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Goodyear Tells of Increased Market Share

Goodyear Dunlop UK and Ireland has released the claim that, despite challenging economic conditions, the company has managed to increase its car tyre market share by a margin of over 4 per cent in the last four months. Over the company’s four major brands, including European-developed Fulda and Sava in addition to the best-known Goodyear and Dunlop names, the manufacturer states that it reached a two year peak of 27.1 per cent of the market during the last third of a year.

Group managing director, Mark Brickhill said that the Birmingham-based company’s strong and diverse portfolio of brands has been the key to gaining market share in challenging conditions. While the rest of the market was declining by 0.6 per cent, Goodyear Dunlop’s December consumer sales were 6 per cent higher than in the same month in 2007. The company says that its share of Market has been growing steadily over the last four months, reaching its aforementioned peak in December.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Norway’s Fundo Wheels Declared Bankrupt

Norwegian manufacturer Fundo Wheels, original equipment tyre rim supplier to European vehicle producers, has been declared bankrupt. It is thought that the company’s 350 employees will lose their jobs.

The company’s poor performance is said to be strongly linked to the global automotive industry slump. The company’s owners are still seeking fresh capital, and a bank has secured operations for a further month to enable the company to complete orders for Volvo and Audi.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop to Supply New BMW UK Contest

Headline brand and tyre suppliers to the 2009 Great and British Racing Festival, Dunlop has announced that the latest addition to the UK racing scene, the new ‘CSL Cup’ for BMW M3 E46 and CSL racing models will be part of the Festival’s calendar this year. The Great and British is one of the UK’s premier race series, comprising racing from Radical, Mini and the Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Cup.

John Thorne of Thorney Motorsport, the promoter of the CSL Cup series, was pleased to secure the spot on the Festival’s bill: “We’re delighted. The CSL Cup is a new series for 2009 so to be awarded the opportunity to appear on such a prestigious series with an enviable calendar is really quite groundbreaking.

Dunlop Great and British Schedule for 2009:

18-19 April: Rockingham
6-7 June: Brands Hatch
4-5 July: Donington Park
18-19 July: Castle Combe
22-23 August: Croft
26-27 September: Snetterton

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Michelin XHA2 Designed to Deliver Durability and Traction

The new Michelin XHA2 loader tyre, introduced in early January at the Intermat trade show’s press days, has been designed to accomplish three goals: reduce hourly operating costs, ensure that work continues smoothly and safely, and improve operator working conditions. The tyre is intended for loaders in quarries and cement plants and on construction and infrastructure worksites. The XHA2 will be officially unveiled at the Intermat 2009 building and construction trade show in April 2009. The tyre will be available in replacement markets around the world beginning in May 2009.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

China Sunsine Supplying Global Tyre Majors

China Sunsine Chemical Holdings is one of China’s largest rubber accelerator producers. At present the company possesses a total annual production capacity of 50,000 tons of rubber accelerators per annum, plus a further 10,000 tons of insoluble sulphur and 10,000 tons of anti-oxidant. These chemicals are sold to the leading global tyre manufacturers, including Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli, Sumitomo Rubber, Yokohama, Hankook, Cooper and Kumho. In China, the company supplies – amongst others – Giti Tire, Aeolus Tyre, Shanghai Tyre, Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber and Chengshan Corporation. Worldwide, China Sunsine boasts more than 400 customers in over 30 countries.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dates of Pirelli Carlisle Shutdown Announced

The dates for the shutdown of Pirelli’s factory in Carlisle have been confirmed – between February 24 and March 4, production at the plant will be cut to compensate for a dropping demand for passenger car tyres. The News & Star reports a company spokesman as saying “there will be a staged close down and restart commencing from February 24 until March 4. During this period it is anticipated there will be around six days shutdown per production department.”

According to the spokesman, Pirelli attempted to coincide the shutdown with the half-term school holiday break, but was unable to due to previous scheduled maintenance work.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Golf Event Raises $108,000 for Charities

The 2008 Michelin Pro-Am Charity golf tournament raised $108,000 for six charities in Greenville County, South Carolina, the company announced.

Hosted on 20 October, 2008, the event included Michelin suppliers from around the globe. Over the 19 years of the annual event, the Michelin Pro-Am Charity tournament has raised more than $1.5 million for local charities.

“Michelin’s commitment to the Greenville community comes from our core value of respect for people,” said Herb Johnson, director of community relations for Michelin North America. “Our suppliers understand and support this commitment, which allows this tournament to support organizations that are making a significant impact on the children and youth in our community.” (Tire Review/Akron)

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

How Does This Grab You?

General Tire was introducing a new logo and marketing campaign for its Grabber light truck and SUV tyre, using the slogan “unbridled fury”, so said Kenny Sergeant, of Speedfreaks, on General Tire’s stand at the Sema show.

Sergeant reminded visitors of the success that Grabber has enjoyed in off-road motorsports and General is bringing the same proven off-road competition technology to the light truck market with the introduction of the new DOT legal General Grabber.

A tough, three-ply reinforced body construction and a race-proven Duragen tread compound stand up to the rigours of off-road, as well as, highway conditions. General Grabber’s optimised tread design and multiple tread edges work to deliver great side bite and lateral traction – especially in off-road conditions. Puncture resistant sidewalls and a specially-designed rim protection rib assure the tyre can stand up to any terrain.

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Caterpillar Attack Not Threatening Plantation

A widespread outbreak of plant destroying caterpillars has yet to have any impact of Bridgestone Americas’ rubber plantation in Liberia, said the company.

“Firestone Liberia has not been affected to date by the caterpillar plague that is currently making headlines,” said Christina Gaines, director of pubic affairs for the company’s Firestone Diversified Products unit. “Our rubber trees are presently safe from this threat. We have received reports that the caterpillars appear to be attacking banana trees and other food crops. We will continue to work with the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture to monitor this situation.”

The Ministry reported that the outbreak has affected some 400,000 people in more than 100 villages. Reports say that the caterpillars are clogging wells and eating crops including banana, plantain, coffee and cocoa. “Definitely we have a crisis on our hands,” said U.N. Food and Agriculture Representative Winfred Hammond. (Tire Review/Akron)

30th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Revises 2008 Fiscal Projections Following EC Fine

Following the January 28 European Commission decision regarding the international marine hose cartel, Bridgestone has once more revised its consolidated financial projections for the 2008 fiscal year. The company anticipates net sales of 3,250 billion yen (£25.5 billion), an amount unchanged since it last revised its projections on December 22, 2008 and 170 billion yen (£1.3 billion) less than the company’s original 2008 year projection, announced on August 8, 2008. Operating income, at 118 billion yen (£926.7 million) and ordinary income of 64 billion yen (£502.6 million) also remain the same as the December 22 projection. Net income, however, is now projected to be 7.5 billion yen (£58.9 million), a reduction of 4.5 billion yen (£35.3 million) or 35 per cent from the December revisions. Last August the tyre major had anticipated net income of 66 billion yen (£518.3 million).

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Protyre to Supply BFGoodrich Rally Tyres in UK

Protyre Motorsport has followed up news of its agreement to supply Michelin track tyres in the UK and Ireland with the announcement of a new deal to supply BFGoodrich rally tyres to competitors in the UK. The range of tyres to be provided by Protyre Motorsport includes dry weather asphalt tyres which deliver both consistency and versatility; gravel tyres for the three categories of loose surface rallies with tyres that offer soft, medium and hard compound; and snow tyres for all the winter fixtures. Protyre Motorsport will also provide service, support and advice for competitors at key rallies in the UK during 2009.

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Tires Begin 2009 With Motorsport Triumphs

Kumho Tires’ motorsport season started off on the right footing following a win at the opening round of the 2009 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and its highest ever rank at the Dakar Rally.

Eugene Donelly, driving a Skoda equipped with Kumho rally tyres, competed in the A8 class (Over 2000cc, Group A) finishing in first place in the initial round of the Irish Rally, held in Galway on the weekend of 16-18 January. In addition to Donelly, three other vehicles equipped with Kumho rubber ranked first and second in N4 Class (fifth and sixth overall), and first in A7 Class (seventh overall) among 139 vehicles.

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Installing Europe’s Largest Photovoltaic Roof

Michelin will soon be the proud owner of Europe’s largest photovoltaic roof panel installation – the company plans to fit more than 147,000 square metres of solar panels on the roof of its facility in Cuneo, Italy. With annual production of nearly 10 million kWh, the panels will provide electricity for 2,000 inhabitants while reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by 1,200 tonnes a year. The photovoltaic power plant is scheduled to be operational in early 2010. It will be developed and operated by Frey Nouvelles Energies, a company that produces electrical power from renewable energy sources.

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cabot Chemicals Announces Closures and Layoffs

Specialty chemicals producer Cabot Corporation announced on January 28 that reduced sales have caused its fiscal first-quarter profit to drop 88 per cent versus the previous year. In hand with this news, the company announced it would cut 500 jobs, some 12 per cent of its workforce, as part of a comprehensive restructuring plan.

Net sales of US$652 million were recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, compared with $711 in the first quarter last year. This represents a decline of 8.3 per cent. Net income for the quarter was $4 million, as opposed to $36 million in Q1 2008.

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Names New Interim CFO

Following the announced departure of Dr. Alan Hippe from Continental AG and his appointment as CFO of ThyssenKrupp, the German tyre and automotive component manufacturer has announced a successor to fill Dr. Hippe’s shoes – for the time being. According to the German Press Agency, Continental manager Gérard Cordonnier will take on the job of acting CFO as of March 1. Cordonnier will assume this position in addition to his current role of financial chief of the company’s Interior division. He will not, however, become a member of Conti’s Board.

29th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors