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ViaMichelin to End GPS Production

ViaMichelin, the subsidiary of the French tyre manufacturer specialising in digital travel assistance products, has stated it will no longer participate in the GPS navigation device market. According to a report published in France’s La Tribune, the company, which holds 14 per cent of the French GPS market, has found it difficult to expand in Europe in the face of strong competition from rivals such as TomTom. Sixty of ViaMichelin’s 170 employees are affected by the decision, La Tribune reported.

14th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Wins Peugeot 207 OE Contract

Maxxis has been awarded an OE contract to supply the Peugeot 207, building on the company’s OE efforts in the Far East and North America. Maxxis has already established itself as a supplier to all the major car manufacturers in the Far East, including Ford, General Motors, Renault, Honda and VW, but the recent news marks the company’s biggest success in Europe. Maxxis also supplies Ford and General Motors in North America.

According to the company, Maxxis’ decision to establish a technical centre in the Netherlands three years ago goes a long way to explaining the company’s listing as an approved supplier to Peugeot. The new contract will see Maxxis supply “a tyre” for the Peugeot 207, which is built at the PSA assembly facilities in Poissy, France and Trnava, Slovakia. The contract commenced at the end of October and covers an annual volume of 500,000 tyres (2,150 tyres per day).

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

2007 WTCC Victory Gives Priaulx his Third Title

November 18’s Macau WTCC races saw the UK’s Andy Priaulx claim his third FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) title, the second since the championship adopted Yokohama’s Advan as control tyre. Priaulx drove to eighth in the first race, having started in 12th place, which placed him on pole position for this season’s last round. Race two saw Priaulx’s title rivals wither down to just one, fellow Briton James Thompson, whose Alfa Romeo began the race strongly before falling behind Priaulx’s BMW during the nine laps.

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Japan’s Trade Commission Issues Order Against Rubber Hose Cartel

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is taking steps against Bridgestone and four international companies that have since May been under the spotlight for rubber marine hose price fixing. The competition watchdog intends to issue an administrative order to the companies to ensure the cessation of any remaining cartel activities, the first time such an order has been issued to foreign companies. The four international companies are the UK’s Dunlop Oil and Marine, a unit of Sweden’s Trelleborg AB, and Italy’s Parker ITR and Manuli Rubber Industries.

7th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius Buys ArvinMeritor LVA Emission Controls

On 7th August 2007, UK based Klarius Group Ltd, acquired of the Emissions Control activities of ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Aftermarket Europe (LVA Europe). With the purchase, Klarius Group acquired the entire shareholdings of LVA Europe’s Emissions Control businesses in the UK, France and Italy; Arvin Replacement Products Ltd, Arvin Replacement Products SAS and Ansa Marmitte s.r.l. Chairman, Tony Wilson commented, “We are very enthusiastic about the growth opportunities for the new company. Growth will come from the development of our products and services to provide innovative environmental solutions for our customers”.

Klarius Group’s market leading product portfolio includes exhaust brands Timax (UK), Rosi (France), Ansa (Italy), Tesh (Europe) and pan-european catalyst brands Metal’Cat and EuroCat. The new group holds a 21% share of the European Emissions Control aftermarket. In addition, Klarius will continue to market and distribute the Purolator filter brand across Europe.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Trims Labour Cost/Sales Ratio in 2007

Michelin is on track to improve its labour cost/sales ratio by 2 per cent annually, claim analysts. A report from Deutsche Bank shows that the group employs approximately 73,000 people in what are considered high labour cost countries; in 2007 natural attrition causes such as retirement saw 4,000 people from these countries leave Michelin. On top of this figure a plant closure in France saw 800 jobs cut; restructuring in Italy led to 200 redundancies; in Japan 500 jobs disappeared due to restructuring; and a thousand left the company in Spain as the result of ‘accelerated pre-retirements.’ Overall, 6,500 workers – 9 per cent of the workforce in high labour cost countries – left the Michelin group in 2007, a number Deutsche Bank calls “impressive.” The bank adds that, even if some of these workers are replaced – and less than half are expected to be replaced at a much lower wage rate – the Michelin group will be on track to meet the aforementioned labour cost/sales ratio improvement and to improve group productivity by 20 per cent by 2010.

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to End Pax System R&D

Michelin described it as “revolutionary” and “our biggest technological breakthrough since we patented the radial tyre in 1946,” yet news indicates that the French manufacturer is turning its back on the product about which it once said “we haven’t been this proud since we invented the radial.”

The director of research at Michelin’s Technology Center in Ladoux, France is reported to have said that the company has halted further research into its Pax run-flat system as there is “no big market demand” for the product. He added that demand for the Pax was not sufficient to justify the expense of the research invested into it.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Defence Spending Allocated to Goodyear

The US House of Representatives approved a military spending bill that, amongst numerous projects, earmarks US$1.2 million for Goodyear’s production facility in Topeka, Kansas for the production of tyres for the military. The Defense Appropriations bill was approved by 400 votes to 15 on November 8, and now proceeds to the US Senate for a second vote.

Upon final approval of the bill Goodyear will be commissioned to manufacture tyres for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a unit designed to replace the military’s Humvee. This new vehicle – intended to provide greater versatility and survivability in the event of an attack than existing designs – is still currently at the prototype stage, with military officials considering various options from 18 different manufacturers. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is not expected to enter production until 2012, at which stage up to 160,000 of the vehicles will most likely be produced.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Reports £831 million Sales in 2006

Kwik-Fit’s 2006 accounts show the company achieved turnover of £830.9 million (up 4.4 per cent) during its full year since being sold to PAI. EBITDA increased to £100 million in 2006, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year. In August 2005 CVC Capital Partners sold Kwik-Fit to PAI for around £800 million, despite reported bidding from a Bridgestone/Mitsubishi partnership.

According to reports, the group traded in line with expectations during the early part of 2007 with growth in sales boosted by new services like MOT testing in the UK and fleet business in continental Europe.

There are also said to be plans to open 50 new outlets across Europe. In addition, the company is expected to upgrade its estate in the UK, France and Holland with significant capital investment.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Two Trelleborg Execs Plead Guilty to Price Fixing Charges

Two executives from Trelleborg Industrie S.A.S in France have pleaded guilty to participating in a marine hose price fixing conspiracy. On November 6 a one-count felony charge was filed in the US District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida against Christian Caleca, president of Trelleborg’s Industrial Fluid Systems business unit, and Jacques Cognard, the company’s product area manager for oil and marine products.

Plea agreements have been worked out for both men, subject to court approval, and under the terms of these each will serve 14 months in prison – and will provide their full cooperation in the US Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation. Additionally, Caleca has agreed to pay a US$75,000 fine and Cognard a $100,000 fine.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Cut Aims for European Growth

Toddington, Gloucestershire-based Pro-Cut Europe, is aiming to explain its operation after exhibiting at Equip Auto 2007 in Paris between 14-20th October. Pro-Cut Europe attended the Paris exhibition to recruit distributors for the continent. Showcasing the PFM 9.19, the worlds best on-car brake lathe, Pro-Cut Europe Directors Guy Carter and David Smith informed would-be business associates about the unique selling points of the machine and the rapid growth being enjoyed by the brake lathe market.

Pro-Cut Europe have sole distribution rights for the brake lathe in Europe and with development of the UK market meeting forecast expectations, the rapidly expanding Pro-Cut Head Office has already laid the foundations to extend the companies presence in the Continent. Pro-Cut Europe developed the infrastructure for European expansion in the German market 3 years ago and have already sold just under 500 lathes.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maywood Releases New 2 Post Lift

The Maywood Equipment Group has announced the arrival of a brand new electro hydraulic 2 post lift, the KH32. This lift is produced exclusively for Maywood and its introduction comes subsequent to extensive market testing in France and more recently in The UK. The KH32 is available in either single or three phase and has a 3.2 tonne capacity. It features a baseframe, extending its suitability to almost any floor, subject to good concrete conditions. Maywood reports the KH32 is competitively priced and available from the company’s distributors, including Unipart Automotive.

Features of the KH32 lift include arms that swing inwards to fit in between wheels and has a double cable lifting mechanism. It is suitable for general workshop use but also for tyre bays or body repair shops. The lifting pad height is 110 mm, suitable for most cars, and the lifting height of 2074 mm is higher than many lifts. The KH32 comes equipped with many safety features including integrated emergency lowering feature.

2nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Revels in Le Mans and F3 Successes

Kumho’s European motorsport division has enjoyed considerable success across a range of motorsport series in 2007. Perhaps the highlight of the year was the success of the Le Mans LMP2 class-winning Lola Zytek of Binnie Motorsports. As the car was shod with Kumho Tyres, Binnie’s success represented an historic achievement for the Korean tyre manufacturer, competing at Le Mans for only the third time.

Kumho supported both the Binnie Motorsports entry, comprised of Bill Binnie (US), Allen Timpany (GB) and Chris Buncombe (GB), and the Kruse Motorsport Pescarolo Judd of Tony Burgess (Can), Jean de Pourtales (Fr) and Norbert Siedler (Aut). The Binnie Car won LMP2 outright and finished 18th overall. Sadly the Kruse car did not survive the full 24 hours.

Said Bill Binnie: “We experienced just about every type of weather during the race from dry/warm conditions to torrential rain and used Kumho’s full arsenal of tyres as a result. They all performed admirably and were a key element of our victory.”

31st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Receives Best Annual Report Prize

On October 18, Michelin received the Best Annual Report 2006 Prize in the CAC 40 category during the 53rd Financial Communication Venue organised by two of France’s foremost financial newspapers: ‘la Vie Financière’ and ‘Les Echos’. The prize is given to CAC 40 companies – the forty largest Paris Bourse listed stocks in terms of market capitalisation on the stock exchange – whose annual reports contain the clearest and most transparent information on the company’s economic situation and future prospects.

To quote Mr. Carlos Ghosn, who chaired the panel responsible for selecting award recipients, the four principal qualities of Michelin’s report were “the quality of the group’s business and environment review; the usefulness of background information based on multiple and documented forecasts; the shareholder focus through a Shareholder booklet which in itself is a benchmark document and the clear and lively layout (and the latter two qualities are known to be difficult to achieve in the particular field of financial communication).”

26th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Real Cars – Real Racing

By the time November’s Tyres & Accessories lands in readers’ mailboxes the final round of the FIA WTCC will most likely have been fought out in Macau and the winners of both the Drivers and Manufacturers Championships – both close run affairs at the end of round 20 in Monza – will be known to all. But for now we can only speculate whether or not a UK driver will stand victorious on the dais come November 18.

Whatever the outcome, 2007 has been a spectacular season for the championship, with the round contested on British soil no exception. The Brands Hatch circuit served as host to the WTCC on the weekend of September 22-23, and the four UK drivers competing in the two rounds presented their home crowd with very respectable results. The first race saw two local lads amongst the quickest three drivers across the line, with Alfa Romeo driver James Thompson and BMW’s Colin Turkington recording times less than a second behind race winner, Chevrolet’s Alain Menu. The afternoon’s racing ended with the UK’s Andy Priaulx, competing in a BMW320si, in first place. Third and fourth places were also grabbed by local drivers Robert Huff and Colin Turkington.

23rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors