Goodyear Dunlop Archives - Page 22 of 28 - Tyrepress

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Goodyear Dunlop Increases Truck Tyre Production

Goodyear Dunlop is to increase truck tyre production output at its Luxembourg factory to 6000 units a day. Speaking at the launch of Goodyear Max Technology at the company’s Mireval test centre in the south of France, European truck tyre operations managing director, Henry Johnson, told Tyres & Accessories that the move mean the Luxembourg plant is running at maximum capacity, up 10 per cent from its previous operating capacity. The announcement answers suggestions of a CV tyre supply and demand gap from some market analysts. Johnson played down those suggestions saying: “It won’t have a dramatic effect on business” as companies like Goodyear would adjust production allowing supply to even out.

Nevertheless, Johnson gave details of a two-phase capacity increase programme that begins with increased production at Luxembourg. This will be followed by further capacity increases after 6-9 months. A second phase of expansion is expected in 18 months time. The news follows earlier announcements that Goodyear would invest an additional $20 million in capacity increases at it Polish production plant.

5th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hi-Q Gets to GRIPS With Customer Service

A bespoke point of sale customer service system has been installed throughout the entire HiQ network in a move to improve the experience for customers visiting stores. The Goodyear Dunlop Retail Integrated Point-of-Sale System (GRIPS) is a unique customer relationship management system which is being introduced to all HiQ stores in the UK and its sister companies across Europe.

The unique Windows-based point of sale system is the result of £1.5 million investment in customer service which will provide employees with detailed pricing information and enhanced customer profiling at all of HiQ’s 130 stores across the network. “GRIPS is the result of an intensive research and development programme and reflects a substantial investment in customer service,’ comments Gary Price, GRIPS project manager.

15th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Christian Salvesen’s Tyre Plan Proves ‘Difficult’

Profits at Christian Salvesen fell 19 per cent, at least partly due to the higher than expected start-up costs encountered in its distribution deal with Goodyear Dunlop and Continental Tyre Group in the UK. The firm posted underlying pre-tax profits of £12.5 million for the year to March 31 and extended the UK transport division’s operating losses to £4.6 million for the year.

“Progress during the year was slower than hoped, due in part to a difficult start-up for our national tyre distribution partnership with Goodyear Dunlop. The unplanned start-up costs were a significant factor in the increased losses for the year. As part of the turnaround plan for our UK network business, we are investing in new systems to achieve rapid improvement in operational efficiency. For the longer term, we are investigating options that will require more fundamental infrastructure changes,” said the company reporting its full-year results.

7th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Revamped Hi-Q Outlets to Be Unveiled Soon

June sees Neil Burrows take on the responsibilities of retail director at Goodyear Dunlop UK. So, as a way of welcoming him into his new position, Tyres & Accessories interviewed the company’s former marketing director and asked what the future holds for the recently re-vamped Hi-Q retail franchise.

At the end of 2005, Goodyear Dunlop UK announced plans to separate its consumer and commercial tyre retail businesses into two distinct Hi-Q and TruckForce networks. The move was designed to solve the perceived problems that had been encountered by the two sides of the business’ lack of synergy. This radical shake-up proved to have a dramatic effect on the network, with company’s aim being to improve its focus on both sides of the business. On the passenger side this meant introducing a strong “hard-franchising” policy, designed to keep standards and brand image consistent.

24th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Named as 2nd Pan-Government Supplier

Goodyear Dunlop, along with its HiQ and Truck Force networks, have been appointed as the second of the two suppliers of tyres and associated services for a three-year framework agreement for a pan-government tyre sourcing initiative led by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA), in conjunction with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). A government spokesman told Tyres & Accessories that the framework is divided equally between the two suppliers.

18th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NZ Government to Test Safety of Winter Tyres

Winter tyres are to be subjected to official testing in New Zealand following numerous allegations that they have contributed to fatal accidents. The tyres will be jointly tested by the New Zealand Police serious crash unit and Land Transport New Zealand (LTNZ), the government body responsible for vehicle and driver standards.

Coroners’ reports into several fatal accidents have called into question the suitability of winter tyres, known as snow tyres in New Zealand, for highway driving conditions. Various reports have referred to the tyres as a “matter which required urgent consideration” and products that “did not appear to be suitable for routine highway driving.”

19th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Europa Tyres and Goodyear Dunlop Cut ATV Tyre Price

Europa Tyres Ltd of Langport and Spalding in conjunction with Goodyear/Dunlop have reduced the selling price of Goodyear and Dunlop ATV tyres. The price cut covers the whole ranve from the 23×11.00-10 Dunlop KT869 that fits the Diesel Kawasaki Mule 2500/2510 or the more unusual 24×11-10 Goodyear wrangler sport fitted to the Polaris Xpress 300. “With our new Goodyear and Dunlop pricing structure we can now supply the trade with a quality product that is fitted original equipment to many Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Bombardier and Polaris quads to name a few at a competitive price,” company representatives said in an official statement. Europa carries a range of over 20 sizes in both Goodyear and Dunlop brands, and over 25 different patterns.

26th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Europa Tyres and Goodyear Dunlop Cut ATV Tyre Price

Europa Tyres Ltd of Langport and Spalding in conjunction with Goodyear/Dunlop have reduced the selling price of Goodyear and Dunlop ATV tyres. The price cut covers the whole ranve from the 23×11.00-10 Dunlop KT869 that fits the Diesel Kawasaki Mule 2500/2510 or the more unusual 24×11-10 Goodyear wrangler sport fitted to the Polaris Xpress 300. “With our new Goodyear and Dunlop pricing structure we can now supply the trade with a quality product that is fitted original equipment to many Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Bombardier and Polaris quads to name a few at a competitive price,” company representatives said in an official statement. Europa carries a range of over 20 sizes in both Goodyear and Dunlop brands, and over 25 different patterns.

26th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse in ADAC Test Success

Only days after its official launch, Goodyear Dunlop has released details of the new Dunlop SP Sport FastResponse’s recent success in German ADAC tests. ADAC, the German equivalent of the AA, awarded the FastResponse with the top “highly recommendable” grade in its 2007 summer tyre test. The ADAC testers said they were impressed most impressed with the tyre’s performance on both wet and dry roads.

23rd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Reworking Credit Facilities

(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear is refinancing some of its credit lines with an eye to reducing interest expenses, the tyremaker announced yesterday.

To be refinanced are a $1.5 billion credit facility due on Apr. 30, 2010; a $1.2 billion term loan also due on Apr. 30, 2010; and a 505 million euro credit facility for its Goodyear Dunlop Tire Europe subsidiary also due on that date.

Goodyear said it is looking to extend or amend the credit facilities by two to four years, staggering their due dates from 2012 to 2014.

22nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Defend UK Product Rights

At the end of February Goodyear Dunlop released details of its campaign to “to protect UK customers from unknowingly buying tyres that were not designed for road conditions in this market.” As a result of this campaign, three companies have submitted to a high court injunction and have had to send 600 Dunlop tyres for recycling, to prevent these tyres from being used on UK roads. According to the company, this is the start of an initiative to remove unapproved tyres from the EU market.

The Goodyear Dunlop campaign targets all unauthorised imported tyres bearing the famous Dunlop and SP trademarks, but designed for their local markets, and not imported or recommended by the UK company. The company found that a number of these tyres originate from, and were designed for, Asian markets.

Apollo Tyres Ltd bought Dunlop Tyres International (Pty) Ltd (Dunlop South Africa) for US$62 million in January 2006.

22nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

South Pacific Tyres Appoints new Sales Vice President

South Pacific Tyres, Goodyear Dunlop’s Australian and New Zealand operation, has appointed Wayne Johnston to the role of the company’s vice-president, sales. In his new position he is responsible for all Goodyear and Dunlop tyre sales throughout Australasia. This covers 450 retail stores and 150 licensees trading under various names including Beaurepaires, Goodyear Auto Service Centres and Frank Allen Tyres. Johnston also has responsibility for the company’s nine retreading factories and for its participation in motorsport.

Johnston will also continue in his existing role as national manager for New Zealand, and will spilt his time between there and Australia.

5th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Reaches Settlement over Alleged Defective Tyre

Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America Ltd. has reached a US$1.75 million settlement with the families of two teenagers killed in an accident seven years ago. The family of the teenagers allege that the collision than took place in Roanoke County, Virginia, was the responsibility of the tyremaker.

26th February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Tyre Improves 7.5 Tonners’ Better Load Characteristics

Goodyear has launched a new steer tyre for 7.5 tonne vehicles which is said to give significant operator benefits thanks to its size. According to the manufacturer, the Regional RHS 225/70R17.5, which fits standard rims, increases front axle weight capacity whilst providing enhanced handling and better wear characteristics.

11th January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

European Volvo Deal for Goodyear

Volvo group commercial vehicles in Europe will be riding on Goodyear Dunlop tyres after the two companies recently signed a deal for the supply of OE tyres. The three-year agreement covers all European-manufactured Volvo trucks and buses and Renault trucks with rims 16” and larger. The tyres will be supplied from Goodyear Dunlop factories in Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Turkey.

8th December 2006/by Tyrepress Editors