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UK University Offers First Postgraduate REACH Course

With the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) legislation in effect since June 1, it is important to ensure that personnel responsible for implementing and managing their company’s compliance with the legislation have a correct understanding of what is required. The use of chemicals will have to be registered with a technical dossier and some substances will also require a chemical safety report and assessment.

The University of Hull is currently the only university in Europe to be offering an accredited Postgraduate course in the management of the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH). The first day of teaching in the initial course began only days after the legislation came into force, on June 4, 2007, and each course consists of four one-week modules delivered by leading experts, as well as an industrial placement that can be carried out at the delegate’s own workplace. The course can be completed in full, as individual modules or on individual days. The cost is £300 for one day or £4,000 for the full course, exclusive of VAT. A Postgraduate Certificate is awarded upon completion of the full course.

24th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Praised in Independent Tests

Bridgestone’s Potenza RE050A, which Bridgestone reports is from the same high-performance range as official F1 tyres, was a top performer in Evo magazine’s 2007 tyre test, while the Turanza ER300 was also praised in the annual Auto Express tyre test.

The RE050A performed well across all nine disciplines in the Evo test, and was particularly strong in wet braking, and curved and straight-line aquaplaning. Evo personnel used quantitative and qualitative data to analyse the performance of nine different tyres from leading manufacturers. The RE050A finished with an impressive 92.7 per cent overall score, less than four per cent behind the overall winner.

The magazine described the RE050A as “on the pace in both the wet and dry tests,” with driver Jethro Bovingdon particularly impressed with its “very predictable” performance on the dry handling track.

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bert Stellinga Leaves Vredestein

Career Tracks, Company News, Product News

Vredestein (UK) Ltd managing director, Bert Stellinga, left the company on Friday 7 September. According to company officials, there are no plans to appoint an acting managing director and are no immediate candidates for the newly vacated position. Tyre & Accessories understands sales and administrative roles will be headed up from within the existing team while a suitable replacement is found.

13th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel Founder Resigns

Amtel-Vredestein N.V. (AV’s) has announced that Amtel founder and the Chairman, Dr Sudhir Gupta, stepped down as chairman of AV’s Supervisory Board on 31 August. Maxim Ignatiev, Chairman of the Board of Sport and Fashion Group (formerly Reebok Russia) and Amtel-Vredestein N.V. Vice-Chairman will become Acting-Chairman. Supervisory Board member, Tariq Chaudri, has also resigned as a director with effect from 4 September 2007.

5th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Preparing to Work with Integrated VDO

In the month following being granted consent to acquire the VDO Automotive division from Siemens, Continental AG has busied itself becoming acquainted with the new workforce and sharing its vision of VDO’s future within the company. According to Conti executive board chairman Manfred Wennemer, his company is interested in ensuring the larger Continental that emerges from the purchase of VDO can fully appreciate what the component manufacturer has to offer, and integrate this into Conti’s existing structure.

Wennemer has travelled to VDO’s production sites, including its headquarters in the Bavarian city of Regensburg, and has used these visits as an opportunity to reassure VDO workers that the company they work for will maintain its own identity. When the integration of VDO is complete Continental’s automotive parts division will be reorganised into three units; security-related parts, powertrain components, and information and entertainment systems. Wennemer indicates that at least one of these divisions will have their headquarters in Regensburg, and no distinction will be made between VDO and Continental employees when making personnel decisions.

“The Continental system will not necessarily win,” Wennemer said. “What will win is the best system and the best man for the job.”

31st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Modi Rubber Clawing its Way Back After Long Hiatus

After six idle years the Modi Rubber tyre factory in Modipuram, near the northern Indian city of Meerut, may soon again be a hive of tyre making activity. On August 20 local officials handed over the factory’s keys to the Modi Rubber managing director, Vinay Kumar Modi, and following this transaction Mr. Modi gave instructions for the plant and equipment to be made ready for use.

The managing director has high hopes that the Modi Rubber factory will soon be producing Modi Continental truck tyres. “It will happen in the next four to six months,” he told India’s Business Standard newspaper. In the near future Mr. Modi will commence negotiations with the German tyre major in the hope of re-establishing technical collaboration. Modi first produced Continental branded tyres in 1974.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to Sponsor SEMA Media Centre

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America will be the sponsor of the media centre at the 2007 SEMA Show. Located near the show floor and specifically designated for qualified journalists covering the event, the Continental Tire Media Experience provides access to exhibitor publicity and media materials, complete with newsroom equipment for those who file stories during the show. The centre will have Internet and phone access, computers, copy and fax machines; exhibitor media kits available for all media personnel; and interview and meeting areas, refreshments and lounge areas.

6th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Inaugurates New Plant in Dej, Romania

Trelleborg Automotive has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Dej, Romania. The increased production capacity from this is intended for Trelleborg’s existing customers Audi, Dacia, Ford, Peugeot and Renault in order to provide local supply to their Romanian and Eastern European plants.

“We have a strong global platform that will be further reinforced by this plant,” says Trelleborg President and CEO Peter Nilsson. “It is important to be close to the companies we supply to fulfill just-in-time requirements. This facility continues our commitment to the developing automotive sector in Eastern Europe.”

22nd June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Pushes the Boat Out

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.

22nd June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Turmoil Passed, CTNA Focus Shifts to Brand, Rebuilding Dealer Trust

(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.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Incentives Offered for Michelin to Open Thailand Regional HQ

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.

20th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Watts Becomes Certified Toyota Supplier

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.

15th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin China Launches Road safety Initiative

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.

8th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Expands US OE Sales Office

(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.

1st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Double Tyre Donations to Emergency Crews

(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.

24th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors