Cooper Archives - Page 45 of 79

Cooper Texarkana Plant Earns Environmental Certification

Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Texarkana facility, located in the US state of Arkansas, has been granted the IS0 14001 environmental management system certification. Adherence to the ISO 14001 standard, which specifies requirements for a facility’s environmental management system, is intended to help minimise a facility’s impact on the environment through the use of standardised processes and regular performance audits.

“Earning this certification demonstrates the commitment by our Texarkana plant to operating an environmentally friendly facility,” said Carl Montalbine, vice president of Global Quality, Operational Excellence and Information Technology. “Especially as all of us are trying to conserve energy, reduce waste and preserve the environment, we felt that attaining this ‘green’ standard was simply the right thing to do.”

29th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper VP & CFO Announces Retirement

Product News

Following a career with Cooper Tire & Rubber spanning almost two entire decades, company vice president and chief financial officer Phil Weaver has announced plans to retire later this year. The 56-year old joined Cooper in 1990 and held the positions of tyre division controller (1990 to 1994) and tyre division vice president (1994 to 1998) before being appointed to his current role.

“I want to thank Phil for his years of service and commitment to Cooper Tire,” said Cooper Tire chairman, president and CEO Roy Armes. “While Phil was the CFO of Cooper, he was responsible for managing the finance function with a high level of integrity and within strict accordance with all federal and SEC regulations and guidelines. His contributions to the Company were key to many of the successes that Cooper has enjoyed.”

28th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Kenda Facility Ready for ISO Certification

Product News

Cooper Tire reports that Smithers Quality Assessments lead auditor Ricker Zoller recently conducted an ISO 9001:2000 stage one audit at its Cooper Kenda Tire facility in Kunshan, China. This stage one audit, the company adds, is comparable to the pre-certification audits that North American plants underwent in spring 2008 in preparation for their actual certification audits. The certification audit at Cooper Kenda Tire is scheduled for July.

Following the four-day inspection, the auditor commented that he found “no issues that would prevent Cooper Kenda Tire from obtaining its certification.” This positive feedback comes after half a year of preparation for ISO auditing, a time in which department leaders and employees have been engaged in establishing proper procedure documents. Cooper states that employees have developed all the required systems, such as document control, internal audit, corrective and preventive action and calibration systems.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Pays $375,000 to Settle Advertising Complaint

Product News

In the US Tennessee state Attorney General, Bob Cooper, yesterday announced a multi-state settlement with Michelin North America “regarding alleged misrepresentations Michelin made in its advertising of Michelin fuel efficient tyres.” The manufacturer agreed to make minor changes in the copy of print advertisements it has run concerning the purported fuel efficiency of its tyres, and is paying $375,000 to cover the alleged cost of the investigation, Tire Review reports. The attorney general, though, “acknowledges that Michelin fully cooperated with the multi-state investigation and the investigation did not question the safety or quality of Michelin’s tyres.” Michelin, which said it followed prevailing Federal Trade Commission advertising guidelines, denied any wrongdoing.

The Tennessee attorney general reacted to a complaint filed by Bridgestone Americas, which Michelin claimed was the only complaint filed. However, attorney general spokesperson Sharon Curtis-Flair told Boston media that “the investigation started based on a consumer complaint, not a complaint by Bridgestone.” Other states joining the agreement include Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont. Each will receive a share of Michelin’s settlement payment.

15th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Expands High Performance Range

Product News

Korea’s Kumho has added two new HP tyres under its Ecsta brand in Europe – the HM KH31, which competes for a slice of the lucrative medium car market, including such perennial top-sellers as the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf; and the X3 KL17, which is targeting more luxurious vehicles. The manufacturer also says that it aims to continue to increase its OE business in Europe, an ambition exemplified by the recent agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply the Ecsta KU19 in size 245/45R18 for the newest model Viano X-Clusive. The company now does global OE business with Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Smart, Volkswagen and Daimler, to whom it has supplied tyres for the A-Class model since 2007.

Kumho’s new KH31 straddles the HP and UHP markets, replacing the company’s own much-vaunted KH11; a tyre that has proved successful in many rounds of European tyre tests. The company’s Birmingham-based European Technical Centre, known as the KETC was instrumental in the development of the new tyre, and the tread pattern, construction, compound and testing were all controlled from there. The key target for improvement was aquaplaning performance – lateral and longitudinal. The company believes that the KETC has been able to build on the abilities of the KH11 to yield further improvements in its wet weather performance.

8th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Announces Quarterly Dividend

Company News

Cooper Tire & Rubber announced on May 5 its intention to pay shareholders of record at the close of business on June 2, 2009 a quarterly dividend of 10.5 cents per share on common stock. This dividend, payable June 30, 2009, will become the 149th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company.

6th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Camera Found in Toilet at Melksham, UK Tyre Plant

Career Tracks

The management of Cooper Tire Europe has offered “its sincere apologies to anyone who was affected”, after a camera was found in the men’s toilet by employees. The Wiltshire Times reports that the camera “was installed by a maintenance contractor at the request of a Cooper Tires manager,” who suspected employees of substance abuse. The Unite Union representative John McGookin told the paper that he has discussed the incident with company management, saying, “This was somebody’s misguided approach to a concern. It’s something we have asked that the company ensures does not happen again.”

A Cooper statement said that, “Following an extensive, independent investigation into the discovery of a camera in a toilet, it has been established that:-

1. Although there was suspicion of substance abuse on site, the decision to position a camera in a toilet was unacceptable
2. The company has a policy to deal with suspected substance abuse and this was not followed
3. The camera equipment was not made operational
4. Although the motives were genuine, as the company treats substance abuse seriously, this was a major error of judgement and therefore disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible
5. Procedures are being changed to ensure that such an incident cannot be repeated in future”

1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mickey Thompson Launches Online Video Portal

News, Premium

Cooper Tire’s Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels unit recently launched a branded online video site, MickeyThompsonTV.com. This online video player is stocked with a variety of video content on Mickey Thompson strip, truck, motorcycle, off-road, and Bonneville racing that includes recent video plus some vintage Mickey Thompson video footage. Video product information, company news and event coverage will also be featured.

Any video on MickeyThompsonTV.com can be viewed, selected, and then embedded into other Web pages, forums or blogs for sharing with others. Mickey Thompson enthusiasts will also be able to upload their own video content. Cooper reports that members will have the ability to communicate with each other, share comments, and participate in related forums and will also be able to access Mickey Thompson product information, company news, apparel and much more.

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1st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Cuts “30-50” Jobs at Melksham Tyre Plant

Product News

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe has released a statement announcing its plan to cut 30-50 jobs at its Melksham, Wiltshire plant, amounting to around 4 per cent of the company’s workers there. The manufacturer will invite its 1,000 employees at the site to apply for voluntary redundancy throughout May. The statement cites the reduction of costs necessary to remain competitive within its markets as the reason for the cuts.

30th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Scores Highly at European Rallycross in Kent

Product News

Avon Tyres, a brand owned and manufactured by Cooper Tire, dominated the opening round of the 2009 FIA European Rallycross Championship at Lydden circuit, in Kent. In a championship where tyre choice is completely open and where tyres have to provide traction on both asphalt and gravel on every lap, Avon reports that the popularity of its selection has increased over recent seasons. 37 of the 38 drivers who scored at Lydden use Avon Tyres.

29th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Freewheelers Volunteers to Ride on Avon Tyres

Product News

Cooper brand Avon Tyres has agreed to supply motorcycle tyres to the Freewheelers Emergency Volunteer Service, a registered Charity which provides emergency out-of-hours medical transport throughout the West Country.

Freewheelers’ fleet of marked-up Yamaha FJR1300s, often referred to as “Blood Bikes”, provide lifesaving transport for urgently-needed items such as blood (as the name suggests) test samples, patient notes, X-rays and medical supplies. Avon will supply Storm-ST tyres, while JHS Racing at Keynsham will service Freewheelers’ duty bikes as well as fit them with the brand new rubber.

21st April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Minor Fire at Cooper’s Texarkana Plant

Product News

A fire at Cooper Tire’s Texarkana, Arkansas, tyre plant last week resulted in the evacuation of all employees, but caused limited damage and no one was injured. According to a Tire Review report, the fire broke out after some tyre dust caught fire. Investigators said upgrades are being done at the plant and that a welder’s torch sparked a fire in rubber dust. It took firefighters less than half an hour to put the fire out. Soon after, the tyre plant’s workers were soon allowed to go back inside. The fire follows a similar minor incident at Cooper Tire’s Tupelo platn on Saturday 14 March. In this instance an apparent mishap with some welding work started the fire. According to a WTVA.com report at the time, no injuries were reported, but “several holes had to be cut in the roof by firemen to get the fire out.”

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Group International Names Delgado Senior Vice President

Product News

Tire Group International (TGI) has announced the hiring of Orlando Delgado as senior vice-president of business development. Delgado re-joins TGI with “over 20 years of international market experience with emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean.” Prior to joining TGI, he spent several years as director of logistics for a world leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of toys and family products. According to a company statement, TGI hopes Delgado’s expertise in Latin American and Caribbean markets will allow the tyre wholesaler to reach its strategic objective of continuing to open sales offices throughout the region.

14th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Appoints New General Manager to Mexican JV Operation

Product News

In late March Cooper Tire & Rubber announced the appointment of Jeffrey J. Schumaker as general manager of the company’s manufacturing joint venture in Mexico, Corporacion de Occidente. Schumaker joined Cooper in 1988 and has served as tyre testing manager, and sport-utility vehicle and light truck tyre development manager in the US and as technical liaison manager in Melksham. Following his time in the UK he held the position of business unit manager in Albany, Georgia, and, most recently, as director of quality systems. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degrees in manufacturing management and operations management.

6th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Takes on British Formula 3 from Avon

Product News

This Easter the British Formula 3 season will begin with a new tyre supplier and title sponsor as the country’s premier single-seater racing championship becomes known as the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series. One of the world’s most successful championships for aspiring Formula 1 drivers, stars including Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton all raced in the series on their way to the top of the sport. And after 27 years of racing exclusively on Avon Tyres, this year’s supply will switch to Cooper Tire – a brand that has a well established reputation in US motorsport.

3rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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