Michelin Archives - Page 256 of 321 - Tyrepress

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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Michelin and Pirelli Rank Highest in US JD Power Survey

Michelin has come top in JD Power’s latest OE tyre satisfaction survey in the SUV-sized vehicle-based tyre segments, with Pirelli winning in the mass-market segment. The “2006 Original Equipment Tire Satisfaction Study” was based on five performance factors: appearance, handling, ride, traction and wearability. The study found that tyre wearability continues to be the most important factor in overall OE tyre satisfaction. “In general, tyre manufacturers will see the largest return on investment if they are able to improve in the wearability factor,” said Carolyn McBeth, director of automotive component research for JD Power and Associates.

Click more for the full results.

14th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Sapphire Makes Safety a Priority

Sapphire Energy Recovery has recently appointed a dedicated health and safety officer to strengthen their service team. Andy Jones has been appointed as Environment, Health, Safety and Co-ordinator and will oversee operations at all of Sapphire’s seven tyre processing facilities.

Announcing the appointment, Sapphire’s managing director, Tim Stott said: “As part both the Lafarge group and Michelin, we place a great emphasis on the health and safety of all our employees as well as visitors, drivers and contractors on our sites.”

13th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Wins London Central Contract

Michelin has won a tyre contract with London Central, a division of the Go-Ahead Group, which operates 600 buses in south east and central London from depots in Bexleyheath, Camberwell, New Cross and Peckham. The contract sees London Central switch to a three year ‘pence per mile’ contract, similar to the agreement Michelin already has with London General, a separate division of the Go-Ahead Group, comprising a fleet of 700 vehicles in south west and central London.

13th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Considering Russia Factory

Japan Bridgestone Corp is considering building a new tyre factory in Russia, where car production is up almost 10 per cent in the first half of 2006. Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported that Bridgestone has reserved a 10 hectare plot of land near the new Nissan factory in St. Petersburg, which could cost the Japanese company around $30 million.

11th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

It Would be Pirelli’s Downfall

Marco Tronchetti Provera may be an extremely qualified financial manager, but with regards to major financial transactions his timing has most definitely been off. A few years ago Pirelli bought a major share of Telecom Italia at a premium price that could be seen only a few months later. However it is easy to see with hindsight and no-one could have predicted the events of 9/11 and its implications on the world’s stock markets.

Just a few short weeks ago another financial transaction failed. Provera’s plan to generate 1 billion euros through a sell-off of parts of Pirelli’s tyre business was ill-fated from the beginning. This time the window of opportunity closed too fast. Competitors were forced to issue earnings warnings and overnight stock holdings in tyre companies were no longer considered ”sexy.”

11th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Keeping Greens Green

Moving fresh vegetables from the field to the supermarket shelf in just 12 hours makes for a very tight schedule and requires a totally reliable logistics system. Deliveries are at risk from the weather, road conditions and transport breakdowns; to minimise part of these risks, the biggest greens grower in Europe relies exclusively on Michelin tyres.

Marshalls of Butterwick grows many varieties of cabbages, cauliflowers and organic vegetables on its 6,200 acres of fenland soil to supply the major supermarkets in the UK. Marshalls also grows crops in Cornwall, Spain and Italy to deliver fresh vegetables all year round to British shoppers. It is this complexity that adds further pressure to the reliability requirements of the transport of these perishable foodstuffs.

8th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Kovalainen and Fisichella to Drive for Renault in 2007

Finland’s Heikki Kovalainen (24) will race for Formula One champions Renault in 2007 while Flavio Briatore has signed up as team boss for two more years. Kovalainen will partner Italian Giancarlo Fisichella after world champion Fernando Alonso moves to McLaren.

7th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Hyosung to Buy Goodyear Tyre Cord Plants

Korean company Hyosung Corp. is to take over four tyre cord plants from Goodyear Tire & Rubber for an undisclosed price, although various sources are quoting a figure of $80 million. Hyosung will acquire 100 per cent of Goodyear subsidiary Utica, plus it will assume control of the tyre manufacturer’s cord factory at Decatur. The other two factories are sited in Luxembourg and Brazil. In addition to the acquisitions, Hyosung has struck a deal – reportedly worth $3.2 billion – to supply Goodyear with tyre cord.

7th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Natural Rubber Prices Continue to Fall

The price of natural rubber fell by five per cent earlier this week, to $1.80/kg. Analysts at the Deutsche Bank say that this brings the price close to the level in January this year ($1.75/kg) and is a 35 per cent drop from the peak price last June of $2.80/kg.

7th September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Safe Lifting With Michelin Jacks

Motorists who work on their own vehicles at home often want to lift the car to remove a wheel or even carry out an underbody examination, perhaps of the exhaust system. The emergency jack provided with the car is designed specifically just to enable a wheel change, lifting the vehicle at the correct point by the minimum amount required only to change a flat tyre. So having a robust small trolley jack at home is a useful aid to safe lifting for more extensive work.

1st September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Far From Frozen

With less than 1 per cent of the total UK market, no-one is saying the cold weather segment is huge, but speaking to influential market representatives reveals that the last couple of years have seen the industry make renewed efforts to raise awareness, emphasising both the safety benefits and profitability that cold weather tyres offer. Some manufacturers are even expecting the segment to total 3 million units “in the medium to long term.” Tyres & Accessories spoke to the leading cold weather players and asked what progress they have made and what’s happening next?

In short the answer is growth. Many of the manufacturers surveyed by T&A said 2005 was a good year for cold-weather sales, while all were positive about their performance this year. T&A estimates, based on Europool figures suggest that almost 54,000 non-truck winter tyres were sold in the UK last year, up almost 15 per cent on 2004.

1st September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Renault Business Finance Signs With Kwik-Fit Fleet

Kwik-Fit Fleet has won a rolling tyre repair and replacement contract with Renault Business Finance, which operates a fleet of over 11,000 vehicles. The contract, which went live on 1 August was won from a so-far unnamed rival supplier. The new arrangement will mean that Kwik-Fit Fleet, together with the Renault Dealer Network, will be the principal supplier of tyre services to Renault Business Finance. Michelin and Continental will be the primary tyre manufacturer suppliers under the terms of the new arrangement.

1st September 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Improved Natural Rubber Prices Could Ease Manufacturing

If the current raw material price trend continues, it could help improve margins at tyre manufacturers. Natural rubber, which accounts for about a quarter of tyre raw material costs, is down over 20 per cent from the all-time high it hit earlier this year.

31st August 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Dundee to Receive Multi-million Pound Investment

Tyres & Accessories has learnt that Michelin is planning to investment a double-digit million pound figure in its Baldovie, Dundee production facility. Yesterday the manufacturer announced the Dundee factory is to keep annual production at 6.5 million units, but plans to lay off almost 10 per cent of its workforce.

Michelin’s Baldovie production plant produces Michelin, BFGoodrich and Kleber passenger car tyres exclusively in the 13 – 15-inch range.

31st August 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Expansion for Michelin Nova Scotia Plant

A Canadian union leader has said that expansion plans for a Michelin plant on Canada’s east coast expose “the company’s long-term strategy to rid itself of unionised plants.” Michelin is to expand its non-unionised factory in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, with a provincial contribution of between $3 million and $8 million, a government source told the Canadian press. Dozens of jobs will be created according to reports.

29th August 2006/by Tyrepress Editors