North America
DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America has announced details of plans to have SmarTire Systems Inc. supply tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) as an optional upgrade on their vehicles.
(Akron/Tire Review) Citing the effects of a global shortage on commercial truck tires, Navistar has opted to add China-made Double Coin radial truck tires to its OE mix. Navistar signed a deal with China Manufacturers Alliance to put Double Coin radials on “several platforms” of its Class 4-8 International vehicles and IC Corp. buses.
The move marks the first time that a China-produced truck tire has earned an OE position with a major North American truck producer.
Continental Tire North America is moving its research and development department from its Charlotte, North Carolina to its non-unionised plant in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Construction company Ray Black and Sons is currently completing the 700 square metre addition to the plant.
The facility at Mt. Vernon is now Conti’s sole US tyre production centre following the closure of several other plants. Mt. Vernon workers have accepted some wage reductions in exchange for a promise of increased production and an upgrade of facilities. The plant has recently been awarded “Q1” Quality Certification by Ford and recognition of improved quality from Nissan.
(Akron/Tire Review) Truck fleets and independent truckers can now receive a free copy of the Tire Retread Information Bureau’s “Don’t Thump ‘Em, Pump ‘Em” poster.
The poster promotes the use of tire gauges as a way to keep truck tyres properly maintained. The 17.5×23-inch poster is printed in full colour on heavy paper and is suitable for framing, TRIB said.
(Akron/Tire Review) The PLT replacement sales and marketing group of Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) has appointed Dana Zamalloa manager, public relations and communications.
Zamalloa’s new position was effective Dec. 14. A communications graduate of the University of Nevada, Zamalloa has nine years of advertising and public relations experience. She most recently served as senior marketing communications manager with Toyo Tire USA Corp.
Zamalloa will report to Travis Roffler, director of marketing for the PLT replacement group.
(Akron/Tire Review) Falken Tire Corp. announced that Hideo Honda, chief executive officer and chairman, has retired as of Jan. 1. Honda will return to Japan where he will serve as an advisor to Sumitomo Rubber Industries for the remainder of the year.
Replacing Honda as CEO and chairman is Yasushi (Tank) Tanaka, a former director at SRI Tire Trading Ltd. in Tokyo. Tanaka joined SRI in 1976 and spent the majority of his career in the export and OE departments.
With the USW strike now just an unpleasant memory for Goodyear, the tyremaker is boosting production to make up for any shortfalls in supply. The eleven week strike, which affected approximately 15,000 workers across North America, came to an end on December 22 after an agreement was reached between Goodyear and the United Steelworkers union. Workers began returning to work on January 2.
Goodyear has planned for a full supply of tyres to become available soon after the return of their hourly workers, with Jon Rich, president of Goodyear’s North American tyre unit stating “I have no doubt our associates will quickly return to their normal high levels of performance and productivity.”
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. have announced their appointment of Roy V. Armes as company president, chief executive and a member of Cooper’s board of directors. Armes, 54, steps into his new role on January 1, replacing Byron O. Pond, who has served as Cooper’s interim CEO since August.
Pond has voiced his support for Armes, saying “We are extremely pleased to have Roy taking the lead at Cooper at this critical time, He has all the qualities we were searching for and the leadership capabilities to continue and successfully execute the company’s plans for profitability. He has the complete confidence of the board and will fit in well with our management team.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Pirelli Tire North America’s automated tire plant in Rome, Ga., received Ford Motor Co. Q1 Accreditation for operational excellence recently. The plant, featuring Pirelli’s MIRS production system, supplies OE tires for various Ford vehicles.
“This is a prestigious award from a world-class organization and is a sure indication of the rapidly developing capability of our company in the U.S.,” said Francesco Gori, managing director of Pirelli Tire. “Pirelli Tire North America is focused on selective growth in both the replacement and original equipment markets in the U.S. and Ford is very much part of that strategy, making it doubly satisfying to receive the accolade of their Q1 Accreditation.”
The final tyre has been produced at the Bridgestone/Firestone plant in Oklahoma City only eight months after Bridgestone Firestone North America announced its impending closure. The plant produced budget tyres for the low-end segment of the market, a market where demand has been shrinking in the face of vigorous overseas competition.
The tyremaker has disclosed that the Oklahoma City facility, which had a daily output of more than 26,000 tyres, recorded a loss of US$40 million (£20.5 million).
On December 8 Bridgestone Firestone North America outlined its intention to invest at least US$33 million in its Aiken County, South Carolina tyre plant in the next four years as part of plans to purchase new production facilities and retool existing equipment.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America’s Canadian operations opened a new 100,000-square-foot distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario, just outside of Toronto. Continental Tire Canada new centre will service customers across Canada, the company said.
“This centre is the result of our continued growth in the Canadian marketplace.” said Guy Hardiman, CTCI’s national manager of consumer tyre sales and marketing. “It represents the importance of our market hare within the original equipment segment. This venture is especially important to ensure product is readily available for the Canadian marketplace, particularly for fitments unique to the Canadian market such as the Smart car.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Stamford Tires & Wheels announced that Jim Seidel, the former Continental Tire North America executive who joined the company last Autumn, has left the company. Seidel, who departed 1 December, was in charge of sales and operations.
(Akron/Tire Review) The United Steelworkers claims that Goodyear has placed ads in “several North Carolina newspapers” apparently looking to attract experienced tyre plant workers to work as replacements at its plants. Goodyear’s 12 unionized North American tyre plants are being picketed by the USW.
Striking USW workers have stepped up their conflict with Goodyear in North America by staging demonstrations outside the premises of retailers selling the company’s products.
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