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Web-Based Ordering System From Michelin And IBM

Michelin and IBM have announced that the tyre manufacturer has installed for all Europe a new Web-based system – based on a Web-enabled IBM eServer zSeries mainframe – that improves service to its network of 50,000 European distributors by allowing them to place orders for Michelin products directly over the Web any time of the day or night. The system is initially being deployed for use by Michelin’s large European distributors in the United Kingdom, Germany and France and will be made available to the most of the company’s European network tyre distributors. Full deployment will be by 2004.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

The French Connection: Arc-en-Ciel

The French tyre trading network Arc-en-Ciel claims to be the largest European chain of independent tyre dealers. In 1986, there were only twelve members, but this has grown to a network of 850 outlets in Europe, 386 of which are in France. Every year, 20 new members join the group, it is claimed. In France alone, Arc-en-Ciel distributed around 2.9 million tyres in 1999, with the group holding 11% of the car/van tyre market, 9% of HGV and 18% of the agricultural tyre market. The Arc-en-Ciel branding is memorable – the name means rainbow in French – and this is carried over to a range of own brand products, which, of course, includes tyres that go under the name Eurotyre. As Arc-en-Ciel spreads across Europe, its strength increases. In addition to the French network, the group has a presence in six European countries, including 71 depots in the Benelux and 168 in Spain. Further expansion is envisioned in Portugal and in eastern Europe. Besides its fast-fit operation, Arc-en-Ciel has introduced a 24-hour replacement tyre service for hauliers in 14 European states.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Announcement Secures Future Of Nissan Plant In UK

Nissan has made the decision to build its new Micra model at its Sunderland, UK, factory, rather than France, following approval of a 40 million Pound grant. The news is expected to secure 500 jobs at the plant and has been welcomed by the Government as evidence of Nissan’s long-term commitment to the north east. It is thought that Nissan will demand that, in the future, more of its component suppliers for cars made at Sunderland submit invoices in Euro rather than Sterling.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Reshuffle At Cooper-Avon

Cooper-Avon Tyres has reshuffled many of its management team. André Korynevsky – responsible until now for retreading materials – has been appointed European Sales Director, liaising with the company’s offices in Germany, France and Switzerland. He will continue to manage the retread materials business. Phil Caris is the new European Sales & Marketing Director with responsibility for multi-brand strategies, coordinating global product management. As European Major Accounts Director, Steve Cundy will head a team of three, which will service the business with European retail chains, marketing Avon house and private brands, as well as developing fleet business.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Car Tyre Production To Cease At Fort Dunlop

Earlier in the year we reported that truck tyre production was to stop at the Fort Dunlop factory in Birmingham, UK. There was another devastating blow for the ageing plant when it was announced that car and van tyre production will be phased out by the end of the year. This will lead to 600 job losses, on top of the 650 redundancies earlier in the year. When all the losses have been implemented, the workforce at Fort Dunlop will have fallen from 1,700 to 500 inside twelve months. The latest move is as a result of Goodyear’s review of operations, following the joint venture with Sumitomo and has been blamed on over-production, the strength of Sterling and a reduction in domestic car production. Dunlop brand car and van tyres will continue to be manufactured at the company’s more modern factory in Washington in the North East of England as well as other European factories in the Goodyear group. Production at Washington will increase from six days a week to seven. Around 12,600 car tyres are manufactured daily at the plant. With truck, car and van tyre production gone from the Fort, that only leaves motorsports tyres, of which a mere 250,000 are made a year. The article in TYRES & ACCESSORIES 6/2000 outlines local reaction to the news and ends with the possibility of further bad news, as Goodyear is reported as saying that “substantial” further restructuring is still needed.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Links Up With French Antivibration Specialist

Bridgestone has announced the formation of a strategic alliance in antivibration automotive components with Paulstra, the automotive antivibration sector of Hutchinson, a subsidiary of TotalFina in France. The objective of the alliance is for both companies to jointly develop new antivibration products at both the companies manufacturing plants around the world.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

New Arrangements For Bergougnan Distribution

After having acquired Monarch (USA), Bergougnan (Belgium) and Vorwerk (Germany, now Rotatec) the new parent company Trelleborg Wheel Systems has re-arranged the distribution in several countries. After changes in France and Italy now the German partner Wenzel-Industrie has exclusive distribution rights for the Bergougnan brand, which, up to May, it shared with Industriereifenkontor Lüdtke.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Fire At Michelin Warehouse

A fire started at a Michelin raw materials warehouse which is dedicated to Michelin’s largest plant at Clermont-Ferrand, where 5,000 people are employed.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Suit Against Concorde Tyre Supplier?

A San Francisco-based specialist law firm is exploring the possibility of filing a lawsuit against Goodyear in Ohio and is contacting dependants of the crash victims. Goodyear has been the exclusive tyre supplier for Air France Concordes since 1995. Therefore the which crashed recently was equipped with Goodyear tyres, too. Whether or not a blown tyre caused the disaster is still not known and a Goodyear spokesman said “it’s way too early to make any assumptions or comments”.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Preserving Precious Resources: Goodyear Presents Eagle NCT 5

The new Eagle NCT 5, introduced to the trade press at Goodyear’s own South of France test track in Mireval in mid-February, is a high-performance tyre in speed categories from H (up to 210 km/h) to Y (up to 300 km/h) with the emphasis on comfort. The manufacturer claims that the new type of tyre, immediately available in more than 20 sizes, is an improvement on its predecessor, the NCT 3 – sometimes to a very considerable extent – in braking on dry and wet roads or aquaplaning both in straight-line driving or cornering. The new product is aimed at an interesting growth market. 52 million tyres of speed index H and faster are currently sold in Europe per year, and this segment already covers 28 p.c. of the market (186 million tyres). The market share of high-performance tyres in Germany is about 35 p.c. at the moment, but still rising strongly. In the new NCT 5 Goodyear’s tyre developers had ecological qualities especially in mind. Compared with its predecessor the newly developed tyre can boast rolling resistance reduced by 20 p.c. and optimised tyre noise. In addition to the reduced rolling resistance which, according to the manufacturer, saves up to 5 p.c. in fuel, the NCT 5’s mileage is said to be improved by up to 25 p.c. In naming this new tyre Goodyear quite deliberately skipped the number 4, since the Far East, one of the target markets for the NCT 5, regards the number 4 as a symbol of impending disaster.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

The Merry-Go-Round At Goodyear North America Goes On Again

Bill Sharp (59) has retired suddenly on July 14th after 36 years of Service for the tyre maker. His successor, John C. Polhemus (56) used to be President of Goodyear’s Latin America region. Marco Molinari, currently Vice President Marketing and Sales North America, becomes Vice President Global Marketing Projects. Jim Vogel, currently Director Corporate Accounts North American Tire, becomes Vice President Marketing and Corporate Accounts for North America.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Subsiduary Reduces Workforce In Poland

Michelin subsiduary Stomil-Olsztyn has announced that it will be reducing ist workforce by 120 people during this year. At the same time, a further 70 full time employees have reverted to part-time. Stomil-Olsztyn are located in the regions of Warmia and Mazury in northern Poland and employ around 4.000 workers who produce passenger, truck, light truck and agricultural tyres as well as tyre fabrics and curing moulds.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Viborg Acquires Pneu-Stössel

Pneu-Stössel AG (Schlieren) has sold its eight outlets to the strongest independent tyre dealer organisation in Europe, Danish Viborg Gruppen. With its subsidiary Pneu Matti AG (Dietlikon), Viborg Gruppen was already one ofthe leading Swiss tyre dealers. Integrating Pneu-Stössel creates Switzerland’s market leader among independent tyre dealers with 21 outlets and more than 140 employees.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper-Avon To Shed Jobs

Cooper-Avon has announced that it will be making 80 staff employees redundant in Europe. Locations affected are the Melksham (UK) HQ and offices in Switzerland, France and Germany. The cuts are blamed on the high level of the Pound and large numbers of imported tyres from the Far East and have been made, says Cooper-Avon, to reduce costs and increase job security for the remaining 900+ employees.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Waiting for Keegan – Goodyear is lacking life

Robert J. Keegan (53), one time top manager with Kodak, assumed the position as Goodyears‘s president and chief operating officer in Akron on 1st of October, making him the deputy and named successor of chairman Sam Gibara (61). According to group publications, Keegan will be responsible for day to day business, whereas Gibara will be more concerned with strategy.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors