PAI, the private equity firm that currently owns Kwik-Fit, is reportedly selling the Europe-wide tyre and fast fit chain including the German Pit Stop network. A Continental AG spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that the company, which has recently been taken over by Schaeffler Group, may consider bidding for the chain but so far has received no such sales offer from PAI. Company representatives said Kwik-Fit does not comment on rumour and speculation.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. said it would launch fuel-efficient passenger tyres in the U.S. and European markets. The low rolling resistance tyres will reach those markets be 2010. Sumitomo has been selling the line in Japan. (Tire Review/Akron)
Passenger car registrations in Europe (EU and EFTA) continued to fall in year-on-year comparisons made in August 2008. Figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association show that registrations in August fell 15.6 per cent, from 955,000 to 806,000 in year-on-year monthly comparisons. Additionally, August figures show a 3.9 per cent reduction in new PC registrations in the period January-August 2008 compared with the same period in 2007.
More specific figures for August were also released, showing that new car registrations fell 16.5 per cent in Western Europe, with Ireland (-41.6 per cent) and Spain (-41.3) nursing the greatest haemorrhages. Thumbing its nose at the trends in the rest of the region, Portugal managed to post a growth of 4.8 per cent in new car registrations, though it was the only country to do so. Italy (-26.4 per cent), the UK (-18.6), Germany (-10.4) and France (-7.1) all saw falls.
In April Bridgestone launched its ‘Ecopia’ range of fuel efficient tyres, said to reduce rolling resistance by some 30 per cent. Despite a slight price premium in its home market of about 20 per cent over a standard tyre, the Japanese manufacturer holds sufficient confidence in the product to proceed with its global release. Targeted markets include Europe and North America.
Yokohama’s ADVAN brand will receive its sternest challenge yet as the World Touring Car Championship’s control tyre this weekend, as the company prepares to take its tyres to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola – the first of two previously unseen tracks this season.
Whilst most circuits included in the Japanese tyre manufacturer’s racing programme provide a degree of familiarity, the addition of Imola and Okayama to this year’s WTCC calendar provides Yokohama’s engineers with new considerations when preparing for the meeting, as Yokohama Technical Consultant Ian Beveridge explains: “For Imola, our pre-season work included visiting the track and collating as much data as possible, from its actual dimensions to the level of grip given out by the asphalt. We then researched what the conditions are likely to be and found comparative tracks to give us some reference points.”
Research conducted by a South African PhD student could prove a boon to the global tyre industry. While working on his chemistry doctorate, Robert Bosch, 32, from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth discovered a means by which Zinc Oxide can be replaced as a catalyst in tyre manufacturing, a much sought after substitution.
The global tyre manufacturing industry uses 600,000 tonnes of highly toxic Zinc Oxide each year. The substance is poisonous to aquatic organisms and accumulates in the environment. The newly discovered chemical compound catalyst, Rubber Nano Products Liquid Activation (RNPX), is said to be environmentally friendly and only one third of the volume of Zinc Oxide is necessary to do the same job.
The Bridgestone factory in Poznan, Poland has received a Ford Q1 Award for the consistent high quality of its tyres. The Ford Q1 plaque and flag were received by Masayuki Sorioka, (managing director and president of Bridgestone Poznan) from Sven Wunstorf, STA Commodity senior engineer Ford Motor Company Europe, at a ceremony attended by staff in the Poznan plant on 27th August 2008.
Ford’s European Quality and Procurement Division awards Q1 ‘preferred quality status’ certification only to suppliers achieving a sustained level of excellence in customer satisfaction over a period of time, while also meeting agreed requirements in quality, productivity and service.
Michelin has released a new size in its X Terminal-T range. The 310/80R22.5 tyre, says the company, is designed to significantly boost productivity levels in port terminals through its suitability on all articulated vehicle axle positions. Additional benefits, claims Michelin, are double the working life of a traditional radial truck tyre and significantly improved fuel economy compared to a bias-ply or solid tyre. The repairable and retreadable Michelin X Terminal-T becomes available from specialised dealers in September 2008 in Europe, and in November 2008 in the US, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Continental AG says it expects pre-tax profits (EBIT) of about 8.5 per cent this year, despite an earlier prediction of 9.3 per cent. The company, which recently gained a new leading shareholder – ball bearing maker Schaeffler Group – put the profit warning down to the “substantial worsening of the economic environment on the vehicle markets in North America and Europe in the third quarter and the unchanged high burdens from increased raw material cost.” The company maintained its 2008 sales projection of 26.4 billion euros.
Andrew Gaskell of Greenwood Bros & Gaskell has won Alcoa wheel products’ “oldest Alcoa wheel”, competition launched in April. Fleets from all over Europe sent in pictures of old Alcoa wheels still in use and the eldest one dated back to August 1982. Up to now, Andrew Gaskell of Greenwood Bros & Gaskell has been using a 22.5 x 8.25 Alcoa wheel, manufactured in the USA in August 1982.
Titan International Inc. discontinued discussions regarding a potential offer for Titan Europe Plc’s outstanding ordinary shares. On April 12, Titan International Inc. filed a preliminary proxy regarding a potential offer for an exchange of stock to be made with Titan Europe Plc for all or a partial amount of 51% or more of Titan Europe’s outstanding ordinary shares. On September 10, the Titan International board of directors notified Titan Europe Plc that they were discontinuing discussions on the potential offer for Titan Europe Plc.
Titan International Inc. continues to focus its efforts on production of its new 57- and 63-inch giant steel belted radial tires, the company said. (Tire Review/Akron)
Titan Europe has announced that its Titan Wheels Australia Pty Ltd subsidiary has commenced operations in Balikpapan Kalimantan, Indonesia. The business operation will trade as PT Titan Wheels Indonesia and will initially run as a sales and distribution outlet for products manufactured and marketed by Titan Wheels Australia. Company personnel will also be trained in the non destructive testing and wheel repair business.
American Tire Corporation (ATC) has announced that its Colorado brand OTR tyres “have officially approved in Europe” and are current being used on a number of Terex mining trucks. According to the company, ATC-made Colorado brand OTR tyres “have been well approved in Europe after two-year field service…The trial tyres normally perform more than 10 months up to one year over bad road conditions.” ATC has reportedly been shipping “many giant Colorado OTR tyres to Europe for field operations with a number of Terex mining trucks,” since 2007.
While ATC does not specify exactly where the trial has been conducted, the company did detail the tyre’s European test regime. The unnamed site’s one-way distance is three kilometres. Air temperature is between 20 and 35 degrees. The truck’s speed is 30km/h. And the hauling roads are “actually the worst in the world according to USA standard,” according to the company.
Bridgestone UK has received a special award from the global tyre manufacturer’s new European CEO Toru Tsuda for its outstanding business performance in the first half of 2008. Bridgestone, which is based in Warwick, continues to focus its efforts in working with independent tyre retailers and its well established Truck Point programme to strengthen its brand and market share aspirations.
With 20 Bridgestone sales companies in Europe, the CEO award is presented to the company that excels in all areas of business improvement, focusing specifically on increases in like-for-like sales, market share, category mix and profitability.
The Independent Battery Distributors Association is warning members to expect further increases in battery prices due to significant rises in material costs. Battery manufacturers have been adversely affected over the last few years by dramatic increases in the price of lead due to growing worldwide demand, particularly in Eastern Europe, China and India.
Warning of inevitable increases Godfrey Ferris, IBDA Secretary, explains: “Lead prices did fall earlier this year but are again on the rise and it is expected that this trend will persist. Whilst the current cost of $2,000per ton is still short of the $3,000 reached earlier this year, other factors have arisen that far outweigh this temporary respite.
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