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Bridgestone and Fiege Open Czech Republic Logistics Centre

International News

On May 16th 2008 Bridgestone Europe and its logistics partner Fiege officially opened the new Bridgestone “European Logistics Center ” (ELC) East in the Czech Republic town of Bor. Around 100 guests attended the opening ceremony including representatives from 15 local, regional and national media, neighbouring companies, several customers and suppliers, and various members of Bridgestone Europe and Fiege Group companies.

Both VIP speakers, Fiege CEO Mr. Jens Fiege and Yves Kerstens, VP Supply Chain, Bridgestone Europe, expressed their satisfaction with the relationship between the two long-term partners and the results achieved, specifically in the case of the Bor tyre warehouse. Mr. Kerstens stated in his speech: “Personally I am very pleased to see the results that have been achieved in this context with the Fiege Group. In 1978 Bridgestone was Fiege’s first “contract logistics” customer in Germany and today Fiege is our main service provider in Central and East Europe, operating warehouses in Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic and also the first partner to perform cross border deliveries.”

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Koji Toyoda Becomes MD at Toyo Tyres

Toyo Tyres (UK) Ltd has announced that MD Tatsuo Mitsuhata will move to Toyo’s European Head Office in Germany to become vice president of Toyo Tire Europe GmbH, Toyo UK’s parent company. The move takes effect at the end of May. As a result of the promotion, Koji Toyoda has been appointed as managing director in the UK, following authorisation at a board meeting at Toyo Tire Europe on 30 April 2008.

16th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bosch Expects ‘Positive Developments’ In 2008

The Bosch Group says its sales revenue rose by six per cent in its 2007 financial and calendar year to 46.3 billion euros. The firm says it hit its sales and earning targets and expects 2008 will bring ‘generally positive developments’ for its business despite a less favourable economic environment. Bosch says it will plan to spend 2.9 billion euros to expand its Asian activities over the next two years. In Germany the growth of its Abstatt engineering centre will create up to 800 new jobs.

16th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BIPAVER Meeting to Take Place During Reifen Show

The pan-European organisation representing retreading manufacturers, BIPAVER, is to hold its annual general assembly meeting concurrent to May’s Reifen show in Essen, Germany. The meeting will take place between 10.00am and 12.30pm on Wednesday, May 21 at the exhibition site’s Congress Centre South, Room L.

A key event of the general assembly will be the election of BIPAVER officers. It is expected that the candidate for the 2008/2009 president, Mr. Brenno Benalglia from Italy’s AIRP, will be elected to the position. Outgoing president, Mr. Peter Hülzer, from Germany’s BRV, will according to the BIPAVER charter assume the position of vice-president. Jan Driessen, from the Netherlands, is the candidate for the other vice-president position. Incumbent vice-president, Bandvulc’s Richard O’Connell, will resign from his position.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Delticom Results Show Strong Growth in EU Markets

Leading European tyre retailer Delticom AG has reported a 9.4 per cent year on year revenue increase in the first three months of 2008. Details of the company’s Q1 2008 performance, release May 14, point to growth in spite of what is traditionally a week time of the year for tyre sales.

Revenue during the quarter was 42.6 million euros, compared with 38.9 million in the first quarter of 2007. EBIT improved from 250,000 euros in Q1 2007 to 510,000 euros this year. At the same time, consolidated net income rose to 480,000 euros, an increase of 29.7 per cent. Regarding the figures, Delticom comments that the first quarter is traditionally the weakest in sales, and this held true in the first quarter of 2008 – unseasonably cool March weather caused many drivers in Germany and other European countries to delay the purchase of summer tyres until April.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Club Looking for New International Members

The exclusive, invitation only, International Tyre Club (ITC) will be looking for new Eastern European, Far Eastern and Middle Eastern members when the team exhibit at the Reifen show in Essen later this month. This year recognising change and meeting opportunities are the ITC’s watch words, according to ITC representatives.

Established almost a decade ago the Club is a member only organisation for tyre professionals from across Europe and the wider world. It hosts annual summit style meetings in some of Europe’s best venues where its members come together to generate mutually advantageous new business opportunities. ITC has regular participants from counties including France, Germany, UK, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Italy and are exhibiting Hall 2, stand 430 in Essen. cja

8th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

RUD-Erlau Delivers World’s Largest OTR Tyre Chains

Following the recent completion of a three year expanion and modernization programme of its Aalen, Germany, tyre protection chain (TPC) production facility; RUD-Erlau delivered and installed two full sets of the world’s largest TPCs last month. Called the R 75S Plus the TPCs have gone into service in both Europe and North America.

In Europe the R 75S Plus are protecting all four 52/80–57 tyres on a CAT 994 loading limestone. The other machine to be shod with R 75S Plus is a giant LeTourneau 1850 working iron ore in North America.

1st May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Releases Q1 Sales Results

Michelin’s financial results for the first quarter, to March 31, 2008, show sales of 4.091 billion euros during the period, a decrease of 2.6 per cent year on year at current exchange rates. The company reports that sales results were limited by declines in its European and North American replacement tyre markets, where the Michelin Group has a large footprint. “Michelin’s trading environment was less supportive than initially anticipated,” said Michelin in a press statement. “Most of the mature countries’ tyre markets were down, except for Europe’s original truck tyre market which remained strong. This trend resulted from a weak trading environment that weighed on overall market morale.” This weak performance contrasted strongly with that in emerging markets.

29th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TMD Friction Develops New Hybrid Brake Pads

TMD Friction has introduced an innovative hybrid brake pad generation; the company’s engineers have succeeded in covering European, Asian and American market requirements with one material family. Production is scheduled to start in 2009.

Derek Whitworth, CEO of TMD Friction, says: “In addition to environmental compatibility, our customers profit from greater comfort, a longer service life and reduced brake dust.” Close global cooperation between the engineers of TMD Friction in Germany, the USA and Japan resulted in the development of this new friction material generation.

22nd April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Acknowledged as Top Porsche Supplier

Every year Porsche recognises its ten best performing suppliers at the Porsche Supplier Awards, and for 2008 Bridgestone has been honoured as an award recipient. Bridgestone Europe Original Equipment key account manager Stephan Rambow accepted the award in the presence of 300 guests at a ceremony held by the automaker in Weissach, Germany on April 3.

Three categories of business partner are eligible for a Porsche Supplier Award– production material, non-production material and logistics – and awards are given in recognition for achievements in sales, engineering and quality. Bridgestone was the only tyre manufacturer amongst the eight production material suppliers nominated for an award from the Stuttgart based sports car manufacturer.

21st April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Contemplates China Price Rise

The largest manufacturer of tyres in China by market share, Hankook Tire, is contemplating price increases in this market to offset the costs of oil and raw materials. CEO of the company holding a 25 per cent market share in China, Choi Jin-wook, made comments to this effect on April 21. Choi also said the company expected its sales volume to increase in China by about 20 per cent this year, a stronger rate than the anticipated industry wide 15 per cent growth.

The Reuters news service has quoted Choi as saying “the company has not decided on the details. We are considering a price hike, although nothing has been decided.” The Reuters report also indicated that Hankook was looking for other ways to cut costs, such as through higher productivity.

21st April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Rates Well in European Magazine Tests

Bridgestone reports receiving highly favourable results in summer tyre tests conducted by German and Nordic region magazines. Europe’s largest motoring magazine, ADAC Motorwelt rated the Japanese manufacturer’s Turanza ER300 in the top group of “highly recommendable” tyres in its 2008 summer tyre tests. Singling it out from 18 major brand competitors, the magazine described Turanza ER300 as a “very well balanced summer tyre with best grade on dry and also good on wet”.

The VW Golf 2.0 FSI test vehicle fitted with 195/65 R15 tyres completed the full range of performance tests with weightings of 20 per cent for dry, 40 per cent for wet, 10 per cent for noise, 10 per cent for rolling resistance and 20 per cent for wear rate. ADAC awarded its final rating based on the overall weighted score, after downgrading for any individual result judged to be unacceptably weak. ADAC also rated the ER300 “highly recommendable” in 2007.

17th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Tire Starts Tame the Road Global TV Campaign

A new Hankook TV commercial featuring heroes, sports coupes and “furious” car chases is part of a new global TV marketing campaign currently being enacted by Hankook Tire. The campaign is currently rolling out simultaneously across Europe, China and the US.

The 20-second clip stands out with its 3D animation, offering TV audiences a “never-seen-before” action-packed perspective in a tyre commercial. The brand-new Hankook Ventus V12 Evo takes centre stage in the story, whose impressive appearance is experienced close-up by viewers. The effects created by award-winning creative studio Shilo TV is designed to captivate viewers.

16th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vipal to Open Distribution Centre in Hamburg

Vipal Europe is to establish a new distribution centre in Hamburg, Germany. According to the company Vipal Europe’s market share has been substantially increasing in recent years, forcing the company to revise its earlier targets for 2008. Establishing a strong presence has been Vipal’s main concern, hence the decision to set-up the new warehouse. “We believe in the European Market and we are ready to attend all of its needs: quality, competitiveness, logistics and service”, said Leandro Rigon, International Business Manager of Borrachas Vipal.

The announcement comes after Leandro Rigon visited the Vipal Europe team in March to communicate the company’s new Europe strategy. Following board approval for European retreading market ‘macro strategies’ in October 2007, Rigon explained what Vipal Europe needs to do to become “one of the largest suppliers of tyre repair and retread products in Europe.”

16th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Faces Legal Complaint in Brazil

Complaints of uncompetitive behaviour appear to have been made against Continental AG in Brazil. A company spokesman has stated that Conti does indeed face a legal complaint there, however he did not, as the complaint remains pending, disclose the exact nature of the complaint or who initiated it.

A report published in Germany’s Handelsblatt business newspaper indicates that Brazil’s Ministry of Justice has raised allegations against the Continental Siemens VDO unit, claiming it has on several occasions attempted to have a trip recorder produced by rival company Seva Engenharia Eletrônica withdrawn from sale. After these attempts failed, it is alleged that the Conti unit approached the competitor with the suggestion of establishing a cartel.

11th April 2008/by Tyrepress Editors