PERSONNEL
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.
At the beginning of March 2006 Amsterdam-based Granuband BV Finalised its takeover of Dash Recycled Rubber Inc. (DRRI) in Macon, Missouri, USA. The new company will be named Granuband Macon, LLC. The company will continue the same activities with the personnel who are already employed at DRRI. Following the takeover Granuband will increase production to 24 hours a day. The Missouri factory will produce several sizes of rubber for use things like artificial pitches and as rubber mulch.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced changes in its line-up of directors and corporate officers. The assignments will be effective on April 1, 2006.
Nokian has announced a number of changes at senior management level. Vice President, Purchases and Logistics, Mr. Kari-Pekka Laaksonen is appointed Vice President, Sales and Logistics as of 1 February 2006. Vice President, Nokian Car and Van Tyres, Mr. Antero Juopperi is appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy as of 1 March 2006. He is responsible for all Russian business activities, R&D and Corporate Development of the Nokian Tyres Group. Vice President, Finance and Control, Mr. Rami Helminen is appointed Vice President, Car and Van Tyres as of 1 March 2006.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone Canada’s GCR Tire Centers has earned ISO 9001:2000 certifications for five of its six medium truck retread plants. The company’s retreading facilities in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia; Moncton, New Brunswick; Sudbury, Ontario; Paradise, Newfoundland; and Farnham, Quebec, achieved the requirements of the international quality management system. The sixth – located in Quebec City, Quebec – is expected to receive its certification later this year. “We are proud of the dedication demonstrated by all of our plant personnel during the entire implementation process,” said Marcel Leclair, the company’s business manager for retread operations. “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers this added quality assurance.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging all employers involved in tyre servicing to assess the risks associated with changing OTR/earthmover tyres. The announcement follows a fatal accident, near Sandwich, Kent, on 27 January, which occurred during the repair of a puncture on a 1.5 metre diameter EM tyre. Kent Police and the HSE are continuing the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
The HSE is encouraging businesses to ensure that employees are “properly trained and competent to undertake such work.” According to the HSE there are two main hazards that can arise during tyre inflation: The violent separation of the component parts of the wheel, or an air blast from a ruptured or burst tyre.
Dunlop has announced that the Tech 3 Yamaha team will compete in the 2006 MotoGP World Championship on Dunlop tyres.
Riders will be Spaniard Carlos Checa, the most experienced rider on the MotoGP grid with ten years of top level experience of riding for different factory teams and on different tyre brands and the young British rider James Ellison. Both will be on board the latest official 2006 factory Yamaha YZR- M1 machines run by the very experienced Tech 3 team.
Apollo Tyres Ltd is to buy Dunlop Tyres International (Pty) Ltd (Dunlop South Africa) for US$62 million. The all-cash deal will see Apollo take on 100 per cent equity for 2.9 billion rupees (£37.3 million). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in both countries, including that of the South African Competition Commission, and a number of conditions. The Durban, South Africa-headquartered company also owns subsidiaries in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. The news follows speculation that Apollo Tyres was interested in purchasing Dunlop Zimbabwe.
The 2006 Autosport/Aftermarket Show confirmed its position as the largest dedicated motorsport exhibition in Europe with 94,000 visitors in total. According to the organisers, 27,000 of these were trade visitors, an 8 per cent increase on 2004.
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