On June 15, Michelin presented awards to four of its suppliers in recognition of their exceptional contribution in 2010. Held in the tyre maker’s home town of Clermont-Ferrand, the ceremony followed a rigorous assessment of the Michelin Group’s portfolio of suppliers.
Following several years of having what it calls a ‘marginal presence’, Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced its return to the Dutch and Belgian markets. This Benelux comeback comes courtesy of a partnership with tyre reseller and fast-fit chain Profile Tyrecenter. Marangoni states it will now expand its business in co-operation with what is the largest local tyre fitting network in these two markets; under the agreement, Profile Tyrecenter takes on exclusive management of the Ringtread brand in the Benelux. The Ringtread tyres distributed there will be manufactured by Dutch retreader Frapa, a founding Profile Tyrecenter member.
Infinity used the opportunity of the Autopromotec 2011 fair held in Bologna in May to announce that it is developing a new pattern for its UHP range. According to the company, the new design has been in development for the last six months following consultation with what the tyre brand calls “the Infinity family” (its network of dealers and partners) with the aim of getting product feedback. This information is said to have been “fully incorporated in this new size and pattern development.”. The pattern is also said to feature a number of new sizes.
Makita, the power tool manufacturer, has chosen Breast Cancer Care as its first charity of the year. Makita hopes to raise £50,000 to support people affected by breast cancer. The firm chose Breast Cancer Care for their first partnership after several staff members were affected by the disease.
Transense has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Translogik Limited recently took a further order for “a number” of Truck Tyre Inspection Kits from Goodyear Dunlop for its FOS (Fleet Online Solution) Mobile programme. This relationship began 18 months ago when Goodyear Dunlop began integrating the Translogik tyre inspection probe to work with its FOS system.
At last week’s Challenge Bibendum in Berlin, Michelin announced its intention to partner with the City on the Move Institute (IVM). Launched by PSA Peugeot Citroën in June 2000, IVM is an organisation that seeks to bring forth innovative solutions for urban mobility and joins various parties together to work on related projects. The organisation seeks partnerships with companies capable of playing a decisive role in improving the quality of future urban mobility, and in this capacity Michelin and IVM will exchange ideas and discuss challenges and solutions facing sustainable mobility, an area of common interest to both.
Amongst the new products on display at the Autopromotec 2011 show in Bologna, which begins today, is the ‘sens.it’ universal replacement sensor for TPMS systems. This sensor, developed by German firm Alligator Ventilfabrik, is being brought to the market in partnership with Ireland’s TyreCheck and is said to cover 90 per cent of all original equipment TPMS. It is being shown at Autopromotec along with TyreCheck’s ‘Incontact’ tyre retailer sales and marketing solution.
Aston Martin refers to its V8 Vantage S as a “driver-focused” vehicle: “The Vantage S epitomises every attribute of the V8 Vantage and pushes the driver experience beyond what we have offered before,” exclaims Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin, “It combines dynamic exhilaration with all the charming finesse, beauty and practicality already associated with the Vantage range.” Bridgestone is thus pleased its Potenza RE050A has been selected as original equipment on the freshly released coupé and roadster. The Bridgestone tyre is fitted to the 430hp Aston Martin in size 245/40 on the front wheels and 285/35 on the rear.
In January the three partners in the GTY Tire Co. joint venture – Toyo, Continental, and Yokohama – reached a settlement regarding Toyo’s dismissal from the from the truck tyre joint venture the previous year, a move linked to its “business and capital alliance” partnership with Bridgestone Corporation. A year on and Toyo is again out, and this time permanently. The business structure of GTY Tire has been altered and Toyo’s 16 per cent share in the joint venture has been divvied up by the two remaining parties. Continental now holds a 59 per cent stake in the joint venture and Yokohama 41 per cent. As part of Toyo’s exit agreement, the tyre maker has the option of purchasing tyres produced at Continental's Mt. Vernon, Illinois factory – where GTY tyres were manufactured – for the coming year. The name of the now two-party venture has not yet been made public.
Omni United has announced the start of its “Mobilizing Hope” year-long partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) starting this month. Radar, the Singapore-based company’s flagship tyre brand, will donate 25 cents for each Radar tyre sold, with a committed minimum annual donation of $250,000.
In recent times TyreSafe has focused on rising levels of unsafe and incorrectly inflated van tyres on UK roads, and the safety organisation reports it has been able to significantly increase in van and truck expertise by signing up Mercedes-Benz Vans as its latest vehicle manufacturer member. Commenting on Mercedes-Benz Vans’ ambition of building the world’s safest vans, TyreSafe states their partnership is “ideally placed” to educate and remind van users about the importance of correct tyre care and maintenance.
Continental Tire the Americas has entered into a multi-year agreement covering the sale of Continental brand commercial tyres at TravelCenters of America (TA) and Petro Stopping Center sites throughout the US and Canada. This deal gives Continental access to 220 replacement tyre point of sale locations and truck maintenance centres. In addition, through TravelCenters of America's RoadSquad programme, emergency replacement tyres are available 24/7/365 from over 400 roadside assistance vehicles.
Nightfreight has secured a further two-year national distribution contract with Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Ltd. The contract renewal sees Vacu-Lug strengthen its 10-year partnership with Willenhall based Nightfreight as both a customer and supplier. Under the contract, Nightfreight is charged with the collection and outbound delivery of Vacu-Lug’s new retread tyres from its UK plant in Grantham to its nationwide customer base via Nightfreight’s network of regional hubs.
As Tyres & Accessories previously reported, Marangoni Retreading Systems has established operations in Kuwait in partnership with the country’s sole retreader, Al-Zahem Industries. The new Ringtread plant in Kuwait City was inaugurated on March 23 in the presence of local government representatives, the Italian ambassador Enrico Granara, Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Ulum, plus members of the media and representatives of numerous transport fleets.
Pirelli Tire North America has renewed its ‘Interactive Agency of Record’ relationship with independent interactive agency Rosetta through 2012. Rosetta began developing an interactive advertising and marketing programme for Pirelli last year, indentifying the tyre maker’s customers and determining how they can be best reached; as part of the strategy developed as a result, Rosetta led Pirelli's search and online display marketing efforts in 2010, the first consistent digital programme Pirelli has executed in North America.
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