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Cooper Down Grade Inner Tube Production

Due to a decline in demand Cooper Tire & Rubber has decided to end production of inner tubes at its Clarksdale, Mississippi, plant by 12 November.

The company has confirmed that most of the facility’s 159 workers will be made redundant. About 30 of the workers are expected to remain at the plant to produce curing bladders and operate the rubber mixing unit, which produces rubber for internal consumption at the company’s other plants.

In an official statement the company explained that employees have been notified of the redundancy and will receive outplacement assistance. Cooper is also said to have notified its customers about the inner tube decision and is provided recommendations for alternative sources.

The phase-out is expected to cost about $9 million (£5 million), which will be needed to cover the write-down of assets and the impacts of severance and other benefits. The company will record a charge of approximately $7 million during the third quarter of 2004 as a result of this decision.
Cooper maintains that the decision supports its strategy to “dedicate resources to those product categories that will help the business grow globally and provide shareholder value.” cma

10th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Avon Unveil ‘The Next Big Thing’

Cooper Avon Tyres Ltd has confirmed that it has developed a 330/30R17 motorcycle tyre. The new product will be available for sale in early 2005.

8th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Personnel Developments in Cooper’s Product Dept

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co has promoted Dwayne Beach to director of product management.

Mr Beach will move from his current position as director of product marketing to assume his new role. He will now be responsible for global product planning and product marketing activities. In his new position he will also lead the company’s efforts in new product identification, development and commercialisation.

As a member of the Product Development and Management Association, and having served on several Tire & Rim Association and Rubber Manufacturers Association committees Mr Beach takes a range of knowledge and experience with him to the new role.

3rd September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA to Give Away Thousands at SEMA

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has announced that two special events are taking place during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, with each event featuring a cash giveaway of thousands of dollars.

2nd September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Speed into Rockingham

When Toyo decided to introduce two new tyres to the UK market, the company did it in style. The Proxes T1-R and R888 made their debut at Europe’s fastest racetrack, Rockingham Motorspeedway, highlighting the new lines’ ultra-high performance calibre. Dealers and press representatives from all over the UK spent two days at the 200mph circuit test driving the new tyres in BMW 330 coupes and Mini Cooper S cars.

It is clear that Toyo is proud of its new products what’s more the tyre manufacturer is confident about the new tyres’ performance. The T1-R’s predecessor, the T1-S, received excellent reviews in the European media and the new tyre is expected to receive similarly good results when it is tested independently. Perhaps that is why Toyo representatives were so keen for their tyres to be put to the test at the Rockingham circuit.

Toyo has really focused on the handling and wet performance of the T1-R, as it did with its predecessor. In addition Toyo have aimed to reduce the noise level of the T1-S. In order to achieve these goals, Toyo embarked on a completely new construction that utilised a more rigid carcass, based on either rayon or polyester, depending on the size. This modification is responsible for the impressive traction observed by drivers at Rockingham. Handling was improved by using flexible belts within the carcass and a one-piece nylon band in the tread shoulder is responsible for positively influencing the uniformity and high-speed performance of the tyre. The improved handling that made an impact on the slalom course has come by virtue of a stiffer bead construction. All the tyres in the range will include a rim guard to protect against curb damage.

25th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper’s New Role to Control Motorsport Activities

James P Keller, has been announced as Cooper Tire and Rubber’s new vice president, competition and enthusiast products.

Based in Stow, Ohio, Mr Keller will assume his new role as of 15 August. His responsibilities will now focus on directing, administering and coordinating the company’s motorsport activities, this is to include both the Cooper-Avon racing interest in the UK and Mickey Thompson Performance Tires and Wheels based in Ohio.

“We are beginning to capitalise on the enormous global opportunities for Cooper Tire in the area of motorsports,” said Phillip D Caris, VP sales and marketing. “This newly-created position will help us continue to develop, promote, grow and maximize performance results and brand awareness from the targeted market niche of competition, performance and enthusiast products for Cooper’s North American tyre division as well as for our global motorsports activities.”

Mr Keller has held a variety of roles within his 21-year career at Cooper. Since May 2003 he has served as the plant manager for Cooper’s fluid systems manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ohio. Prior to this role, he served as the vice president of purchasing for three years.

4th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Saiyang – a new joint venture

Cooper Tire & Rubber’s operating group, Cooper-Standard Automotive, has created a joint venture company with Chinese manufacturer Saiyang Sealing Products. Together the companies will sell automobile sealing systems under the name Cooper Saiyang Wuhu Automotive.

30th July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire to Produce Race Tyres in the US

Cooper Tyre & Rubber has announced that it intends to produce racing tyres at the company’s factory in Athens, Georgia. As a result of the decision the company plans to invest $11 million (£6 million) in the plant so it will be able to produce racing tyres in the factory that currently produces retread products. The conversion to motorsport tyres should begin immediately. Developmental tyre production will start in early 2005.

27th July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper’s Numbers Look Good

Analysts have reported that Cooper’s 2nd quarter results were better than they expected. The good results are said to be mainly due to improved performance from the Cooper tyre division. This is good news for the company because it is due to sell its Auto Parts division, making tyre production its core business.

23rd July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Avon Extends Road Hazard Policy

Cooper-Avon Tyres has updated its road hazard warranty policy by extending the tread depth cover. Originally the warranty covered the first millimetre of depth expended, but now Cooper-Avon has increased this to cover 1.4mm of wear.

1st July 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

New Director at Cooper

Cooper Tire and Rubber Company has announced that Michael Cati will be the company’s new director of sales and marketing for Asian operations. This means that Mr Cati, who was European marketing manager until recently, will now be responsible for sales and marketing in China.

Mr Cati originally joined Avon Tyres shortly before Cooper Tire and Rubber Company acquired it in 1997 after graduating from the school of European Business studies at Swansea University. During this time he was a territory sales manager in Europe and was responsible for achieving operational improvements at Cooper-Avon, France.

14th June 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Oliver Rubber to Retread US Postal Service

Cooper Tire and Rubber Company and its subsidiary company, Oliver Rubber won a 10-year contract to retread US Postal Service tyres across the United States. Oliver Rubber produces and distributes tread rubber and retreading systems through a large network of licensed dealers. The company plans to use this network exclusively in order to service the 208,000 vehicles that the Postal Service maintains. 142,00 of these vehicles are considered long-life vehicles, which will undoubtedly provide additional retread opportunities for the company.

“The Postal Service speculates that they are currently using retreads on 20 percent of their fleet; however, they want to increase that number to 70 percent,” said Phil Boarts, Oliver director of retread sales and marketing.

“While the size of this whole project seems to be growing daily, we are making good progress in learning what we need to know about the current Postal Service operations,” continued Boarts.

The company plans to use precure and mold-cure technologies. Mold-cure technology will be employed on the majority of long-life vehicles and will, according to the company, “allow for improved ride characteristics.”

14th June 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Growth For Cooper-Avon

Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd has achieved record sales results in the first quarter of 2004. Four years ago the company implemented a new strategy to help safeguard its future. As part of this, the company has seen substantial investment in new processes and products in recent years and is growing at a rate of some 10 – 12% per annum. It is anticipated that this trend is set to continue in the foreseeable future.

11th May 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Another Cooper Appointment

David S. Craig has been made Director, Advertising for North America in the latest move in Cooper Tire’s realignment. He joined Cooper in 1993 as a territory sales manager in international sales and served as European marketing manager between 2001-2002. His most recent appointment was as manager, associated brand advertising and communications. He has a bachelor’s degree and is currently working for his MBA.

30th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Further Appointments At Cooper

Cooper Tire & Rubber’s strategic realignment has resulted in two Vice Presidential sales and marketing appointments. Carl A. Casalbore has been made Vice President, Marketing and Retail Sales for the North American Tire Division. He joined Cooper in 1999 as a director of sales, after 20 years’ service with a competitor and his most recent post was that of VP, retail sales and high performance tyre development. The second appointment is that of Phillip D. Caris, as Vice President Sales & Marketing for the North American Tire Division. His 21-year Cooper career includes several sales and marketing roles, latterly as VP, marketing. Both appointments are effective from 1st May.

29th April 2004/by Tyrepress Editors