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Topy Lays Off 45 at US Steel Wheel Factory

Kentucky, US based newspaper The State Journal reports that Topy America has laid of 45 hourly employees from its Franklin County steel wheel production facility. These redundancies represent approximately 16 per cent of the subsidiary’s Kentucky factory workforce. The company’s other US operations have not been affected.

According to plant director Tom Trzazkus, the layoffs were necessary “due to the current economic conditions and the slowing of sales within the automotive industry.” In addition to the redundancies, a raft of other changes were made “to ensure the continuation of this business in the short term,” a press release sent to the newspaper by Trzazkus said.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis On the Look Out For Industrial Tyre Distributors

Following the launch of its new skid steer tyres last year, Maxxis International UK is reportedly keen to appoint additional distributors to help develop business opportunities in a number of heavy industry sectors. Both the M9000 MT Loader, which is designed for use on heavyweight forklift trucks, and the M8000 Tuff-Guard – developed for use in extra heavy duty applications such as excavation – are designed to deliver superior traction and long life thanks to “extra strong casings, stronger sidewalls and specially formulated rubber compounds.”

The Maxxis M9000 MT Loader features extra-thick sidewalls, which offer improved puncture resistance while the tread compound is designed to enhance durability, helping to prevent down time and increase productivity. There is also a special rim guard for better tyre and wheel protection. It is available in a range of sizes from 10-16.5 8 PR to 15-19.5 12 PR.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

2009 Bridgestone e-reporter Open for Entries

Now entering its sixth year, the Bridgestone e-reporter competition provides a seldom-encountered opportunity for aspiring young journalists to showcase their talent and launch a career in their chosen profession. The competition is, as in previous years, open to European students aged between 18 and 30 who are in full-time education. The overall winner of the 2009 competition, chosen for his or her journalistic skills and ability to represent the Bridgestone brand, will be awarded with a laptop, plus further work experience.

13th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Soopa Toobs Aiming to Fill the Information Gap

Soopa Toobs, founded in May 1983 and based at its original home in Colliers End, near Ware in Hertfordshire, has restated its desire to “fill the information gap” it perceieves in the agricultural tyre market. The company holds a large range of stock, including tyres from American market leader Carlisle and European stalwart Trelle¬borg, alongside brands such as Bridgestone, Goodyear and Dunlop. In addition, Soopa Toobs says that it stocks the largest range of high-quality inner tubes for implements, tractors, ATVs and more. It is the UK’s exclusive dealer in Carlisle inner tubes, featuring many unusual size fitments.

With this range, Soopa Toobs believes it is well-placed to offer the right tyres for the many specialised jobs taken on by farmers, estate managers, landscapers and groundsmen. The broad range of specialist vehicles and implements at these people’s disposal – enabling them to carry out their work more quickly and more efficiently – are, especially in the current tough economic times, required to perform to the highest possible specification, meaning that these machines’ special wheels require not only an equally varied range of specialist tyres and inner tubes, but also the ability to select the right tool for the job. While a range of factors naturally affect the purchasing decision, the specialist advice Soopa Toobs is able to offer allows the user to choose wisely, rather than solely on the initial purchase price. Utility Vehicles (UTVs) use different tyres to All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and the correct choice of tyre is often as important as the original choice of machine. Soopa Toobs remembers that not too long ago the main choice for pulling anything along was between a tractor and a Land Rover, but the reality of today’s higher technology agricultural market means that a greater awareness of the requirements of vehicles like the John Deere Gator and the Kawasaki Mule is necessary.

12th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Courts Agricultural Market

Maxxis says that it is “among the top three manufacturers of quality tyres for the amenity market,” and with its wide variety of ATV, 4×4 and high speed trailer tyres, the company is confident that it can meet a variety of applications within the agricultural sector. “The agricultural sector accounts for a large proportion of our ATV tyre sales,” states Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.

As an OE supplier to many major ATV manufacturers, including Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris and Suzuki, Maxxis ATV tyres are acknowledged for all-round performance across a wide range of applications.

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Expect “Very Bad” 4Q Figures from Michelin

Financial analysts have cut their 2008 operating income estimate for Michelin from 1.15 billion to 1.05 billion (-37 per cent compared with 2007). Deutsche Bank’s reduced estimate comes off the back of sharp falls in tyre demand in mature markets.

According to the analysts, mature markets (such as Europe and North America) represent 70 per cent of Michelin’s volumes. “We estimate tyre demand fell sharply in the fourth quarter (-15 per cent) both in OE and in replacement – in passenger as well as truck markets. We believe this weak demand, coupled with a destocking effect, led to a high 25 per cent production cut in the fourth quarter,” the analysts commented, explaining that the magnitude of this volume drop is not sustainable:

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Hoping Unions ‘See Merit’ in PTL Proposal

Apollo Tyres, the sole recipient of products manufactured by PTL Enterprises, has expressed its hope that unions will work with management to save the jobs of more than 1,000 employees at the company’s Kalamassery factory. A list of 12 items management consider inherent for the survival of the factory were on the agenda at a January 7 meeting convened by the Kerala state labour minister, Mr P K Gurudasan. Of these 12 items, reports Apollo Tyres, unions agreed to consider only three. The remainder, they said, would be discussed only after the lockout is lifted. This has, says Apollo, left management “completely disheartened”, as it says previous lockouts have also taken this route without resolution to a single pending request taking place. All 12 items, says the Indian manufacturer, relate to better manufacturing practices and the need to expand and modernise for higher efficiencies. Company management has also appealed to the Kerala State Government to play a positive role, which it says will result in better industrial standards, more employment and even higher Government revenues.

9th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Tyre Firms Announce Layoffs

The US tyre industry announced over 100 job losses today in both the manufacturing and retail segments. News reports suggest that Titan is to cut 80 jobs from its Freeport, Illinois plant in addition to taking on a six-weeks-on/two-weeks-off schedule, while Les Schwab Tire Centers’ distribution centre in Prineville, Oregon is set to shed 27 employees.

“There’s certainly a level of tentativeness about what the future holds in the short-term,” USW Local 745 President Steve Vanderheyden told Rockford’s WIFR-TV. “There’s been less construction companies willing to buy large mining rigs for example that would have our tires on them.”

6th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lower Exports May Lead to Further Solideal Job Losses

Plans are reportedly underway to eliminate jobs at Solideal’s Sri Lanka and China factories in response to declining exports. The manufacturer of industrial tyres recently laid off around 1,100 workers, however company founder and president Philippe Daneels indicated that a five per cent contraction in global exports is anticipated in 2009 and thus further redundancies may take place. Before the initial downsizing measures began Solideal had 8,100 employees at its production facilities.

5th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Shredder Goes in Administration

Dunkeswell-based Tom Dunn Limited and its associated companies have reportedly gone into administration. According to the Midweek Herald, the firm, which shredded and baled used tyres for recycling has gone under at the cost of around 30 jobs. The newspaper says Tim Ball and Rod Weston, of international accountants Mazars, have been appointed joint administrators and say they are actively seeking a buyer for the business.

17th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sevalco’s Bristol Carbon Black Plant to Close

Columbian Chemicals is to close its Sevalco carbon black facility in Avonmouth, Bristol, with the loss of some 88 jobs anticipated. The company says that the demand for carbon black has reduced significantly in recent months, and the decision to close the factory came only a day after it was announced that manufacturing activity in the UK had shrunk at a record pace during the last month.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

US Government Likely to Support Automaker Rescue

Outgoing president George Bush’s administration has reportedly reached a tentative agreement with democratic leaders to help carmakers GM and Chrysler stay afloat. The announcement follows the news that 533,000 jobs were lost in November and president-elect Obama’s announcement of the US’s biggest infrastructure investment since the US highway system in the 1950s. Obama has not to put a full cost on his plan advisers estimate it will be over $700 billion (£477 billion) and could even top to $1 trillion.

Deutsche Bank analysts suggested the LTFVUSA Act (Long term Financial Viability of US Automakers) would be comprised of two rounds of financing: “Short term bridge financing that would carry the automakers through 31 March and longer term funding that would be predicated on the plans for long term viability, which will be assessed by an auto industry financial viability advisor.” The effect the latest plans will have on declining OE tyre orders is far from clear.

8th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Bandag Announces Redundancies

An announcement made by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) on December 3 signals the end of the line for its Oncor Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS) plant in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition, redundancies are being made at other US sites. Approximately 60 jobs will be lost in total; Bridgestone says the closure and redundancies are occurring in response to reduced demand for its truck tyres and retreads, as well as an alignment of operations under the Bandag name.

5th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Lay Off more than 150 in US

At least 10 salaried employees and 148 hourly workers at Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire’s LaVergne, Tennessee facility will be laid-off from 21 December. This round of festive season redundancies will shrink the workforce at the passenger car, light truck and truck and bus tyre factory by almost 10 per cent.

2nd December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Cuts 147 Western New York Jobs

Goodyear Dunlop has cut 147 jobs from its Western New York plant, according to American new sources. The cuts have been prompted by slowing tyre sales, with the company matching the slowdown with a cut in production for auto and commercial tyres. The Buffalo News states that motorcycle tyre production continues as normal, while United Steelworkers of America reported that 52 workers took buyouts, with another 95 laid off on 1 December.

2nd December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors