Bridgestone Europe, together with Fujitsu Siemens Computers, will co-sponsor the press room of the 2006 Geneva motor show (2-12 March). As ‘Official Press Sponsor’, Bridgestone will feature its logos and messages on prominent wall displays, signage and documentation in the press room. In addition, Bridgestone-uniformed staff will be on hand to assist journalists visiting the event. Last year Goodyear sponsored the exhibition’s press centre.
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd has announced the appointment of Stuart Starrs as Farm and Earthmover Tyre Specialist for Scotland. Stuart brings 20 years farm experience to the team reporting directly to Andy Morris, director of Off-The-Road tyres and will focus on developing contacts throughout Scotland co-ordinating promotions and sales as well as resolving any technical queries that may arise.
He joins the company from Coventry-based tractor manufacturer AGCO, manufacturers of Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Challenger tractors for the European market. Here Stuart was area sales manager for England selling tractors to dealers throughout the territory as well as conducting field demonstrations and providing technical support.
Dunlop has announced that the Tech 3 Yamaha team will compete in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship on Dunlop tyres.
Riders will be Spaniard Carlos Checa, the most experienced rider on the MotoGP grid with ten years of top level experience of riding for different factory teams and on different tyre brands and the young British rider James Ellison. Both will be on board the latest official 2006 factory Yamaha YZR- M1 machines run by the very experienced Tech 3 team.
Kraiburg has a new managing director for its retreading material division. Dr. Andreas Starnecker (40) has been managing Kraiburg Austria in Geretsberg, Upper Austria since the start of the year, and as such is also responsible for the Kraiburg production plant in Bulgaria.
He has worked for the Kraiburg Group since 1997, and in 1999 was appointed managing director of the Kraiburg Elastik GmbH rubber manufacturing plant in Tittmoning, Upper Bavaria. Together with Assistant Managing Director Thorsten Schmidt, Dr. Andreas Starnecker has set himself the target of continuing the successful strategy pursued to date by the company. This means that Kraiburg Austria will continue to aim to win customers over with quality and service in the market.
Only 10 months after breaking ground in April 2005, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG has dedicated a new production plant for brake callipers in Zvolen, Slovak Republic. In the future, the plant will produce high-performance brake callipers, some of which will be supplied to automotive plants in the fast growing Automotive Region Eastern Europe (AREE). Continental Automotive Systems plans to invest more than 60 million euros in the Hydraulic Brake Systems Business Unit, which plays a significant role in securing its international competitiveness.
Marco Mandrioli, will assume responsibility for Marangoni Retreading Systems and Materials sales and marketing in Europe, Middle East and Africa effective 1 February 2006. Marco Mandrioli, joined the Marangoni Group after 11 years of experience in marketing and product management at Olivetti and six years as marketing director of the Passini Group. In his new position Mandrioli will coordinate and oversee both Marangoni Tread and Ellerbrock commercial activities in Europe and will assume the position of managing director sales and marketing for the German subsidiary of the Italian Group.
Marco V Molinari has been appointed executive vice president, HNI Corporation. Mr Molinari will continue as President, HNI International, responsible for international business, including HNI International, HNI Asia and the announced the acquisition of Lamex. Mr Molinari is responsible for driving aggressive profitable growth outside of the United States and Canada and will report to Stan Askren, chairman, president and CEO.
Kirkcowan-based Kings Coach Hire, located in Dumfries and Galloway, has completed a trial using a set of Michelin and Bridgestone tyres on two similar vehicles operating on virtually identical local bus routes.
The Michelin 17.5 inch XZE2 tyres were fitted to a 31-seat midibuses in March 2005, with the tyre performance on both buses closely monitored. The Bridgestone tyres were replaced after 48,000 km whilst, in comparison, the Michelin tyres are said to have already covered 89,000 km, with a further 4mm of tread remaining.
The latest marketing campaign for Marangoni tyres rivals those of front line manufacturers, says Group Tyre (UK), distributor of the brand. A series of teaser adverts have appeared under the headline ‘are you intelligent?’ featuring stereotypically intelligent professionals such as a lawyer, doctor, astronaut, inventor and scientist. These teasers appear as a tease and reveal combo, with the final, reveal ad; ‘The Intelligent Tyre Retailer’ who recommends Marangoni, because of the tyre’s performance.
Michelin is expected to record a “stable” operating margin for 2005 when it announces its full-year results on 14 February. The price rises implemented by the tyre manufacturer have reportedly made it possible to compensate for high raw material prices. A consensus of the estimates of 15 analysts, suggests that the company will publish a 2005 operating margin of 8.7 per cent, according to Reuters.
2005 saw the UK car market record the sharpest decline amongst the EU15 countries. While registrations were strong in December (158.866 units against 144,353 in December 2004), the 8.7 per cent increase disguised what was an undoubtedly tough year.
Germany, Europe’s largest car market, showed the opposite trend, recording an 8.8 per cent dip in December but 1.6 per cent growth over the year. 3,319, 825 new cars were registered in Germany in 2005. France showed the strongest growth in Europe with annual registrations increasing 2.7 per cent to 2,067,818 in 2005, despite slowing 1.4 per cent in December.
KYB is to supply shock absorbers as original equipment for the new Lexus GS luxury sport saloon.
Hajime Sato, MD of KYB Europe, described the agreement with Lexus as “great news” and it is the latest in a series of global OE contracts with manufacturers such as Audi-VW group, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault and Toyota.
Mike Wise has been appointed Kwik-Fit Fleet’s first dedicated European fleet chief as the company plans to accelerate its European expansion. This will involve opening more centres and identifying pan-European fleets, totalling two million vehicles in all, with who the company plans to expand and develop its business partnerships.
Michelin is recalling its Michelin Pilot Sport Extra Load tyres in size 255/35 ZR 20 97Y. According to an official statement, “this decision results from the analysis of customer returns in Europe, which has revealed an anomaly that in certain cases may lead to a rapid loss of air pressure in the tyre. This situation constitutes a potential safety risk.” The manufacturer says it will therefore exchange all of the tyres in question.
As a precautionary measure Michelin has decided to exchange all the subject tyres. UK readers wishing to query Michelin further can phone the following number: 0800 056 7200. Callers in the Republic of Ireland should dial 01 459 5955.
Effective February 2006, Kraiburg Austria will be increasing its prices for quality tyre retreading material by five per cent in Central Europe. This is down to continuing rising energy and transport costs as well as the drastic rise in the price of raw materials with, for example, natural rubber currently costing around 40 per cent more than in August 2004.
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