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.
(Akron/Tire Review) Formal negotiations between the United Steeelworkers (USW) and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for a new master contract have opened, and already it appears negotiations will be difficult. Both sides exchanged their basic contract proposals this past weekend in Cincinnati, with the USW finding the tyremaker’s proposal “unacceptable.” Talks are scheduled to open 13 June.
Michelin staff from China, South America and of course France have held memorial services in honour of Edouard Michelin. The staff independently organised and held the services in order to pay their respects to Michelin who died in a boating accident two weeks ago. At the same time workers at Michelin’s Homburg truck tyre plant have used their anniversary celebrations to rename the site “Platz Eduoard Michelin.”
Michel Rollier’s repeated assertions that he will remain the one and only Michelin managing partner, for the time being, have led to the first signs of unrest amongst staff at Clermont Ferrand. At the same time there are reports that René Zingraf, who only retired a few weeks ago, will not reverse this decision. Instead he will continue to advise the company from time to time. As a result staff fear that there will be a fundamental change in leadership style. But on the other hand, what other option is available to Rollier at the present time? Answering the leadership question in any other way than he is at the moment would only lead to continued unrest and a barrage of questions from journalists, analysts and business partners.
During a Challenge Bibendum press conference in Paris on Saturday 10 June, Michel Rollier stressed that he is Michelin’s only managing partner at the moment and there are no current plans to name a second “gérant.” The executive board will remain as it is, news sources quoted Rollier as saying.
Hankook Tire is stepping up efforts to defend its position in the Chinese tyre market by investing in a new local R&D centre, extending production facilities and expanding its sales network. The company announced detailed plans for China its Jiaxing plant on 29 May.
Hankook Tire recently completed the expansion of its production facilities in Jiaxing, enhancing annual capacity to 2.5 million units. As the main production base for the company in China, the Jiaxing plant will undergo further expansion work in the latter half of this year. Once completed by the end of 2006, Hankook Tire will secure total production capacity of 28 million units per year from its Jiaxing and Jiangsu plants in China.
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin Retread Technologies has introduced the Michelin XDA Hypersipe tread stock, which it claims is the “first self-regenerating retread.” As the tread wears, Michelin North America said, sipes molded into the bottom of the tread appear “giving improved worn traction over the life of the retread.”
Think you’re up to scratch with your tyre history? Here’s your chance to prove it. Tyres & Accessories wanted to share its cheery anniversary mood with our loyal readers and so has teamed up with Blaupunkt to give away two of the satellite navigation manufacturer’s latest Travel Pilot Lucca portable satnav units. So if you want to get your hands on one of these two gizmos, then answer the six simple questions (one question for each decade Tyres & Acccessories has been in print) in the subscribers area. For more details on the Travelpilot Lucca search “Lucca” in the quickfinder at www.tyrepress.com.
Competition entries must be received before the closing date of 31 July.
The new Michelin X One XDN 2 Grip is the first tyre with a tread design and architecture that incorporates all three elements of “Michelin Durable Technologies” —an array of technological solutions developed by Michelin that includes patented Double Wave sipes, Raindrop sipes and InfiniCoil technology. Available in 495/45 R 22.5, the Michelin X One XDN 2 Grip is a wide single tyre designed to replace twins on the truck’s drive axle.
Consumers buying four Michelin car, 4×4 or van tyres in a single transaction between 1 June and 31 July can claim up to £50 worth of free Sainsbury’s fuel vouchers. Michelin’s tyres already offer drivers excellent value for money due to their long life and low rolling resistance and with this offer they now cut the cost of motoring even further.
During a discussion with Clermont-Ferrand’s mayor, Michelin managing partner Michel Rollier underlined that the world headquarters of the group would remain in Clermont-Ferand. “That is the case today and will be the case in the future,” French radio stations quote Rollier as saying.
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) plans to implement price increases on all of its brands and lines in the coming months. The increases, ranging from 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent, cover replacement tyres sold in Canada and the US. MNA will boost prices on its Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, associate and private brand replacement passenger and light truck/SUV tyres in the US by up to 5 per cent as of 1 August.
Inverness-shire-based Ferguson Transport has become one of the first operators in the UK to fit Michelin’s new XDN2 Grip tyres, which are said to offer increased traction in the wet and on hard packed snow and icy surfaces. Located at Spean Bridge, close to Fort William, Ferguson Transport operates a fleet of 40 tractor units and 100 trailers, and has fitted the new Michelin XDN2 Grip tyres on the drive axle of one of its 460 hp Volvo FH12 6×2 tractor units.
(Akron/Tire Review) News reports say that Pirelli SpA may throw its hat back into the Formula One tyre ring. According to Autosport magazine, Paul Hemery, head of Pirelli’s motorsport programme, said the company was considering all of its options after FIA began accepting bids for tyre suppliers for the 2008 season.
Tributes have been paid from politicians and industry figures following the tragic death last Friday of Edouard Michelin, Managing Partner of the Michelin group. Mr. Michelin (42) drowned in a boating accident off the Brittany Coast during a fishing trip. He is survived by his wife and their six children. The Michelin company was founded in 1889 by Edouard Michelin’s great grandfather and Mr. Michelin joined the family firm in 1985, after training as an engineer at the Ecole Centrale de Paris. He took over as head of the company in 1999, succeeding his father Francois.
Michelin and Barrington Wind Energy Ltd. of Halifax, Nova Scotia are set to announce a contract for the supply of power, produced by wind turbines, for the tyre manufacturer’s three tyre plants in Nova Scotia. Michelin will be Barrington’s main customer for the proposed $25 million project, with eight to 10 turbines to be built on public and private land near Canso and operating in 2008.
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