Michelin Archives - Page 268 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 to Leave Formula One After 2006

Michelin is to end its Formula One involvement after the 2006 season, the French manufacturer has reported. Explaining its decision, Michelin said it would not supply a single supplier Formula 1 series and was not happy with F1’s new direction, but did not rule out rejoining the series, if the rules were modified.

For many motorsport observers this is a somewhat understated way of describing the rift that has emerged between the manufacturer and the sport’s governing bodies. The manufacturer also complained of “constant changes to racing regulations without warning.” Following a disastrous US Grand Prix, and public disagreements with the FIA chief, Max Mosely, Michelin have obvious decided to leave the Formula 1 circus to the only other act on the scene – Bridgestone.

14th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Product Flexibility

In 2005 Michelin, Europe’s leading agricultural tyre supplier, focused its efforts on promoting its Xeobib and CargoXbib product lines. At the same time the global manufacturer launched the Exelagri dealer scheme as a way of strengthening its relationship with dealers on local and regional levels.

14th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

ASA Announces TireMax Link to BibTread System

(Akron/Tire Review) ASA Tire Systems is now offering a new interface to Michelin’s BibTread system, which will reportedly allow independent tyre dealers to transfer retread information electronically from the Michelin BibTread software to ASA’s TireMax accounting and point of sale software.

14th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Campbell-Ewald Gets Bigger Michelin Slice

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) said it has consolidated its online communications with its other advertising and marketing communications, awarding all of that business to Campbell-Ewald. The agency has had MNA’s passenger tyre advertising account since 2001.

13th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Sell Agri Tyres in Mexico

(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America (MNA) said that it will begin selling its Michelin and BFGoodrich branded agricultural tyres in Mexico as of 1 January, 2006. The tyres will be available through a “network of select dealers” in Mexico. MNA will offer radial Michelin brand tyres, and “value priced” BFGoodrich units.

9th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

CGS Promotes Semperit Brand

At the end of 2005 CGS Tyres launched its new SuperVolumeTyre (SVT) – an innovation designed to serve demanding machinery, according to the company. But it didn’t stop there. At the same time CGS launched the Semperit agricultural brand, effectively re-branding its Uniroyal line, while also releasing its 2006/2007 databook.

9th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Reduce Costs by Targeted Retiree Replacement

(Akron/Tire Review) Groupe Michelin Managing General Partner Edouard Michelin, on a visit to the US, said the company will pursue cost reduction gains by replacing only a portion of workers who will retire in the next few years. This includes Michelin operations in the U.S. and Europe. AFX News reported that Michelin, who visited his company’s North American operations, said: “There is no magic formula” for the reductions, and that decisions on whether to replace certain retiring workers would be made on a case-by-case basis.

8th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Sales Volume Dips

Michelin’s 2005 sales volume growth will be negative for only the second time in 10 years, Deutsche Bank analysts have reported. However, despite this seemingly negative news, the management is said to be aiming for “at least stable” operating profit margins, compared with 2004 (8.7 per cent).

7th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Plans South Carolina OTR Expansion

Michelin is planning to expand a Lexington County, South Carolina plant that makes large earthmover tyres, the associated has press reported. With reference to the current earthmover tyre shortage, Michelin said the company is investing in a South Carolina facility “west of Columbia.” He said capacity will be added there but did not discuss the size of an expansion nor a definitive timetable.

6th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Going After Counterfeiters

(Akron/Tire Review) Groupe Michelin has gone on the attack against alleged counterfeit tyres, calling on the European Union Trade Commission to take action against a flood of counterfeit medium truck tyres, units the manufacturer said could pose highway dangers.

5th December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

What Do You Think About Price Increases?

Tyres & Accessories recently asked its diverse readership – comprising of manufacturers, wholesalers – retailers and everyone in-between, what they thought about the recent spate of price increases. For their part the manufacturers claim rocketing raw material prices have forced them into a corner, with regard to end-product price increases. However wholesalers and distributors are likely to feel that these increases are an attack on their margins, which can only be remedied by passing the cost onto the consumer, therefore making retail more difficult.

T&A asked readers: Are price increases a necessary evil, or just the result of prudent financial planning on the part of the manufacturing business? 60 per cent of those that responded put price increases down to the nature of supply and demand, while the remaining 40 per cent said manufacturers had more ‘business orientated’ motives.

2nd December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Aims to Gain Market Share In Finland

Goodyear is aiming to increase its market share in Finland by achieving a 10 per cent sales growth target. According to Deutsche Bank analysts the manufacturer aims to do this by focusing on distribution and becoming the second or third strongest player in the country (behind Michelin and Continental), compared with its current number four position.

1st December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Hold-Off Price Rises in Europe

Michelin does not envisage raising prices in Europe at the moment, despite price increases in North America and Japan. “Our philosophy has not changed, we reflect the rise in the prices of the raw materials in our selling prices,” Reuters quoted one Michelin spokesperson as saying. Michelin’s last price increase in Europe was a year ago.

1st December 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Reinventing the Truck Tyre

French manufacturer Michelin claims to have reinvented the truck tyre. And following development after development over the years, this is no mean feat. According to the manufacturer, Michelin’s new Durable Technologies will offer improved mileage, payload and load capacity including gains of up to 50 per cent compared to “more traditional solutions.”

This enormous improvement is said to be down to two technological families – redesigned tread patterns including patented new siping techniques and improved tyre architecture design using Infinicoil technologt.
Michelin has labelled the tread side of its development “Tread Regeneration Experience” or “TRE-X.” This is based on two patented developments in siping technology. “Raindrop” sipes, are intended to produce a self-regenerating tread design and therefore long lasting grip throughout the whole life of the tyre, while “Double Wave” sipes, offer a three-dimensional interlocking design, making tread blocks more rigid. Michelin claims this second type of siping optimises mileage whilst retaining excellent grip.

The next development is said to be an innovation in tyre construction. Michelin have called this Infinicoil technology so apart from using a single wound piece of tyre cord, therefore avoided overlaps, this means the company is able to develop new tyre dimensions.

The Michelin XDN 2 GRIP, the presented at the new technology’s launch, is the first tyre to use “Michelin Durable Technologies” regenerating tread design. According to the manufacturer, these innovations will offer major benefits for the road transport industry, whilst considerably reducing the environmental impact of tyres by lengthening tyre life.

Michelin is not only integrating these innovations into the design of its truck tyres, but is take significant steps to introduce the new products to the trucking industry. The Michelin Group says it is going to invest 400 million euros over five years in order to do this.

Longer ‘TRE-X’

Michelin’s “Raindrop” sipes are so-called because raindrop shaped cylindrical channels are drilled through the centre of each tread block. When the tread is two-thirds worn, the channels gradually open to create new sipes, which are said to deliver excellent grip in challenging weather conditions right until the tyre is retreaded. In order to ensure continued long tread life, Michelin Remix will also incorporate the new tread technologies.

In comparison to its predecessor, the XDN GRIP, Michelin says the new XDN 2 GRIP equipped with Raindrop sipes offers 25 per cent more mileage. But there are also advantages for grip. When the tread is two-thirds worn, it Michelin engineers claim the tyre still offers 15 per cent more grip on snow and ice. According to the company, the effect is even more pronounced in the wet when the emergence of the Raindrop sipes means that the tyre could deliver 30 per cent more grip.

Michelin’s patented new double wave sipes utilise a three-dimensional interlocking desing. By working both horizontally and vertically, the manufacturer claims double locking sipes offer more grip and longer life than traditional tread patterns.

On entering the contact patch, the double wave sipes reportedly maintain their “clawing” effect at the edge of the contact patch thanks to the presence of many ridges. Inside the contact patch the three-dimensional structure limits tread block movement, maintaining optimal rigidity to reduce wear and increase mileage.

30th November 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Make $80 Million Investment in Plants

(Akron/Tire Review) As was first reported by Tire Review, Michelin North America (MNA) plans to invest $80 million over the next six years to upgrade equipment and increase capacity at its semi-finished rubber production facilities in Sandy Springs and Starr, South Carolina.

30th November 2005/by Tyrepress Editors