Dunlop reports that the latest addition to its motorcycle range, the Qualifier II, has won Visordown’s annual winter tyre test. The popular magazine, formerly known as TWO, tested a range of premium tyres in wet and dry conditions to find the best tyre for use during cold, wet winters.
Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe has reported the recent appointment of a new communications director for its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. According to EMEA region president Arthur De Bok, Belgian Tom Delforge began in the role on September 1, replacing Chris Aked, who has retired.
The UrbanMax is the latest member of Goodyear Europe’s Max Technologies family, a range promoted by Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe as featuring the latest technology materials, dedicated tread patterns and durable carcass construction. The UrbanMax MCA and MCD Traction comprise a new line-up of all-season tyres for municipal vehicles, including city buses, fire engines and garbage trucks, and the benefits the manufacturer states these products deliver include high mileage and superb braking on wet and snowy roads.
Henk van Tuyl has been appointed director of Goodyear Dunlop Tires’ Tire Technology Commercial Tires – Europe Middle East and Africa division. Van Tuyl, who is originally from the Netherlands, has worked for the company for more than 21 years and took up his new post on October 1.
Indian news sources are reporting that Dunlop India is to resume production at its plant in Sahaganj from 2 December. A company press release stated that workers have been informed via a notice hung at the factory’s entrance. Its reopening had been delayed at first by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company following its first suspension on 30 November, 2008. Electricity supply to the factory was delayed by deliberations over credit terms. Power was restored on 9 November following the acquisition of a bank guarantee. The plant’s medium-term closure was precipitated by the refusal of a number of workers to accept a temporary shutdown.
The solitary remaining tyre manufacturer in Zimbabwe marked its 50th Anniversary on November 18, and company management have taken the opportunity to express their optimism for the future. At an event held by Dunlop Zimbabwe and attended by numerous dignitaries, company chairman Dr Luis Cenevis stated that the tyre maker had managed to survive the previous years’ trials and was looking forward to production levels returning to full capacity.
Having shod the winners of the 2009 Isle of Man TT, Dunlop will no doubt be a name to spark interest among racing bikers, especially given the news released today that the brand is to launch the latest addition to its high performance Sportmax range at the National Motorcycle Show, staged at the NEC, on 26 November. Dunlop states that it has used technology derived from its race tyres to produce the GP Racer D211, specifically the technology from Dunlop’s D211 GP race tyre which helped to provide 165 podium finishes, 25 rider championships in top-class Superstock/Supersport and hundreds of club level race wins.
The Goodyear Dunlop factory in the US town of Tonawanda (New York State) is anticipating an increased workload following the closure of the company’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. According to Goodyear, a portion of the work now carried out in Spartanburg will be transferred to Tonawanda following the South Carolina facility’s closure at the end of the year, however Tonawanda plant spokeswoman Diane Zwirecki said specific details, including whether the factory will benefit from an expanded workforce, are still being finalised.
Australia’s Motor Magazine has published its 2009 tyre test, and Goodyear is quite pleased about how its Eagle F1 Asymmetric has faired up. The Goodyear tyre scored 131.4 points across all the test categories, almost a full 17 points ahead of the next best performer, Dunlop’s SP Sport Maxx GT.
For several years Dunlop Zimbabwe has operated a toll manufacturing agreement – an arrangement under which foreign firms provide raw material finances so that Zimbabwean companies can manufacture products for them – with the Apollo Tyres subsidiary in South Africa. At the time of the scheme’s launch in 2006 the toll agreement was necessary for the company’s survival, yet since then Dunlop Zimbabwe’s fortunes have improved. Now the company has announced it has sufficient funds to import raw materials on its own and sustain its operations, and thus it has ended its South African toll manufacturing agreement.
Dunlop India’s Sahagunj factory may actually resume production following a settlement over electricity payments between the Ruia Group company and the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company. Ruia Group management has agreed to provide a bank guarantee to the power supply, who in return will resume supply. Should Dunlop India be able to successfully follow through with the funds, approximately 900 workers will return to their jobs a month after production at the company’s Ambattur factory recommenced.
So now that Bridgestone has opted out after the 2010 season, which company will step up to supply race tyres for Formula One?
The organisers of the Formula Ford series have announced Dunlop’s selection as tyre supplier and title sponsor at next season’s Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain. New slick and wet weather Formula Ford radials are currently under development by Dunlop and will be adopted in Britain in 2010.
Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer, who is credited with revolutionising tyre retailing in the UK, is to present a keynote speech at the TyrexpoAfrica industry conference in Johannesburg next March. Sir Tom is one of the most recognisable names in the global tyre industry. He founded Kwik-Fit in Scotland in 1971, developing it to become one of the world’s largest automotive parts repair and replacement specialists, before selling the company to Ford in 1999.
Among many honours, Sir Tom was awarded the CBE in 1990, received a Knighthood in 1997 and in the same year was made a KCSG (Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great). In 2009 he was created a Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
After witnessing a substantial jump in profits from the quarter ending 30 September 2009, Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo has suggested that more is to come in 2010. The company told Indian business news sources that it will be aiming for 50 per cent higher revenues for its financial year (ending March 2010) thanks to the effect of its new-ish European subsidiary, Vredestein Banden, which the company acquired on 15 May.
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