North America
European online passenger car and motorcycle tyre provider, Pneus Online has launched the fourth version of its website (www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk). The company has sold tyres on the internet since 2001 and have used this experience to develop a new optimised platform so that each customer is able to order the desired tyre in a few clicks.
Though silent while the government mulled over the USW’s Section 421 complaint about China-made passenger tyres, both Bridgestone Americas and Goodyear issued statements regarding the Obama Administration’s decision to levy a three-year tariff on the imported tyres.
Mauro Pessi is taking over from Hugh Pace as CEO of Pirelli Tire North America. Pace is retiring after having been chairman and CEO of the company for nearly three years. Pessi will assume the position of CEO effective 1 October 2009. Pessi has had a long association with Pirelli, most recently having served as VP sales and marketing and then CEO, Latin American operations. He rejoins The Pirelli Group after his departure in 2008 to become CEO at Brembo.
A Texas jury returned a $12 million judgment against Michelin North America, finding that a manufacturing flaw “substantially contributed” to a 31 December 2006 crash that killed six and left a 12-year-old boy paralyzed. The Willacy County, Texas, jury awarded the plaintiffs $11.96 million, ruling that a BFGoodrich brand tire failed due to manufacturing errors, causing the 2002 Ford F-250 pickup truck the victims were riding in to swerve into oncoming traffic and crash head-on into a Chevrolet Suburban. “The jury found that broken air conditioners and leaky roofs cause moisture to get on tires, which led to this tread- belt separation,” Mikal Watts, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said. “We are grateful the jury saw the evidence as it was. There was a manufacturing defect in this tire, and Michelin needed to pay for the damage it caused.” (Tire Review)
Michelin North America will host the US National School Bus Maintenance Competition. Co-sponsored by the National Association of Pupil Transport (NAPT) and the South Carolina Department of Education, the 23-25 September event will be held at MNA’s training center in Donaldson, South Carolina.
Emilio Bolla has been appointed general manager of Marangoni Group’s Shanghai branch. Marcello Gambarini, who held this position throughout the company’s initial exploration, will now return to Italy, where he will continue to supervise activities in China and follow the group’s development in Asia. According to a company statement, Bolla previously worked as a project product manager, a sales & marketing manager and as a general manager, acquiring “profound knowledge of the Chinese market.”
Global OE tyre demand remained week in July, according to figures released by Michelin. However, the data also shows that, while global OE tyre demand continues to take a beating, there are signs of recovery in most replacement segments. However, Some of the least improved figures are in the European truck replacement market, where analysts described the status quo as “very poor.” Here July’s sales were -17 per cent down (-29 per cent year-to-date).
Michelin North America said its new Michelin LTX M/S2 tire for light trucks and SUVs offers significant improvements in safety, longevity and fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor, the LTX M/S.
When at the start of the year Japanese manufacturer Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. put the brakes on expenditure in response to the global economic and financial crisis, the package of measures implemented were received with a shock: layoffs, massive budget cutbacks, withdrawal from the Tokyo Motor Show, restrictions upon travel for management and so on. Later it became public knowledge that top managers voluntarily forewent their bonuses. Since that time a collective sigh of relief has been breathed that some of the restrictions didn’t turn out to be as severe as first anticipated, and for Toyo’s factories in particular the tide has turned. "Our plant utilisation in Japan is already approaching a hundred per cent," comments Tatsuo Mitsuhata (44), executive vice president Toyo Tire Europe. The company’s Japanese competitors are somewhat lagging in this respect and their recovery not occurring as quickly as Toyo’s.
Recent positive economic indicators coming out of Europe, Asia and the US have given analysts reason to forecast a recovery in the global logistics industry. However for global freight and parcel volumes and revenues to rebound significantly – and therefore the tyre sales which rely on logistics firms’ prosperity – analysts at Datamonitor suggest there will need to be “major improvements in consumer confidence, industrial output and subsequent international trade volumes.”
The three-year contract BFGoodrich signed with the United Steelworkers for its Tuscaloosa, US plant is said to have had one of the lowest number of ‘no’ votes ever experienced by the local union chapter. "'We are pleased with the contract. We are pleased with the vote," USW Local 351 president Jimmy Price told local media. Price, who was on the union's bargaining committee, added that he felt BFGoodrich was "very responsible to give a fair contract."
Retread manufacturing equipment and garage supply specialist Italmatic Srl may be based in Italy, but the company has long established global intentions. In addition to the Italian headquarters, a far eastern wing (50:50 joint venture, Italmatic Asia) was founded in Singapore in 1984 and the company also has a network of offices in the USA and the UK. Now, 40 years since the company produced its first buffing machines, the goal is to serve customers throughout Europe, Asia and North America with „full technological, training and marketing support.”
Continental Tire North America has the US market release of its Continental HTR2, an all-position wide base radial for construction vehicle applications. The HTR2 replaces the HTR wide-base tyre, offering 20 per cent more wear volume than the original, said CTNA. The tyre features a 22/32-inch tread, cut/chip resistant tread and sidewall rubber, broader shoulder […]
United Steelworkers locals approved a new three-year master contract with Michelin North America. The pact covers some 2,500 workers at MNA’s plants in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
For the second year in a row Michelin North America employees have pitched in and lent Habitat for Humanity a hand in the tyremaker’s home neighbourhood of Greenville County, South Carolina. Since the groundbreaking in May, more than 600 Michelin employees and Habitat volunteers have given nearly 5,000 hours to build the two houses in the town of Greer, not far from Michelin’s US headquarters. Michelin North America chairman and president Dick Wilkerson was on hand to present the keys to the new homeowners.
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