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Michelin to Introduce New 2CT Tyre In January

Tyres & Accessories has seen a preview of Michelin’s new sport touring tyre, which will be launched at the Motorbike Trade Expo in January. Details are sketchy at the moment, but external independent testing appears to suggest that the new dual compound tyre will last 10 per cent longer than any of its competitors. Michelin representatives told T&A the manufacturer has planned an extensive publicity campaign, which will be followed up with a comprehensive marketing strategy. This includes: a new website, revised retailer opportunities, show participations and media, advertising and PR activities. Furthermore, sources report that the manufacturer’s Expo stand will be one of the biggest at the show.

1st December 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

The Next Level

Fresh from the success of pre-selling over 1 million winter tyres by August this year, Deldo has announced plans to further its interaction with the UK market, arranging to meet clients at next May’s Brityrex trade show. Tyres & Accessories contacted Deldo marketing manager, Rutger Veerman, and also learnt that the company and its key Chinese manufacturing partner, South China Tire & Rubber Company Ltd (Guangzhou) is investing in improving product production.

To get an idea of the scale of Deldo’s operation you need only look at the company’s annual turnover. In recent years Deldo have achieved an annual growth rate of approximately 10 per cent. Wanli remains Deldo’s best selling budget product, with a range of 160 (in 2007) passenger, light truck, SUV, 4×4 and truck tyres. Deldo is likely to sell 2 million Wanli products this year.

30th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Tire’s Growth is Based on Quality

An investment of about 500 million euros (£340 million) into a new tyre factory is a clear statement of the future direction of a company. Hankook’s decision to invest in Central Europe rather than the US, Korea or China shows what an important role the European market plays in Hankook’s future growth and development strategy. The new factory, which will be built in the Hungarian city of Dunaujvaros, not only provides the company with missing production capacity close to important sales markets and cheap but highly-skilled workforce, but also goes far beyond the obvious, Seung Hwa Suh, president of Hankook’s European headquarters in Germany, says in an interview with Tyres & Accessories. There are three keywords that Mr Suh frequently uses to describe Hankook’s strategy for Europe and the rest of the world: quality/innovation, service and brand awareness.

30th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Transfers US Capacity to Sri Lanka

Trelleborg has taken steps to consolidate its industrial tyre production capacity, moving production from North America to Sri Lanka. Trelleborg reports that it has plans to invest in increased production capacity at one of Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ plants in Sri Lanka. As a consequence of this, the production of industrial tyres will be terminated and relocated from Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ plant in Hartville, Ohio, in the US. The cost of closure, production transfer and investments will total approximately 130 million Swedish krone (£9.7 million) over a three-year period.

28th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Product Strength – Hercules International

Earlier this year Hercules International launched the Ironman range of tyres. These are available as commercial light vehicle, 4×4 and passenger car radials. The Ironman PCR range is subdivided according to speed rating. As a result the Type-H line consists of twenty-two 60 to 75 series products in 13 to 16-inch diameters; five 13 to 14-inch 70-series sizes in the Type-T line; and two 15-inch 50 series products in the Type-V offering. The new brand also offers a number of 12 to 15-inch van products and five 15 to 16-inch Radial A/T 4×4/SUV sizes.

27th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

European PCR Replacement Market up 9 per cent

Passenger car tyre replacement markets were “very strong in October,” according to Michelin. The research shows that the European replacement market sales grew 9 per cent (+2.9% year-to-date); and 4 per cent in North America (-3.2% year-to-date). Truck tyre sales also grew in the period, according to report, although not as much as the passenger car market.

23rd November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

USW and Goodyear Still at Table

(Akron/Tire Review) While renewed negotiations with Goodyear have reportedly made little ground, the United Steelworkers continues to bang away at the tyremaker. Even as master contract negotiations restarted Monday after a six-week break, the USW took the company to task for its positions and announced a “nationwide day of action” against the company and its products.

Goodyear and the USW continue to meet in Cincinnati, restarting talks that ended when the Steelworkers struck 16 Goodyear plants in North America on 5 October. Both sides reported no progress had been made.

16th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Increased Turnover and Profits For Pirelli Tire as Parent Makes Loss

Pirelli & C. SpA’s Pirelli Tire division achieved sales growth exceeding 10 per cent in the first nine months of 2006 and increased results from operations compared to the previous year. This performance was obtained despite the significant rise in raw material costs, which penalised the entire sector. Revenues were 2,990.6 million euros, up by 10.5 per cent compared to 2,706.9 million in the same period of 2005 (+7.3 per cent net of exchange rates).

15th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear and Steelworkers Return to the Table

Goodyear and the United Steelworkers will return to the negotiating table in Cincinnati today, both sides confirmed over the weekend. It will mark the first formal talks between the two sides since USW workers hit the picket line on 5 October at 16 Goodyear plants in North America. Last week, Goodyear published information on its most current offer to the Steelworkers, and indicated that it was ready to get back to negotiating. While acknowledging the tyremaker’s move back to formal talks, the USW, however, did not immediately commit to returning to the bargaining table until Saturday.

14th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Strike: Will Talks Restart?

(Akron/Tire Review) Will they or won’t they? That’s the big question heading into the sixth week of the United Steelworkers strike against 16 Goodyear plants in North America. Goodyear stated 9 November that it was sending its negotiating team back to Cincinnati, and that the company was “willing and prepared to resume formal bargaining with the United Steelworkers at any time.” While the USW applauded Goodyear’s return to the Queen City, it did not commit to resuming contract negotiations. “We are pleased that the company has apparently come to its senses and will return to the table,” said Tom Conway, USW International vice president. “We stand ready to bargain a fair labour agreement, as we always have, and assume by this announcement that the company has abandoned its destructive position on closing plants and slashing health care.”

13th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Exports of Rosehill’s Sporting Granules to Top £1 million

Export orders worth more than £1 million for a new range of vulcanised rubber granules specifically developed for sports surfaces and playgrounds have been announced by Rosehill Polymers of Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. The US, Scandinavia and Spain are said to be booming markets for Rosehill’s TPV Inplay and TPV Infill products where sports clubs, schools and local authorities are using them to construct synthetic sporting surfaces and recreational playgrounds.

10th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Posts $25 million 3Q Net Loss

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. reported a $25 million net loss in the third quarter of 2006 despite quarterly sales improving 28 per cent to $716 million. Through the first nine months of 2006, Cooper posted a net loss of $51 million against sales of $1.9 billion, up 22 per cent versus the same period of 2005. Sales at Cooper Europe reached $80 million, up more than 14 per cent compared to the same period last year. The increase in European sales is said to have been the result of approximately 3 per cent higher unit volume, the impact of prices increases and favourable exchange rates.

Cooper said the quarterly loss was due to a number of factors, including costs associated with North American inventory adjustments; $5 million in severance paid to former chairman, president and CEO Tom Dattilo; expenses related to closing its Athens, Georgia, plant; and the restructuring of its European operations.

9th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Sales Up, Earnings Down at Yokohama Rubber

(Akron/Tire Review) Yokohama Rubber Co. today reported that its most recent quarterly net sales increased 10.5 per cent over the same period last year, while its net income plummeted 74.8 per cent for the same period. Yokohama said it had quarterly sales of 222.4 billion yen, and that the sales increase was due to business growth in North America and Asia, including increased OE tyre business. Sales increased 11.5 per cent in Yokohama’s Tire Group to 162.5 billion yen. Operating income in the Tire Group declined 69.7 per cent, to 1.1 billion yen, reflecting the rising prices for natural rubber and other raw materials.

9th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Achieves Record Sales in Third Quarter

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today reported third quarter sales of $5.3 billion, a record for any quarter and a 6 per cent improvement compared to the year-ago period excluding the impact of businesses divested in 2005, and despite the strategic decision to exit certain segments of the private label tyre business in North America.

Third quarter 2006 sales were driven by improved pricing and product mix, particularly in North American Tire, and the favourable impact of currency translation, estimated at $77 million. All five of the company’s tyre businesses achieved sales that were a record for any quarter.

9th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Publish Contract Offer

(Akron/Tire Review) Along with its third quarter report, Goodyear Tire & Rubber CO. today said that it would publish the details of its latest contract proposal to the United Steelworkers. The contract offer will appear on Goodyear’s special negotiations Web site at www.goodyearnegotiations.com. The company said it is publicly outlining its proposal “in order to more clearly communicate with its hourly associates.” Goodyear also said that its negotiating team is returning to Cincinnati “in the hopes USW representatives will return to discussions.” United Steelworkers have been on strike at 16 Goodyear plants in North America since 5 October.

9th November 2006/by Tyrepress Editors