Union OKs New Contract With Michelin
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.
North America
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Habitat for Humanity Benefits from Michelin NA Volunteers
International NewsFor 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.
Marangoni Promotes Rizzi
NewsMarangoni Tread North America has promoted Don Rizzi to be its first national sales manager. Rizzi, who joined Marangoni in 2005, will oversee both the sales and technical groups for Marangoni. (Tire Review/Akron) Related news: Marangoni cuts ContiTread ties in the Americas SmartWay approval for Ringtread pair Marangoni joins the RTA Marangoni’s Marge Connors […]
Bekaert Closes US Bead Wire Plant
NewsThe tyre manufacturing downturn in North America has claimed another victim. Bekaert has announced the closure of its Clarksdale, Mississippi bead wire plant. According to plant manager Gary Downey, the quantity tyre imports entering the US, and their affect on North American tyre production, has played a role in the decision to close the plant and eliminate 76 jobs. Production from Clarksdale will be integrated into Bekaert's Rome, Georgia, and Shelbyville, Kentucky facilities in the coming months.
Goodyear, Bridgestone say USW Talks Unaffected by Michelin Deal
NewsIn a press statement, Michelin North America reports that the three-year tentative agreement made with the United Steelworkers "meets the terms the company believes are necessary to retain its competitive posture and to help improve the viability of the BFGoodrich tyre manufacturing plants going forward.'' The contract, which covers Michelin owned BFGoodrich plants in Alabama and Indiana, was signed on August 15, and will now go before the USW executive boards at the two locations in question.
CTNA Announces Commercial Vehicle Tyre Division Staff Changes
NewsContinental Tire North America has announced a number of staffing changes within its commercial vehicle tyre division. Mike Leigner has been appointed the division’s regional sales manager for the southern region of the US, managing and overseeing the development of new business and the growth of existing accounts within a specified mini business for the […]
CTNA Exceeds Environmental Goal in First Year
Company NewsContinental Tire North America reports having officially exceeded its goal of increased compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership during its first year of participation. Continental first joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership in June 2008 as a Shipper Partner, committing to reduce its environmental impacts from ground freight transportation. In joining the partnership, the tyre manufacturer agreed to use the Freight Logistics Environmental and Energy Tracking (FLEET) Performance Model for Shippers to quantify its environmental performance level. Continental was then required to maintain a score of at least 0.5 within the FLEET Performance Model.
Bridgestone Americas Introduces Dueler A/T Revo 2
NewsThe next generation of all-terrain tyre in the Bridgestone Dueler family has been launched in North America, replacing a tyre line Bridgestone describes as having "set the standard for toughness, durability and quiet comfort." The Dueler A/T Revo 2 was first introduced to the market in July 2009 and is now available in 27 sizes from 15 through to 20-inch rim diameters.
Avoiding Stone Damage with Conti’s HTL1
NewsContinental’s HTL1 super wide trailer tyre was introduced into North American markets in early July, and the company reports that users there are already praising a particular benefit delivered by the on/off road and construction use tyre. Although most fleets choose a super single trailer tyre to reduce weight or increase fuel economy, Continental Tire North America states customers have reported the HTL1’s stone ejection system increases tyre longevity other super single trailer tyres they have used.
Just-auto publishes Fifth Edition of Global Tyres Market Review
Company NewsJust-auto has published a new report on the global automotive tyre industry, including revised forecasts for the market until 2016. The 91-page fifth edition reviews emerging trends, such as the rising interest in run-flat, UHP and what the report calls ultra-fuel efficiency tyres, and offers exclusive interviews with senior executives of Bridgestone, Continental and Goodyear. The report is available on the marketsandcompanies.com website for download at a cost of £575.
Cooper Supports “Rambling Rat” Child Poverty Aid Tour
NewsCooper Tire is supporting a charity expedition travelling across the world to highlight the plight of children living in poverty. Dubbed the “Rambling Rat”, Tim Dennis has travelled all the way across Europe, Asia and North America in a Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with Cooper’s rugged Discoverer STT tyres, which have successfully taken him some 44,000 miles across the harshest terrains on Earth.
Nokian Anticipates ‘Market Headwinds’ to Continue
NewsSales at Nokian Tyres decreased 34.6 per cent to 346.7 million euros in the half year between January and June 2009, and operating profit went down along with it; the company reports a 86.4 per cent decline in operating profit to 17.5 million euros. Net income during the half-year amounted to just 346.7 million euros, supported by a more robust second quarter in which profits of 191.1 million euros were generated.
Yokohama Rubber Sales and Earnings Down
Career TracksYokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., first quarter sales are down 22.7 per cent compared with the same period in the previous financial year. Yokohama's sales totalled 95.2 billion yen in the three months to 30 June 2009. The company's Tire Group sales slumped amid weak demand in Japan and in North America, western Europe, and “most other overseas markets,” according to the company. Although Yokohama posted tyre sales gains in the Russian and Chinese markets.
Michelin Supplies Harley-Davidson OE
Product NewsIn the US Michelin is to supply Harley-Davidson with the new Michelin Scorcher 31 tyre, Michelin’s first original equipment fitment for Harley-Davidson. Available exclusively as original equipment on four 2010 Harley-Davidson Dyna models, the all-new tyre was unveiled today at the Harley-Davidson summer dealer meeting in Denver. The new tyre carries both companies’ trademarks on its sidewalls and the signature Harley-Davidson logo carved into the shoulder.
“Michelin has specifically engineered this innovative and durable tyre to meet the high expectations of Harley-Davidson owners,” said Gary Midkiff, vice president of Michelin North America’s two wheel division. “Michelin is excited to build upon our successful relationship with Harley-Davidson as we launch this historic first original equipment fitment.”
Hayes Lemmerz Receives Daimler Truck Award
Product NewsHayes Lemmerz International has become one of a small number of companies acknowledged by Daimler Trucks North America for meeting its rigid quality requirements and expectations. This recognition came in the form of a Masters of Quality Award for 2008.
“It is a great honour for us to receive this high recognition for quality excellence from one of our valued customers,” said Donald Hampton, Jr., Vice President, North American Operations. “We are proud of our Akron facility’s accomplishments. Our Akron facility, like all of our global facilities, is committed to continuing to deliver world-class products to Daimler Trucks and all of our global customers.”
