Europe Archives - Page 113 of 179 - Tyrepress

Posts

Bridgestone Announces F1 Tyre Compound for Final 2008 Races

Bridgestone has announced the compound allocation in the Potenza tyres to be used in the final five rounds of this year’s Formula One series. For the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the hard and medium compounds will be used, the first time these tyres have been approved at this track. In Hungary, the soft and super soft compounds will be used, the same allocation as last season. The European Grand Prix at Valencia – the first Grand Prix at this new street course, will utilise the soft and super soft compounds. In Spa and in Monza the hard and medium compounds will be used, a change from last season when the medium and soft compounds were brought to both of these tracks.

“The data we have gained from the first seven races of the season have enabled us to make our allocation choices for the following five events,” commented Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone Motorsport director of motorsport tyre development. “Of these races, Valencia and Hockenheim are notable. We did not race at Hockenheim last year, so this will be the first time we have raced there with the current family of tyres. Valencia, of course, is a new street track and we do not have any previous data, and there is none from other race series. It will be interesting for everyone concerned to learn the track characteristics here. For Spa and Monza we have moved the allocation a position harder and will bring the hard and medium compounds, instead of the medium and soft used in 2007. We have made this change after analysing the data from last year, as these tracks were harsher than we had predicted. We will make an announcement about the tyre allocations for the final four races in the season later in the year.”

16th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Extends TBWA Advertising Relationship to US

Michelin has announced the selection of the advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day New York to represent its Michelin brand passenger car and light truck replacement tyre business in the United States, effective immediately. TBWA currently represents Michelin’s passenger car and light truck replacement tire business in Europe and Asia, and the company has chosen to extend its partnership with the US agency network of TBWA to allow ‘greater global synergies for the brand’ including productivity, speed of operations and operational efficiency.

“TBWA will draw upon their experience with the Michelin brand in other countries,” said Claire Dorland Clauzel, senior vice president Michelin Communication & Brands, member of the Group Executive Council. “Our vision is to continually enhance the effectiveness of our communications and the addition of TBWA will help us achieve that goal,” added Scott Clark, COO, Michelin Americas Small Tires. “With this decision, we have a unique opportunity to expand the integration of our communications teams and energise a new, powerful agency team capable of reaching consumers in ground-breaking, creative ways to drive brand preference and purchase intent for the Michelin brand.”

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone European Prices to Increase

Bridgestone Europe NV/SA has announced price increases on all of its tyre brands and categories. The price rise will apply in all European countries, however the UK and Northern Ireland will be affected more than those countries in the euro zone. Increases here will be in the range of between 8 and 12 per cent, as opposed to between 5 and 8 per cent for most of Europe. The new prices will take effect in each market in coming few months.

“Even after we increased our prices earlier this year, the raw material prices continue to increase beyond our expectation,” commented According to Gerry Duffy, vice president Sales & Marketing of Bridgestone Europe. “The recent increase in the cost of commodities such as oil, natural rubber, iron ore and others heavily affects the costs of almost all the raw materials we consume. As its financial impact is so huge and hard to offset only by our internal efforts, we have to recover some of those costs by this price increase.”

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Starco Develops Specialist Trailer Tyre With GiTi

During Tyres & Accessories’ visit to Starco, the company unveiled the new KargoMax trailer tyre and announced a five-year exclusive OE agreement. According to GiTi Europe’s Richard Lyons, the KargoMax is the first time a tyre manufacturer and OEM supplier have cooperated on the development of a full range of trailer tyres aimed at the high speed trailer and touring caravan market.

What sets the KargoMax apart from other products in the trailer segment is its “mission-matched” development. Company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that design features include construction aimed at counteracting heat build-up; and specially designed sidewall enhancements to help combat the effects of ageing – something that is particularly relevant in this segment.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Truck & Bus Tyre Prices to Rise in Asia Pacific

Ever escalating raw material, energy and transportation costs are continuing to make their presence felt with global tyre makers. The latest to announce price increases as a result of these factors is Michelin, who has announced prices for truck and bus tyres sold in the Asia Pacific region will rise by up to 12 per cent. These new prices will be implemented between July and September 2008.

The latest price increase follows a number recently announced by the Michelin Group, including up to 8 per cent for numerous US market segments and, in Europe, up to 3.5 and 3.9 per cent for passenger car and truck tyres, effective spring 2008.

10th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Establishes New East Europe Sales Companies

Bridgestone Europe NV/SA has established three new sales subsidiaries in Eastern Europe. Located in Romania, Slovakia and Latvia, the new companies are to be responsible for sales and marketing activities in these regions, with the aim of providing customers with higher quality service.

“Our sales in Romania, Slovakia and Baltic countries show a significant growth in recent years,” said Gerry Duffy, vice president Sales & Marketing Bridgestone Europe. “It’s time to get closer to the market, to strengthen our presence, and to better serve our customers and end users. I am convinced that the new sales companies and their teams will provide high quality services and solutions to our business partners.”

10th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire Europe Plaintiff in Cartel Lawsuit

A number of tyre manufacturers have filed a lawsuit against chemical producers alleged to be members of a cartel operating in the late 1990s and early this decade. According to a report published by Czech Republic newspaper the Prague Daily Monitor, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited and 25 other plaintiffs filed the UK based lawsuit with the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, on February 22. The 26 plaintiffs are said to be seeking an unspecified amount of compensation from 23 companies.

One of defendants, Czech group Unipetrol, received notification of the lawsuit in late May. Speaking to the Prague Daily Monitor, a company spokeswoman, Blanka Ruzickova, said: “It is now being analysed by our lawyers, but it is sure that we are going to defend ourselves. The lawsuit is based on an accusation of a cartel agreement that we rejected already two years ago and that we still reject.”

2nd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Launches New Anakee 2 Range

Following two record years of growth in the UK two-wheel market, Michelin has released a new Anakee range of tyres in the “radial adventure category.” The French manufacturer hopes the latest incarnation of adventure-orientated motorbike offering will help it take back some of the sales it lost in this sector in previous years.

According to Michelin, the new Anakee 2 offers includes new technology that reconciles the old soft compound (high give/short life) versus hard compound (long life/less grip) dilemma. Michelin reports that the new compound was developed through race tyre testing. The MotoGP bikes Michelin supplies are required to meet seemingly insurmountable challenges. Powered by 240 hp engines, these bikes can reach speeds of more than 340 km/h and yet weigh less than 145 kilograms.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Deldo Reports on a Successful Reifen Show

The Reifen Essen Show, arguably Europe’s most prominent tyre event, is still fresh in our minds, and participants are taking stock of the week’s activities. One company that has already reported a successful week is Antwerp, Belgium based Deldo Autobanden N.V., a veteran of numerous exhibitions in Essen. This year the company notes that, thanks to its sizable 140 square metre booth, Deldo held a prominent position during the May 20 to 23 show. Deldo adds it is very happy with the show’s organisation, the number of visitors and the exhibition’s overall results.

During the show several new products were launched. An additional exclusive budget range for Europe, Rockstone, was amongst these new offerings, and Deldo states that now all exclusive and private brands (Wanli, Roadstone, Fortuna, Minerva and Rockstone) can offer a total range in summer and winter tyres. Today, Deldo is preparing the winter season, and will – as in previous years – hold a very large stock of winter tyres.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Receives Record Entries for “dreams at heArt” contest

The number of entries for Bridgestone’s “dreams at heArt” children’s drawing contest received during 2008 set a new record. A total of 40,700 entries were received from children in 20 European countries, and in mid-May a panel of judges in Brussels selected the 90 winners for this year’s contest, their decisions based upon the originality, creativity and impact of the work.

Combining the issue of ecology with that of road safety, this year’s theme was “Safe Travel on Planet Ecopia”. Primary school children throughout Europe were invited to draw, colour or paint their dreams of how this planet might look. As in previous years, winners were selected in each of three age categories: up to 7 years, 8 to 9, and 10 to 11. The top three winners in each category receive a Bridgestone bicycle and safety helmet; the 4th to 10th placed receive a Bridgestone tennis set of racket and balls; and the 11th to 30th placed in each category win a safety bag. The top nine winners are also acknowledged in a special way – their work will be painted onto a Bridgestone GP2 Series racing car. In addition, a digital camera will be gifted to their school.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

USW, Unite Continue Plans to Merge

Great Britain’s Unite and the United Steelworkers (USW) have moved ahead with their plans to merge and create a global super-union. Representatives of the two million-member Unite and the USW met last week to hammer out merger details, with a final announcement of the merger expected at USW’s annual convention this July.

Unite’s membership covers Britain and Ireland, and are employed by such companies as BP, British Airways and Rolls Royce. The million-member USW represents US and Canadian workers in a wide range of industries, including steel and tyres. Long-term, the merged group envisions adding unions covering Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia, creating a complex global union that could seriously impact global corporations.

28th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nexen Driver top Drifter 2008

James Deane, the Nexen-sponsored Prodrift driver has reached the top spot in the 2008 Prodrift European Series standings following a win at Mondello Park in Ireland in April. The first Prodrift meeting of the series, James’s win makes it a double success for sponsor Nexen as last year’s sponsored driver Eric O’Sullivan won the 2007 event in Ireland. Stapleton’s is supporting the Prodrift team by supplying tyres from the Nexen N3000 range and will continue to support the drivers throughout the programme as it progresses through Europe.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Cut Europe Launches New Website

Pro-Cut Europe has launched a new company website www.procuteurope.com. The website offers current and potential customers the opportunity to find out more about what the company calls the best on-car brake lathe in the world. Visitors to the website will find information about the lathe including a live demonstration, press releases and testimonials. The website also has a profit calculator allowing visitors to fill in the amount of MOTs, pad changes (without discs), sales car preparation and warranty jobs they carry out per week and how much profit they could be making by resurfacing discs. One of the more popular pages is frequently asked questions which answers many of the current myths around resurfacing Including: “I can make more profit per hour replacing discs than resurfacing them”; “Resurfacing discs takes them below minimum thickness”; and “My part sales will go down if I resurface discs”.

16th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Koji Toyoda Becomes MD at Toyo Tyres

Toyo Tyres (UK) Ltd has announced that MD Tatsuo Mitsuhata will move to Toyo’s European Head Office in Germany to become vice president of Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, Toyo UK’s parent company. The move takes effect at the end of May. As a result of the promotion, Koji Toyoda has been appointed as managing director in the UK, following authorisation at a board meeting at Toyo Tire Europe on 30 April 2008.

16th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Unveils First Stop Model Store

First Stop dealership, Kingsway Tyres has re-opened its Spalding depot with a weekend of events following a major redevelopment. The refurbishment of the Spalding site marks the launch of Bridgestone UK’s ‘model stores’, which are seen as flagship outlets in the First Stop network. Kingsway Tyres invested a total of £200,000 in the refurbishment and extension of the Bourne Road site with a specific focus on providing an appealing environment for customers, including a new reception area and MOT office.

Alex Watson managing director of Kingsway Tyres commented: “We are delighted to unveil the results of the significant investment in the refurbishment and extension of our dealership and are looking forward to providing our customers with an even better experience for all their car and tyre needs. The opening weekend was a huge success and gave us a chance to showcase our re-developed store to new and existing customers.”

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors