Goodyear Dunlop Archives - Page 17 of 28

Bomb Scare at Goodyear’s Fulda Factory

Goodyear reports that a factory belonging to its German subsidiary was subject to a bomb scare on June 29. The company’s Fulda facility in central Germany received an anonymous threat at 11.00am, and police were notified. Goodyear states that at this stage the caller’s genuineness cannot be ascertained, however both the police and Goodyear Dunlop are taking appropriate measures and are boosting security at the site. As part of a range of preventative measures to ensure the safety of employees and neighbouring residents, the Fulda plant was evacuated.

Police action continued during the afternoon of June 29. A police search of the works as of 3.00pm local time had provided no further information regarding the incident.

29th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Presents BioTred2 at Cereals Show

Premium, Product News

On the 10 and 11 June Goodyear Dunlop’s UK Farm and OTR team were present at the UK Cereals Show in Cambridge, an event widely acknowledged as the leading technical event for the UK arable industry. The team were out in full force presenting the Goodyear and Dunlop farm tyre ranges to the 30,000-plus farmers who attended the annual show.

The team presented the new BioTred2 tyre on their stand. BioTred2 is the latest in farm tyre development using vegetal oil instead of crude oil in the processing phase of its manufacture. Goodyear Dunlop reports that the tyre generated heavy interest from consumers and vehicle manufacturers in addition to the press coverage generated by its presence at the show. For example, the tyre was featured in an online video overview of the event. Additionally, key fitments were spotted around the show: on the JCB exhibition stand, two of their new 7000 series Fastrac machines were equipped with Optitrac R+.

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12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ On-Track for 175 Branches in 2009

Product News

Tyre manufacturers, especially those with large OE commitments, have really felt the pain of recession with most announcing double-digit falls in year-on-year sales for the first quarter of this year. However, the continued development of the revamped HiQ chain exemplifies how the downturn hasn’t been all bad for the wider tyre industry. In fact, in the retail business there are even examples of the ‘down’ market actually helping companies grow. Tyres & Accessories recently met with HiQ retail director Juergen Titz and found out how the network’s expansion plans are progressing.

There are currently 140 HiQ centres across England and Wales, however the plan according to Juergen Titz is to establish 175 by the end of 2009 – and another 100 by 2012. When you consider that HiQ franchised off the 106 formerly Goodyear Dunlop owned sites only last year, clear progress is being made towards the HiQ rapid expansion goals. Despite the fact that Goodyear Dunlop’s decision to run the network as a hard franchise operation represents a significant change in direction for the company, there is real sense of optimism (amongst both managers and franchisees) about the company’s future.

29th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Partners Bandvulc Group for Logistic Service

Retreading

Goodyear Dunlop is to distribute new Goodyear Max Technology and Dunlop tyres through Bandvulc Group in a move designed to increase efficient and improve delivery service to UK truck tyre dealers. According to the tyre manufacturer, the agreement means that Bandvulc Group, which specializes in truck tyre service solutions, will now be able to supply Goodyear and Dunlop truck tyres to independent dealers across the UK.

The partnership is intended to complement Goodyear Dunlop’s existing direct delivery logistics system, which is designed to supply large tyre dealers and the growing network of TruckForce partners across the UK by shipping volume orders of tyres directly from plants (such as Wittlich in Germany, Luxembourg and Wolverhampton) to customers.

29th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop to Consult Over ‘Defined Contribution’ Pension Scheme

Product News

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited is to consult with pension trustees, trade unions and employee representatives over the introduction of a new Defined Contribution (DC) Pension scheme. According to a company statement, the proposed scheme would replace both the company’s ‘Hybrid Scheme’ (combined Defined Benefit final salary and Defined Contribution) and ‘New Hire’ DC scheme. Approximately 850 employees are in the Hybrid scheme and 70 in the ‘New Hire’ scheme.

The consultation will be on the proposed replacement of the current schemes with a new enhanced defined contribution programme. Those who are currently paying into the Defined Benefit (DB) scheme will have their accrued benefits deferred, and the company are proposing the introduction of a new DC scheme for future service to add to the members’ existing benefits.

11th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Overhauls Charity Target Early

Product News

Goodyear Dunlop has celebrated surpassing its charity fundraising target, having raised £52,000 to build a new playground at Birmingham Children’s Hospital eight months ahead of schedule. The money has been raised through employee fund raising, company match funding and public events. Birmingham Children’s Hospital corporate fundraising manager, Fidelis Hynam said, “We have been exceptionally impressed by the fund raising efforts and commitment of Goodyear Dunlop and its employees and it is no surprise they have smashed their target so early.

“For the CAMHS patients and their families this dedicated outdoor space is a dream come true. With the average stay of a CAMHS patient being six months it is very important to have their own space where they can let off steam and importantly have fun. We cannot thank Goodyear Dunlop enough.”

23rd April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Announces New Brand Manager Michelle Fisher

Product News

On 1 April Goodyear Dunlop UK introduced its new Goodyear brand manager, Michelle Fisher. She will take over from Ben Crawley, who will now move into the position of business account manager, working on key strategic accounts, including KwikFit, for the company. Crawley has been with the company for seven years, three of which he spent in the brand manager slot. Fisher, formerly Goodyear Dunlop’s market research intelligence manager, moves into the role following her first year with the company.

Before joining the Goodyear Dunlop organisation Fisher, who has a BA Joint Honours degree in French and Business Studies, worked for Schneider Electric followed by the roles of market research executive and prospect relationship marketing executive at Aga Consumer Products.

