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.
ATS Euromaster is urging fleet managers to prepare their drivers for winter by placing orders for cold weather tyres before the end of July to ensure stock availability and delivery before the winter season sets in.
The retailer’s interest coincides with the UK tyre industry’s recent commitment to create a cold weather tyre market in the UK, as opposed to a winter tyre market.
Fernando Alonso snatched victory from McLaren’s Kimi Raikonnen on the last lap of the European Grand Prix. The Renault driver was able to extend his championship lead to 32 points after the Finnish driver crashed out due to the suspension failure caused by the flatspotting of his front right tyre.
Williams’ Nick Heidfeld and Ferrari’s Rubens Barichello joined Alonso on the podium, followed by the Red Bull of David Coulthard, the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher, Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella and McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya. Jarno Trulli filled the last point scoring postion.
(Akron/Tire Review) Two Michelin North America (MNA) facilities recently received honors for their safety records. Michelin Americas Research and Development Corp., based in Greenville, S.C., and MNA’s Michelin Retread Technologies Inc. (MRTI) tread pressing plant in Covington, Ga., received the Michelin Achievement in Safety Award for 2004.
According to Groupe Michelin, its Michelin Achievement in Safety Award recognises company facilities that “show continued and outstanding improvement in safety for the year.” In addition to the MNA facilities being honored, Groupe Michelin also presented awards to facilities in France, Thailand, Mexico, France, Romania, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Brazil and Nigeria.
Executives at Michelin’s AGM have reiterated their target of achieving at least the same operating profit margin in 2005 as they did in 2004, despite lower volumes in the first half of this year. At the same time the company appointed Michel Rollier as new managing partner.
Ralf Schumacher has been given a half-second penalty after a mix-up with his car’s free practice tyres for the Monaco Grand Prix. Stewards discovered Schumacher had used a left front tyre on his Toyota that had not been officially allocated to him during the session.
Supplier Michelin blamed human error for the mistake and Schumacher will now have to add a half-second to his aggregate qualifying time as a penalty. It’s the second time in three races that Schumacher has been penalised. He lost a point at the San Marino Grand Prix after being given a 25 second penalty for a pit-lane offence.
Nearly a thousand industry professionals attended an open house and trade fair held here at the world headquarters of Brahler Industries on 5 and 6 May. The open house featured a tour of the new Innovative Tread Replacement (ITR) facility, which is said to be the most advanced retreading facility in North America. Visitors had an opportunity to meet with representatives of Brahler’s Truckers Supply, Gaither Tool Company and Brahler’s Industrial Retreading, all operating companies of Brahler Industries. The trade fair offered visitors a chance to meet with top representatives of key suppliers such as Continental General Tire, Yokohama Tire, Michelin Ag Tire, Tech International, Marangoni Tread, Mid-West Truckers Association and others.
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Rival teams have blamed Ferrari’s poor start to the Formula One season on its Bridgestone tyres. Speaking in a press conference prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, Michelin supplied drivers including Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard, Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella and McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen all pointed to inferior Japanese rubber as the reason for Ferrari’s struggles.
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America’s launch of its PAX System run-flat tyres on Honda Odyssey minivans last year earned it the Silver Award for outstanding achievement in a new product launch from the Automotive Public Relations Council.
The nationwide media PAX/Honda launch reached more than 30 million Americans via television, radio, newspaper, magazine and Internet reports, according to Michelin, as well as live driving demonstrations in New York, Detroit and Los Angeles.
Kwik-Fit Fleet corporate accounts director Nigel Davies was one of a group of 15 cyclists who took part in the 180-mile ride from Brussels to Rotterdam in May, raising more than £6,000 in aid of a specialist palliative care centre in West Sussex.
(Akron/Tire Review – courtesy of China Daily) Manufacturing in the dozen countries sharing the euro declined for the first time in almost two years in April, adding to signs that record oil prices are dampening economic growth.
An index based on a survey of about 3,000 purchasing managers compiled by NTC Research Ltd. for Reuters Group Plc fell to 49.2 from 50.4 in March, according to figures available on the Internet yesterday. Economists forecast a decline to 49.8, the median of 35 forecasts in a Bloomberg survey showed. The index hadn’t dropped below 50 since August 2003, something that is indicative of contraction.
(Akron/Tire Review) Wherever the market for new truck tyres decides it is headed, the retreading industry is hot on its heels.
Of course, that job is a bit easier for Bridgestone/Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin, because they are involved in both. But even their allocation of time and money must be measured carefully. For companies like Bandag Inc. and Oliver Rubber Co. – despite its connection with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. – the task is a bit more daunting. But they, too, are highly skilled at knowing what to do and when.
(Akron/Tire Review) Four more tyre companies jumped on the price hike bandwagon yesterday, following up on increases announced recently by Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, Michelin North America, Pirelli Tire North America and Continental Tire North America.
Carlos Ghosn, former chief operating officer of Michelin North America, has been appointed as chief executive of Renault. The well-known executive, also known as “the cost killer,” is a celebrity in Japan due to the radical turnaround he led at Nissan.
Following its acquisition by British private equity firm, CVC Capital Partners, Kwik-Fit has put itself up for sale in a move that could raise as much as £800 million. CVC is reported to have sent information on the company to “a string of prospective buyers.” Although the names of the these companies have not been officially released, Reuters speculated that the list would include all the leading buyout firms including Cinven, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, BC Partners, Permira and J P Morgan Partners. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
When the new Airbus A380 finally took off yesterday it caused quite stir, with media reports beaming the event all over the world. But what you might not have noticed when the world’s largest passenger aircraft made its maiden voyage yesterday it did so on Michelin tyres. The new aeroplane uses 22 wheels and, of course, all of those will require tyres from either Michelin or alternative tyre supplier, Bridgestone. The wheels and brakes were developed by Honeywell and Dunlop Aerospace in a cooperation that saw Honeywell take the lead.
According to Michelin, each the tyres is designed to operate at a lift-off speed of 378 km/h carrying 33 tonnes. The new tyre’s special lightweight construction reduces the A380’s total weight by 360 kilograms, compared with conventional tyres.
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