Bridgestone UK Ltd has announced that it has extended its tyre supply agreement with NR Evans, based at Cross Hands. NR Evans Distribution is one of the biggest temperature controlled distribution companies in the UK, operating over 300 commercial vehicles and trailers from eight depots across the UK. They deliver over £500 million of chilled products every year.
The ‘hall of fame’ is a uniquely American way of showing esteem to a person or company; typically, only those who display exceptional skill or merit in their specialty area are admitted. It is thus with pride that Pirelli has announced its Agro business unit has been admitted into the John Deere Hall of Fame.
Following Bridgestone Americas’ announcement that its Firestone brand would exit the IndyCar series at the end of the 2011 season, race teams met and confirmed their resolve to remain loyal to Firestone and seek a means of retaining the tyre maker’s involvement. This determination has paid off – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and IndyCar have announced that Firestone will continue to serve as the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2013 race season.
The Indycar series is held in equal high esteem by US motor racing aficionados as Formula One is in other parts of the world, and as has been the case for the Bernie Ecclestone run championship, vehicles racing in Indycar have been fitted with tyres produced by Bridgestone companies for a good number of years. But the similarities do not end there; more than a year after the withdrawal from Formula one was announced, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) stated it has “mutually agreed” with Indycar to end the sponsorship and supply contract for its Firestone brand – a partnership it describes as “one of the most successful in all of motorsports” – at the end of the 2011 season.
Maxxis International’s involvement in motorcycle motorsport continues in 2011 with a renewal of its association with two factory teams. The company will continue as headline sponsor of the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship until the end of the 2013 season and has renewed its partnership with Lincolnshire-based Maxxis Henderson LPE Kawasaki. The team, says Maxxis International, is going from strength to strength with rising Estonian MX1 star Gert Krestinov signing up for his second season in the UK as part of the Official Kawasaki Motors UK motocross team.
Autodata, a leading provider of technical information to the motor trade recently doubled the size of its Maidenhead headquarters. The expansion plan included the relocation of the firm’s warehousing facilities and a complete refurbishing of its offices and reception area. The expansion represents an investment of some £2 million.
Colin Meikle has been appointed by Cam Systems as strategic client manager. He will be responsible for developing major client initiatives to maximise service and efficiency benefits for customers and drive innovation into the tyre industry.
With over 13 years’ experience in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) consulting, Meikle has been instrumental in implementing SAP and Microsoft Dynamics business solutions in retail and wholesale sectors.
Preparations for Michel Rollier’s eventual departure from Michelin are to commence after the Group managing general partner expressed his intention not to complete his term of office. According to Michelin bylaws this would occur when Rollier turns 72, however in agreement with the company’s Supervisory Board the 67-year old intends to recommend shareholders elect Jean-Dominique Senard –one of the company’s two non-general managing partners elected in May 2007 – to replace him as managing general partner. Shareholders are expected to vote on this at the Extraordinary Meeting scheduled for May 13, 2011. At this meeting shareholders will also be invited to approve resolutions to adjust the Group’s corporate governance procedures, Michelin notes.
Lodge Tyres technician John Lane, based at the firm’s Walsall branch, recently became the 500th technician to attend and pass the Vehicle Roadside Technician training provided by Bridgestone UK Ltd, training department.
Pirelli has announced that it will fit its Diablo Supercorsa tyres to the Ducati 848 Evo in the Ducati 848 Challenge – a new official partner of the MCE British Superbike Series 2011. Ducati is a long-time partner of Pirelli, with “an exclusive 100 per cent original equipment fitment deal.” Pirelli also recently agreed terms with the British Superbike and Supersport classes for sole tyre supply until 2015. The 848 Challenge will visit five British Superbike rounds and also go on tour to Monza and Assen. The Diablo Supercorsa has “broken numerous records in this year’s British and World Supersport Championships,” says Pirelli. Full 848 Challenge Series listings can be found below.
When this year’s DTM touring car masters’ series gets underway at Germany’s Hockenheimring on May 1 the competing cars will take to the track on Hankook tyres. The Korean tyre maker confirms it has signed an agreement to take over from Dunlop as exclusive tyre supplier to the series for a three-year period.
Official Kumho Tires sources have shed further light on the company’s sponsorship activities. Tyres & Accessories reported yesterday on the company’s yet to be finalised plans to increase its football sponsorship activities in Europe through a premium partnership deal with a team in Germany’s Bundesliga. We also stated Kumho’s intention to withdraw from the Formula 3 Euro Series at the end of the 2011 season. According to official information subsequently received, at this point in time no firm decision has been made regarding Kumho’s commitment to the championship following the current season. Official negotiations for the 2012 Formula 3 Euro Series will commence soon. The tyre maker is still considering its sponsorship options in Europe, and these apparently include both motorsport and other sporting codes, such as football.
In recent months, Marangoni Retreading Systems has taken on a number of new partners in the Middle East and signed agreements with a number of important retreaders within the region, including Al Zahem Industries in Kuwait. Through this particular contract, Marangoni Retreading Systems has been able to enter the Kuwaiti market with the backing of the experience and skills possessed by the country’s sole retreader.
TMD Friction Group has announced plans for the acquisition of bt Bremsen Technik. TMD Friction has been a minority shareholder of bt Bremsen since 2001. On 16 December Derek Whitworth, president and CEO of TMD Friction Group, Luxembourg, and Dieter Goldbach, managing director, bt bremsen Technik GmbH, Rosbach (Hessen, Germany) jointly announced TMD Friction’s acquisition of the remaining 51 per cent of bt Bremsen. The transaction also includes the business of bt Brake Technology of America, registered in Florida.
Sailun Tyres has begun to appoint new distributors for the company’s truck tyre range as part of the firm’s new European distribution strategy. The Sailun team, led by Martin West, report that they have recently received substantial orders from two European distributors – Intergomma in Italy and Grupo Soledad in Spain. Presenting the Sailun philosophy of “quality and technology”, West has been stressing that Sailun is pitched at the top end of the premium economy tyre sector.
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