According to the Press Association, it has been confirmed that Ford is to close its factory in Southampton, where Transit vans are made, plus another plant in Dagenham. Reports say that 1,500 jobs will be lost in total, but it should be pointed out that Ford has yet to make any announcement concerning its plans and a meeting is being held with management and unions.
This year’s Malaysian Grand Prix was red-flagged after thirteen laps in an intense tropical downpour, with Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa claiming victory ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo in second place and teammate Casey Stoner, who finished third. With varied track conditions over the weekend, riders experienced every specification of tyre brought to Sepang by Bridgestone. All riders opted for the hard compound front wet tyre during the race, while rear tyre choice was equally divided across the grid with ten riders each selecting the soft and hard compound wet tyre. Masao Azuma, chief engineer in Bridgestone’s Motorsport Tyre Development Department speculated on why riders may have experienced less grip at Sepang, even before the rain came.
Pirelli took its World MX Championship tally to 58 titles as it won both MX1 and MX2 titles, whilst repeating the double in the British series. KTM factory riders Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings powered to MX1 and MX2 FIM World MX Championships ahead of schedule at the penultimate round to give Pirelli their 57th and 58th World Titles. The Italian marque also recently won the notoriously difficult Weston Beach Race to make 2012 a gold medal winning year.
Metzeler tyres have had a successful year both around the World and in the UK in Enduro. In the World Enduro Championship, Metzeler’s Six Days Extreme tyres proved a stand out choice for successful competitors with podiums across four classes. Meanwhile in the UK long time Metzeler rider David Knight powered his way to an unsurpassed tenth British Enduro Championship. The Manx resident is now 34 years old, but was able to show his young competitors controlled aggression and pace as he took a double victory in the final round in Hampshire.
To celebrate 10 years of the Performance and Responsibility Michelin programme (PRM), the Michelin Man is embarking on his first official tour to pay a special visit to some of the projects the tyre manufacturer has helped over the past decade.
According to BelTA, the Belarusian Telegraph Agency, local tyre maker OAO Belshina intends increase capacity at its giant tyre facility and add 57 and 63-inch radials to its production portfolio. Company representatives told BelTA that the project will increase the product range and output of low soil compaction wide-section radials for powerful, self-propelled agricultural machinery. The expansion will reportedly increase agricultural tyre output by 84,000 units per annum while increasing productivity.
Criminal activity has been ruled out in the investigation into the death of Pirelli employee George Falder. Tests show that the 48-year old employee at the tyre maker’s Carlisle factory was not assaulted before he died inside one of the plant’s autoclaves.
Pirelli’s Carlisle passenger car and 4×4 tyre factory is back up and running again after managers halted production following the death of an employee. The BBC has named the deceased as George Falder, 48, from Carlisle, who was found dead at his work station on Sunday, according to the company.
Following reports of a death at Pirelli’s Carlisle passenger car and 4×4 tyre production facility, the manufacturer has issued a statement confirming that a worker had been found dead in the factory. It also communicated how the company is “deeply saddened” to announce the news of the fatality and confirms that work at the factory has been suspended to “facilitate the investigation.”
National and regional media report that Cumbria Police are investigating a death at Pirelli’s Carlisle factory. An ambulance crew was first dispatched to the plant to treat a man in his 40s on the afternoon of 30 September, however he was pronounced dead at the scene and police were requested. Specific information regarding the death have not been made public, however the police say it is being treated as suspicious. Pirelli management have temporarily closed the factory.
Five local charities have been given a cash boost thanks to the world class business achievements of employees at the Michelin factory in Ballymena. The Ballymena factory recently became the second Michelin site in the world to achieve stage two in the 'Michelin Manufacturing Way' initiative, an internal business scheme set up to develop and empower its employees. To recognise this impressive achievement, the company awarded each department within the factory a sum of money to donate to a charity of their choice.
A fire at a plant operated by India’s TVS Srichakra Limited has killed three employees and injured five. The fire broke out at the company’s Madurai factory on 16 September. The Times of India reports that the three fatally injured workers were in the plant’s paint shop at the time.
Japan’s Nikkei newspaper and various Turkish media sources report Sumitomo Rubber Industries intends to invest 40 billion yen (£315 million) in building a tyre factory in Çankiri, about 90 miles from Turkey’s capital Ankara. Construction on the plant is set to start next year and the first phase will be ready in 2014, with further work completed in 2015. Output from the plant will be sold in Europe and the Middle East. No information on planned production capacity has been given.
Pirelli has launched a new initiative in collaboration with its Pirelli Performance Centres (PPCs). Open to those purchasing two or more premium Pirelli tyres, customers will be entered into a prize draw to win a grandstand ticket for next year’s British Grand Prix, as well as a tour of Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes and exclusive Pirelli clothing. The promotion runs at the UK and Ireland’s 85 PPCs throughout the months of September and October.
A new commercial tyre from Russian tyre brand Kama has been introduced. The NU-301 range, produced in the Nizhnekamsk SSC Tire Factory, has been launched in size 275/70 R22.5, an all-position fitment primarily intended for use on buses in urban service.
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