Cooper Findlay deal rejected
Despite news to the contrary, Tire Review shares that union workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s hometown Findlay, Ohio, plant still do not have a new contract with the tyre maker.
North America
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Advan OE for US A7
NewsThe US market 2012 Audi A7, winner of the Motor Press Guild’s “Vehicle of the Year” award at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, will be fitted with Yokohama Advan Sport tyres as original equipment. Announcing the OEM supply deal, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s director of OE sales, Jeremy Kahrs, commented “the 310 horsepower Audi A7 is a sleek, stylish sporty five-door coupe. We couldn’t agree more with the award and are proud the A7 runs on our ultra high-performance Advan Sport tyres. They are a perfect fit.”
Marangoni cuts ContiTread ties in the Americas
NewsMarangoni and Continental have ended their ContiTread partnership – at least in the Americas. In a joint statement, Continental Tire the Americas and Marangoni Tread North America explained that Marangoni will no longer manufacture ContiTread products for markets in the Americas, a move that will give both companies the scope to pursue their own growth goals within the region. The decision does not apply to cooperation between Continental and Marangoni in other global regions, the statement added.
Cooper, USW reach tentative Findlay agreement
NewsFindlay, Ohio-based news source The Courier states that Cooper Tire & Rubber reached a tentative three-year labour agreement on 23 November with the representative chapter of the United Steelworkers union, Local 207L. No specific information has been disclosed about the agreement, which covers unionised workers at Cooper’s Findlay factory and succeeds the old agreement that expired on October 31. Local 207L members will meet on 26 November to hear details of the agreement and a vote on the deal will take place the following day.
European truck sector – the “relatively healthy” tyre market’s only ailment
Company NewsReuters and Marketwatch have reported comments made by Michelin managing partner Michel Rollier regarding the global tyre market’s general good shape. Reuters quoted Rollier, who was speaking on the sidelines of a Comité des Constructeurs Français d'Automobiles (French Automobile Manufacturers Committee) event, as saying “today, overall, we see a situation which remains relatively healthy with one exception, which is nonetheless a worry, namely the heavy truck tyre market in Europe.” Marketwatch reported that Rollier said the Chinese market remains “very robust” while North America “remains at a good level.” The managing partner however noted, added Marketwatch, that the outlook for 2012 “remains very uncertain.”
Bridgestone announces North American off-road, retread price rises
NewsBase prices for Bridgestone, Firestone and Continuum off-road tyres and Continuum pre-cure tread rubber and retreading materials are to increase by 15 per cent in the United States and ten per cent in Canada. Announcing the new pricing, which takes effect 1 January 2012, Bridgestone Americas Commercial Solutions president Kurt Danielson commented: “We are committed to providing our customers with products of the highest possible quality and value. While we make every effort to absorb rising costs, increases related to market conditions, supply pressures, global competition and manufacturing expenses have made these adjustments necessary at this time.”
Cooper, union negotiations ‘getting intense’
NewsUnionised workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay plant in the US state of Ohio remain on the job, even as its leadership continues contract negotiations. Ohio-based industry publication Tire Review reports that workers represented by the United Steelworkers’ Local 207have been working for three weeks without a contract as the two sides continue negotiations – and these negotiations have been described as “getting intense.”
Tyre makers get behind US college basketball
NewsCollege basketball seems to be a popular current choice for sponsorship deals in the US, with two tyre makers announcing plans to support tournaments. Hankook Tire America stated on 17 November that it would advertise during nine men’s tournaments during November and December, while Continental Tire the Americas reported it has been named title sponsor for two marquee college basketball tournaments, the Las Vegas Invitational and the Las Vegas Classic.
Pallmann, GMN begin recycling machinery JV
NewsGerman machine manufacturer the Pallmann Group and Spanish tyre recycler Gestión Mediambiental de Neumáticos – otherwise known as GMN – have begun a partnership for developing, building and selling complete tyre shredding and reprocessing plants. These products will be marketed under the Ecotrec name and encompass all modules necessary for recycling car and truck tyres; these include Pallmann’s shredders (the Lion and Tiger units), granulators (Panther), and separators (Eco-Sep), as well as complete conveyor and control technology, including appropriate know-how. Initially the companies will focus on marketing the product line in Europe and North America.
Topping ceremony held for new Goodyear HQ
NewsOn 18 November Goodyear Tire & Rubber held a topping ceremony for its new corporate and North American headquarters in Akron, Ohio, seven months to the day after its groundbreaking. A steel beam signed by hundreds of Goodyear’s Akron employees was put in place today as many of them, along with chairman and CEO Richard J. Kramer, watched the event live via video feed. The Goodyear blimp was also on hand to provide aerial coverage.
Nitto ‘makes friends’ with Facebook game
NewsToyo Tire & Rubber’s Nitto brand will appear in the popular automotive-based Facebook game Car Town thanks to a deal between Nitto Tire U.S.A. and Cie Games. The one-year part multiple phase integrated partnership gives Car Town players the chance to participate in Nitto-branded game missions featuring the company's new line of tyres, and will also offer new in-game activities, virtual items, community contests and giveaways.
Bridgestone Americas acknowledged for habitat areas
NewsBridgestone Americas has been given the Wildlife Habitat Council’s 2011 William W. Howard C.E.O. (Conservation, Education, and Outreach) Award for its work in creating wildlife habitat areas at its facilities and its ongoing commitment to environmental education and outreach. As opposed to other recognition levels bestowed by the WHC, this particular award honours not a single programme, but rather an entire organisation for its combined efforts.
Tyre markets slow during October
Career TracksDemand for tyres is reported to have slowed during October, showing “further weaknesses,” according to financial analysts. The October decline is said to have been especially prevalent in North America and in the truck aftermarket globally. Commenting on the news, which follows Michelin's publication of its regularly market overview figures, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote: “While we believe consensus already expects a slowdown, we think risks to fourth quarter 2011 and 2012 volume are still high.”
Goodyear Union City plant changes hands for $9M
NewsTitan International has confirmed its subsidiary Titan Tire Corporation paid “approximately US$9 million” for the physical assets of the Goodyear tyre plant in Union City, Tennessee, which closed in July 2011. Included in the purchase are around 480 acres of land and a 2.1 million square foot building. As part of the deal, Titan has agreed not to produce radial passenger car or 4×4 tyres at the factory and to scrap all curing presses and tyre building equipment that Goodyear requests to be scrapped. Titan will retain the scrap value of these items.
This year’s Global Tire Expo a huge success, says TIA
NewsThe Tire Industry Association (TIA) has reported the “huge success” of its Global Tire Expo, held in conjunction with the US-based SEMA trade show. According to the TIA, this year’s event attracted a record number of attendees and exhibitors, with more than 132,000 people attending the co-located exhibitions and 61,000 buyers in attendance. This, the association adds, signifies the value that the Global Tire Expo and SEMA have for the wholesaler and manufacturing community.
