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Apollo also Considering Germany as Site for New European Factory

In mid-November the joint managing director and COO of Apollo Tyres, Neeraj Kanwar, reported that “we are looking at project feasibility in the Eastern Europe region in terms of cost of manufacturing and approach to market.” A local media report from northeast Germany, published a week later, indicates that Eastern Europe is not the only location under consideration.

News coming from the state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania reveals that the Indian tyremaker has engaged the services of high-profile German corporate consultancy Kienbaum to seek information from the regional authorities in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, requesting they send information on the province, information that will form the basis of a feasibility study about establishing a manufacturing facility there. It also appears likely that a delegation from Apollo Tyres will visit northern Germany some time in the “near future.”

27th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg TM800 Line Now “D-Rated”

Trelleborg Wheel system’s Research & Development department has announced that its TM800 line is now D rated, allowing the agricultural tyres to be driven at speeds of up to 65km/h. In addition the TM800 range is said to offers increased productivity compared with its main competitors, resulting in “consistent savings for agricultural professionals.”

According to the company, ploughing tests show that, under the same conditions and using the same size, Trelleborg tyres proved to reduce slippage and working time per hectare compared with unnamed “main competitors.” After a week of tests in medium-high severity conditions, the TM800 (in 650/65R38 – the most popular size in the segment) fitted to a 165 horsepower tractor with three ploughshare reported: up to 4.2 per cent more traction fuel consumption. According to the company this factor alone, at an average working cost per hour of 50 euros and a fuel cost of 0.85 euros per litre, saved between up to 120 euros compared with other leading brands.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Cutting 20 Jobs at Upgrade Plant

(Akron/Tire Review) A mere ten days after the announcement that Michelin North America planned to spend $4.2 million upgrading its Pictou County, Nova Scotia plant, the company is eliminating 20 positions from this Canadian facility. Sheri Somerville, spokeswoman for the tyremaker, said the jobs in the company’s group services section are disappearing as part of an effort to improve plant efficiency.

“The positions are gone but we are working to find new positions for the workers,” she said. “Some of the people are eligible for retirement. We are trying to figure out what will work best for each individual.” Group services are provided to all the plants, not just those in which they are located.

22nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Meeting the Demands of Today’s Tyre Business

Tyre technicians throughout the UK are benefiting from a training scheme aimed at improving industry standards, and the first group of delegates have now successfully completed their courses. The awards scheme, run by Bridgestone UK, recognises excellence in tyre servicing and care, together with professional customer service delivery. The scheme offers three different levels of achievement for both car and truck categories – gold, silver and bronze – which are attained by completing a set number of training courses.

Bronze award achievers are required to pass four modules in either car or truck tyre training. They cover subjects such as health and safety, customer care, tyre knowledge and roadside breakdown assistance. Courses at this level are held at training locations across the UK. Upon passing each module, technicians are awarded a Bridgestone certificate of achievement, and when all four modules are completed, they receive the bronze award, which is recognised by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). They also become eligible for IMI membership. The more advanced silver and gold awards cover tyre technology, specialist tyre care and management skills. Some of these courses are held at Bridgestone’s European Education Centre in Rome.

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Trims Labour Cost/Sales Ratio in 2007

Michelin is on track to improve its labour cost/sales ratio by 2 per cent annually, claim analysts. A report from Deutsche Bank shows that the group employs approximately 73,000 people in what are considered high labour cost countries; in 2007 natural attrition causes such as retirement saw 4,000 people from these countries leave Michelin. On top of this figure a plant closure in France saw 800 jobs cut; restructuring in Italy led to 200 redundancies; in Japan 500 jobs disappeared due to restructuring; and a thousand left the company in Spain as the result of ‘accelerated pre-retirements.’ Overall, 6,500 workers – 9 per cent of the workforce in high labour cost countries – left the Michelin group in 2007, a number Deutsche Bank calls “impressive.” The bank adds that, even if some of these workers are replaced – and less than half are expected to be replaced at a much lower wage rate – the Michelin group will be on track to meet the aforementioned labour cost/sales ratio improvement and to improve group productivity by 20 per cent by 2010.

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NETE Takes the Exhaustion out of Custom Exhausts

North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts recently announced its intention to make further inroads into the retail market, and steps towards this goal have been made through a number of investments, including upgrading of its outlets and the construction of a ninth premises in Harrogate/Knaresborough, which is nearing completion. Now the Middlesbrough based business has invested into the exhaust side of its operations in North Yorkshire with the addition of a piece of equipment that is proving a drawcard for the region’s car enthusiasts.

The company’s Brotton outlet has become the recipient of a specialist exhaust-bending machine that allows NETE to produce any style of exhaust for any type of car. The machine, which cost in excess of £20,000, utilises the latest in exhaust customising technology to come from the US and, reports the manager of NETE’s Brotton outlet, Tony Darcy, it is attracting a wide variety of drivers from right across the region.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Cut Some, Upgrade Other Operations at Stoke Facility

The Michelin factory at Stoke on Trent is to cease its calendaring operations, and investment in the plant over the next few years will be directed towards retreading operations. According to a Michelin spokeswoman, the production of calendered steelcord, which currently supplies the company’s factory in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, will end in March 2008. Approximately 40 jobs will be lost as a result; Michelin is seeking voluntary redundancies, and will attempt to place those who wish to remain with the tyremaker in other suitable roles. The remaining 1,300 jobs at the Stoke on Trent factory are secure, added Michelin, and the Ballymena plant will be supplied from other Michelin facilities.

The Stoke site seems likely, however, to benefit from an upgrade to its Remix retreading operations. Michelin reports that plans are afoot to invest in a “multi-million” pound programme that will provide the technology required to retread tyres incorporating Michelin Durable Technologies. Research into the proposal will be carried out next year and implementation of the upgrade will begin in 2009, with a 5-year timeframe slated for its completion.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Officially Opens New Manufacturing Facility

November 7 marks the official grand opening of the first tyre manufacturing facility outside of Japan to utilise Bridgestone’s “BIRD” technology. National, state and regional officials from the Republic of Mexico will join representatives from Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire and Bridgestone Neumáticos de Monterrey (BSMR) at the company’s new plant in Monterrey, in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, to commemorate the occasion.

With a production capacity of about 8,000 tyres a day, the Monterrey plant has generated more than US$200 million in investment to date. As previously mentioned, the facility employs Bridgestone’s new BIRD tyre production system, which stands for “Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development.” According to Bridgestone, BIRD is the world’s first production system for tyres that completely automates all stages of tyre manufacturing, from the initial processing of materials to final inspection of the finished product. Additionally, the manufacturer reports that the BIRD system allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs because of its capacity to make several different types and sizes of tyre simultaneously.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Over 100,000 Vehicles on Goodyear FleetOnlineSolutions Contracts

FleetOnlineSolutions, Goodyear’s internet-based truck and bus fleet tyre management system, has hit a significant milestone for the company. The system, which provides fleets with consistent high quality service and agreed pricing across Europe, now has more than 100,000 vehicles on contract – a ten-fold increase in just two years. The business has grown from just 10,000 vehicles in early 2005 to a sector now worth approaching 25 million euros, covering 23 countries and with 280 fleets on contract.

FleetOnlineSolutions integrates with Goodyear’s main computer systems. It works via the internet linking Goodyear, the customer and the service providers. Customers with FleetOnlineSolutions (FOS) contracts have all their vehicle data and contract details on the system. Goodyear TruckForce service providers, whether they are the fleets’ regular workshop or in another country providing roadside assistance, can access the FOS website. This provides information in their own language and enables them to carry out all necessary work, create invoices and update the system.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Elects to End Tyre Production at Tyler Plant

On October 30 Goodyear announced its intention to end tyre production at its Tyler facility in the US state of Texas, ending months of speculation over the plant’s fate upon expiry of the one-year stay of execution granted by the signing of the United Steelworkers’ three-year master contract in December 2006.

Goodyear announced that production will end in January, the exact date falling some time in the first fortnight of the year. The end of tyre production will be accompanied by the loss of more than 600 of the plant’s 740 hourly jobs, the company added.

The tyremaker issued the USW a Worker Adjustment Relocation Notice (WARN) Act notification on the afternoon of October 30. By law a company must issue a WARN Act notification 60 days prior to beginning redundancies that will affect more than one-third of the workforce.

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Reports ‘All-Time Record’ Q3 Sales

Titan International reports that its third quarter sales reached an all-time record figure of US$195.5 million, an increase of 25.2 per cent over the previous year’s third quarter result. This strong result has contributed towards record year to date sales of $632.1 million, a 23 per cent increase on the nine-month figures for 2006. Gross profit was $18.3 million for the third quarter, a 7 per cent increase over the $17.1 million obtained in the third quarter of 2006.

“The agricultural market for wheels and tyres is finally starting to show the growth we’ve been waiting for since 2006,” said Titan chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “The orders for wheels and tyres are as strong as we’ve seen since 2004, and we believe it could continue to grow not only through 2008, but also into 2009 and beyond.

“The OTR mining tyre business remains strong. Since Titan announced the decision to build super giant 57- and 63-inch tyres, almost every mining company in the top 30 has made plant visits to Titan and found that we will be able to supply them with both wheels and tyres for all equipment they use in open-pit or underground mining. This should add tremendous volume going forward for Titan.

30th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Closure Deadline Looms

(Akron/Tire Review – Tyler Morning Telegraph) By Thursday November 1, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. employees at the Tyler plant may know more about what the company plans to do with the facility – and their jobs – at the start of the New Year. Then again, they may not know a whole lot more than they do now. In December 2006, the United Steelworkers ratified a three-year master contract with Goodyear that stipulated the company would keep the Tyler plant open at least one year. The next month, Goodyear, in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, indicated it might close the plant in the first three months of 2008. Companies must file a Form 8-K to announce major events of which their shareholders should be aware.

29th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Receives Local Help to Remain Competitive in US

Local government is giving the Continental Teves brake facility in the US state of North Carolina a helping hand in order to help it remain competitive. On October 19 Henderson County agreed to give Conti $32,150 next year – an amount equalling 80 per cent of the company’s annual property tax – and up to that amount for each of the following four years, and the Town of Fletcher will give the manufacturer exactly half this amount.

Continental sought economic incentives to help secure new contracts, in particular with Daimler and Chrysler to manufacture brake callipers for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Durango and Dakota and the Mercedes M Class vehicles. The funding will enable the Teves plant to create 35 new jobs. “We in the automotive industry are competing on a worldwide basis,” said plant manager Bobby Nelon. “It’s absolutely necessary we come together as a community and industry so the Town of Fletcher and county of Henderson can continue to prosper.”

22nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pro-Align Launches Mobile Aligner

Pro-Align has launched a mobile version of its popular Hunter DSP600 alignment system – the DSP600CM. Upon making is debut at the Mechanex show in Sandown, company representatives remarked that the Hunter DSP600CM imaging system offers “the same benefits as its ‘fixed column’ cousin, but with the added flexibility of being mobile between adjacent alignment lifts.”

The CM has the main camera column fixed to the side of the alignment console, this allows the technician to simply move the whole unit between adjacent alignment lifts. It is then located in position using with small floor plates.

19th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Business Loan Scheme Extended

The Michelin Development business loan scheme operated by the tyremaker in Dundee has proven so popular it is spreading into neighbouring areas. The Scotsman newspaper reports that the scheme, which has provided companies in Dundee with more than half a million pounds of funding and created 275 local jobs, will soon be extended to surrounding businesses and towns.

Simon Goring, Michelin business development manager, told the paper “we have decided to take this step after receiving inquires from firms outwith the Dundee area. As a result, we will be casting a wider net, although firms in Dundee are still welcome to come forward for funding.”

18th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors