F1 No Closer in 2007 – Trulli
Formula One driver Jarno Trulli believes that racing will not become any closer in 2007 despite all the teams using the same tyres.
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.
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And Finally….Italy’s Homeless Have Their Own ‘Michelin Guide’
Product News(Akron/Tire Review – Reuters) It looks like a guidebook, with its glossy pages, fold-out maps, and tips on where to eat and sleep in Rome. The only difference is that its readers are homeless. The new edition of what its authors have dubbed a “Michelin Guide for the Poor” was presented on Jan. 10 as promoters warned that the ranks of the have-nots in Italy’s capital were growing.
Michelin Announces Price Rise
Product NewsMichelin has stated that it will increase the price of its European market motorcycle tyres.
Increases will range between 2 and 4 per cent, depending on the segment and country, and will come into effect during the first half of 2007.
Michelin Shows Off eTire II
Product NewsFive years after the debut of its original eTire Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Michelin has begun to show off its eTire II second-generation sensor equipment. This new eTire system incorporates technology devised by UK company Transense Technologies, who granted Honeywell a licence to develop their TPMS design on behalf of the French tyre maker.
ATS Euromaster Launches National Run-Flat Fitting and Repair Service
Product NewsATS Euromaster is to equip each of its 507 centres across the UK with new technology to enable it to service and carry out minor repairs to the latest generation of run-flat technology tyres. The announcement contrasts with official advice given by the BRMA (now BTMA) and TIC a little over a year ago. Neither body recommended the practice. A technical representative of one leading manufacturer even went as far as saying it is “not prudent” to repair these products.
2007 to be a Good Year for Transense Technologies
Product NewsWriting in the Guardian Newspaper, financial analyst, Katie Allen, suggested that TMPS company Transense could have another successful year in 2007. The group, which develops tyre pressure monitoring technology, improved by only 15.75p to 91.75p over last year but it is said to enter the year “with a strong order book.” It has recently struck deals with the American automotive company Lear Corporation and with Michelin in the US, meaning that the world’s biggest tyre company will be using Transense’s pressure monitoring systems for its lorry tyres. “Now that it is commercialising years of technology development the company could take off in 2007,” said Allen.
Michelin Gets Major U.S. Military Deal
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin Aircraft Tire Co. has been awarded a 10-year, $700 million-plus contract to supply tires to the U.S. military. Michelin officials said it was the company’s single largest contract ever.
Under the Defense Department Tire Privatization Initiative, Michelin will handle the wholesale supply, storage and distribution for all aircraft tires used by the U.S. military.
Michelin Voted Top in Customer Satisfaction
Product NewsAccording to a Japanese survey, Michelin ranks number one when it comes to customer satisfaction with the tyres their new compact, passenger and 4×4 vehicles come fitted with. Customer satisfaction research specialists J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducted a study measuring customer satisfaction with the OE tyres on four segments of new vehicle, checking how well they fared in terms of appearance, handling/traction, ride/quietness and durability/reliability.
Parker Hannifin Supplies Nitrogen to BMW Team
Product NewsParker Hannifin has supplied its TyreSaver nitrogen generator technology to Nexa Racing, the Formula BMW UK Champions. According to the company, the TyreSaver units are enabling the team to fill their tyres with nitrogen efficiently within particularly demanding timescales, significantly improving their control over their performance on the race track. The Nexa team entered the Formula BMW UK Championship in 2005, going on to win the competition last year.
Rio Tinto to Auction 120 EM Tyres
Product NewsRio Tinto, the large Australian mining company, has announced that it will be holding an online auction of heavy earthmoving tyres through DoveBid, Inc. The sale features over 120 radial and cross-ply tyres in both new and used condition, from major manufacturers – Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin. Assets are located in USA, UK and Australia. The sale will be held on 23 January 2007, commencing online at 9:00 (AEDT), and closing on 24 January at 17:00 (AEDT). DoveBid, Inc. is a global provider of capital asset management and valuation services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA, DoveBid has associates in 37 offices and 20 countries.
Michelin Challenge Vehicles Displayed at Detroit Show
Product NewsConcept vehicles designed as part of Michelin’s 2007 ‘Michelin Challenge Design’ initiative are being put on display at this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit between January 7 and 21.
The theme for the 2007 challenge was to come up with new and innovative ways to improve vehicle safety and make the road a safer place. More than 250 people in 51 countries rose to the challenge of designing a safer vehicle.
A panel of leading vehicle designers, educators and safety experts met to consider the merits of each entry. The best submissions have been worked up into two- and three-dimensional concepts for display at NAIAS.
Michelin Scores Highly in Reputability Survey
Product NewsForbes magazine has ranked Michelin as the world’s fifth most reputable company. The American business magazine has published the results of a survey conducted by the New York based consulting firm Reputation Institute. Thirty thousand people worldwide were interviewed as part of the survey, with each company being assessed by participants from the company’s home country.
Of the 600 companies from 25 countries included in the survey, Michelin received a score of 83.79 out of a possible 100, coming in behind Barilla Holding (87.79), Lego (86.58), Lufthansa (84.09) and IKEA (84.09). The next major tyremaker to appear on the list was Bridgestone Corporation, ranked at number 56
Michelin Honoured in China
Product NewsFrench tyremaker Michelin received several prestigious accolades in the important Chinese market during the closing months of 2006. Most significant of these was from Auto Magazine, claimed to be China’s leading automotive publication and possessing a monthly circulation of 150,000 copies, who voted Michelin as their Brand of the Year for 2006.
On top of this, Michelin’s Onway campaign received the South Urban News’ – a general interest magazine with a print run of 800,000 copies – Annual Marketing and Innovation Award in a ceremony described as being the “Oscars of the automotive industry.” Furthermore, the campaign received a runners-up prize in the Chinese Effie awards for effective advertising campaigns.
Airless Humvee Tyre Under Development
Product NewsThe Pentagon has invested US$11 million towards the development of a tyre that will withstand damage from bullets or shrapnel. The US military body is supplying funds to Resilient Technologies, who is in the process of developing a tyre filled with compressed polymers as opposed to compressed air.
While this is not an entirely new concept, the company’s chief technology officer, Ali Manesh, believes that Resilient Technologies have developed ways to overcome the difficulties commonly associated with airless tyres. He claims that the tension of the polymer plastic provides strength, allowing the tyres to function as an air-filled tyre would, while the problem of heat build up during operation is not a problem for Resilient’s tyre.
Michelin to Lease New Facility
Product NewsInternational distribution facilities provider ProLogis has agreed to acquire a 32-hectare piece of land from Michelin. On this 32-hectare site in Poitiers, France, ProLogis will build a 32,000 square metre (344,000 square foot) facility for Michelin, which will then lease the property as a distribution centre under a long-term agreement. Michelin’s facility will be part of a new 139,000 square metre industrial park owned by ProLogis and said to be valued at approximately US$132 million (£67 million).
