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Fines Mount Up For Titan’s Bryan Facility

Titan Tire is perhaps smarting a little after being slapped with an additional US$140,000 fine for two wilful violations of workplace safety regulations on top of the $24,500 penalty already mooted by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These violations were discovered following inspections made after a steam explosion at the company’s Bryan giant tyre facility in November 2008, in which one employee was slightly injured.

According to the Toledo Blade, OSHA follow-up inspections found problems related to the factory’s tyre curing equipment. Specifically, four of the units that use 2,900 tonnes of pressure to compress rubber and metal into 63-inch, 5.9 tonne tyres “were not adequately proof-tested and had welds of insufficient quality or strength to handle the exerted pressure.”

11th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Outlines Clairoix Redundancy Package

The deal for Continental’s Clairoix workers first made public by the French CGT union in late May has been officially confirmed. Conti reports that an agreement between its French and German management and trade union and French government representatives was reached on June 6. Upon announcing this agreement, Continental’s Dr. Thomas Winkelmann declared “we are pleased that we have already come up with a solution before the end of the four-week negotiation phase.”

An understanding, as Conti noted in a press statement, was not reached without difficulties. According to the German company, French union representatives “impeded the entire negotiations by rigidly focusing on negotiating the highest possible uniform one-off severance payment” for all affected employees. “The one-off payment of 50,000 euros for each employee is now a component of the overall solution – not more, but also not less, commented Winkelmann.

9th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

McGuinness Break world record at TT on Dunlop Tyres

Dunlop’s road race pairing of John McGuinness and Steve Plater scored top honours for Dunlop on the Isle of Man, finishing first and second in the TT Superbike race. The duo were the only two riders to break through the 130mph average lap speed – with McGuinness setting yet another lap record of 130.442mph (17mins 21.29 seconds) on his second of the six lap race, as well as breaking the race distance record with a time of 1:46.07.16. His Dunlop tyres were specifically designed and built in the Birmingham-based Fort Dunlop factory.

The Morecambe man also furthered his and legendary TT status, by claiming his 15th TT win, placing him second in the line-up of all time TT victories behind the great Joey Dunlop. Following the decision to postpone racing on Saturday due to poor weather conditions covering the 37.73 mile mountain course, both McGuinness and Plater were itching to take to the seats of their CBR1000RR Fireblades in Monday’s welcomed clear and warm racing conditions.

9th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Carlisle Returns to Contractual Hours

Pirelli Industrial reports that its Carlisle tyre plant will return to contractual hours from the 2 May 2009 – July 2009.

8th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Totrax Supplying Greckster Industrial Range

For the past three years Boston, Lincolnshire based Totrax Ltd has exclusively distributed the Emrald Greckster range of industrial tyres in the UK. Emrald Greckster, states Totrax’s Industrial business manager Peter Roffey, is India’s leading supplier of resilient tyres, industrial pneumatic and press on band. The Greckster, he continues, is constructed using a unique multi-layer concept that uses the mathematically derived BACUC02T Technology. The Greckster’s design features integrated layers of varying hardness; each of these layers is made to a different formulation, integrating the requisite special properties to the end product. Compounds and designs are carefully selected to meet the diverse requirements of tyres used under exacting work conditions.

5th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sri Lankan Transport Board Re-Opens Tyre Plant

Sri Lanka’s Daily News reports that the refurbishment carried out at a tyre rebuilding factory belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is complete. The opening ceremony for the plant was held on May 30; the facility, which is located in Ampara, should help address the tyre needs of the SLTB’s own bus fleet.

This refurbished facility is to be complemented by two factories, located in the country’s Ekala and Matele regions, which will produce new tyres for the SLTB. The transport operator decided in early 2008 that it would produce its own tyres rather than import them – a plan made feasible by Sri Lanka’s import duties. The SLTB will save an estimated 20 per cent in costs by manufacturing its own tyres.

1st June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Payouts for Conti Clairoix Workers Agreed Upon

The union representing workers at Continental’s factory in Clairoix, France announced on May 31 that Conti management had agreed upon a minimum 50,000 euro per person payout in compensation for the facility’s closure. The company had originally offered a 17,000 euro compensation package, which the workers refused.

On May 29 Continental management offered the company’s 1,120 workers in France a pay-off starting at 50,000 euros, extending up to 100,000 euros for those working for the company for more than 30 years. Employees will receive their normal salary until October and 85 per cent of their pay until 2011 and an unemployment benefit equalling 75 per cent of their salary until 2014.

1st June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Unrest Continues Despite Lifting of MRF Lockout

The lockout at MRF Ltd’s Arakkonam factory in southeast India has been lifted – but many employees are refusing to return to work. An announcement from management regarding an end to the ten-day-old lockout was made on May 27, yet the company’s dispute with the MRF United Workers Union (MUWU), which declared a strike at the Arakkonam plant on May 9, remains an unresolved issue.

India’s Business Standard newspaper discloses that a number of MRF workers plan to file a Supreme Court petition against the company’s management. MUWU honorary president V. Prakash told the paper “we don’t have a choice but to file a petition in [the] Supreme Court” following recent failed talks. “The main plea would be to recognise the union,” he explained.

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alliance Expands Sales Force

Alliance Tire has hired four regional sales managers to represent its lines of agricultural, forestry and OTR tyres. Added to Alliance’s sales efforts were Pat Gaston of Omaha (Midwest/Great Plains); Blaine Cox of Kimberly, Alabama (Southeast); Tom Hirsch of Great Neck, New York (Northeast) ; and Andy McAllister of Waycross, Georgia, who is forestry tyre sales manager.

Alliance President Manny Cicero said that building the sales team is part of the company’s commitment to building its North American presence, as well as its worldwide share. In addition to the new staff, he said, that strategy includes a new warehouse in Tennessee and a new factory coming online in the next couple of months. (Tire Review/Akron)

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MRF Temporarily Relocating Production from Locked Out Plant

India based tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd appears set to circumvent the lockout and worker protests at its Arakonam factory in Tamil Nadu state by temporarily transferring production to its Medak facility. In a press statement, the company made reference to vehicle manufacturers’ dependence on tyres it supplies, commenting that “MRF has made all efforts to ensure regular supply of OE tyres from its factory at Medak in Andhra Pradesh.”

The Business Standard newspaper reports that on May 21 around 800 employees and their families were arrested for continuing their sit-in strike within the company’s premises and were evicted.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Multistrada to Supply Sepang 1000km Race Tyres

Indonesian tyre manufacturer PT Multistrada has won the contract to supply the Sepang 1000km race on 4-6 June at the prestigious Sepang International Circuit. Multistrada will supply 1400 of the company’s Achilles 123 model, which has been named as the official tyre for the race a compulsory requirement for all competitors. The 195/50/15 semi-slick medium-hard tyres can be used in both wet and dry conditions.

“Despite being low in cost the tyre has met the standard at other events,” said SIC CEO Razlan Razali. “Although it is the first time SIC will be engaging Multistrada as the official tyre provider, the brand is a well known name in Indonesia, particularly it’s rallying scene.”

21st May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mixed Reaction to Conti Compromise

While Continental and the German IG BCE union arrived at a compromise regarding the company’s Hanover-Stöcken truck tyre factory, Germany’s Bild-Zeitung reports the decision to suspend production has far from won the universal admiration of employees. The paper records “indifference, anger and disappointment” amongst the affected employees – close to 430 of whom will be let go by next year at the latest.

“We have been taken for a ride,” one employee was quoted as saying. “As ‘little people’ we can not at all appreciate what this compromise brings.” Another said: “Unions and works councils are so weak, we feel betrayed. I have worked my fingers to the bone for 20 years – all for nothing.”

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyres Burn in Paris as Conti Protests Continue

The air around the Place de la Bourse in central Paris, previously home to the French stock market, was heavy with the stench of burning tyres on May 18. Hundreds of Continental employees, together with representatives from the CGT union, congregated at the historic trading site and vented their emotions ahead of planned talks on the closure of Conti’s Clairoix factory.

19th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s Poland TBR Facility Officially Opened

A traditional “kagami-biraki” sake barrel breaking ceremony attended by more than a hundred guests and a guided factory tour has marked the official opening of Bridgestone’s new 200 million truck and bus radial facility in Stargard, northwest Poland. Senior company management including Bridgestone Corporation CEO Shoshi Arakawa and Bridgestone Europe CEO Toru Tsuda presided over the May 18 events and played host to numerous local, regional and national officials such as Mrs Grazyna Henclewska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, Mr. Tanabe, Japan’s Ambassador to Poland and Mr. Husejko, Marshal of West Pomerania.

19th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lockout Declared at MRF Facility

According to a statement lodged with the Bombay Stock Exchange, Indian tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd has declared a lockout at its Arkonam facility in Tamil Nadu “on account of labour unrest in the factory.” The lock out officially commenced at 3.00pm local time on May 17, the statement adds.

18th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors