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.
Spalding-based RP Worth & Son, which farms close to 1,000 acres of wheat and potatoes, has unlocked a major improvement in tyre performance after acting on the recommendations of its local Michelin account manager. Ian Whitwell visited the customer to provide tyre advice for the farm’s Fendt 722, which was operating on an old set of narrow duals – and not delivering the performance farmer John Palmer needed.
On 23 March tyres worth £15,000 were solen from Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent distribution centre. Police have released CCTV footage of three alleged thieves, including a clip that shows a white Iveco 7.5 tonne truck and three average build men.
After years of expansion amongst the top 20 UK tyre retailers, the latest data shows that this trend peaked in 2017/2018 when the top 20 accounted for 2014 branches. The same 20 tyre retailers had 1980 branches between them in 2018/2019. And what’s more, the reorganisation of one retailer alone accounted for a 40-centre decline in branch count, with the overall figure remaining positive due to growth at other chains. Here Tyres & Accessories analyses the branch count data in the context of 10 years of comparable research.
Bahraini national airline Gulf Air has announced its selection of Michelin to equip every aircraft type within its fleet with tyres. Michelin’s supply to Gulf Air includes fitment on its new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Airbus 320neo and Airbus 321neo planes.
Michelin is partnering with the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Infrastructure Development on a pilot project to pave roads with a ‘rubber asphalt’ produced from a mixture of concrete and rubber recycled from end of life tyres. The Ministry announced yesterday that a two-month trial of the new mixture will begin next week.
A giant new warehouse complex built by Michelin in the USA is now operational and capable of supplying tyres to up to three thousand regional customers. The Michelin Woodruff U70 distribution centre is, at 3 million square feet, the Michelin Group’s largest distribution centre.
Stanley Travel is one of the first coach and bus companies in the UK to trial the Michelin Wheel Security and Tyre Pressure Management System, and it considers its fitment an added reassurance against the risk of wheel loss.
Michelin Group reports a 9.3 per cent increase in sales (at constant exchange rates) to 5.8 billion euros in the first quarter of 2018, a result it says was achieved “in difficult markets.” The company also notes that these sales “reflect the major contribution” of its recent acquisitions, Camso and Fenner.
Michelin has introduced a new all-terrain motorcycle tyre. It’s called the Tracker, and with the tyre Michelin is targeting riders who take part in amateur competition as well as those who ride for leisure on a broad spectrum of terrains. The tyre maker says the tread pattern, grip and resilience of the Michelin Tracker make it “perfectly suited to riding on sand, mud and dirt.” The Tracker is also approved for road use.
Following a rigorous selection process, Michelin Air X radial aircraft tyres have been chosen for All Nippon Airways’ new Airbus A380 fleet.
Soltyre has gained Michelin’s agricultural seal of approval for its new Airdrie dealership, marking a major achievement for the tyre specialist with all three branches now members of the pan-European Michelin Exelagri network.
DB Distribution has adopted a full Michelin policy across its 15-strong light commercial vehicle fleet after it was won over by improved tyre life and reduced downtime during a trial.
Michelin Auto Professional (MAP) UK dealers have been told improving the overall experience of their customers is more important than ever, in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Business owners and senior managers from 16 independent dealer groups attended the annual MAP conference in Chichester, for a briefing on a new package of benefits being rolled out to members of Michelin’s advocate dealer programme.
Stocks of the new Michelin Anakee Adventure arrived in the UK in January. Designed for 80 per cent road use and 20 per cent track/trail use, the Anakee Adventure sits in Michelin’s trail bike portfolio between the Road 5 Trail, which is designed for 100 per cent road use, and the 50 per cent on-/50 per cent off-road Anakee Wild.
At an investor day held at the Michelin Group’s Almeria Test Center in Spain, managing general partner Florent Menegaux announced the launch of a new share buyback plan. Michelin is setting aside up to 500 million euros for this purpose between 2019 and 2023.
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