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Subsidised imports killed Goodyear plant – USW

The United Steelworkers union has expressed its disappointment in the notification of redundancy given to workers at Goodyear’s Union City factory. In a press statement, USW International president Leo W. Gerard said “we are very angered by the company’s announcement yesterday to close its Union City, Tennessee facility. The harm being done over the years by our government’s inaction and manufacturers’ ongoing deindustrialisation of the economy is relentless. Unfortunately, nothing we can say minimises the impact this decision has on the lives of our members who work there, their families and the community. But we will continue to fight to help them in this tragic situation.”

15th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Americas appoints new account manager for ag and forestry tyres

Effective June 2011 Kevin Lowe was appointed as the new agricultural and forestry key account manager in the US market for Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas. Lowe has worked in the tyre business for 23 years. Before joining Trelleborg North America, Kevin was a tyre retailer in Central Florida and worked in distribution and sales for another large tire manufacturer for the last six years in the Carolinas.

14th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo USA signs Georgia bond deal to expand plant

Toyo Tire North America has signed a deal with the state of Georgia and Bartow County to help expand the county’s bonding capacity and Toyo’s Georgia plant, reports Tire Review. The $910 million bond deal will add 470 new jobs to the plant, which first opened in 2006. Georgia governor Nathan Deal, Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing president Jim Hawk and James Jarrett, chairman of the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority signed the deal at a press conference on 12 July.

13th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

BKT expands North American range

BKT Tire (USA) has added four new products to its agricultural range and a go-kart tyre in the USA and Canada, reports Tire Review. The two new tyres to the market are the BKT TF 9090, which was created for front axle fitment on tractors. It has three ribs for increased traction and stability on wet soil, according to the manufacturer, and is available in size 4.00-12. The SM 68 is a new go-kart line available in size 11×6.0-5.

13th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin launches new-gen urban application tyre

Promising up to 20 per cent higher removal miles compared with its predecessor tyre, Michelin Americas Truck Tires has introduced its “next generation” tyre for refuse applications. The Michelin XZUS2, which replaces the XZUS, has been released in both new and retread fitments, the second of these rounding out the XZUS Pre-Mold retread line for the most commonly used sizes in refuse applications.

12th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Last Shuttle Mission a Grand Finale for Michelin

For 30 years, since the Space Shuttle first entered service, Michelin North America has been a part of the programme. The tyre maker has been the exclusive supplier of the enormous tyres that rode on all five Shuttles, which have flown a total of 135 missions over 30 years. On July 8 the Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off on its final mission from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. When it returns on July 20, Michelin will revert, for the time being at least, to solely supplying earthbound vehicles.

11th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti tapping sales staff influence in the US

In an article published July 7, Bloomberg Business reports that Continental Tire the Americas spends around 15 per cent of its annual marketing budget influencing a group that holds significant clout with US consumers – tyre salespeople. Every year Conti invests around US$1 million inviting some 950 tyre salespeople to its proving ground in Uvalde, Texas in order to familiarise them with the company’s product and give them a good time into the bargain. And the tyre maker says these events pay off.

8th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

North American casing shortage ‘severe’, says RTA

According to the Retread Tire Association, North America’s retreading industry is experiencing a severe shortage of retreadable truck tyre casings. Association managing director Harvey Brodsky comments that this shortage may have a negative impact on those who use retreads as retreaded tyres act as a “brake” on new tyre prices: “Whenever there is a shortage of retreads, new tyre manufacturers do not have any reason to hold back on raising their prices, and everyone who purchases truck tyres feels the pain in their chequebooks.”

8th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Work starts on Mitas US plant conversion

On June 30 a groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the start of work to convert the former Winnebago Industries factory in the US state of Iowa into a production site for Mitas agricultural tyres. A number of civic representatives attended the ceremony in Charles City, which was hosted by project leader Vladimir Dusanek, vice-president of Mitas Tires North America.

7th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo enters into railway components JV

Last year, sales of tyres accounted for just under three quarter of Toyo Tire & Rubber’s total net sales. The remainder came from a portfolio of other rubber and chemical products. Included within this non-tyre business is the manufacture of anti-vibration rubber components for railway vehicles; Toyo has now furthered its activities in this area by entering into a joint venture arrangement with Chinese firm Wuxi Meifeng Rubber Products Manufacturing Co., Ltd. On July 5 the two firms signed an agreement to form a new company, “Wuxi Toyo Meifeng Rubber Products Manufacturing Co., Ltd.” This new entity is to be based in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China, and will manufacture and distribute air springs and anti-vibration rubber for railway vehicles. Toyo has invested 30,484 million yen (£234.6 million) in the venture, giving the company a 51 per cent shareholding.

5th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to raise North America commercial tyre prices

Price increases averaging 11 per cent are to be implemented on a number of Bridgestone company products in the US and Canada. The new prices take effect August 1 and apply to Bridgestone and Firestone brand truck and bus tyres, Bandag brand retreads and retreading materials, and Bridgestone, Firestone and Continuum OTR tyre products and retread rubber.

4th July 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Third consecutive award for Michelin North America health scheme

For the third year in a row, The National Business Group on Health, a US non-profit organisation devoted to representing the perspective of large employers on national health policy issues, has honoured Michelin North America as one of the best employers for healthy lifestyles. The tyre maker is one of 48 national employers to receive the 2011 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award and one of only 20 to receive the group’s Platinum Award; this is the second year Michelin has received this highest award.

30th June 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Sailun seeking to increase European, Middle Eastern sales

Established in November 2002, Sailun Co., Ltd. has been producing tyres for around 7 years. During this time the company has established a foundation in the market place, growing very fast in a number of areas. The company started off focusing on distribution agreements in North America, Europe and South America, but – as we saw from the establishment of a Sailun Europe subsidiary, which was announced in October last year – the firm is set on further expansion.

Currently the company is on the hunt for a tyre distributor local to the Middle East with the motivation and ability to drive the brand forward, hence the decision to exhibit in Dubai at this year’s Automechanika Middle East at the start of June. At the moment Sailun reports turnover of around US$40 million in this region, but the aim is for a new partner local to the Middle East region to work with the company to significantly increase this. Sailun representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the firm is already in talks with some interested parties, but it is far too early to share any details about this.

24th June 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Double Coin OE on Landoll trailer range

The China Manufacturers Alliance has gained an OE position with Kansas-based manufacturer Landoll Corporation to supply all Landoll trailer models with Double Coin medium truck radials. Standard tyres to be fitted on Landoll’s trailer models include the Double Coin RT500 in sizes 10R17.5, 255/70R22.5, and 235/75R17.5.

23rd June 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Selleck to take on Michelin North America top job

Upon the retirement of Michelin North America chairman and president Richard “Dick” Wilkerson later this year, current president of Michelin’s Truck and Bus division, Pete Selleck, will step into the role of heading up the company’s North American operation. Wilkerson will become chairman emeritus of Michelin North America when he retires from his current role.

22nd June 2011/by Tyrepress Editors