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Dongah Tire & Rubber Acquires Avon Automotive Vibration Business

Automotive industry rubber products supplier Dongah Tire & Rubber has announced the December 31, 2008 acquisition of Avon Automotive’s Vibration Management Systems (VMS) business, which is headquartered in the Wiltshire town of Chippenham. The VMS business designs, manufactures and supplies engine and suspension mounts, mass dampers, tank track pads and other vibration management products to leading global automotive and defence customers in Europe and North America.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Announces New Sizes in Sport Maxx Range

A year on from the launch of the company’s Sport Maxx TT range, featuring Kevlar in its construction, Dunlop has unveiled an extended range of sizes that make it possible to apply this acclaimed technology to a wider range of performance cars. It is now available in 21 significant new sizes ranging from 195/40R17 to 245/45R18, adding to the 20 popular sizes available at launch.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gas Restrictions Stop Production at Hankook’s Hungary Plant

Production at Hankook Tire’s Dunaujvaros factory in Hungary drew to a halt on January 7, reports the Hungarian MTI news agency, after national restrictions were imposed upon certain industrial users of natural gas. According to MTI, Hankook spokeswoman Katalin Roy said production will restart on the evening of January 9. The restrictions were put in place after supplies of gas from Russia, which reach Hungary via the Ukraine, completely stopped on January 6.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Uses Autosport Show to Publicise 2008 Victories

Dunlop Tyres has brought together a selection of winning motorsport machinery at the Autosport International Show, which opened at the NEC in Birmingham to Trade visitors today. The show continues through the weekend, opening to the public on Saturday.

The Birmingham-based manufacturer is displaying the Le Mans Endurance Championship winning Ferrari F430 GT2 on their stand at the NEC from 8th to 11th January. The Ferrari clinched the international championship running on development Dunlop tyres for the second year in succession.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Meeting Fails to Resolve Lockout at Factory Supplying Apollo Tyres

A meeting held on January 7 to discuss the lockout at the PTL factory in Kalamassery, India, which exclusively supplies Apollo Tyres, has failed to find a viable means of ending the standoff between management and unions. Following the breakdown of talks trade union leaders allegedly decided to hold a meeting of their own the following day.

The lockout began on December 6, 2008, following what Apollo Tyres referred to as “negative and non-cooperative attitude of workmen”.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Schaeffler Concludes Takeover of Continental AG

The Schaeffler Group has completed its planned takeover of Continental AG, paying 75 euros per share to the depositary banks of those who tendered their shares to Schaeffler. As a result of all the recent share trading, Schaeffler Group holds 49.90 per cent of the voting stock of Continental AG and is therefore the company’s largest shareholder. At the peak of the complicated transaction Schaeffler Group held up to 90 per cent of Conti stock, although Schaeffler has now transferred the additional shares tendered to financial institutions. The European Commission gave clearance for Schaeffler to go ahead with its plans to buy into Continental AG on 19 December 2008.

“The conclusion of the takeover clears the way for integrating the companies quickly and in a pragmatic manner. Against the backdrop of the financial crisis and the market changes in the automotive industry, both companies are facing great challenges and have no time to lose. Constructive cooperation and concentration on factual issues and business matters is all important now. This is also what our staff and customers expect from us”, explained Dr. Juergen M. Geissinger, Schaeffler Group president and CEO.

In the company’s completion statement Dr Geissinger again failed to define Continental AG’s highly profitable tyre and rubber businesses as “strengths.” While he did remark that the combined companies will bring together “Schaeffler’s strengths in mechanical, mechatronic and precision components for engines, transmissions and chassis and Continental’s strengths in electronics and software systems for engines, chassis and vehicle interiors” the fact that he did not mention tyres or rubber products means there are still question marks over the future of these parts of the business.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Employees Give Conti the Thumbs Up

Unhappy in your job? Go and work for Continental. A survey undertaken in Germany indicates that workers at Continental are happier with their employer than the ‘industry benchmark’. And while Conti doesn’t state that its staff spring out of bed each morning with an unquenchable enthusiasm for the day’s work that lies ahead, it comments that the findings of the “BASICS live” employee survey conducted by the University of Manheim, in collaboration with the tyre and automotive components manufacturer, show Conti to have faired far better than the benchmark results in several subject areas.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Customer Strikes it Lucky at Shaw Tyres

Shaw Tyres in Oldham, part of Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships, has given one lucky customer, John Rowley, a financial boost this new year as a result of a free prize draw held in store. Rowley who has been a loyal Shaw Tyres customer for the last 10 years, won £250 of Argos vouchers after he bought Bridgestone tyres for his Volkswagen Passat and was entered into the free draw. Steve Leach, managing director at Shaw Tyres which is celebrating 25 years of the family-run business, commented: “It’s fantastic that one of our regular customers won the prize. Over the last 25 years of successful trading, we have built up a regular customer base who return to Shaw for the service and expertise we can offer them. Congratulations and happy spending John!”

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sainsbury’s Warn Of “Frosting” Crime

With temperatures in many parts of the UK consistently below freezing this week, Sainsbury’s Car Insurance is warning motorists to be on their guard against ‘frosting’ car crime, where opportunist thieves take advantage of drivers who leave their cars unattended whilst warming up the engine. The bank’s research suggests that up to 15,000 households could fall victim to ‘frosting’ this year.

While it is not clear if she was a victim ‘frosting’ Princess Beatrice will be kicking herself after leaving the key to her £17,000 1 Series BMW in the ignition. According to the RAC website Westminster Police are investigating reports the princess’s car was stolen after she left it unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Al Rawas Signs Emrald Industrial Tyre JV in Oman

Al Rawas Auto LLC, part of the Oman-based ASB Group of Companies, has agreed to distribute Emrald branded industrial tyres in the region. The deal also sees the company take an equity stake in Emrald Resilient Tyre Manufacturers Pvt Ltd, the flagship company of the Emrald Group of Companies, India. According to local news reports, “both the groups want to expand significantly in this market of industrial tyres and want to establish the brand as a leader in this fastest growing Middle East market.”

As a result of the marketing joint venture the companies will open exclusive marketing offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia in addition to the first one in Muscat in order to develop a “complete network of sales and service for catering to the requirements of this fast-growing market.”

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

RAC Ranked Top Roadside Service Provider in J.D. Power Study

It’s a hat-trick – the results of the latest J.D. Power and Associates UK Roadside Assistance Study are out, and the RAC has, for a third consecutive year, ranked highest in satisfying UK motorists requiring emergency roadside assistance. The study, now in its eleventh year, measures customer satisfaction with roadside assistance services by examining three factors: timing (the time taken for help to arrive and time taken at the scene); mechanic/vehicle driver (which includes items such as appearance, courtesy and ability to do what was needed); and operator/call centre (including friendliness, reassurance and time taken to answer the phone).

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

China’s Sailun Company Latest to Join TRIB

TRIB, the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, continues to become ever more international. The latest member to join the organisation is China’s Sailun Company, Ltd. The addition of Sailun brings TRIB’s membership to nearly 500 members in 49 countries.

“TRIB continues to grow internationally as more and more companies in the new tyre and retread industries throughout the world realise that TRIB is the only international retread industry association representing new tyre manufacturers, retreaders and tyre repair companies,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s managing director.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

McPherson Ltd Selects Bridgestone and Truck Point Partnership

Bridgestone and Truck Point have won a four-year contract to supply Bridgestone truck tyres and service to the McPherson Ltd fleet in the UK. The fleet distributes prestigious alcoholic beverages for the whisky industry and also offers general haulage services via multiple locations.

Under the terms of the agreement, which took effect on 1 January 2009, Bridgestone UK will provide full supply of replacement truck tyres and total tyre management service through its national Truck Point service network.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Zeus Releases Tri-Lingual Brochure Range

OTR and industrial tyre filling and puncture proofing solutions supplier Zeus has published a range of information brochures that offer a helpful introduction to the fundamental technologies employed in its products and their application and benefits. The brochures are initially available in English, French and German.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Upcoming Metzeler Race Tyre to Benefit from Interact Technology

When you’re in the business of race tyres, fast is good. That is why Metzeler operates what it calls the ‘Pure Laptime’ project’ – regardless of a rider’s skill, the tyre should reduce not only his best lap times, but also overall race times, thanks to a constant performance to the very end. Metzeler says that its newest race tyre advances this quest one step further.

In spring Metzeler will release the latest incarnation of its Racetec tyre onto the UK market. Full details of the tyre will be made available closer to its launch date, however pre-release information made public at last October’s Intermot show in Cologne indicate that the new Racetec will be available in four compound variants, three for race and one for street usage, with a total of four front wheel and nine rear wheel sizes available.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors