Goodyear Dunlop UK is investing in and reorganising its TruckForce network in a move designed to enhance customer service, company executives told Tyres & Accessories today. In England and Wales Goodyear’s truck business will now be served by 16 hub outlets and 45 so-called “spokes.” These company-owned and franchised dealerships will be supported by a wider network of 250-280 TruckForce partners.
For 70 years, the Pneuservice Group has operated as a leader in tyre distribution. As one of the largest import/export distributors in Italy, Pneuservice deals with everything from scooter to passenger car, truck, and earthmover tyres, trading more than two million tyres per year. The group’s offices, depots, and more than 230 franchises are spread throughout Italy and are renowned for fast, efficient and courteous service.
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited has announced the appointment of Peter Tye as Franchise Development Manager. This new role has been created to spearhead the company’s recently-announced move towards developing franchise opportunities in the vehicle servicing and tyre fitment market. Goodyear Dunlop is investing in its Hi-Q retail chain, and will complement the core of company-owned stores with a relaunched network of franchises, offering the consistent high standards to consumer and fleet customers across the UK. This follows the company’s decision to separate the Hi-Q and Truck Force businesses into two distinct business units in a strategic move to offer focused, dedicated service to satisfy the different needs of both markets.
Apollo Tyres Ltd has formally concluded the process of acquiring Dunlop Tyres International (Pyt) Ltd (Dunlop South Africa) in a £36 million all cash deal. Apollo’s board of directors had approved this acquisition on January 31, 2006, at a board meeting in Mumbai, India. All regulatory approvals in India and South Africa alongside the transfer of shares have already been completed.
Avon Tyres’ competitive debut in the British GT Championship is being hailed as a resounding success by teams and drivers alike at Oulton Park, Cheshire last weekend. Race winner, Chris Niarchos in his Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430, said: “The race was good all round…[the car] ran faultlessly and credit to Avon. The tyres were brilliant….they allowed us to push very early in the race which, historically to be fair, we’ve never been able to do that much.”
In the past three years Goodyear has improved its position amongst the growing number of importers supplying tyres to the Russian market, not to mention the replacement market itself. In 2002 the American manufacturer exported some 960,000 Goodyear, Dunlop, Fulda and Sava branded tyres to Russia. According to the Discovery Research Group based in Moscow, this has already grown to 1.39 million units. At the same time Goodyear’s share of the total number of tyres imported into Russia has increased from 12 per cent in 2002 to 17 per cent now, based on a total import market of 8.2 million units each year.
Goodyear Dunlop has announced the appointment of two new Regional Managers to further strengthen their service provider TruckForce.
A major investment has been made in Goodyear Dunlop’s new truck tyre service provider network for the road transport industry. TruckForce focuses on the commercial vehicle and bus market with planned, preventative tyre maintenance and on-site service with each region having a central TruckForce hub with a network of satellite service points and stock holding locations supporting these.
North Eastern Tyre & Exhausts has recently completed an extension to its main distribution centre’s warehousing and sees itself as a prime example of a company geared up to distribute high and ultra high performance tyres. Following several years of continuous focus on developing its product portfolio the company is now building its reputation as a specialist in this area of the market.
Dunlop India is planning to set up an industrial rubber products plant at its existing truck and bus tyre manufacturing facility at Ambattur in Chennai. The company currently has an industrial products division at Sahagunj facility in West Bengal, the Indian Hindu Business Line Newspaper has reported.
(Australian Tyre Dealer) Stuckey Tyre Service in Victoria and Kostera Tyre Service in Western Australia have been appointed as distributors for Dunlop, Avon and Waymaster brand vintage tyres in Australia.
Chris Marchant, managing director of Vintage Tyre Supplies UK (exclusive worldwide distributor for Dunlop, Avon and Waymaster brand vintage tyres), has made these appointments in order to service its exclusive range of Vintage and Classic tyres in Australia.
Deutsche Bank analysts have reacted cautiously to the news that Goodyear is closing its Dunlop Tyre factory in the U.K. and ceasing production of bicycle tyres and inner tubes at its Poland plant. The company expects these actions to generate after-tax savings of between $30-$40 million per year. Goodyear has previously announced that it is targeting $250-$350 million in annual cost savings from reducing high cost capacity and shifting production to lower cost markets.
Vredestein Hi-Trac tyres bested those of its international competitors – including those manufactured by Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli and Bridgestone in independent tests which compared braking distances, overall speed & handling and resistance to aquaplaning on wet roads. The tyre took first place on average in 10 tests.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on Wednesday said it plans to close an automobile tyre plant in the United Kingdom and a bicycle tyre plant in Poland (Debica) in order to achieve combined annual savings of up to $50 million. The largest U.S. tyre company, which is based in Akron, Ohio, said it has begun discussions with union employees as a step toward shutting its Goodyear Dunlop United Kingdom passenger tyre factory in Washington, northeast England. This action is expected to create annual savings of approximately $20 million and result in charges of between $75 million and $85 million ($55 million to $65 million after-tax). The cash portion of this charge is estimated to be $35 million to $40 million.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced the addition of new Dunlop tyres to its offering, aimed at filling out its commercial tyre line. The company is rolling out new tyres and sizes in mixed-service to go along with its full line of Dunlop line-haul, regional and urban tyres. Mixed-service tyres, which can be used on- and off-road, feature severe-service tread compounds and improved belt packages for improved resistance to cutting, chipping and tearing when the tyre leaves the roadway. The tyre’s open lug design provides countless tread edges for grip, and yet, tyre technology is used to deliver ride comfort and quietness on the road, company officials said.
National car care operator, Hi-Q has said farewell to its founder, Jack Blacklock, who sadly passed away recently. Jack, who was 87, founded Tyre Services in 1949, starting the company from premises in Denton Holme, Carlisle. He leaves behind a daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter.
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