Whether its raw materials, machinery, research and development or the latest manufacturing trends, this tag provides up-to-the-minute insights into the upstream part of the tyre industry.
Responsibility for Michelin communications in the UK and Ireland now rests in the hands of Phil Baldock. The 19-year company veteran has been appointed to the role of head of Communications at Michelin Tyre plc following the retirement of Peter Snelling, who has held this position for the past six years. Baldock, 51, is based at Michelin’s UK head office in Stoke-on-Trent and reports to managing director Eric Le Corre.
In response to growing demand for Continental and General Tire brand passenger car and van tyres in Northern and South America, Continental Tire the Americas (CTA) has announced plans to invest US$224 million increasing capacity at its Mt. Vernon, Illinois factory. Following the recent signing of various contracts by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, details of the investment were unveiled at a press conference at the plant on May 12; a key announcement was the creation of 444 new full-time positions over the coming four years.
Much sentiment about Chinese manufactured tyres emanating from the US in recent years has had a negative tone to it; from quality concerns to accusations of dumping, Chinese product has not always been welcomed with open arms. Yet it is unfair to tar all Chinese manufacturers with the same brush, and the Retread Tire Association is currently trying to get the message across that Chinese truck tyres can be a suitable alternative.
Last year saw an upturn in global tyre markets following the slump of 2008 and 2009, and in presenting the 2010 annual report for Turkish tyre maker Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Tire Manufacturing and Trading, chairperson Güler Sabanci said “Brisa reacted to this positive turn as efficiently as it reacted to the sudden deterioration that was previously caused by the harsh effects of the global financial turmoil; and managed the increase of demand in a brilliant fashion.”
Apollo Tyres Ltd has approved the company’s audited financial results for the fourth quarter (January to March) and the financial year 2010 – 2011. Consolidated annual revenues, taking into account manufacturing bases in India, South Africa and the Netherlands, grew 9 per cent to reach net sales of 88.6 billion rupees (£1.205 billion; 1.386 billion euros; US$1.983 billion). Net profit fell to 4.4 billion rupees from 6.5 billion rupees the previous year.
A new low-cost ‘fit and forget’ ceramic coating offering surface temperature reductions of 125°C has been developed by coatings specialist Zircotec for diesel engine applications. The coating features a new ceramic formulation and this, together with changes to the manufacturing process, has enabled the company to reduce costs for the new Performance Diesel product – the first Zircotec application specifically developed for commercial vehicle manufacturers – by fifty per cent. Zircotec believes the coating will prove an attractive option for truck and bus manufacturers challenged by the higher temperatures experienced with new Euro VI emissions regulations and testing methods set to be introduced in late 2013.
One of the UK’s most prominent tyre suppliers for specialist application tyres, Speke’s Kirkby Tyres continues to supply Alliance, Double Coin and BKT ranges to the UK. The distributor’s product managers for the Indian Alliance and BKT brands – Ilan Goldstone and Dave Richardson respectively – told Tyres & Accessories that the brands’ continued growth in range coverage is being matched by the manufacturer’s focus on quality. Goldstone commented: “Alliance’s portfolio of tyres continues to grow not only in the industrial sector but across the whole of its product range. As a company they have identified and focused their efforts in producing some of the best performing tyres within their market sectors which has been aided by the construction of their new Indian manufacturing and R&D facility.” Richardson added that the BKT range is also expanding, with research and development “always at the forefront… On a recent trip to their factories in India it was clear to see as every batch of materials gets tested for quality every step of the way.”
2011 promises to be an exciting year for one of Europe’s major suppliers of specialist and industrial tyres the Starco Group, according to Group marketing manager Brian Lorentzen. Since the onset of the recession at the end of 2008, Lorentzen says Starco’s strategy has been to trim its organisation – “both to weather the financial storm and to prepare the company for the future. It is natural that we have focused on reducing operating costs throughout the group; by reducing unnecessary stock levels and by cutting expenditure on those activities which do not relate to our core business.” All this, of course needed to be achieved “without reducing the company’s ability to innovate and operate, and without impacting the customer satisfaction on which our current and future business depends,” as Lorentzen acknowledges.
A new range of type approved catalytic convertors, or CATs for short, has been released by Klarius Group company Klarius Emission Control. The Manchester based company reports the newly-released range is its most extensive ever and says product quality confidence is such that it is offering the range with a lifetime warranty – a move it believes to be a first for the aftermarket. The range includes CATs to fit several thousand vehicles, and Klarius international business development director Paul Hannah describes its key attractiveness to the market as being a combination of good design, competitive price, guaranteed quality and excellent availability.
A further US$200 million is being invested in Michelin North America’s factory in Lexington, South Carolina in order to accommodate growing regional demand for passenger tyres. Work on expanding capacity at the Lexington site will begin immediately and equipment for this latest project, which adds to the more than $1 billion invested in the site since its establishment in 1981, will be installed by the first half of 2013. Michelin North America reports that 270 new jobs will be created at the Lexington factory and phased in over the coming two years.
Michelin has announced the appointment of Brian Porteous, 43, who is the company’s new technical product marketing manager with a remit that includes the company’s truck, bus and coach products within the UK and Ireland. He replaces Paul Kendrick, who is retiring after 43 years with the company. Porteous will be based at Michelin’s UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent and will report to Martin Covington, head of Truck and Earthmover Marketing.
Bridgestone is reporting and surprising insights into what people really look for when it comes to choosing their commercial vehicle tyres gleaned from the thousands of visitors at this year’s CV Show. The Bridgestone stand, which incorporated the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP bike, also offered visitors the chance to win two hospitality tickets to the British MotoGP in exchange for a crucial piece of information – what is the single most important factor in your choice of tyre supplier?
To underline the company’s emphasis on road safety and the environment, Apollo Vredestein has unveiled a state-of-the-art laser tread depth measuring station at its Enschede site in the Netherlands. The addition of this new unit, says the tyre maker, will make visitors more aware of the importance of having the correct tread depth in terms of both their safety and the environment. The station was built in accordance with Apollo Vredestein’s ISO 14001 environmental certification, as was the tyre pressure station installed by the company in 2008.
UK wheel alignment specialist Supertracker has announced the relocation of its headquarters from Sholing in Southampton to nearby Hedge End. The company said increased demand for its increasing product range was the main reason for the change of locations for its entire manufacturing, sales and administration operations. The new address is new and custom built, which will enable further expansion, according to managing director Trevor Lovesy: “Since our launch twenty three years ago, Supertracker has always maintained a policy of continuous improvement in both products and services through natural evolution and ongoing customer demands. Therefore moving to our new office and manufacturing complex – which gives us easier motorway access and interior layout possibilities – is the latest development in this process.”
Taiwan’s Federal Tyre has announced that its latest Couragia F/X asymmetrical tyre for high performance LSUV vehicles will officially be offered at Neta Tyre Service & Sales at the beginning of May 2011. Neta has been a family-owned and operated business in Queensland for over 40 years. Henry Lin, director of Federal’s Global Sales Division said, “We are proud to have the Couragia F/X sold in Neta stores… Federal strives to develop new tyres within the top-end of the touring category by continuing to drive quality and product improvements through the manufacturing and administrative processes.”
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