On January 15 the US Senate Finance Committee passed a bill that paves the way for Cooper Tire’s Tupelo, Mississippi plant to receive $13 million in bonds. Under the proposed deal, which must now be voted upon by the Senate itself, Cooper will receive a $6 million loan to move equipment and $7 million in grants for an expansion.
Al Rawas Auto LLC, part of the Oman-based ASB Group of Companies, has agreed to distribute Emrald branded industrial tyres in the region. The deal also sees the company take an equity stake in Emrald Resilient Tyre Manufacturers Pvt Ltd, the flagship company of the Emrald Group of Companies, India. According to local news reports, “both the groups want to expand significantly in this market of industrial tyres and want to establish the brand as a leader in this fastest growing Middle East market.”
As a result of the marketing joint venture the companies will open exclusive marketing offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia in addition to the first one in Muscat in order to develop a “complete network of sales and service for catering to the requirements of this fast-growing market.”
Last December, Marangoni management and employees celebrated the production of the millionth Ringtread in the United States. The seven-digit number was reached on December 12, four and a half years after the first tyre was retreaded with Marangoni’s Alpha-Ring system in the US.
During a staff celebration to mark the occasion, company CEO and president Bill Sweatman said “Today, we manufactured our one millionth Ringtread here in the United States. We are proud and thankful that we have been able to achieve this important milestone. This is the icing on the cake in a year full of successes! Our unit sales have increased more than 10 per cent this year and along with other improvements we’ve made we have gained in both market share and market strength.
Goodyear’s self-sealing commercial tyre technology has earned a “Nifty Fifty Award” for best new products in 2008. In its December issue, the US based publication Heavy Duty Trucking magazine selected the Goodyear Unisteel G316 LHT tyre with DuraSeal Technology for its Nifty Fifty Award, one of 50 new products selected on its “usefulness to the truck operator in terms of innovation, serviceability and performance.” Previously, Goodyear’s G395 steer tyre and early applications of DuraSeal – on the G287 and G288 tyres – were honoured with the Nifty Fifty recognition.
Cam Systems is on the hunt for IT professionals interested in careers with the tyre industry’s leading software supplier. The company launched a recruitment drive towards the end of 2008 designed to fill seven full time vacancies covering a variety of roles in project management, installations, helpline support and financial accounting. Three of the positions were filled by the end of the year but four more staff will be added in early 2009 as Cam gears up for continued growth and expansion.
Accounts assistant Petri Conradie, a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants has been hired to provide back-up for Cam’s suite of accounting software; customer support technician Nick Berry and installations and support technician Michael Indruch have also joined the company. All three will all be in place by early January, helping to bolster customer support services and functions.
Only days after Suzuki announced it will not participate in the 2009 World Rally Championship, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of the Subaru vehicle brand, announced on December 16 its withdrawal from the WRC at the end of the 2008 season.
The Japanese manufacturer has participated in the WRC together with UK based motorsports and automotive engineering group Prodrive during the past 19 years. Its reason for involvement was to enhance awareness of the Subaru brand by showing the vehicles, with their horizontally-opposed engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive system as core technologies, offer safe, comfortable and pleasurable driving regardless of weather or road conditions. From the beginning FHI also wished to featuring horizontally-opposed engine and transfer the results of race-tested technical improvements into Subaru passenger vehicles.
Federal has announced an expansion to the sizes available on the Taiwan firm’s line-up of 595EVO street legal tyres. The new range includes the sizes: 235/35ZR19, 205/50ZR16 and 195/50R15, bringing the total number of different fitments available to 21. The brand states that more will “come on stream as development work continues.”
595EVO is a sports-oriented product to complement the ride and handling of today’s high performance vehicles. The tyre was tailored and homologated for both track and street use, which provides more precise cornering and improved grip at high speeds and in all conditions. It was developed with the distinctive features of the contemporary 595EVO imprint on the center rib and a “scorching flame design on the sidewall that adds the fierce look to the car.” Initially available through Federal dealers around the world in 18 sizes, the tyre made its most recent global rollout at Willowspring Raceway, California, USA in August.
Trax JH Ltd has announced the appointment of Martin Blakey in the new role of international business development manager. Blakey’s appointment has been made in support of the company’s growth and export market development ambitions, which aim to propel Trax into a leading position in the field of European manufacturers of balance weights.
Officials from Toyo Tire & Rubber have said the company is postponing plans to build a new tyre factory in Asia and expand its tyre output in the US. This decision has been taken in light of lower vehicle sales and the global economic slowdown, and the company has not stated when, or if, these projects will now take place.
Despite reportedly “drastically reduced visitor numbers at SEMA 2008,” PCL says its stand attracted the usual flow of customers to its stand. Tyre inflations products were said to have been an especially hot topic this year due to Barack Obama’s campaign comments about tyre inflation. Whilst John McCain was quick to ridicule Obama’s statement that the expansion of offshore drilling could be prevented by keeping tyres inflated, it is true that ensuring tyres have the accurate pressure can reduce CO2 emissions, save fuel and prevent potentially fatal accidents.
PCL says the company has experienced high acceptance on the US market, with a fast-expanding customer base satisfied with the performance of its market-leading products. Visitors to SEMA were reportedly keen to check out the automotive industry’s most advanced handheld and mobile nitrogen inflation equipment, and find out how every little helps when it comes to energy savings and safety.
Emission control systems manufacturer Tenneco says it will continue its ‘aggressive investment’ in new emissions control application coverage in 2009. The company plans to add more than 300 SKUs to its Walker line of replacement exhaust parts in the coming year. This planned expansion continues a strategy begun more than five years ago, when Tenneco began to significantly increase the Walker brand’s coverage in support of aftermarket businesses. More than 600 new exhaust part numbers were introduced to the Walker line in 2008 alone, and more than 1,600 parts have been added since 2004.
National Tyres has been named as a finalist in the North West England and North Wales region of the Bank of Scotland Corporate £35 Million Entrepreneur Challenge. National will now compete with four other entrepreneurs to secure a £5 million funding package, free of interest and charges for three years.
The next stage will see business partners Alan Revie, John Caldwell and John Taylor present their business case to a judging panel featuring two well-known and incredibly successful entrepreneurs. Matthew Riley, the national 2007 Entrepreneur Challenge winner from Daisy Communications, and senior representatives from Bank of Scotland Corporate and Deloitte. The panel will question National Tyres and the other finalists on their future business plans, as well as looking for someone with the entrepreneurial flair, spirit and vision that sets them apart from the rest and makes them an outstanding choice to receive the once in a lifetime funding package that could change the face of the business.
Toyo Tire & Rubber has announced the joint establishment, along with Mitsubishi Corporation, of a Russian tyre sales subsidiary. The new subsidiary, known as Toyo Tire Rus LLC, was formed on October 23. According to the Japanese manufacturer, Toyo Rus LLC was established primarily for expanding the brand presence of Toyo tyres and improving the brand’s position in this growing and increasingly motorised BRIC market.
When they’ve finished doing service on your car, that set of old tyres removed by the local garage or fast fit can now potentially return and see further life on your feet. Footwear manufacturer Timberland has teamed up with Green Rubber to launch two new collections featuring outsoles made using recycled rubber from discarded tyres. These outsoles will contain a 50/50 blend of Green Rubber compound and virgin rubber compound, the blend of the two materials necessary in order to maintain the durability and performance characteristics Timberland footwear is known for.
An honour that carries particular weight in North America is the ‘hall of fame’, a distinction for those who achieve lifelong excellence in their specific field, whether it be sports, music – or tyres. This year one of the historical contributor inductees into the Tire Industry Association (TIA) Hall of Fame was Mr. François Michelin, former managing partner of the Michelin Group. In November ceremonies held during the annual TIA “Breakfast with the President,” Mr. Michelin was recognised for his accomplishments and contributions to the tyre industry, including his support for the advancement of radial tyre technology.
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