1st April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Performs Well in ADAC Tests

Product News

Goodyear Dunlop has reported that its portfolio has performed well in the ADAC 2009 summer tyre test, following the publishing of the results by the German Automobile Association. The report praises the Goodyear, Dunlop and Fulda brands from the Goodyear Dunlop portfolio. Representing Europe’s biggest market, Germany’s ADAC is particularly influential in helping customers decide which brand to purchase.

Mark Davison, sales and marketing director at Goodyear Dunlop, said, “The huge efforts made in the field of development have once again been richly rewarded with these results. We will be circulating these results to our customers in the months to come, by way of our planned communication strategies.” The company was keen to highlight in particular the performance of the new Goodyear OptiGrip tyre, the Dunlop SP Sport Fast Response and the Fulda Carat Progresso.

26th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Tyre Retail Chain to Create Up To 500 Jobs

Product News

HiQ has announced plans to create up to 500 new jobs as part of its ambitious national franchise programme. The fast fit franchise chain, which currently has 137 HiQ centres across England and Wales, is creating the positions over the next three years as the number of outlets on UK high streets rises to a targetted 275 by 2012. The company has already accelerated the growth of the nationwide tyre and vehicle servicing network by signing long-term franchise agreements in 2008 when 106 Goodyear Dunlop owned HiQ centres were franchised. HiQ is now extending the model to many more towns and cities.

Currently 41 HiQ franchisees operate 137 HiQ centres, compared to just 15 franchisees operating 33 centres in 2007. New jobs are now being created weekly, with for example, 10 new positions announced for HiQ’s Kettering store this month. HiQ Retail Director Juergen Titz said: “The objective is to grow the business with new open points in towns and cities. The plan is to get 170 centres by the end of 2009 and 275 by 2012. The franchisee network is investing more than £2 million into improved customer environments in 2009, and this award winning franchise concept will increase transparency and certainty for our customers.”

18th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

NETE Buys 15 HiQ Outlets

Product News

North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts bought fifteen HiQ-branded retail outlets for £3 million, apparently using cash reserves and bank credit to finance the acquisition. This news comes as the company published annual results which saw turnover rise by 7.7 per cent to £43 million. While like-for-like turnover (sales that don’t take into account new openings) are only expected to rise slightly in the coming 12 months, the new branches are expected to help the company achieve annual sales of £50 million this year.

20th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Donington Park Loses Dunlop Landmark

Product News

Work to convert Donington Park into a Formula One circuit is underway, and a casualty of the transformation has been the famous Dunlop Bridge. On February 12 – a day described as ‘historic’ by Donington Park chairman Simon Gillett – the week long effort to remove the structure began, and piece-by-piece three decades of motorsport history was taken down.

“As a motorsport enthusiast, I am sorry to see the Dunlop Bridge come down,” said Gillett. “However, it is an iconic structure that has become an integral part of Donington Park. I will do everything in my power to ensure that we are able to resite the bridge within the circuit.” It has been suggested that the Bridge could be relocated to the circuit’s entrance.

13th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Nears £50,000 Charity Goal

Product News

While economic pressures can result in people rethinking their spending, they have not prevented Goodyear Dunlop’s friends and associates homing in on the company’s target of donating £50,000 in a year and a half to help build a playground for the Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health Service ward at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Since April 2008 fundraisers have been working hard, with a range of activities taking place including a charity ball, dress down days, truck tyre rolls and a bicycle ride from the company’s head office in Birmingham to Paris. In total £48,000 has been donated to the charity, almost reaching the total in ten months.

12th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Tells of Increased Market Share

Product News

Goodyear Dunlop UK and Ireland has released the claim that, despite challenging economic conditions, the company has managed to increase its car tyre market share by a margin of over 4 per cent in the last four months. Over the company’s four major brands, including European-developed Fulda and Sava in addition to the best-known Goodyear and Dunlop names, the manufacturer states that it reached a two year peak of 27.1 per cent of the market during the last third of a year.

Group managing director, Mark Brickhill said that the Birmingham-based company’s strong and diverse portfolio of brands has been the key to gaining market share in challenging conditions. While the rest of the market was declining by 0.6 per cent, Goodyear Dunlop’s December consumer sales were 6 per cent higher than in the same month in 2007. The company says that its share of Market has been growing steadily over the last four months, reaching its aforementioned peak in December.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

E.G. Wholesale “Showing the Future of Wholesaling”

News

Horsham-based tyre business E.G. Wholesale (part of Elite Garages) has opened a new state of the art tyre warehouse and logistics operation in the West Sussex town. It will supply all its tyre customers across the south east. The operation was formally opened in December 2008 by Mark Brickhill, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop (UK). Brickhill stated, “Goodyear Dunlop are pleased to be associated with E.G. Wholesale who are certainly showing the future direction of tyre wholesaling.”

The new facility carries approximately 40,000 tyres on the shelf and – together with its two existing bulk tyre warehouses – offers one of the largest stocks and range of tyres in the South East. The company operates a fleet of 25 vans to cover its delivery area, which spreads from Bournemouth in Dorset to Ashford in Kent. All vans have satellite tracking systems to ensure timing and accuracy of delivery.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kisby’s Easy Autocentres Acquires 27 HiQ Outlets

Product News

A number of HiQ fast fit premises have been taken over by Chris Kisby’s Easy Autocentres. A total of 27 centres are included in the deal, including the company’s flagship Nottingham outlet. Following the acquisition from Goodyear Dunlop, Easy Autocentres is set to become one of the Midland region’s largest fast fit operators, with a turnover of around £10 million.

26th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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