Tyre industry pioneers, Michelin has a long history. Having begun in 1889, Michelin is now the second-largest tyre manufacturer in the world after Bridgestone and larger than both Goodyear and Contineantal.
Michelin Group has named Felicia Sanders the next chief human resources officer of Michelin North America. She succeeds David Stafford, who will retire in December, and will be responsible for all employee-facing functions in the United States and Canada region.
Australian tyre wholesaler National Tyre & Wheel Limited (NTAW) has signed the necessary paperwork for its acquisition of Black Rubber Pty Ltd and Black Rubber Sydney Pty Limited. The transaction, which took place yesterday and is valued at AU$26.3 million (£14.5 million), brings Black Rubber’s import and retreading businesses into the NTAW fold.
Following the news that Michelin reported third-quarter 2022 group sales of 6,012 million euros, financial analysts responded by describing the company’s results as “strong”. Michelin’s third-quarter sales figure is both up 8.7 per cent year-on-year and 3.6 per cent above the consensus of analyst expectations (5,801 million euros).
The SimatLab public-private research laboratory, created in 2017 by the Michelin Group and the Clermont-Ferrand Chemical institute (ICCF), is renewing its works on modelling future materials for another four years. Furthermore, the laboratory is speeding up its development by integrating new partners and widening its areas of research to the medical and hydrogen fields.
Michelin has introduced a new 540/80 R38 size in its CrossGrip tyre range for loaders, telehandlers and small tractors. The new model is the largest size in this all-season range, which is suitable for applications on road, grass and snow. The new CrossGrip fitment expands the range to 13 dimensions for original equipment and replacement fitment.
Year-on-year comparisons of financial performance tell us arguably more about global events than an individual company’s economic trajectory at the moment. Thus, it came as no surprise a few months back when Michelin reported much healthier first-half results compared with pandemic-riddled 2020. Similarly, eyebrows aren’t raised now when the company notes the impact of rising materials, shipping and energy costs as well as a shortage of semiconductors and labour shortages upon its performance in Q3 2021.
TyreSafe has calculated that UK motorists waste more than £600 million worth of fuel due to tyre underinflation. Using data from Michelin’s Fill Up With Air survey showing that 57 per cent of vehicles are driven on underinflated tyres, as well as information sourced from the Department for Transport and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, TyreSafe is tying the economic argument for ensuring tyres are correctly inflated alongside safety concerns for this year’s Tyre Safety Month. Referring both to the general awareness of tyres as a vital safety component and rhetorically to question why drivers would not check their tyres at least once a month, his year’s October campaign asks Britain’s motorists directly: “What’s Stopping You?”
Michelin’s successful entry for the Tyre Industry Environment and Sustainable Solution Award 2021 “stood head and shoulders above the rest in terms of corporate ambition, vision and practical commercial initiatives across the whole field of tyre recycling, materials reuse and wider environmental campaigns,” according to the judging panel, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay commented. The tyre manufacturer’s entry for the award highlighted its aim to create greater value at all stages within the circular economy.
Michelin has expressed a wish to branch out “beyond the tyre” for a number of years. To this end, the company reports that after four years of technical and industrial development, its ResiCare subsidiary has found an initial commercial outlet for its high-performance responsible adhesive.
The National Tyre Distributors Association has presented a bumper crop of awards during its 92nd Annual Dinner in Birmingham. In the headline awards, Merityre was made the Overall Tyre Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Pirelli Tyres, Bridgestone took first place in Tyre Manufacturer of the Year, sponsored by The Commercial Vehicle Show, while Stapleton’s Tyre Services became 2021’s Tyre Wholesaler of the Year, sponsored by Compilator / Team Systems. Tyrepress reported the announcement of the award winners, in addition to the day’s Tyre Industry Conference, live via Twitter.
Michelin has appointed Andrew French as B2B sales director for the UK and Ireland, with responsibility for truck and bus, van, agriculture, construction, mining and the Services and Solutions business lines. He takes on the role with immediate effect, just weeks after celebrating his 25th anniversary with the company – having joined Michelin as an apprentice in August 1996.
Florent Menegaux and Yves Chapot will remain at the helm at Michelin for a further four years. The Société Auxiliaire de Gestion (SAGES), under the chairmanship of Vincent Montagne and in its capacity as a non-managing general partner of the Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin (CGEM), has decided to renew the mandates of Menegaux as a Managing General Partner and of Chapot as a General Manager.
Following an evaluation process based upon five criteria, Michelin has acknowledged nine of its best suppliers at the fifth edition of its Supplier Awards. The firms were evaluated for Sustainability, Innovation, Quality, Risk Management and Support provided during the crisis.
The prototype Uptis airless tyre fitted to the Mini Electric at this month’s IAA Mobility 2021 was “unanimously approved,” says Michelin. This lofty claim is hard to verify, however, the French firm does provide some evidence in a short video featuring automotive influencer Mr JWW and enigmatic car enthusiast Gercollector.
Michelin has chosen utility firm Engie to optimise energy consumption at its Cataroux site in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and hence strongly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to managing utilities such as steam, heating, chilled water and compressed air, the ten-year contract provides for the design and operation of new energy facilities and the installation of a waste heat recovery system.
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