North America
In the US it appears that consumer response to run-flat tyres is not as universally glowing as tyremakers had anticipated. So far two class-action suits have been filed due to dissatisfaction with the new technology, the latest being filed against Michelin and Honda on March 12.
Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd has announced its consolidated financial results for the 2006 year. For the twelve months ending December 31, 2006 the company’s net sales came to 534,086 million yen (£2.34 billion), up 4.1 per cent on 2005’s results. The company’s operating income was 36,789 million yen (£161.2 million), substantially lower than in 2005, but net income, taking income taxes and extraordinary profit and loss into account, increased by 7.6 per cent during 2006, up to 27,585 million yen (£120.1 million).
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) today announced that it held the first of its annual manufacturers’ meetings with Michelin North America at their Greenville, South Carolina, headquarters on 7 March 2007. For the past few years TIA has been holding annual meetings with the major tyre manufacturers to encourage the exchange of information between both groups. The meetings have proved beneficial to all involved.
(Akron/Tire Review) They expected it to happen eventually. It was just a matter of time, industry insiders said. So, it wasn’t a total surprise when Bridgestone Americas Holding (BAH) announced its intent to purchase retread giant Bandag.
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America has updated its Michelin Americas Truck Tires website at www.michelintruck.com. The revised site, said the company, features expanded information on each of its 65 tyre models as well as fuel and weight savings calculators designed to compute potential cost savings information of using X One super wides vs. conventional duals.
The latest release from DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Sterling Truck Corp. will come fitted with Goodyear Unisteel commercial tyres as OE equipment. Designed especially, in the words of the tyremaker, for “traction-challenged work sites”, the 225/70R19.5 size tyres feature a high scrub-resistant tread compound to provide added durability in applications such as pick-ups and deliveries, where turning, braking and reversing are much more frequent than the norm.
Michelin announced on March 7 that it will open its first North American retail store, Michelin on Main, not far from the site of its US headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina. The store will offer Michelin branded mobility and lifestyle products, as well as advice on the company’s tyre products. Customers will be able to obtain information on the tyres best suited to their vehicles and then be referred to a local Michelin dealer to complete their purchase.
In the US the Regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has dismissed allegations of unfair labour practices filed against Continental Tire North America Inc. by the United Steelworkers of America. The union filed claims against Continental last year, alleging that the tyremaker had withheld information about its intention to close its Charlotte, North Carolina plant from the union before instigating changes that affected production and staffing.
An investigation has ruled that neither Michelin nor the company that hired an independent contractor killed at the tyremaker’s Norwood factory in the US are to blame for his death. Neither the national Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the North Carolina Department of Labor found any evidence of neglect or foul play to have occurred during last October’s incident.
Just over a year after Michelin North America announced it would invest $92 million setting up production facilities for its X One wide single tyre in Canada, employees at the Waterville, Nova Scotia plant have produced the factory’s first X One tyre ahead of schedule.
(Akron/Tire Review) Jim Morton, the former Michelin North America public relations and government affairs chief who later became vice chairman of Nissan North America, has decided to retire at the end of March. Morton will continue as a government affairs advisor to Nissan management after his Apr. 1 departure.
Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America Ltd. has reached a US$1.75 million settlement with the families of two teenagers killed in an accident seven years ago. The family of the teenagers allege that the collision than took place in Roanoke County, Virginia, was the responsibility of the tyremaker.
(Akron/Tire Review) Ontario-based TireStamp announced that it had entered into a partnership deal with Vehicle Monitoring Systems in which both parties will offer TPMS products created by Taiwan’s Orange Electronic Co. VMS is Orange’s North American marketing and sales representative.
(Akron/Tire Review) Cara Junkins was promoted to director of sales and marketing for Titan International. Junkins was previously tyre technology manager for Titan, and came to the company from Continental Tire North America where she held a number of research and engineering posts. Junkins will be based in Quincy, Ill., at the Titan Wheel Corp. facility and will focus oin OE accounts.
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear has named three finalists for its 24th annual North America Highway Hero Award. Elizabeth Pavlista of Miami, Ariz.; Edward Regener of Perres, Calif.; Richard Miner of Phoenix; and Marlon Marum of Burnsville, Minn.; were named finalists. The award will be presented at the upcoming Mid-America Truck Show in Louisville.
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