Atlas Copco has received conditional approval from the anti-trust authorities to acquire the Industrial Division of the ABAC Group. It had a turnover in 2006 of approximately 190 million euros and some 650 employees. The estimated operating profit margin in 2006 was around 10 per cent. The acquisition is scheduled to close on 2 April.
Pirelli has reported the death of Former chairman Leopoldo Pirelli. Pirelli, who passed away at his home in the northern Italian seaside resort of Portofino, was 81.
The rising demand for winter tyres across Europe has been reflected in sales figures released by Continental AG. Worldwide sales of Conti’s winter tyres reached 19.1 million in last year, an 8 per cent increase on 2005 sales and 41 per cent more than in 2002.
According to research conducted by Continental, this increasing demand has been primarily fuelled by the public becoming more widely aware of the safety issues related to winter driving. Changes to German road traffic regulations have also had an influence on sales.
In the words of Continental AG Chairman of the Board (and head of Passenger and Light Truck Tire division) Manfred Wennemer “This fifth consecutive record result confirms the correctness of our approach in this attractive segment and is reassuring for the coming years, since it can be attributed to growth in several markets. In Europe these are predominantly Germany, Russia and Eastern Europe as a whole, but they also include Italy, Holland and Belgium.“ Mr. Wennemer added that Continental is also pleased with market developments in North America.
(Akron/Tire Review – Reuters) It looks like a guidebook, with its glossy pages, fold-out maps, and tips on where to eat and sleep in Rome. The only difference is that its readers are homeless. The new edition of what its authors have dubbed a “Michelin Guide for the Poor” was presented on Jan. 10 as promoters warned that the ranks of the have-nots in Italy’s capital were growing.
Marangoni Meccanica, the division of the Marangoni Group responsible for designing and developing new tyre technology, has recently inaugurated a new facility in Roverto, Italy. The new 11,000 m² facility will house approximately 80 employees involved in large research projects related to developing new hardware and ideas.
Based near Modena, Italy, Butler Engineering & Marketing originated in 1988. It started as an entrepreneurial venture by a few people with a common vision to change the way tyres were fitted, bringing into line the technical developments of the tyre, wheel and automotive industries. Now almost nineteen years later, Butler is doubling the size of its facilities. By the end of 2007 Butler plans to have expanded from its current 9000 square metres to a site covering approximately 20,000 square metres.
Italy’s Marangoni has launched a campaign to enlighten UK drivers on the benefits of thinking Marangoni when selecting new tyres. Following on from its successful “Intelligent Professionals” series, the new campaign links Marangoni’s position as a premium brand with the company’s Lifetime Tyre Warranty, a strong selling point.
Derek Carruthers, Global Sales & Marketing Director for Marangoni’s car tyre division, said “Communicating the Marangoni message to potential customers before they have made a decision on replacement tyres is fundamental.” He added that the company was attempting not only to build brand awareness but to also demonstrate that buying Marangoni tyres is a win/win situation for the customer in that they will receive both European quality and the peace of mind afforded by their Lifetime Tyre Warranty.
Italy’s Gigi Galli has once again driven to victory in this years’ WRC rally at the Memorial Bettega, held in conjunction with the Bologna Motor Show. The 2005 winner’s Pirelli-liveried Peugeot 307 won three of the race’s five heats. The Peugeot, riding on Pirelli’s P Zero tyres, also broke the stage record. Chris Atkinson took third place in his Pirelli fitted Subaru.
Also riding on Pirelli tyres was Toscana driver Tobia Cavallini, who also won the Trofeo WRC Italia in his Subaru Impreza WRC and another two successes came Pirelli’s way thanks to Anton Alen in the Subaru Impreza Cup and Tonino Tognana in the Historic Rally Show, driving a Lancia Rally 037.
Cheap imports of scrap zinc-based balancing weights are poor quality and contain dangerous levels of heavy metals, such as cadmium. Premium weight manufacturers told Tyres & Accessories that preliminary research shows such imports may contain 50 times the level of cadmium currently allowed in the products.
The Marangoni Group is one of the sponsors of Mittomacchina, a major exhibition dedicated to the history of car design, which is being held at Mart, the modern and contemporary art museum of Trento and Rovereto, until May 1st 2007.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition on 2 December, Mario Marangoni, president – Marangoni Group, said: “For over 50 years our Group has believed in tyres and has educated its people and developed new technologies to be able to handle every aspect and every phase of a tyre’s life cycle.”
Combine a handful of the world’s best sports cars, a dozen leading tuners and a stretch of test circuit, and you have a recipe for breaking records, as was discovered recently at the Nardo test circuit in Southern Italy.
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Five international synthetic rubber producers received fines totalling 519 million euros (£350 million, $682 million) from the European Commission after the group said they had fixed prices. The penalty is said to be the second largest fine of its kind in history. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Eni SpA, Dow Chemical Co., Unipetrol AS and Trade-Stomil were fined by the EC. Bayer AG was found guilty but was not fined because it blew the whistle on the others, according to the EC. The EC said the group fixed pricing and shared customer information on buyers of butadiene rubber and emulsion styrene butadiene rubber – used widely in tyre production – between 1996 and 2002. Italy’s Eni got the largest fine at £185 million ($357.6 million), and Shell was hit for £108 million ($211 million).
Financial analysts questioned whether the news would lead to a significant drop in synthetic rubber prices following the recent collapse of natural rubber. If so this could add to a “significant raw materials bonanza coming up in 2007 for tyre manufacturers,” according to Deustche Bank analysts.
Bridgestone was honoured with the Qualitas Award at the Fiat Suppliers’ Convention 2006. In a ceremony at the Lingotto location in Turin, Bridgestone was cited for its constant pro-activity and support in the development of tyres for Fiat Group car models. The convention is an annual event at which Fiat informs suppliers of current status and future programmes, as well as acknowledging partners who have distinguished themselves through high-quality performance during the previous year.
Teco Srl is a leading manufacturer of hand truck tyre changers, electronic wheel balancers and pneumatic platform lifts. Based in Correggio, Italy, Teco is a relatively young company, but is already well-known in its field. The company began life in 1985, albeit under a different name, and at that time specialised in the production of components for automotive equipment. However the company’s management had other ambitions. They wanted to introduce a new line of machinery to trade, a line that was completely designed and manufactured in-house.
Founded 70 years ago, the Pneuservice Group is one of the largest tyre import/export distributors in Italy. Pneuservice deals with everything from scooter to earthmover tyres, trading over 2 million tyres each year. The company currently has 150 employees, eight depots and over 260 franchisees spread out across Italy.
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