The company formerly know as Firestone East Africa was given a new logo and rename Sameer Africa at a ceremony in Nairobi. The new company will operate as an independent tyre maker, according to reports by Nairobi’s The Nation newspaper.
(Akron/Tire Review) Recent statements by the bargaining committee representing workers at Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) plants in the US. indicate the union is prepared to go on strike, perhaps as early as next month. Talks between the tyre manufacturer and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International (USW) were scheduled to resume this week, but union negotiators say this could be their last attempt to reach an agreement.
Engineering staff at Bridgestone Firestone’s Christchurch, New Zealand factory have been on strike for nearly a month, with no sign of a resolution to the dispute. Around two dozen workers, all members of the EPMU union, walked off the job early last month after pay negotiations came to a standstill. Striking staff member Dave Cahill says they have had little response from the employer, apart from times when police have been called in to monitor the picket line, the NewstalkZB local radio station reported.
Herman Karl Hochschwender, chairman of Smithers Scientific Services, passed away Thursday, 28 April 2005 in Naples, Flrorida. He was 85.
Born in Heidelberg, Germany, on 1 March 1920, Mr Hochschwender moved to the US in 1930. In 1944 he settled in Akron, Ohio where he lived most of his life. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Yale University in 1941, and did post-graduate work at Harvard Business School.
(Akron/Tire Review) Dr Georg Bohm, vice president of research for Bridgestone Americas’ Centre for Research and Technology (BACRT) has announced plans to retire as of 1 May. Dr Hiroshi Mouri, BACRT president, will assume Dr Bohm’s responsibilities at BACRT.
(Akron/Tire Review) Emanuele E (Manny) Cicero has been named president and CEO of Denman Tire Corp., effective 1 May, Denman Tire has announced. Cicero replaces Charles R.Wright, who is retiring.
(Akron/Tire Review) 23 April will mark the second year of an expired labour contract covering some 1,440 workers represented by the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 310 at a Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) agricultural tyre plant near Des Moines, Iowa. Talks resumed this week in St. Louis to replace the old contract, which, in addition to covering the Des Moines plant, also covers about 5,000 other workers at other plants throughout the US.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone executives along with members of the Mexican government gathered in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, to celebrate breaking ground for the company’s new BIRD based tyre plant. Representatives from Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. (BAH), Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) and Bridgestone/Firestone Mexico, SA. de CV (BFMX) were all present.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Corp., parent company of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT), announced it will supply all-season Bridgestone-brand Turanza EL42 run-flat tyres and summer Bridgestone-brand Potenza RE050A run-flat tyres as original equipment on the 2006 BMW 3 Series performance car.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) announced that it was raising prices on its Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, associate and private brand tire lines by up to 8%.
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, (BFNT) has signed a new sponsorship agreement with Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR). The Firestone brand will now serve as the official tyre of PPIR for the Indy Racing League’s Honda Indy 225 IndyCar Series race on 21 August.
“Becoming the Official Tyre at Pikes Peak International Raceway provides us a tremendous opportunity at Firestone,” said Al Speyer, executive director of motorsports, BFNT. “PPIR is in a great setting, with Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains as a majestic backdrop, and in the middle of a growing Colorado market where the Firestone brand is assured of receiving excellent exposure. We’re quite pleased with the agreement and look forward to building on the Firestone-PPIR relationship to make racing even more popular with area fans.”
Firestone is beaming about the quality of its R7000 tyre after a recent visit to Suffolk farmer Ray Smith. Mr Smith made an enquiry about some new front tyres for his New Holland 8560 as the tread was low. Upon investigating the tyres, Terry Brown, Firestone area sales manager, found that the tyres were 11 years old. It was estimated that the tractor completed about 1000 hours a year, of which 40 per cent was roadwork.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) and truck leasing giant Ryder System Inc have extended their agreement in which BFNAT supplies new medium truck radials to Ryder and Bandag Inc provides retreading services. The agreement began in 1990, according to BFNAT.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) has announced that its Bridgestone brand Turanza EL40002 tyre will be original equipment on the 2006 Cadillac DTS recently introduced at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. The Turanza EL40002 “premium touring” tyre will be supplied in size P245/50R18 99H and has a UTQG rating of 300 A/A, said BFNAT. The new OE fitment “represents the first-ever application of a Bridgestone brand tyre at Cadillac,” said Michael Martini, president of BFNAT’s OE consumer tire division. “It also marks the first of several fitments we will be launching with Cadillac over the next year.”
(Akron/TR) “Informational pickets” set up by United Steelworkers of America (USWA) locals representing Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) plants are causing concerns amongst owners of Nissan car dealerships who say such action is unfair and hurts their businesses.
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