conference Archives - Page 43 of 44

Portrait Of Marangoni Tyre GmbH

The German subsidiary of the Italian tyre producer Marangoni was founded six years ago in Wedel near Hamburg. The foundation of Marangoni Tyre GmbH took place at the beginning of May 1999, with General Manager Dirk Rohmann and Area Manager Martin Werner the only two people to work for the German company daughter up till now. One of their most important tasks is to increase the low awareness and attention the tyre brand receives from the end users at the moment. It was for this reason that the company held an international press conference in Rapallo in March 2000 that was attended by more than 100 journalists from all over Europe. The effect was a very positive one; Marangoni tyres have been represented in some summer- and winter-tyre-tests of international magazines, in which they performed quite well. The number of countries that are managed from Germany has increased from 16 to 22 in the previous one and a half years. New countries are: Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Romania. The present market share in Germany amounts up to one percent – representing 400,000 tyres. The products are delivered directly on trucks from Italy. Twelve distribution partners handle the local distribution in Germany. In the western part the coverage is more ore less complete, whereas in the eastern part there are still some holes, that are due to be filled by spring next year. Furthermore Rohmann and Werner want to employ a third person who will keep a close contact with the 250 German tyre dealers where Marangoni products are sold.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Car Parts and Accessories – 3rd BBE Conference in Cologne

Product News

On 5th April the consultant company had invited more than 150 experts from the car parts and accessories sectors for its third conference concerning the car component aftermarket. As tyres are counted as part this segment as well, trends from this part of the business were presented and discussed as well. In times where sales of new cars begin to drop, the importance of the aftermarket business begins to grow again. But on the other hand the competition in this field is fiercer than ever -due also to the internet and e-commerce. This was the reason why the event was subtitled “The good times are over – means for success in hard times”. And the topics of the internet and e-commerce were at least mentioned by almost every speaker, sometimes being even the main topic. These new media enable the industry to provide products directly to the end consumer, leaving behind the old traditions of trade via wholesaler and retailers.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Stephan Kessel, Continental’s CEO: A Separation On Friendly Terms

Career Tracks

Someone who acquires a seat at the top, and even reaches the CEO position at Continental, will neither be fired nor will he just quit. There is what is called “a separation on friendly terms”. The question whether Kessel and von Grünberg could ever have been friends is not even relevant. Whoever thinks that von Grünberg just shrugged and happily retired to some comptroller’s position will find out that he was wrong. Von Grünberg is the type of man who may occasionally loosen the handcuffs, writes a German daily newspaper, but he also tightens them again. His thumb pointed downwards, and that gesture determined Kessel’s future, and the whole board went along, including the banker Weiss.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Successful 1999 Year for ContiTech

Product News

The ContiTech division of Hanover-based Continental AG experienced the most successful business year of its history in 1999, according to the company.”The year 1999 marks a big step forward – in results, globalisation and concentration on core businesses”, was the way the year was summed up at a press conference by Manfred Wennemer, board member of Continental AG with responsibility for the ContiTech division and chairman of ContiTech Holding GmbH. In 1999 ContiTech increased its turnover to 1.72 billion Euro (previous year: 1.70 billion Euro), a plus of 0.7 p.c. This would have been about 2.5 p.c. but for changes in the contributing units,some of which were sold. Turnover per employee amounted to 112,000 Euro, approximately four per cent higher than the 107,000 Euro of 1998. In non-automotive sections the general economic situation led to some decline, but business with Europe’s car makers was approximately four per cent above the previous year’s level. The 1999 ContiTech turnover was made up about 64 p.c. in the automotive sector and 36 p.c. outside it. Operating profit (EBIT) also improved. The strong growth can be attributed, among other things, to a significant reduction in the extraordinary items and reserves for restructuring, which had depressed the 1998 result. On the contrary, the 1999 year saw one-off profits, especially from sales of individual segments. Wennemer emphasised that these positive effects on the results were caused by ContiTech’s restructuring measures. Read more in NEUE REIFENZEITUNG 5/2000.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

John Lampe to lead Bridgestone/Firestone USA

Product News

Bridgestone/Firestone USA has announced John Lampe as successor to outgoing Masatoshi Ono. John Lampe steps up from the number two position to lead the largest subsidiary of the Bridgestone Group. The announcement was made official at a company press conference in Nashville on 10th October.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Best-Ever Result for Dunlop Germany

Product News

Deutsche Dunlop GmbH, part of the Goodyear Dunlop Tire Group (Western Europe), has announced a record turnover in 1999 of 835 million Euro and a net profit of 63.3 million Euro. The operating profit was 12.5% of turnover. Dunlop Germany invested 68.5 million Euro, which represents 8% of turnover. The company has capital of 300 million Euro. Whilst employment in the rubber and tyre industry in Germany has decreased over the last ten years by 30%, Dunlop has increased its number of employees by 21% over the same period to 5,176 at 31st December 1999. The income of the four directors was excellent, averaging 2.9 million marks each as recognition of delivering outstanding results. From a German standpoint it is worth noting that the management have boosted “location Germany”. They showed the business world that it is possible to achieve excellent results in a German environment. The management remains optimistic for the future. Finance director, Dr. Volker Wingefeld, said that Dunlop expect to achieve results for this year comparable to those of 1999. The work of marketing director Dieter Seibert should also be mentioned. The Dunlop brand is stronger than ever before in Germany. The willingness to buy Dunlop is increasing significantly. Until last year the management held a press conference every year in Frankfurt, close to Hanau. Now, as part of a much bigger group, they are calling it a “press-breakfast” to get their message across.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

ETRA Scrap Tyre Recycling Conference II In Leipzig

Product News

Following the 1999 event in Schwerin, this year’s ETRA Scrap Tyre Recycling Conference will take place in Leipzig/Germany. It is scheduled for 5th December.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

MIRS Tyres Produced In Milan

Product News

The first production line utilising MIRS technology (Modular Integrated Robotized System), was unveiled by Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera at an international press conference on 11 July at the company’s Bicocca factory. The MIRS process is managed entirely on-line. In the next three years, four more MIRS plants will be opened in Germany, the UK, the USA and the Far East, representing an investment of 500 million Euro (excluding building and servicing costs). Total production capacity will be 10 million HP and UHP tyres a year.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Significant Changes In The European Tyre Markets?

Product News

During a press conference in Romania, Continentals’ CEO Dr. Kessel predicted very significant changes in the European original equipment markets. He pointed out that the consequences regarding the Firestone tyre recall will also have a great impact in Europe. Kessel believes that Firestone will lose many contracts and, among others, the Continental group would benefit and he added that there were already clear signals. But, signals yes or no, the Continental share price has fallen and it will be interesting to see whether news like this will stimulate the shares.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Rapid-Fit To Join NTDA

Product News

At the recent conference of the UK National Tyre Dealers Association (NTDA), Chairman of Council Ashley Croft announced that the Rapid-Fit chain of retailers had applied for membership. Rapid-Fit consists of 300+ fast-fit depots, owned by individual Ford car dealers. This will bring the number of centres in NTDA membership to more than 2,000.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Kaizaki Dismisses Bankruptcy Rumours

Product News

At a press conference, Bridgestone president Yoichiro Kaizaki dismissed rumours that claims for damages in the USA could force Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. into bankruptcy. The company has set aside $450 million to cover claims and any extra needed could come from the US company’s reserves, estimated at $2.3 billion. Despite the reassurance, Bridgestone shares fell by over 13 per cent in Tokyo.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

A Change Of Emphasis For Kwik-Fit

Premium, Product News

In a speech at the conference which ran alongside the Essen Reifen 2000 exhibition, Sir Tom Farmer, Chairman and Chief Executive of tyre retailer Kwik-Fit, announced a change to the company’s famous slogan of “Our aim is 100% customer delight”. This, he said, is meaningless hype – nobody is delighted when presented with a bill for tyres, or an exhaust system, however good the service and product. Today’s customer is more sophisticated than his counterpart of a decade or so ago and he (or she) expects – indeed, demands – satisfaction when purchasing goods and services. Kwik-Fit’s new attitude to the customer is to try to give him what he wants and, if anything goes wrong, to move heaven and earth to rectify it. The words “delight” and “satisfaction” will disappear from adverts, letterheadings and the like, although Sir Tom said that service and customer care will continue to be a priority for Kwik-Fit. The move comes at a time when the company is undertaking its most aggressive-ever advertising campaign, offering four 12″ and 13″ tyres for £65, including valve, balancing and fitting. Never before have the company’s adverts featured prices so prominently, and never before have the prices been so cheap. Sir Tom Farmer says that the move is in response to actions by competitors and it is certainly having its effect on the tyre retail market. Kwik-Fit’s own house magazine underlines the aggressive nature of the campaign, saying that, if the prices are undercut, they will be reduced even further. “This is war!” says the article.

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7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Joint Venture Between Autobytel And Continental

Product News

Tyre manufacturer Continental intends to engage itself more in the e-business arena – especially on the “B2C” (Business to Consumer) level. The company has therefore decided to begin cooperation concerning tyre distribution with “autobytel.com”, an independent US-American internet-platform which offers a complete car service to its customers covering the complete life cycle of the car. Working together with tyre retailers, a complete service package will be offered to customers. All retailers interested in this project will be given the opportunity to participate, even if they do not possess the necessary infrastructure at the moment. The two companies explained during a press conference in Frankfurt what they are going to do. Continental is initially investing about 15 million Euro, most of it for the creation of a “tyre portal”. At present the whole project exists only on paper but Continental wants to arrange the basics of this project by the end of February 2001, and the operative start is planned for autumn 2001. During the press conference, Conti CEO Kessel underlined his interests in working closely together with the professional tyre trade.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

As Expected: Firestone Recalls 4×4 Tyres

News

The Ford Explorer has come under pressure because of a supposed series of accidents, blamed on allegedly faulty Firestone tyres. Both Ford and Bridgestone Firestone are strenuously denying the allegations. Firestone is the biggest tyre supplier for Ford’s Explorer and Expedition SUVs and the Aiken factory (opened last year) depends heavily on this business. The plant has an annual capacity of ten million tyres, of which nearly half are destined for Ford. After US retailer Sears Roebuck has taken some types of Firestone tyres off its shelves for this reason, in Tokyo, shares in Bridgestone fell by 8.8% at the news. In the US, Bridgestone/Firestone suggested at first that customers visit their B/F dealer for a tyre check but then decided to recall voluntarily ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tyres. The only size involved is the 235/75 R 15. This can count for up to 6.5 million tyres. This information was given in a press conference on 9th August in Washington D.C. The replacement will start in the south states of the USA because the problem often occurred in hot weather. The customer will be given a new tyre free of charge regardless of the condition of the old one. Firestone are also immediately recalling tyres from its 4×4 Wilderness range in Europe. Only one size is affected and relatively small numbers are involved. It is expected that the cost to Firestone could reach US$ 500 million. There are also rumours that Ford – itself coming under growing pressure – intends to change tyre suppliers for its Explorer and Expedition models. Industry observers have expressed surprise at how badly Firestone is managing the public relations aspect of the current crisis.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Policy Of Appeasement From Michelin?

Product News

In a telephone conference on 28th July, following an earlier profits warning and subsequent fall in Michelin shares of around 10%, the management tried to explain the reasons for the profits warning. June was a bad month but there is still hope that the company will achieve an EBIT comparable to that of the first half of 1999. Exact figures will not be available until September. The problems are in the USA, where it was not possible to obtain better prices for truck tyres. On the other hand, the increase in raw materials prices (rubber, oil, carbon black), forecast to be about 3%, will now, it seems, be more like 4 or 5%.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

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