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Michelin North America to Invest $90M in Lexington Facility

A US$90 million investment is planned for Michelin North America’s facility in Lexington, South Carolina. The additional capital will be used to upgrade plant equipment and expand capacity at the site’s passenger car and OTR tyre factories. The news was announced by the company during a ceremony held in the region on June 19, at which it thanked local public officials and development agencies for their support of Michelin’s continued growth in Lexington.

“Lexington has been a great place for Michelin to produce some of the best tyres in the world,” said Jim Micali, chairman and president, Michelin North America, Inc. “And, we hope that Michelin has been equally good for Lexington County. We especially thank the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the chairman and members of the Lexington County Council, without whose support this investment would not be possible. Their efforts directly impact Michelin’s ability to expand manufacturing at this site and to continue to provide quality jobs in Lexington.”

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Falken Staff Changes

Falken Tire Corp. has promoted of Bruce Ware to the position of vice president of sales. Ware had been serving as Falken’s dxecutive director of corporate accounts, where he directed all sales activities pertaining to FTC’s regional and national retailers. In his new position, Bruce will now be responsible for all FTC sales activities in North America.

FTC also announced the retirement of John McAndrew, who has served as FTC’s director of wholesale channel sales for the past two years. With over 30 years experience in the tire industry, John brought to FTC a much needed maturity and professionalism that can only come through dealing with customers at the very highest levels, according to the company. (Tire Review/Akron)

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tech International Promotes OTR Manager

Ron Reiring has been promoted to Tech International’s OTR sales manager for North America. His new responsibilities will include developing new OTR sales opportunities for tire repairs and OTR equipment within the US, Canada and Mexico while providing support to Tech’s existing OTR customer base.

Reiring was formerly a western U.S. zone manager for the company. (Tire Review/Akron)

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Brembo Expands in US

Brembo will consolidate its corporate and technical groups from Northville, Farmington Hills and Costa Mesa, California at a new headquarters to be built in Novi, Michigan. The subsidiary of Bergamo, Italy-based Brembo S.p.A. will also expand capacity at its manufacturing facility in Homer (Calhoun County). The combined project is expected to retain and create 325 jobs for a total of 1,049 Michigan jobs for Brembo.

“The consolidation and expansion of our operations in Michigan, building on the skills of our workforce and competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities, create great opportunities for sustained growth in North America,” said Brembo North America general manager Adrian Smith.

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper to Invest in Mexican Tyremaking JV

In an effort to boost cost competitiveness Cooper Tire & Rubber is investing in a tyre manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. According to an agreement announced June 18 Cooper will have 38 per cent ownership in the facility, jointly owned with Mexican holding corporation IBSA and Cooperativa TRADOC S.R.L. Cooper’s investment in the factory is to be US$31 million. Cooper tyres have been produced at the Guadalajara site since the company’s entry into an agreement with Corporación de Occidente, which was finalised late September 2007.

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Store Planned by MNA

Michelin North America’s hometown Michelin on Main retail store has apparently been a success, so much so that MNA is planning for another outlet in South Carolina. MNA will open a new ShopMichelin retail store in the Westgate Mall in Spartanburg, South Carolina, next month. Michelin on Main, located in downtown Greenville, and ShopMichelin, offer Michelin branded consumer products, such as wearables and promotional items.

The company also recently launched ShopMichelin.com, an online version of its retail store concept. (Tire Review/Akron)

18th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Unimax Deal Off, Tirecraft Back into Receivership

Tirecraft Group was placed in back into receivership after Pneus Unimax pulled its offer to buy the distributor and franchisor, which was supposed to close on May 30. News reports indicate that two investment companies – Omni Group of Companies and Stern Group – are in the process of bidding to take over the Sherwood Park, Alberta-based Tirecraft. Their bids were due on June 15, according to the Edmonton Court of Queen’s Bench.

CIT Business Credit Canada Inc., Tirecraft’s largest creditor, put the firm back into receivership on June 10 after efforts to sell the company to any of the original bidders failed. Ernst and Young, the court appointed receiver, plans to operate the business day-to-day while it is in receivership, though miscommunication apparently caused some store managers to close their doors briefly last week. Last week, Ernst and Young fired Tirecraft president William Steeple.

18th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tech International Names OTR Sales Manager

Tech International has promoted Ron Reiring to the post of OTR Sales Manager, North America. His responsibilities will include developing new OTR sales opportunities for Tech International’s tire repairs and OTR equipment in the US, Canada and Mexico, while providing support to Tech’s existing OTR customer base.
Reiring graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in Industrial technology and, prior to his latest promotion, he served as a Western US Zone Manager for Tech, providing sales support, service and training to Tech’s national account base.

17th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Taiwan Manufacturers Expanding Tyre Production in China

Taiwan`s three-largest tyre manufacturers, including Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co., Hwa Fong Rubber Industry Co. and Kenda Rubber Industrial Co., are reported to be planning to increase investment in their facilities in mainland China.

Cheng Shin will invest between US$50 million and US$60 million to expand the production capacity of its Kunshan, Jiangsu province plant between now and the end of June 2009. Once completed, the expansion will see daily production capacity at the plant rise to 54,000 passenger car tyres from the present level of 45,000, making the facility the largest tyre plant in China. The company also noted it would invest between US$60 million and US$70 million to expand production capacity at its plant in Haiyen plant in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Daily output would be boosted from the current level of 4,000 passenger car and truck tyres up to 6,000. Expansion in production at these two facilities is anticipated to help Cheng Shin increase its annual sales by a total of NT$15 billion (US$496 million).

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Makes Additional Commercial Increases

Goodyear confirmed that it is increasing the prices of some of its Steelmark and Remington commercial truck tyres by up to 10 per cent, effective July 1. Recently, Goodyear announced an increase of up to 9 per cent on its Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly commercial brands in North America. (Tire Review/Akron)

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Guillon takes over as Michelin Personnel Manager

Jean-Michel Guillon, who was head of sales for Michelin Germany prior to taking up a position with Michelin North America in late 2001, assumes as of July 1, 2008 Group-wide responsibility for human resource management from Jean Moreau, who is retiring. Guillon is one of the Michelin Group’s ten most senior managers.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Former Pirelli NA CEO Calls for Change

Guy Mannino, former president and CEO of Pirelli Tire North America, is calling on all retired and current CEOs of corporate America to start driving “green.”

“Now is the time … to take action and proclaim our independence from oil and gas,” he said. “Now is the time for electric vehicles that lower fuel costs, as well as combat pollution and global warming.”

Mannino, who left Pirelli last autumn to found consulting and trading company Verdek, is marketing and selling a line of ZAP (“Zero Air Pollution”) vehicles with the goal of helping consumers to become more fuel-efficient.

ZAP, based in Santa Rosa, California, offers a full line of Xebra electric cars and trucks, Zapino scooters and off-road vehicles, as well as charging accessories. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Debuts Redesigned Media Website

In May Continental Tire North America (CTNA) launched its completely redesigned news website www.CTNAMedia.com. The site features a distinctive new look, and Conti explains that it comes with a variety of new features that make it an ‘even more exciting and useful online destination’.

“We are very excited about the new design of CTNAMedia.com,” said Dana Zamalloa, CTNA manager of PR and communications. “We are particularly proud of our unique online product request module, which makes it easy for editors and project vehicle builders to place their tyre requests electronically.”

2nd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Host ‘Company’ Rugby Team in US Match

Sports fans in the US are soon to be treated to the thrills of rugby, thanks to Michelin North America. The tyremaker is hosting a match between top French rugby team Clermont-Auvergne and the US national rugby team, the USA Eagles. The game, to be held in South Carolina on August 9, is the first ever international rugby exhibition match to be played in this state.

Michelin North America will be the presenting sponsor for this first “Michelin Challenge Rugby” event, held in its home state. Since 1911, the Clermont-Auvergne rugby team has been sponsored by the Michelin Group in its home city of Clermont-Ferrand, France. The French team currently sits atop the standings in the country’s Top 14 division and leads its main rival, Toulouse, by nine points in the standings.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Teves NA President & CEO Kozyra Resigns

The president and CEO of Continental Teves North America, William L. Kozyra, has elected to leave the company as of June 1, 2008. Mr. Kozyra’s request to terminate his contract and appointment to the company’s Executive Board early was accepted during a meeting of the Continental AG Supervisory Board on May 29. In a statement Continental says Mr. Kozyra will, following his resignation, “take up a new challenge in another company.”

William Kozyra had been deputy member of the company’s Executive Board for the NAFTA region since February 2006. Amongst other roles, Kozyra was responsible for the integration of the Motorola Automotive activities into Continental. The Supervisory Board of Continental has expressed its thanks to Mr. Kozyra for all the work he has done during his ten years as president and CEO of Continental Teves North America and has wished him every success in his new assignment.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors