Announcing the news Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “The sector has been strongly affected by the recession, but the scrappage scheme has delivered a boost to manufacturers and the supply chain. We have listened to the concerns of manufacturers and are increasing the funding of the scheme to £400 million.”

28th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Technical Tire Consulting: Performance has it Roots in the Process

TTC stands for Technical Tire Consulting, a team of specialists with many years’ experience in the field of tyre manufacturing and familiarity with the latest technologies. During their time in the business the consultants have been responsible for building world class manufacturing facilities, such as those producing drop centre tyres, and have knowledge of all aspects of the business at their fingertips.

28th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

French Government to Phase Out Scrappage Incentives

After pioneering the so-called “cash for clunkers” scrappage incentive model in 2008, which was then mirrored in all the major European markets, the French government has announced that it is phasing out its 1000 euros for a 10 year-old car stimulus package. According to financial analysts, this measure had a net positive impact on demand of approximately 200,000 units, or 10 per cent of the market against a gross market impact of 400 units.

The developments in the French market follow the rather more abrupt end of a similar scheme in the German market, where demand for cars purchased under the scheme exceeded supply on 2 September. According to a Deutsche bank report published at the time, the scheme was responsible for 9000 unit sales a day since its introduction.

To avoid a free fall of the market next year, Germany’s car market for example is expected to be 25 per cent down in 2010, the French government has decided to reduce its scheme progressively. Next January the incentive will drop to 700 euros before dropping to 500 euros next July and hitting zero in January 2011. As a result, Deutsche Bank analysts are predicting “a limited decline of French registrations in 2010 of around 1.9 million units, -5 per cent.”

28th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz Realigns Global Operations

As of September 1 Hayes Lemmerz International has realigned its global operational sites into three regions. According to company president and COO Fred Bentley, "The purpose of the realignment is to become more strategically focused in the operation of the business by aligning the organisation into specific regions. This realignment allows us to continue our global focus on the customer base while creating additional efficiencies from the functional support groups. This is a great move for our business and allows us to continue to develop our future leaders." Mustafa Zaim, managing director of Turkish Operations, will continue in his present role as managing director and will also assume the additional responsibilities coordinating Global Materials management as well as act in an advisory capacity to the EAAP region on operational matters. Zaim will continue to report to Mr. Bentley.

21st September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

SMMT Calls for Extension to Scrappage Scheme

The SMMT has written to business secretary Lord Mandelson asking for an extension to the scrappage scheme, which is otherwise predicted to end in November. SMMT is asking for the scheme to be extended through to the original closing date of the end of February 2010, to counter the likely negative impacts of a return to the higher rate of VAT and the introduction of the first year VED rates. After 15 months of consecutive decline in the new car market, the scrappage incentive scheme has reignited demand, says the SMMT, resulting in year-on-year growth in July and August and a dramatic cut in the rate of decline in vehicle production.

Since it began over 100,000 new vehicles have been registered under the scrappage scheme, with an order bank of a further 100,000 suggesting the scheme will run out of funding in late October/early November. 76 per cent of cars bought under the scrappage scheme were classified in the Mini or Supermini segments.

SMMT now forecasts the new car market to end 2009 at 1.85 million units, above pre-scrappage forecasts but well below the 2.47 million pre-recession five year average. One fifth of the cars registered were either built in the UK or have an engine produced here.

18th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Organisers Note Tyre Market Upturn as Exhibitors Sign-Up for Brityrex 2010

The organisers of Brityrex International have welcomed an upturn in business confidence among tyre sector suppliers as companies continue to invest in next year’s exhibition in Manchester (5, 6 and 7 October) ECI International have confirmed a “healthy” amount of new bookings for the show from “a broad cross-section of domestic and international tyre and automotive specialists.”

Managing director Paul Farrant explained: “There’s no doubt that the market in general is feeling more positive about future prospects than it was six months ago. Speaking to many businesses of all sizes in the tyre, equipment and accessories sectors, it’s clear there is a willingness to consider investing in exhibitions and promotion. That confidence is refreshing and bodes well for Brityrex as well as day-to-day business activity.”

Among the latest companies to commit to the next Brityrex are Daly Tyres, the Irish distributor that has recently opened a new wholesale division in Stoke-on-Trent. This will concentrate on distribution of Taiwanese brand Kenda, with Daly managing director Eamon Daly explaining: “Kenda is a very progressive company and we view them as a great partnership for our business. Brityrex will be the perfect platform to market Kenda and our other product ranges and will be the place for UK and Irish retailers to meet suppliers covering all aspects of the tyre business.”

15th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Ruled Liable for Employee Deaths

A provincial court in Korea has found factory chiefs and senior researchers of Hankook Tire guilty failing to prevent a series of work related deaths. The Korea Times reports that on August 14 the Daejeon District Court sentenced a factory chief, identified as Lee, 52, to eight months imprisonment, which was suspended for two years, and fined him three million won (£1.46 million). Another factory manager, Jung, 47, was given six months in prison, suspended for two years, plus a fine of two million won. The two men worked at Hankook’s Daejeon and Geumsan factories, where 14 workers died within 17 months.

17th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich, USW Reach Tentative Agreement

An agreement has been reached between BFGoodrich and United Steelworkers representatives regarding the approximately 2,500 USW represented employees at the tyremaker’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Fort Wayne, Indiana facilities. The agreement addresses the terms BFGoodrich believes necessary in order to remain competitive, however the details of the August 15 tentative agreement will not be disclosed until […]

17th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Exceeds Environmental Goal in First Year

Continental Tire North America reports having officially exceeded its goal of increased compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership during its first year of participation. Continental first joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership in June 2008 as a Shipper Partner, committing to reduce its environmental impacts from ground freight transportation. In joining the partnership, the tyre manufacturer agreed to use the Freight Logistics Environmental and Energy Tracking (FLEET) Performance Model for Shippers to quantify its environmental performance level. Continental was then required to maintain a score of at least 0.5 within the FLEET Performance Model.

17th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Aims for Double-Digit Growth in China

Cooper aims to maintain its double digit growth in China over the coming years. The company’s vice president and general manager of Asia operations, Allen Tsaur, reports Cooper’s revenues in China last year to be close to five billion yuan, a figure he describes as contributing a “significant portion of Cooper Tires’ global revenue.”

17th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear, USW buy Time with 2 Week Contract Extension

Goodyear and the United Steelworkers of America have agreed to an extension of their national contract, taking their agreement up to 29 August.

13th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Get Out and About With Continental Tyres

Continental Tyres is promoting discount deals for family days out at over 300 attractions across the UK this summer.

13th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Just-auto publishes Fifth Edition of Global Tyres Market Review

Just-auto has published a new report on the global automotive tyre industry, including revised forecasts for the market until 2016. The 91-page fifth edition reviews emerging trends, such as the rising interest in run-flat, UHP and what the report calls ultra-fuel efficiency tyres, and offers exclusive interviews with senior executives of Bridgestone, Continental and Goodyear. The report is available on the marketsandcompanies.com website for download at a cost of £575.

13th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors