PERSONNEL
Firestone will once again support Bicton College in their efforts to improve the lives of farmers in developing countries. A 1962 Fordson Super Dexta was restored to its former glory by a team of Bicton College agricultural engineering students, in a ‘24-hour challenge’ in April this year. This involved fully restoring the engine, steering, hydraulics and brakes in only one day.
(Akron/Tire Review) Plant closings, union battles, multiple management changes, low fill rates, irate dealers, shifting directions…the last five years have been difficult for Continental Tire North America. But, the past is the past. Since the appointment of Continental AG CFO Alan Hippe as president and CEO of CTNA in May 2005, CTNA officials point out, progress has been made. Even while it was sorting out its North American tyre production issues, Andreas Gerstenberger, who joined CTNA in September 2003, was leading a virtual transformation of the company’s marketing and sales group. It was not, as he himself admits, a smooth road, and it wasn’t until 2005 that many key issues were settled.
A working group from Thailand’s Board of Investment has proposed granting Siam Michelin tax incentives to aid the company – a partnership between the Michelin Group and the Siam Cement Group – establish a regional operating headquarters within Thailand. The proposed establishment would cost an estimated Bt88 million (£1.38 million) and would service the far-east region.
Board of Investment deputy secretary general Hiranya Sujinai said the suggested incentives were earmarked for a regional operating headquarters that could supply raw materials and parts for Michelin tyres, conduct research and development, promote regional sales and marketing as well as to provide training programmes for Michelin personnel in a number of countries including China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
Watts Industrial Tyres was recently names as one of 20 select suppliers who achieved “Certified” status at Toyota’s annual supplier meeting in Ancenis near Nantes, France. In addition the company was one of only 13 suppliers presented with a special award for delivering 100 per cent of product to line on time over the assessed 12-month period.
Toyota Industrial Equipment S.A. (TIE SA) has grown substantially since the factory was built in Ancenis, near Nantes, on the West coast of France, and produced its first forklifts in 1996. TIE introduced its Certification process in 2004, with scores awarded to its suppliers for their performance in four key categories, quality, cost, delivery and environmental management. Watts Industrial Tyres achieved an overall score of 94 per cent for 2006 with Toyota awarding “Certified” status to those suppliers who achieve 90% or higher.
In keeping with the company’s global policy of promoting road safety, Michelin has launched a major campaign in China, a move the company views as important in light of the country’s rapidly expanding motorway network. Michelin’s Chinese campaign is based on two initiatives:
The first of these is a short television programme called the Michelin Safety Club. Company mascot Bibendum takes on the role of presenter for this show, offering information and advice on road safety. This four-minute presentation will be broadcast on various TV channels in six Chinese provinces during automotive news programs, reaching an estimated target audience of about 5 million people.
Complementing the television campaign is a 58-page booklet, the Michelin Safety Brochure. With a print run of 50 000 copies, this brochure will provide a variety of information and advice on road safety. It will be distributed to Michelin China personnel, to students of driving schools in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenyang, as well as to consumers through Michelin brand distributors in China.
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA Inc. has hired new key personnel at its OE sales office in Detroit. Former Ford product development engineer Gregory Dabkowski joined Kumho as Ford account manager. Dabkowski has spent the last 29 years at Ford, where he managed successful launches of key Ford programs.
In his new position, Dabkowski will be responsible for managing and coordinating Kumho’s tyre development and launch activities with Ford. He will also advise on commercial, quality, product design and marketing issues related to Ford programs. Dabkowski earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan at Dearborn.
David Dobradenka joined Kumho as OE quality manager. He has more than 14 years of quality engineering and management experience with automotive suppliers. He had been quality manager at ABB Corp. in Auburn Hills, Mich.
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America plans to double the number of tyres it will donate to local fire and EMS departments as part of its Driving America’s Safety program. The company has already donated tyres to 25 first-responders this year.
Beginning today, communities and individuals can nominate their local fire and/or EMS teams to receive a set of new Michelin tyres. Nominations will continue through Nov. 23. For 2008, MNA will donate 50 sets of tyres to local first responder units.
Recycled rubber products manufacturer Dash Multi-Corp has selected Granutech-Saturn Systems to provide equipment and support for its new crumb rubber facility in Portland, Oregon. The 72,000 sq ft facility, that has cost more than US$13 million to build and is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2008, will be fitted with parallel crumb rubber lines manufactured by Granutech-Saturn. This equipment will produce around 3.5 million pounds of crumb rubber per month when it initially comes online, an amount that should exceed 5 million pounds a month when full capacity is reached.
Although the commonly held perception of Eastern Europe is principally that of a low overhead production base from which tyres are exported to western markets, statistics released by Michelin Romania show that 30 per cent of this branch of the Michelin group’s turnover is now generated from sales in the Balkan region. And sales are growing; Michelin Romania estimates that the division will have an annual turnover amounting to about 325 million euro, 25 per cent higher than the 260 million euro turnover attained last year.
Amtel-Vredestein has announced the appointment of new directors in the company’s Russian division. J. Anisimova has taken on the role of personnel department director and V. Ignatyev has been selected as the company’s new director for sales and marketing in Russia.
Automotive Skills has won a major bid for a Women & Work project for the UK retail motor industry – part of a wider funded Women & Work Sector Pathways Initiative. The £10 million initiative is designed to encourage women to consider careers in traditionally male-dominated professions. With an average of less than 20 per cent of the motor industry workforce made up by women, one of the key challenges facing the sector is how to attract a more diverse workforce which can contribute to increased productivity and performance and develop new ideas and improved methods of working.
Michelin Group shareholders have expressed their support for the company’s decision to end the production of tyres at its factory in Portharcourt, Nigeria. This decision has been one that has attracted much questioning from manufacturing sector stakeholders, as the reasons behind Michelin’s withdrawal have been shrouded in uncertainty and rumours have abounded that it must in some way be liked to existing security risks for French personnel at the plant. A recent rumour alleges that a French national employed by Michelin was kidnapped and a ransom of an undisclosed amount was required before his release.
The versatility of utility, pickup and 4×4 vehicles can be increased, following the introduction of a new version of the Easyloader Tail Lift from Penny Hydraulics, which can handle loads up to 550kg. Using a tail lift for loading and unloading enables operators to comply with manual handling regulations as well as reducing the risk of damage to vehicles and personnel.
Titan Internatinal Inc has announced that the company successfully secured a $200 million senior unsecured five-year bond on 28 December 2006 that allowed it to pay off its revolving credit facility. However the manufacturer also warned that its farm business was down at least $75 million in 2006 and that it may report a negative gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2006.
Kraiburg Austria has appointed a new management team for its Retreading Materials business unit, with Frank Gregory becoming sales director. The move took effect on 1 January and saw the eight-year Kraiburg veteran promoted from the position of sales manager Central Europe.
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