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The Delivery Company Wins RMA Green Fleet Award

The Delivery Company has confirmed its credentials as an environmentally-friendly company by scooping the Green Fleet Award presented by the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA). The Award was presented to Douglas Wright of the Delivery Company by RMA Director David Wilson at the Rubber Industry Dinner held Chesford Grange in Kenilworth on 15 May. The Green Fleet of the Year Award is presented by the RMA to recognise fleets who have been particularly supportive to the retreading industry.

The Delivery Company is a trading division of PaperlinX Services (Europe) Ltd) and has a fleet of 350 vehicles operating throughout the UK delivering paper, board and plastics. As part of an initiative to reduce their carbon footprint, the Delivery Company not only adopted a managed, new and remould, tyre policy, they also introduced a number of other actions aimed at reducing emissions.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Opens Door to Earthmover Tyre Test Centre

Around 140 earthmover dealers converged upon the Spanish provincial capital Almeria in early June. And while the port city’s mild climate is perfect for year-round swimming and its architecture conveys a strong Moroccan flavour, the assembled party were not in town for a short sightseeing holiday – Almeria is also home to the Michelin Technology Center, the world’s largest facility devoted exclusively to the development of earthmover tyres. And awaiting the European dealer continent was an assortment of equipment ready for hands-on testing.

12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Expands Drift Tyre Size Range

Maxxis has announced that its speciality drifting and track racing tyre, the MA-Z1 Drift, is now in stock in an expanded range of sizes. The tyre has been praised by Maxxis-sponsored professional drift driver Declan Hicks, who declared the difference between the specialist drift tyre and standard road tyres to be “quite astounding”. E-marked and fully street legal, it is now available in the following sizes:

•195/45 R16 MAZ1 DRIFT 84V XL
•195/50 R15 MAZ1 DRIFT 86V XL
•205/40 ZR17 MAZ1 DRIFT 84W XL
•225/40 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 92W XL
•225/45 ZR17 MAZ1 DRIFT 94W XL
•235/35 ZR19 MAZ1 DRIFT 91W XL
•235/40 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 95W XL
•245/40 ZR17 MAZ1 DRIFT 95W XL
•245/40 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 97W XL
•255/35 ZR18 MAZ1 DRIFT 94W XL

9th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess to Increase R&D by 10%

Specialty chemicals manufacturer Lanxess AG has announced plans to increase its research and development budget. Speaking at the company’s Innovation Day on June 5, Board of Management member Werner Breuers stated “innovation is an essential prerequisite if the company is to achieve sustainable long-term success, especially in these difficult economic times. That’s why we’ve increased this year’s investment budget to around 110 million euros, up 10 per cent on 2008.”

8th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Launches Latest Blizzak Line-Up

For this coming winter Bridgestone has prepared two further new-generation Blizzak cold weather tyres, both suited to the seasonal conditions in central Europe. Both tyres, the manufacturer claims, provide higher driving safety as well as environmental and economic advantages.

The new Blizzak LM-30 is tuned for safety on snow and ice, with particular attention paid to wet braking, while the Blizzak LM-35 focuses on secure winter performance; Bridgestone says it delivers excellent high-speed motorway handling on both wet and dry surfaces. Both replacement market tyres have been tested by leading car manufacturers, Bridgestone adds.

5th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Landlord Takes Over Cooper Avon Sports & Social Club

Melksham landlord Eddie Schofield has been named as the new manager of the Cooper Avon Sports & Social Club, based at Melksham House in the town. Schofield, currently landlord of the Pickled Pilot pub in Bowerhill, will take up his new post at the end of June, when current manager Terry Gregory retires. Gregory, 69, has managed the popular club, which is just off Market Place in the centre of Melksham, for 26 years.

“Terry has been a regular presence at our Sports & Social Club for over quarter of a century, and he’s one of the most popular faces in the town,” said Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe managing director Julian Baldwin. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Terry for his long and faithful service. We’ll miss him.”

5th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kramer Named Goodyear COO

Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s Board of Directors has elected Richard J. Kramer chief operating officer of the company. In this new role, which takes effect immediately, Kramer will report to company chairman and CEO Robert J. Keegan. Kramer will also continue in his current position as president of the company’s North American Tire business until his successor is named.

“Rich’s appointment as chief operating officer reflects our game plan of having a laser focus on operations globally during these extraordinary times,” Keegan said. “It also reflects the confidence that the Board and I have in Rich’s overall business leadership capability.

4th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

We’re a Nation of Sun, Surf and Pasta Lovers, says Michelin

We dream – so a Michelin survey tells us – of living in a country that has Australia’s climate, Italy’s cuisine and American nightlife. Our ideal world would be one with the relaxed culture of Spanish life, Italy’s art scene, and a level of friendliness that only the Americans can deliver. In fact, the only part of Britain we’d like to have in our utopia is the architecture.

Michelin Green Guides gained this insight after surveying 5,000 adults. ”The study shows if we had our ideal place to live, we would opt for a mix of cultures and climates,” noted a Michelin Green Guides spokesman. ”The findings show just how cosmopolitan we have become and this is down to travelling more than ever before – not just in Europe but worldwide too.”

1st June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Further UK Growth in the Pipeline, Says NDI

Since the recent appointment of Ian Smith as managing director, West Midlands based industrial tyre wholesaler NDI Tyre & Tube Supplies has begun a new chapter in the company’s growth within the UK market. Smith began in his new role on March 2 and brings with him more than two decades of industry experience, including 21 years at Pirelli.

NDI states that it will now concentrate more actively upon working closer with its parent company, Denmark’s Nordisk Dæk Import AS. This leading Scandinavian wholesaler of wheels and tyres, founded in 1970, is already respected throughout Europe as a leading player in the market. The company is based in the town of Brørup and boasts a sizeable presence in its home market.

29th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Magna to Rescue GM Europe

The car parts manufacturer Magna International has agreed to a deal rescuing GM Europe from insolvency. Fiat, who were said to be putting together a bid, decided to decline the option of attending negotiations, which were attended by the German government. Chancellor Angela Merkel, business ministers and representatives of the German states in which GM plants are located will hold a meeting in Berlin on the evening of 29 May to discuss their potential approval of the deal. GM Europe owns auto-makers Opel and Vauxhall, while its American owners General Motors are widely expected to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday 1 June.

29th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

EURODA Offers 500 million euros for Stake in GM

In an effort to plug the 300 million euro financing hole that is holding up GM Europe crisis talks with the German government and potential buyers Magna and Fiat, the company’s European dealer association “Euroda” has renewed its offer of a shareholding in a future Opel/Vauxhall corporation.

“As mid-sized dealers, we’re ready to play our part in saving Opel. That is why we’re once again calling upon the federal government to take our offer of 500 million euros seriously. This is a historic chance for the automotive industry to let dealers and manufacturers work together to take entrepreneurial responsibility in shaping the future of Opel,” says Jaap Timmer, president of Euroda.

28th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

GITI to Construct New Chinese Proving Ground and R&D Centre

Another crucial area of responsibility for ETC’s leadership is the development of new global test facilities, test equipment and methodology. For the time being, at least, this centres on two key multi-million dollar projects – the development of the company’s recently constructed R&D centre alongside its Hefei City, Anhui Province manufacturer facility and the design and construction of a new cutting edge proving ground. The idea here is to bring premium quality tyre testing and development to China in order to enable the entire global company to produce higher order products, with the ultimate aim of competing with the premium manufacturers.

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

“Headway” Made in Conti Clairoix Negotiations

Negotiations between Continental AG’s French and German management and representatives of the French government and the CGT trade union have, reports Conti, “made a bit of headway.” The respective parties met in Paris on Tuesday May 26 to discuss solutions for the company’s Clairoix facility, and further talks are scheduled for later in the week.

“We entered into a detailed discussion of the offer presented last week and argued for an adequate overall solution that takes into account seniority at the company and further training measures,” remarked Dr. Thomas Winkelmann, who represents Continental’s German management in his role as HR manager for replacement market passenger car tyres in Europe and Africa. “So far, union representatives have concentrated on uniform one-off severance pay for all employees affected. In the next round of negotiations we intend to talk over a detailed package solution.”

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit’s German Branch for Sale

Kwik-Fits German business Pit-Stop Autoservice is for sale, according to a report on Tyrepress.com’s German sister website Reifenpresse.de. The Pit-Stop chain (which comprises of about 410 outlets in Germany) reportedly has an average turnover of around 300,000 euros per branch and not in the best shape. Certain parties are said to have stated their interest in a purchase, however, so far the bids have only been described as ‘disillusioning.’

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Appoints New Galaxy Brand Manager

Agricultural tyre manufacturer Trelleborg has expanded its European sales team. Stepping into the position of product manager for the Galaxy brand is 29-year old business administration graduate Milos Odavic, who will be responsible for the brand’s distribution and positioning within the company’s product portfolio. Odavic’s duties also see him acting as the original equipment market customer contact person, and also as the replacement market contact for Germany and Switzerland.

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors