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MTNA Boosts Production at Madison Plant by 25%

Marangoni Tread North America has increased Ringtread production at its Madison, Tennessee Alpha-Ring manufacturing plant by 25 per cent. The company reports this greater production will accommodate both domestic and global growth. Specifically, 14 per cent more Ring moulds have been installed at the Madison facility in order to handle North American market growth and provide better service to the North American Ringtread dealer network. On top of this, the Madison plant is now shipping Ringtreads to other global markets, and further expansion is scheduled for next year.

23rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal Releases Raptor Rubber Track Brand

Solideal International has released a new line of rubber tracks under the Raptor brand name. Raptor rubber tracks have been developed in 33 different sizes to fit the most popular mini excavator machines and are reportedly intended to offer “good value for money for price sensitive customers.” Raptor brand will be available in North America as well as in many European countries including: the Baltics, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, UK, Romania and Serbia. Solideal has been manufacturing premium rubber tracks since 1991. The group employs over 9000 people in 20 countries.

23rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Morgan Stanley ‘Double Downgrades’ Michelin

Financial analysts at Morgan Stanley have downgraded Michelin stock to “underweight” and predicted Michelin will make a profit warning when it announces its first half 2008 results on 30 July. “We are double-downgrading Michelin…This year’s sharp rise in raw material costs may be the immediate source of pressure on earnings, but we think the bigger risk going forward is slowing OE and replacement demand,” the analysts explained. Describing the premium tyre manufacturers’ pricing discipline as “remarkable,” the bank predicted pre-tax (EBIT) profit margins would still fall to 7.3 per cent, near the company’s historical average, in 2008.

Explaining the reason for their rating downgrade, the Morgan Stanley analysts suggested Michelin’s truck and speciality tyre segment strengths could be weakness in a tough market for vehicle makers: “With 50 per cent of [Michelin’s] revenues coming from truck and speciality tyres, Michelin’s fortunes are tied to the industrial cycle more than any other tyre company we cover globally.” In addition, according to the report, around 30 per cent of revenue and 20 per cent of Michelin’s profits are said to be generated in North America where recent tyre demand has been particularly weak.

22nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Names Logica as Applications Service Partner

UK based IT and business services company Logica has been selected as Michelin’s applications services partner for its Finance and Purchase Reporting Group, Supply Chain Management, Marketing and Sales (Customer Relationship Management) and Demand to Cash operations across Europe and North America. The three-year contract, which has the further option of being renewed for an additional three years, includes consulting services and systems implementation.

According to Logica, the partnership will – in addition to improving cost and quality performance – deliver enhanced operating efficiency and more responsive, flexible information systems. The contract, reports Logica, will draw upon its ‘blended delivery’ model, through which the optimal IT resources from Logica’s worldwide service centres will be allocated.

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone North America Divisions Donate to US Flood Relief

Since June the US state of Iowa has experienced its worst flooding in 15 years, with rivers throughout the state bursting their banks. To assist affected communities, Firestone Agricultural Tire, itself based in Des Moines, Iowa, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations and Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions have donated US$100,000 to the American Red Cross’ flood relief efforts. The company says the donation, presented in a ceremony on July 18, reflects the combined efforts of Bridgestone Americas Holding and the three aforementioned business units.

“We are always looking for opportunities to give back to the communities where we live and work,” said Ken Allen, vice president, FSAG. “It is rewarding to see how dramatically the quality of life can improve for families with the aid given from the Red Cross. The American Red Cross continues to provide invaluable assistance to those affected by the storms, funded by many who felt as we do about their good work, and we are happy that we were able to help support those efforts.”

21st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin North America Seeks Rugby International Sponsors

Michelin North America is offering sponsorships for the international rugby match between top-division French Rugby Union side Clermont-Auvergne and the USA Eagles in South Carolina on 9 August.

“Rugby is the second-fastest growing spectator sport in the world today,” said Michael Fanning, vice president of corporate affairs for Michelin North America. “In addition, there is widespread participation in the sport at the university and club level throughout North America. When you combine these ingredients with national exposure via a live ESPN Classic broadcast, there is a potent opportunity for local, state and national entities to sponsor a top-drawer international rugby match in South Carolina.”

10th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Delticom Promotes e-Commerce Tyre Sales

Delticom has begun to promote in earnest its e-Commerce platform in North America. Emphasising the ability of internet-based tyre shops to provide a quick, safe and cheap retail environment, the company hopes to capitalise on the rising prices of its high-street competitors.

tires-easy.com, the growing online store of Delticom is an international leader in the field, the most used in Europe, and has won many awards with largely positive customer feedback. The company believes it can save customers up to a quarter of the price they would have paid elsewhere, while the tyres can be delivered anywhere within the working week. The company has 6000 US partners, all of whom are linked on the website using a well-known internet branded map generator.

10th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Expands Truck Stop Presence

Michelin North America added 32 truck stops to its U.S. truck tire service network.

“Truck stops play a vital role in supplying tires and emergency services for the trucking industry,” said Marc Laferriere, vice president of marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “This expansion deepens the availability of Michelin products and services along America’s highways and will help to meet the soaring demand for Michelin X One wide single tires, which deliver excellent fuel and weight savings.”

The new truck stops are located on Alabama, California, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington and Vermont. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Gets OE Deal from Ford

Its Solus KH16 radial in size 215/45R17 will be an OE tire on the 2009 Ford Focus. Kumho will be supplying some 200,000 of the tires to Ford in the deal.

“This contract is an important step for Kumho Tires; we now have supply contracts with all of the big three automakers in North America,” said Sae-chul Oh, president and CEO of Kumho Tire Inc. “These companies have recognized that Kumho Tires shares their commitment to quality, technology and performance. We will continue to expand our North American presence to become one of the top five global tire manufacturers by 2015.” (Tire Review/Akron)

7th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear bringing a piece of NASCAR history to Goodwood

NASCAR is Goodyear’s single largest motorsport customer in North America, and the US tyre major holds the position of official tyre supplier until 2012. Every year the championship requires 150,000 Goodyear race tyres. The company’s relationship with NASCAR began in 1954, with the tyre alliance becoming official in 1997. In this time the sport has seen some iconic race drivers and cars, none more so than the legendary Bobby Allison, with 85 career wins placing him with the top drivers of all time.

4th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Encourages American Truckers to ‘Go Wide, Save Green’

Go Wide. Save Green, says Michelin. The company spreading this message through a North America campaign in which it intends to share what thousands of fleets have already learned – that environmentally friendly transportation makes good business sense. Michelin’s North American tour, says the tyremaker, will feature real world examples of commercial trucking fleets and owner/operators who have benefited from the improved fuel efficiency, weight savings, and time savings that Michelin X One wide single tyres deliver.

3rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Unite & USW Sign ‘Super Union’ Document

On July 2 Unite, the UK’s biggest union and the USW, the largest private sector union in the USA and Canada, signed an agreement creating the first global union. The document was signed at the USW’s Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 2nd 2008.

The union, to be called Workers Uniting, will represent three million people from every industrial sector in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. The agreement to form a global union, said Unite in a press statement, was initiated by the leaders of the two unions in response to the challenges of globalisation, particularly the casualisation of employment and reductions in pay experienced by many in North America and Europe.

3rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Price Increases For Michelin NA Products Announced

These days it comes as no surprise to learn of another price increase linked to rising raw material, energy and transportation costs. The latest to be announced comes from Michelin North America, who is increasing prices on a number of product lines.

US market prices for Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal passenger and light truck replacement tyres, plus those for private and associate brands, will rise by up to 12 per cent as of September 1. Michelin and BFGoodrich brand commercial truck tyres sold in the US replacement market will increase in price by as much as 8 per cent, also effective September 1. This price increase will also apply to Michelin Retread Technologies retreads, the company adds. On the same date motorcycle, scooter and bicycle tyre and tube prices will increase by up to 15 per cent on Michelin brand products sold in Canada, Mexico and the US. All two-wheel products delivered after August 31 will be invoiced at the new price.

2nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Appoints New Treasurer and Sectretary

At its annual conference between 11 and 13 June, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) elected Tom Formanek as the new Board treasurer, and Michael Berra, Jr. as the new secretary. Both Formanek and Berra will assume their new roles effective 3 November, 2008.

Formanek is the manager of Tire Service Products with Stellar Industries, based in Garner, IA. He has served as a TIA Board member since 2002 and was a Tire Association of North America (TANA) and National Tire Dealer & Retreader Association (NTDRA) Board Member since 1992.

2nd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MNA Adds New Laredo AWT II

Michelin North America has introduced the Uniroyal Laredo AWT II, designed for on- and off-road applications. The all-terrain radial offers improved tread life and wet and dry handling compared to its predecessor, the Laredo AWT, with its advanced polymer tread compound, stress-optimised contact patch and DuraShield construction, MNA said.

The Laredo AWT II will be available after July 1 in 21 sizes, including 13 S-rated P-metric and eight Q-rated LT-metric models. Three sizes of the original AWT – 31X10.50R15 109, LT285/75R16 LRD 122/119 and P235/75R15XL 108 – will remain in the line until April 2009, MNA said.

1st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors