Solberg Wins Japan’s Inaugural Rally
Subaru’s Petter Solberg has won the inaugural Rally of Japan. By the end of the second leg, Solberg had built up lead of more than a minute over Citreon’s Sebastien Loeb.
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Bridgestone Firestone Tyre Recall
Product NewsBridgestone Firestone North American is recalling 25,600 of its tyres. The ‘voluntary safety’ recall follows concerns that “a small percentage” of Dueler A/T 693 tyres, size LT285/75R16, load range D, imported into the US from Japan, could suffer belt detachment.
Van den Ban Rejuvenates Flamingo
Product NewsVan den Ban has upgraded the summer tyres from its Flamingo programme by replacing the 2000 Sport and 2001 Performance patterns with three new alternatives, CD1000, CD2000 and CD3000.
The company has made a further move towards establishing greater manufacturing links with Europe, as once again a European manufacturer has produced the new tread designs. Van Den Ban explains that its latest move in adopting a new manufacturing supplier has been “established to create the initial foundation for further improved, high quality tyres offering impressive technological benefits.”
Together its VDB 2010 pattern, which is produced in Japan, and the now complete Flamingo range represent what the company describes as “a popular stable of modern tyres which offers something for all sectors of the market.” VDB can now offer a range that caters for severe winter conditions right through to the highly competitive high performance sector.
Batteries for All Applications
NewsThe Delphi Corporation is one of the world’s leading technology companies, with substantial business in the automotive and transportation industries as well as other high-technology sectors, such as telecommunications and computers. Its world headquarters are at Troy, Michigan and the corporation has regional headquarters in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. The global workforce numbers 188,000 and Delphi operates 53 customer service centres and 32 technical centres, has 167 manufacturing facilities and 42 joint ventures. Sales in 2002 were $27.4 billion (£14.8 billion)
By any standards, Delphi is a big company, so it is not surprising that its involvement in the battery business is on a large scale, with manufacturing carried out at eleven factories worldwide and a product range that covers 98 per cent of the vehicle parc. Delphi is active in both the aftermarket and in original equipment sales, where it supplies many leading manufacturers in Europe, the USA and Japan – a recent success was the winning of a contract to supply batteries worth $22 million for the Renault Megane II, Scenic II and Clio.
In Europe, battery production is at a factory in Sarreguemines, France. The plant was built in 1980 and covers 35,000 square metres on 18 hectares of land. It is certified QS 9000 and VDA (quality), OHSAS 18001 (safety) and ISO 14001 and EMAS II (environment) and production this year will top 5.4 million batteries. Worldwide, Delphi produces more than 30 million batteries.
Bridgestone First Half Results Confirm Four Pence Dividend
Product NewsBridgestone Corporation has announced its first half results showing increased sales figures almost across the board.
Carbon Black Businesses Discuss Joint Venture
Product NewsMitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. are discussing the details of a possible joint venture.
Bridgestone Resumes Rubber Rolling Ahead of Schedule
Product NewsBridgestone has resumed rubber-rolling operations at its Tochigi refining facility two months ahead of schedule. Production was suspended after the building was destroyed by fire in September 2003.
Bridgestone Profit to Rise
Product NewsBridgestone Corporation is set to make a nine per cent gain in net profit to $891.6 million (£490.3 million) by the end of this fiscal year, according to a Japanese newspaper report.
BMW Equips New 6 Series with Bridgestone Runflat Tires in Japan
Product NewsBridgestone Corporation announced that it has begun supplying Potenza RE050 runflat tires to BMW for factory installation on 6 Series models sold in Japan.
Minekazu Fujimura named Chairman, CEO and President of BSEU
Career TracksAs from April 2004, Minekazu Fujimura has taken up the position of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Bridgestone Europe (BSEU).
Toyo and Michelin Conclude A Licensing Agreement for PAX
Product NewsToyo and Michelin signed a licensing agreement, under which Michelin will license its PAX System technology to Toyo. With the new agreement, Toyo obtains rights to produce and market run-flat systems for passenger cars and light trucks based on PAX System, both for auto makers and the replacement tire market in Japan.
ALPS Develops Batteryless TPMS
Product NewsJapan-based ALPS Electric has completed development of a batteryless tyre pressure monitoring system and plans to commence mass production this year. The system has been developed in collaboration with the world’s leading tyre and valve manufacturers and will be on display at the ALPS Show, to be held at the New Takanawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo for three days, beginning 26th May.
Keegan joins SRI board
Product NewsRobert J. Keegan, chairman and chief executive officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, has been elected to the board of directors of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. in Kobe, Japan. Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber Industries have six joint venture businesses in North America, Europe and Japan. In addition, each company holds common stock in the other.
Bridgestone Corporation Reports Sales and Earnings for Fiscal 2003
Product NewsThe group recorded a 96 per cent increase in net income in 2003, to ¥88.7 billion (0.8 billion US dollars), on a 2 per cent increase in net sales, to 21.5 billion US dollars. Operating income was basically unchanged, at 1.7 billion US dollars, and ordinary income rose 13 per cent 1.6 billion US dollars. Net return on shareholders’ equity was 10.5 per cent, compared with 5.6 per cent in the previous year. Contrasting geographical trends characterized the operating environment. In Japan, economic recovery was weak. In the latter half of the year the weakening of the dollar affected Japanese exports adversely. Escalating costs for natural rubber and other raw materials undercut profitability in all principal markets throughout the year. Sales of tyres increased 2 per cent to 17.2 billion US dollars. However, operating income in the tyre segment declined 4 per cent to 1.4 billion US dollars. Sales in Europe rose 20 per cent to 2.7 billion US dollars, and operating income climbed 87 per cent to 0.14 billion US dollars, reflecting success in focusing sales on high-value products and the results of a financial restructuring in the previous year.
Bridgestone expects special profit
Product NewsBridgestone Corp. said yesterday it expects a group special profit of around 60.0 billion yen (445 million euro) related to plans to return 65.0 billion yen in pension assets to the government in 2005. The Japanese tyre maker said that on a parent basis it expects a special profit of around 60.0 billion yen. Since the move is planned for 2005, the size of the special profit it will book may change, the company said. Many companies in Japan have opted to return the state-financed portion of employee pension plans they managed on behalf of the government.
