Manufacturing Archives - Page 245 of 258 - Tyrepress

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.

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Andreas Niegsch: “Our brands are our greatest asset”

It has been an eventful – some might say traumatic – year or two for the Goodyear Corporation as it struggled to integrate Dunlop within its organisation across Europe and the USA. One of the countries that has seen a great deal of change is the UK, where a number of different methods of restructuring have been tried, with varying levels of success. Recent changes affected the management at the highest level – Goodyear and Dunlop had their own MD’s, reporting to Marco Molinari, who was in overall control. When Molinari left the company, it was decided to change the management structure and responsibilities. Out went the two separate MD posts and a General Manager was brought in.

That person was Andreas Niegsch, a 39-year-old German who only joined Dunlop in 1998. One year on, the structure is in place and beginning to produce results and Andreas Niegsch found the time to give his first press interview, with T&A. Where Andreas Niegsch’s position differs from that of his predecessors is that he is responsible purely for the sales organisation at Goodyear Dunlop and the UK factories report to Goodyear Dunlop Europe. By not being responsible for manufacturing, Andreas Niegsch is free to concentrate on sales and in getting closer to the market and the customer.

The new structure has separate sales divisions for consumer, commercial, farm, earthmover, motorcycle and motorsports tyres and these are supported by functions such as HR, logistics and finance. Retail is treated as a separate profit centre and a new marketing department has been created to support all the product groups. Given enough time, things will turn around, said Andreas Niegsch, as the company has the funds and has bought itself the time to implement the necessary changes. However, whatever else changes, he believes that Goodyear Dunlop still has those two priceless assets; two brands that are worth their weight in gold.

12th December 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre industry missing opportunity

India’s outsourcing boom is likely to have little impact on the tyre industry that has huge potential. The tyre industry needs to source rubber at global prices. Availability of rubber at par with international majors like Continental, Pirelli or Yokohama would lead to development of India as a base for manufacturing, according to Anil Sampat, an industry analyst and former rubber industry insider. India’s largest player MRF is still one fifth in size of global companies. The only way the Indian tyre industry can grow and reach global scale is to attract investments from international tyre majors as the industry is capital intensive. The small size of Indian companies is a source of worry, says Sampat. With tyre industry expected to grow only by 2 per cent, “real growth can come only when India offers world class manufacturing facilities for global players,” he points out.

11th December 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Fintrade pulls out of wheel manufacture

Alloy wheel manufacturer Fintrade has taken the decision to run down and cease production of its own make alloy wheels. The company says that it cannot compete with products from emerging markets and that the closure of the factory was the only route open to avoid financial ruin. The company has announced an orderly run down of production and will be liquidating the assets of the business to service debts in order of preference. It is expected that there should be no shortfall at this point in the proceedings.

2nd December 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Names Novotny to Lead Engineering & Manufacturing

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Robert A. Novotny to the position of vice president, Global Engineering & Manufacturing Technology. In this role, Novotny will report to Joseph M. Gingo, executive vice president, Quality Systems & chief technical officer, and Chris W. Clark, senior vice president, Global Sourcing. Novotny, 48, replaces Ernest J. Rodia, who is retiring after 37 years with Goodyear. Rodia, 60, had served as the group’s vice president since February
2001.

2nd December 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Tenneco announce two Chinese deals

Tenneco Automotive announced that the company has signed a jointventure agreement with China-based Chengdu Lingchuan Mechanical Plant to establish Chongqing Walker Exhaust System Co., Ltd. The new jointventure will supply emission control products and systems to Changan Ford Co. Ltd., the joint venture between Changan Automobile Group Company and Ford Motor Company. Tenneco Automotive will have 60 per cent ownership of the joint venture expected to be formally established by the end of this year and to begin production in 2004. Tenneco also announced an agreement with Eberspacher International GmbH to establish Walker-Eberspacher Automotive Exhaust System Co., Ltd, a jointventure in China. The jointventure will manufacture and distribute emission control products and systems for BMW and Audi vehicles produced in China. The joint venture will operate just-in-time (JIT) final assembly manufacturing operations in Dalian and Changchun, China at Tenneco Automotive’s existing joint venture facilities in those cities. The jointventure will be owned 30 per cent by Tenneco Automotive directly, 25 per cent by one of Tenneco Automotive’s existing majority-owned joint ventures in China and 45 percent by Eberspacher.

25th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Disappointed With Union Stance

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, a division of Japanese tire maker Bridgestone Corp., is ready to return to the negotiating table with the United Steelworkers of America, a spokesman told Dow Jones Newswires on Monday. The company is waiting to hear from the union, which broke off contract talks last week, said spokesman Dan MacDonald. The union represents 6,000 workers at six U.S. tire manufacturing sites in Tennessee, Iowa, Ohio, Arkansas and Indiana. Bridgestone/Firestone operates two non-union factories, and a chain of Firestone retail stores.

18th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

A marriage made in heaven? (update)

A short time before the announcement of the joint venture between Michelin and Apollo Tyres, the Indian company broke off its alliance with Continental. An Apollo spokesman said that the arrangement with Conti “was only a technical tie-up. As far as we are concerned this (the jv with Michelin) is a real marriage.” Michelin paid around $28 million for a 14.9 per cent stake in Apollo and the French company owns 51 per cent of the joint venture company, which is called Michelin Apollo Tire. MAT plans to invest $70 million over the next four years in building a manufacturing plant in India.

18th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxsport Competition Tyres: Retreading the motorsport way

In today’s economic climate there are few people investing in car tyre retreading. The received wisdom is that in the UK car tyre retreading is dead or dying, and that across Europe it is seriously ill.
However, Peter Burgess, tyre trade enthusiast and entrepreneur has done just that. He has invested in a car tyre retreading plant, which for many people in the know is tantamount to confirming a kind of madness not seen since George III. However, Peter Burgess reveals that there is indeed method in his madness.

Maxsport competition tyres have been around for 15 years or so. The brand was originally owned by rally enthusiast Redmond Barry. Unhappy with paying high prices for motorsport tyres, Barry bought a few moulds and contracted an existing retreader to produce the tyres for him. Initially he had tyres made for himself and a few friends but the demand grew and the Maxsport brand developed a role in the motorsport sector. By 1993 the brand was sold to Monarch and Barry took on a role as sales consultant for Maxsport. When Monarch went into receivership Redmond Barry and Bill Madison bought the Maxsport side of the business. The next couple of years were a bit of a rollercoaster as manufacturers came and went.

In the meantime Peter Burgess had been selling Maxsport motorsport tyres through his Treble B outlets and directly to the grasstrack market. This experience with the brand and a knowledge of the market led Peter Burgess into a business relationship with Redmond Barry which resulted this year in the opening of a brand new factory dedicated to manufacturing Maxsport Competition Tyres.

17th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Sapphire and Lafarge: Offering the best solution to waste tyres?

Tyre disposal is an issue that affects everyone, not just those in the tyre business but every individual everywhere. If we don’t find a solution to tyre disposal we will have an enduring and ongoing waste tyre problem. The use of tyres as fuel in cement kilns is becoming an increasingly important option, although this route to disposal has been resisted by some local communities.

Sapphire was established with support from Lafarge and Michelin as a sustainable route of tyre supply to Lafarge, and as a ready route for the tyre industry to dispose of tyres in advance of producer responsibility. Jamie Randall, MD, says, “We do work closely with Michelin but we are keen to be seen as a an industry wide used waste tyre disposal route open to everyone.”

“The only reason tyres have a value, or rather a use, is because of the millions that Lafarge has invested in plant and equipment. If people have a dream of the gate fee disappearing then they are mistaken. Without the gate fee the operation loses much of its value and Lafarge would not be using tyres.

“We have to recognise that the funds to secure this high class disposal route are available: one way or the other every tyre changed from our cars attracts a charge at the retailer or elsewhere for its ultimate disposal.”

“It is important that the tyre industry keeps in mind that Lafarge is not in the business of processing tyres, it is in the business of making money, which it does through the manufacture of cement. In the meantime, technology and economics, if we allow the gate fee, mean that tyre use has become an important element of Lafarge’s, and others’, cement manufacturing process. That may not always be the case.”

Lafarge and Sapphire will argue that their investment requires a gate fee to ensure its ongoing profitability. The tyre sector will look at the fiscal benefits of using tyres as opposed to fossil fuels and argue that a lower gate fee at least could be accommodated. Ultimately Lafarge has the option of using tyres or other fuels. If it becomes more economical to burn sewage, for instance, then what happens to the tyres Lafarge would no longer require?

17th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Federal-Mogul Opens Technical Training Institute in Germany

Federal-Mogul Corporation has opened a training centre and three satellite learning facilities at manufacturing locations in Germany for aftermarket employees and customers.

12th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Ellerbrock fire finally extinguished

After more than 40 hours, the fire at the Ellerbrock factory in Henstedt-Ulzburg, north of Hamburg, has finally been extinguished. The manufacturing plant has been totally destroyed, with the cost of damage running to more than 10 million Euro. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

10th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

GM plans further Chinese expansion

GM is to extend its factory at Shanghai to increase capacity from 500,000 units to 760,000 by 2006. No cost has been revealed, but press estimates are around $241 million. Another GM joint venture, manufacturing light trucks, is also set to more than double capacity by 2006, to 336,000 units.

5th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear global sourcing appointment

Chris W. Clark (52) has been appointed to the newly-created post of senior vice president of global sourcing, responsible for activities from procurement to manufacturing to global sourcing. He will head a new organisation that links all of Goodyear’s global manufacturing and supply chain activities directly to improved customer service and business results. Clark joined Goodyear in 1973 and his most recent post before the current promotion was as president of the company’s Latin American region.

4th November 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

SmarTire signs contract with Korean electronics company

SmarTire has signed a contract manufacturing services agreement with Hyundai Autonet Company (HACO), a Korean automotive electronics company, whereby HACO will manufacture SmarTire’s tyre pressure monitoring systems for global sale and distribution by SmarTire. HACO is a subsidiary of the Hyundai Group.

22nd October 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear shuts down belt manufacture

Goodyear is to discontinue operations at its conveyor belt factory in Bowmanville, Ontario next April. The move, says Jim Pecorelli, director of global manufacturing for Goodyear’s Engineered Products division, is to “consolidate production to reduce our cost base and maintain an industry leading role.” The phasing out begins immediately and will eventually affect 160 associates. The Bowmanville plant has been part of Goodyear’s operations since 1910.

17th October 2003/by Tyrepress Editors