North America
Two lucky tyremen were among the five winners of seats for the Harvard University Manage Mentor Program, sponsored by SEMA, reports USA news source Tire Review. Carl Kazen of New England Tire Car Care Centers in Attleboro, Massachusetts and Mike Widmaier of Black's Tire Service in Whiteville, North Carolina won a special drawing at the recent SEMA Show to attend the 42-modular management education seminar.
The North American International Auto Show in Detroit gets underway on January 11, and the 2010 exhibition marks the 22nd year of Michelin’s sponsorship of the show’s official facility for journalists and other media representatives. For the 2010 Detroit show the Michelin Media Center has grown to 27,500 square feet and accommodates 600 working desk spaces. Each desk features electrical and hard-wired, high-speed connections to a robust fibre-optic network for working media. In addition, the 2010 facility includes an expanded photo centre, media lounge, and additional team tables customised for the needs of new media.
The complete schedule for the Tire Industry Association (TIA) 2010 OTR Conference has now been posted on the TIA’s website, and the association reminds those interested in attending the conference in the US that the early conference registration deadline (January 13) and hotel registration deadline (January 18) are rapidly approaching. Interested attendees can view the schedule and register by visiting the "events" section of the TIA's tireindustry.org website.
Tire shipments in the United States through the first half of 2009 posted perhaps their worst performance in history, according to new data from the RMA. OE passenger tyre shipments through the first six months fell an incredible 54.3 per cent versus the same period last year. By comparison, OE shipments for the first half of 2008 were down 10.8 per cent year-over-year. The replacement side wasn’t much better, off 11.9 per cent versus the same period last year. 2008’s first half saw shipments off a meager 0.7 per cent versus the first half of 2007.
MITL Acquisition Corp., comprised of former GPX International Tire officials and private investors, identified itself as the winning bidder for the solid tyre business sold out of bankruptcy by GPX. The new company will operate as Maine Industrial Tire, and will be led by Bryan Ganz, CEO; Troy Kline, president and COO; and Phil Fitzgerald, director of China operations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on December 10 the results of a study of the health risks from inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact with synthetic turf and crumb rubber from playing field and playground surfaces constructed with recycled tyre material or tyre crumb. It concluded that "concentrations of components monitored in this study were below levels of concern."
Continental Tire North America's Commercial Vehicle Tire Division has appointed a new key account manager for aviation. Sandy Schick has joined the division's industrial tyre unit, and will focus upon sales to large aviation customers, including airports, airlines, airport ground support, and shipping ports, with an emphasis on Continental’s industrial and truck tyre product lines.
Pirelli Tire North America introduced its 2010 specification P Zero Racing Slick at Daytona International Speedway during December tire tests in preparation for January’s Rolex 24 event. The two-day test on December 8 and 9 gave teams and drivers the opportunity to test the new HAOF (highly aromatic oil-free) racing slicks – Grand-Am’s first foray into what Pirelli calls ‘green Performance’.
Continental Tire North America recently offered truck fleet customers the chance to go inside the complexities of fuel efficiency during the tyremaker’s “Beat the Best” fuel savings workshop at its proving grounds in Uvalde, Texas. Fleet executives from both potential and existing customers learned about all the factors that impact truck tyre fuel efficiency, said Clif Armstrong, CTNA’s director of truck tyre marketing, including tyre-, vehicle- and driver-related aspects.
Canadian firm Ellsin Environmental Ltd is receiving government support in its implementation of technology that will enable scrap tyres to be converted into usable by-products by means of a microwave process. The patented reverse polymerisation technology was developed over a period of more than 15 years by another Canadian company, Environmental Waste International (EWI), and Ellsin has contracted EWI to build a demonstration system based on the EWI process. To assist, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is investing CA$2 million assist in the construction of a test plant.
Following the popularity of this year’s Maxxis calendar, which depicted the company’s tyres in a series of sport action shots, for 2010 Maxxis is taking what will no doubt prove to be a popular approach – the new calendar lets the recipient choose between ‘For All Seasons’, showing seasonal scenes/products, and the much-appreciated Maxxis Babes.
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Efforts to reduce pollution have earned the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) factory in Aiken County, South Carolina an award from the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control. The “Spare the Air” award for positive environmental impact was given in recognition of staff activities, such as carpooling, the use of motorcycles or hybrid vehicles and volunteering an community environmental events, along with plant innovations such as the utilisation of volatile organic compound reducing cementless ‘Innovative Tire Building Technology’ and the use of emission-free hydrogen powered forklifts.
As of January 1, 2010 a new global marketing structure will become operational at Apollo Tyres Ltd, under the leadership of chief marketing officer Marc Luyten, who currently holds the position of director, Marketing & Sales at Apollo Vredestein B V, in Enschede, the Netherlands. Luyten will spearhead the global marketing of Apollo’s key product brands, assisted by a team of product brand managers responsible for individual brands across all regions.
Pirelli Tire North America is increasing prices on all its passenger and light truck tyre lines, excluding its P4/P5 touring lines, by up to 4.5 per cent as of January 1. The company states “escalating raw materials costs” as the basis for the new year price rises.
Yokohama Tire is releasing a new all-season line-up in North America. Known as the AVID ENVigor, the tyre is described by Yokohama as a ‘Grand Performance’ tyre that is “quite possibly the most complete tyre ever created.” Upon its launch in March 2010 the new range will be available in 69 sizes for saloons, coupes and SUVs – making it one of the largest tyre launches in the company’s history. The ENVigor will replace Yokohama’s AVID H4s/V4s and W4 ranges.
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