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NTDA Promotes ‘Cold Weather Tyres’

In the last 12 months Tyres & Accessories has covered the ongoing winter tyre debate in some detail. Now, after the NTDA held a successful seminar alongside January’s Aftermarket Show, the topic is once again the subject of attention. The NTDA organised the seminar in response to demand from members who discussed the subject at the annual conference in Marbella. According to national chairman, Martin Rowlands, the subject of winter tyres was “by far the most popular topic,” along with the three millimetre replacement market and serving female customers.

25th January 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Analysis Positive

According to Deutsche Bank, Cooper Tire’s (CTB) management “sounded pretty optimistic on CTB’s growth prospects for 2005,” at a recent analyst conference.

Company representatives remain positive about industry pricing, reports the German news source, with Cooper rolling out new price increases of up to four per cent in March. New contracts that have recently been secured should also encourage 2.5 per cent growth, say analysts.

14th January 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

US Car Makers Interested in Contis APIA

At a news conference held at the Washington Auto Show Continental presented its roadmap for total vehicle safety that will integrate active and passive safety equipment. The company announced that two leading automakers have commissioned Continental to undertake advanced design work on integrating various elements of its comprehensive safety solution, the Active Passive Integration Approach (APIA) concept. “The industry recognizes Continental’s unique ability to deliver total safety solutions,“ said Joe Gaus, vice president, Continental Automotive Systems who also talked about how electronics are leading the way to safer cars by allowing ongoing development of active safety systems that help drivers avoid crashes and mitigate injuries.

21st December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Industry Speakers Gather for Tire Technology Expo

More than 110 exhibitors have confirmed their participation in the 2005 Tire Technology Expo. The exhibition, running from 22 – 24 February in Cologne, will feature session from leading industry experts. According to show organisers UKIP, the show is largest event of its kind in Europe and will bring together over 100 experts from internationally recognised research institutes and centres of excellence to present on a range of “hot topics.”

Subject matter will include materials, the intelligent tyre, modelling and simulation techniques and the latest developments in polymer technology. Speakers include Frank Feher of Goodyear Chemicals, Bridgestone’s Shoji Oida and John Bullas from the University of Southampton.

“This years show is the biggest in the event’s history, with more high quality exhibitors and visitors registered than ever before,” says Tony Robinson CEO of UKIP Media & Events. “Professional visitors from around the world will be able to see the newest technologies on display and exchange the latest information and opinions on the significant changes within tire technology at the intensive three-day conference. We’re looking forward to a really stimulating and fantastic show.”

16th December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

New Technology Simulates Tyre Behaviour

A new supercomputer based technology has been developed in order to simulate tyre performance. The new technology, devised by Bridgestone and dubbed Comprehensive Road Surroundings Simulation (CROSS), promises to raise efficiency in developing optimal tread patterns. The system is able to simulate tyre behaviour on unpaved roads and off the road and in sunny, rainy, and snowy conditions. Bridgestone believes its new technology will help streamline work in optimising tread patterns on tyres for four-wheel-drive vehicles, earthmoving equipment, agricultural machinery, all-terrain vehicles, and other vehicles that operate on unpaved surfaces.

Bridgestone’s announcement comes after engineers from the company presented a paper on terramechanics, the behaviour of soil under loads, at a September conference of the Tyre Society in the US. Terramechanics simulation technology is the latest addition to Bridgestone’s portfolio of simulation tools. The company announced new hydroplaning simulation technology in 1999 for analysing water flow under tyre treads on wet surfaces. In 2001, it announced technology for simulating tyre performance on snow.

3rd December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

2005 NTDA conference heads to Harrogate

Following its annual conference held in Marbella in September, the NTDA has decided to hold its 2005 follow up event in Harrogate alongside Brityrex next spring.

As reported in November’s Tyres & Accessories the association felt it would be beneficial to hold an interim event to provide an opportunity to up date the industry on how the many actions arising from the September event were progressing.

22nd November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Future of Conti’s Moscow Venture Remains Open

Continental expects a decision regarding its joint venture with the Moscow Tyre Plant to be made by the end of the month, a company spokesman told a press conference in Hanover. The conference also saw the company present its latest Transportation Analysis. Negotiations on the future of the business enterprise are on going and an official decision has not yet been taken, reports Continental. Continental says a decision on whether or not to go ahead with its plans will be made by the end of this year.

19th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

GEA Supports UK Automotive Conference

The Garage Equipment Association has decided to support the Automotive Conference to be held at next year’s combined CVS and ATS show. Chief executive John Nelson explained his decision: “I firmly believe it is important to have events that the entire industry can get behind. There have been proposals for splinter events, but there seems to be no real demand for them. Our members want to be involved with events that maximise the chance to do business and we believe this is a step in the right direction.”

10th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Are Truck Tyre Dealers Being Relegated to Service Providers?

The subject of how to sell truck tyres is certainly a contentious issue. All parties involved feel strongly about their respective positions. If you ask a tyre dealer what they think about this question, the chances are they wont be happy with the status quo. But, as far as the large manufacturers are concerned, selling direct to fleets and supplying the associated services is the only way to give customers what they demand. However not everybody agrees. Other brands support the supply chain, ‘the way it has always been’. Tyres & Accessories invited readers and industry members to comment on our website’s ‘question of the month’: Are Truck Tyre Dealers Being Relegated to Service Providers?

One reader’s comment sums up the argument from the independent dealer’s point of view: “Manufacturers have enough influence through OEM if they sell direct to fleets they will force out independent retailers who are the lifeblood of the Industry and we are liable to get a “committee” of “big brother” manufacturers deciding who, what, where and when, which is not in the interests of the fleets or independent Retailers.

Some companies take an arguably more ‘pro-dealer’ stance. “Cutting out the middle man is not an advantage,“ says Westlake Tyres UK and Europe business manager, Rob Henderson “As far as Eskay Tyres is concerned, we would rather support wholesalers. There is a system, a chain and that’s the way it should be done.” Philippe Verneuil, chief operating officer, Michelin truck tyres Europe agrees. Speaking to an IAA press conference in Hanover he affirmed, “we have to ensure that we continue to serve loyally and effectively.”

A reader from the UK added his opinion: “This is a question of meeting customer needs – the industry would much prefer the status quo, but today the customer asks for something else, which can only be delivered by a multi-national organisation, but this does not necessarily threaten the tyre retailer – it gives him another opportunity.”

The fact is, no simple answer exists. According to another T&A reader, the problem is: “The modern fleet user depends upon time sensitive data being made available to him at the click of a mouse. Many dealers are well on the way to being able to handle the most complex of end-user business but, like any ‘chain’ it is only as strong as the weakest link so, until all dealers are equally well equipped, we must expect the manufacturers to take the lead in this market place. They, in the main, can handle the processing of data.”

The last word goes to a reader who thinks there is a much simpler solution. “There should be cooperation between retailers and the industry.” While some parties would argue that is already happening, like the subject in general, it is unlikely that everyone will agree.

3rd November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s Apollo Tyres’ Sales Jump

Indian tyre Manufacturer, Apollo Tyres is expecting sales to increase 18 per cent, a company official has said. Last year the company recorded sales of 23.14 billion rupees and this year expects to see sales rise to almost 27.3 billion rupees, nearly £327.8 million.

“We will maintain 18 per cent growth in sales. It would be more than double of the projected industry growth rate of 8 percent,” Neeraj Kanwar, chief operating officer at Apollo, told a news conference. At the same time Mr Kanwar warned that the profit margins of tyre companies are under pressure due to spiralling costs of raw materials.

2nd November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Invests in Slovakia

Continental AG, has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.

25th October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop PA Wins National Award

Jackie Mead, PA to the general manager of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, has won the inaugural Smart Secretary/PA of the Year Award.

5th October 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Chrysler Boss Warns Auotmotive Suppliers to Adapt or Die

During a speech given at the Auto Tech 2004 conference Chrysler CEO, Dieter Zetsche told 1000 executives that “it’s adapt or die” for automotive suppliers.

6th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin’s US Plants Reach Agreement

The local membership of the USWA at three US and one Canadian BFGoodrich plant have agreed new labour agreements with Michelin North America. According to Michelin, the new agreements are expected, over time, to yield a 20 per cent annual reduction in the $300 million (£166 million) yearly labour cost at the four union facilities.

After weeks of negotiations, it seems that the Michelin/United Steelworkers of America (USWA) saga could be drawing to a close. The local unions voted overwhelmingly in favour of agreeing to the deal. Of the 3400 USWA members at the three US plants, 70 per cent voted to ratify the agreement. 94 per cent of Canadian members voted to agree to a similar deal at the company’s Kitchener, Ontario plant. Both agreements expire on 22 July 2006.

The USWA sees the agreement as a victory for its members. According to the newly ratified deal, during the course of the agreement Michelin has agreed that there will be not job losses and that it will not close any of the plants. The union also believes the deal will safeguard member’s future job security as it includes an agreement to set minimum capital expenditure to $150 million (£83 million). This is designed to reposition all four plants so that they can increase their production of higher margin, larger sized, branded tyres.

“Although negotiations were long and difficult,” said John Sellers, USWA executive vice president and head of the union’s Rubber-Plastics Industry Conference (R-PIC), “our membership’s patience and determination paid off with a new agreement that preserves jobs and ensures a future for all four plants, which were endangered by foreign imports and lack of investment.
“At the same time,” Sellers said, “we also maintained our members’ living standards and preserved affordable health care for more than 9,000 retirees and surviving spouses.”

Michelin, on the other hand, sees the deal as a challenge for its North American workers. “We know it’s possible for plants to be profitable in North America,” said Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America. “We’ve been doing it successfully for many years at our Michelin-brand facilities. Now, these four facilities have the chance to step up and prove that they can become competitive with the rest of our North American operations.”

What the USWA didn’t mention was that US workers will be expected to contribute “significantly more” towards healthcare costs, and that Canadian workers will “assume responsibility” for the provincial health insurance premiums. Canadian workers will have to contribute an additional 18 cents per hour towards offsetting healthcare costs. In addition, healthcare premiums for retired US workers will increase, beginning in July 2005 and continuing until December 2006. New employees will also feel the consequences of the deal and will come under a new five-year wage progression programme which will “substantially reduce hourly pay.”

30th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Steelworkers battle Continental against ‘Runaway Shop Scheme’

The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) has filed a charge against Continental Tire North America (CTNA) to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The union alleges that the suspension of tyre production at the company’s Mayfield, Kentucky facility, scheduled for the end of this year, is illegal. The steelworkers association claims that the federal government should halt the proposed action.

23rd July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors