PERSONNEL
Websites dedicated to motor racing are suggesting that there may soon be a change of personnel in the Bridgestone Formula 1 team, with Kees Van der Grint coming more to the fore. Van der Grint has extensive experience in the car design and motorsports arena, in karting, Formula 3 and Formula 3000 before moving up to Formula 1. His recent assignment with Bridgestone has involved close liaison with Michael Schumacher, who is retiring at the end of the 2006 season.
(Akron/Tire Review) As promised, the United Steelworkers offered its counter to a master contract proposal laid out by Goodyear last week. The counterproposal was issued late on 15 September, and industry observers note that they were considerably different than the tyremaker’s offer, leading to concern that the two sides remain far, far apart. The union’s plan calls for protected status for all Goodyear plants, wage and benefit increases, and protection of retiree benefits, while Goodyear offered protected status to all but two of its plants, cuts overall employment by 10 per cent, and seeks cuts in wages, benefits and retiree benefits.
Tyres & Accessories has learnt that Michelin is planning to investment a double-digit million pound figure in its Baldovie, Dundee production facility. Yesterday the manufacturer announced the Dundee factory is to keep annual production at 6.5 million units, but plans to lay off almost 10 per cent of its workforce.
Michelin’s Baldovie production plant produces Michelin, BFGoodrich and Kleber passenger car tyres exclusively in the 13 – 15-inch range.
The role of introducing Pirelli’s “Truck Tyres in Revolution” slogan fell to UK managing director, Dominic Sandivasci. “When you think of Pirelli, truck tyres is not the first image that comes to mind. That’s about to change,” he explained. Why now? “Because we’re ready,” comes the reply. According to Sandivasci the company known as the “Giorgio Armani of the tyre industry” is now poised to attack the truck replacement market and go for growth. In short the Italian manufacturer is looking for “ways of working that go beyond existing partnerships.” And this basically means rejuvenating its position in the truck tyre market. One way the company is seeking to achieve this is by transferring the success of its Pirelli driver scheme into the truck arena, while another is the launching a new online tyre management system – B2Fleet.
Michael Schumacher increased his title chances by winning the German Grand Prix this weekend, leaving title rival Fernando Alonso struggling in fifth place after lumps reportedly fell from his tyres. The Hockenheim crown was Bridgestone’s 100th win of the 165 Grand Prix races it has participated in. “We improved the car so it’s a package which is the reason why we can perform as we do perform. Although I have to say it was a bit of a surprise being that much in front,” said Bridgestone-equipped race-winner Michael Schumacher. The Ferrari of Felipe Massa took second place on Bridgestone tyres.
Following Indian manufacturer, Apollo Tyres’ announcement that it has officially completed its acquisition of Dunlop International (DI) Tyres & Acccessories’ Southern African editorial partner, SA Treads, flew to DI’s headquarters in Durban to interview CE Mike Hankinson, MD Pierre Dreyer and Apollo joint managing director and CEO, Neeraj Kanwar.
(Akron/Tire Review) Marangoni Tread North American (MTNA) says it has made training a priority for 2006 and beyond, launching its Ringmaster Training Program this year for MTNA retreaders. In the two sessions already held, Ringtread retreader production and sales staff traveled to MTNA’s Nashville headquarters for seminars and hands-on training.
During the Essen show Bandag representatives announced that Reifen Wondraschek had become one of its members. Company representatives said they “greatly appreciate the knowledge and expertise built up by Reifen Wondraschek since its foundation back in 1935.” The company specialises in the distribution and retreading of tyres across the Austrian market. The company’s highly trained personnel operate from five service stations.
At the Reifen ‘06 exhibition in Essen, Germany, Bandag has announced a strategic partnership with one of Austria’s best-known tyre companies, Reifen Wondraschek. The agreement with the tyre specialist from Linz reinforces Bandag’s penetration of the region, bringing its tyre products and services much closer to the existing and potential customer base.
The Nokian-owned Vianor AB tyre retail chain is to partner with Amring Verkstäder AB in Sweden. Following the agreement, nine Amring outlets have joined the Vianor tyre chain and become Vianor Partner outlets as of 2 May 2006. The agreement gives Amring outlets the rights to utilize Vianor brand and chain marketing, Vianor’s call centre services and personnel training programmes.
Making an appearance as an exhibitor at Reifen 2006 will be Far-East based Sumo Tyres who will promote their growing range of Firenza radial truck tyres and launch a new Firenza high performance pattern at the same time.
As a thriving division of the Stamford Tyres group of companies, Sumo will be using the show to further enhance the company’s Firenza brand in the European market and an extensive collection of truck tyres will be on display for inspection by both existing and potential new customers.
At first sight it is difficult to tell whether the Tires & Rubber show, held for the ninth time in Moscow recently, is a show for the industry or the trade. Compared with the number of new tyre manufacturers, material suppliers, machinery and equipment providers, the tyre trade seems to have gained some ground at this year’s show compared to 2005. This statement applies to Russian as well as European companies.
For example this year Dutch company Van den Ban Autobanden was exhibiting in Moscow for the very first time. The goal was to introduce the company and sound out the market. “First we want to present ourselves here,” explains commercial manager Cyril Versteeg in an interview with Tyres & Accessories. In fact, there have been business contacts with Russian companies in the past but Van den Ban concentrated mainly on the Eastern markets of the recently enlarged European Union. “These markets are more accessible,” Versteeg adds. At Van den Ban’s headquarter in Hellevoetsluis there are sales personnel that speak all the local languages of these markets, he adds.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on Wednesday said it plans to close an automobile tyre plant in the United Kingdom and a bicycle tyre plant in Poland (Debica) in order to achieve combined annual savings of up to $50 million. The largest U.S. tyre company, which is based in Akron, Ohio, said it has begun discussions with union employees as a step toward shutting its Goodyear Dunlop United Kingdom passenger tyre factory in Washington, northeast England. This action is expected to create annual savings of approximately $20 million and result in charges of between $75 million and $85 million ($55 million to $65 million after-tax). The cash portion of this charge is estimated to be $35 million to $40 million.
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced a series of personnel changes in its R&D group. Lyn Lovell, previously director of government compliance and product performance, was named director of global technology planning, a new position created to “increase the speed at which new products get to market, maintain technical leadership, and ensure alignment with business needs,” according to Goodyear.
Kirkby Tyres operates from a three-acre site in Liverpool, close to John Lennon airport, and has grown to become one of the largest wheel and tyre wholesalers in Europe. For most of the UK, next working day delivery of stock items is the norm. The company has long-standing links with major players in the international tyre and wheel markets, which means that it can obtain products from a variety of sources.
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