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Firestone Liberia Celebrates Medical Centre Re-Opening

Firestone Liberia celebrated on December 12 the official reopening of the Firestone Medical Center at Duside, in the city of Harbel, as an inpatient facility. Several VIP guests attended the one-hour ceremony to commemorate this milestone, including Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and US Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

According to Bridgestone, the hospital was severely damaged during Liberia’s 14-year civil war and all of its medical equipment was either stolen or destroyed. The company adds that rebuilding and reopening of the hospital represents the fulfilment of one of Firestone Liberia’s commitments to the nation of Liberia under its investment agreement with the country.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

SmarTire Finalises Sale of Business Assets

SmarTire Systems has signed a definitive agreement to sell its business and related assets to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, the North American affiliate of Germany’s Knorr-Bremse Group. The December 10 transaction immediately incorporates SmarTire’s assets into Bendix’ electronic business unit, and proceeds from the sale will be held in a third party account subject to SmarTire obtaining shareholder consent at a meeting to be held in March, 2009. The company says it expects to apply all, or a substantial proportion, of the proceeds from the sale against its debt obligations. Following the transaction, SmarTire will change its name to TTC Technology, Inc.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Announces Finance Leadership Changes

Several changes have been made to the senior corporate finance staff at Goodyear Tire & Rubber. The company reports that Damon Audia, formerly vice president and treasurer, has been appointed senior vice president of finance and treasurer. His expanded role includes Goodyear’s investor relations and tax functions.

“Damon has been a key member of Goodyear’s finance organisation over the past four years, and he was particularly instrumental in the execution of the plans to refinance the company over the last several years,” said Goodyear executive vice president and chief financial officer Darren R. Wells. “He has demonstrated the type of leadership we need in this role as we address the challenges of today’s economy.”

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vredestein Banden B.V. to be Sold

Amtel Vredestein N.V. (AVNV) has announced that its subsidiary company OJSC Amtel-Vredestein (OJSC AV), the holding company of the group’s Russian business, is no longer able to satisfy its creditors’ demands. The AVNV executive board has determined that, due to the financial difficulties AVNV faces, it will not be able to provide any additional finance to OJSC AV. This development, says the company, may have “consequences for the going concern status of AVNV”, given a number of guarantees provided by AVNV in favour of the creditors of OJSC AV.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

‘Take a Longer Holiday’, says Michelin Canada

Around 3,500 workers at Michelin Canada’s factories in Nova Scotia have been asked to take extra holiday time to hep the company reduce production output. According to spokeswoman Lynn Mann, Michelin has already prolonged its normal holiday shutdown period by four days and has reassigned workers on some shifts to perform maintenance tasks. She added, however, that the changes being implemented in Nova Scotia have nothing to do with the problems facing the ‘Big Three’ vehicle manufacturers in the US – according to Mann, sales to General Motors, Ford and Chrysler account for less than five per cent of sales.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hans-Rudolf Hein Leaving BMW to join Bridgestone

According to his own words, Hans-Rudolf Hein – in charge of tyre and wheel development at BMW – will after 32 years turn his back on the automobile industry to join Bridgestone Europe at the start of next year. While he cites private reasons for the change, he also states that he’s always wanted to know what it’s like to work for a tyre manufacturer. Among other things, Hein will in his new position be responsible for representing Bridgestone’s point of view in various committees and organisations.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Gould Wins Pirelli Star Driver Award

Following two days of hard-fought competition in Cumbria, 21-year old Bristol driver Adam Gould has become the recipient of the Pirelli Star Driver Award. This honour was gained through winning the Pirelli Star Driver Shootout competition, held on December 11 and 12. In order to win, Gould participated in a range of tests that extended beyond his driving prowess; the judging panel also examined the contenders’ fitness, interview presentation skills and knowledge of the sport. Gould finished the weekend ahead of seven other hopefuls, and in addition to the kudos attached to the distinction of winning, Gould’s prize covers a full funding in the 2009 British Rally Championship.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Gets Two M-B Fitments

Continental AG has earned two fitments on 2009 Mercedes-Benz models. The new 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan will carry Continental ContiProContact radials in the U.S. market. The tyres will be fitted in size 255/45R18 99H or 255/40R19 100V XL all around, or in staggered combinations 255/45R18 99H (front) and 275/45R18 103H (rear) or 255/40R19 100V XL (front) and 275/40R19 101V (rear). The Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG will feature Continental CrossContact UHP in size 295/35R21 107Y XL. (Tire Review/Akron)

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Suzuki Withdraws WRC Team

Japanese manufacturer Suzuki has announced that it will not take part in next year’s World Rally Championship including its Junior counterpart, having competed in each of the last seven series. The company says that business concerns “caused by recent global economic turmoil” have caused it to review its financial commitment to the tournament.

A company statement said that “the organisation reviews every aspect of the operations and decided to focus on the core business functions such as the manufacturing system, environment technologies, and development of new-generation powertrains for cars. As a result, Suzuki concluded to suspend the WRC activities from 2009.” The team’s sponsors, which include Italian tyre giant Pirelli among their number, have agreed to end their current deals with the team.

15th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop India Problems Becoming a Political Issue

Dunlop India is becoming something of a political hot potato in the run-up to the election in the Lok Sabha, the country’s house of representatives. With the support of West Bengal politician Mamata Banerjee, company chief managing director Pawan Ruia is reported by the Times of India to be perhaps placing political pressure on the West Bengal government to gain Dunlop India additional concessions of a nature normally reserved for ‘sick’ units; that is, companies that at the end of any financial year have accumulated losses equal to or exceeding their entire net worth. And the government, says the Times of India, is holding its tongue on political grounds.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

West Bengal Government Denies Dunlop India Loan

Dunlop India’s bid for a 1 billion rupee “soft loan” to aid with the reopening of its Sahagunj plant has been turned down by the West Bengal government. The plant has been closed since 30 November and looks set to see in the New Year before work restarts. Labour minister Mrinal Banerjee told Indian news sources, including The Hindu, that the company cannot be helped as it is not “sick”.

Company chairman Pawan Ruia had demanded a series of incentives that he believed were due from promised state aid. The minister voiced the concerns of the factory’s 1,171 workers that Ruia would sell off the factory’s site. He told newspapers, “If he now sells the land with the support of a political party, we don’t know what will happen.”

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Commute by Car and Help the Environment

Could a tyre rolling over a stretch of road generate energy? According to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), Britain’s largest charity focused upon transport and the environment, a new tyre of road developed in Israel could become such a source of cheap power.

The engineers behind the project claim that a one-kilometre stretch of the power-generating asphalt will generate 400 kilowatts – enough power to run eight small cars. If the system was installed on every stretch of British motorway, adds the ETA it would generate enough energy to run 34,500 small cars.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Trials Show Michelin X One Maxitrailer Kinder on Rural Roads

Trials held over the last year are working towards developing a tyre system that can lesson the impact of timber trailers on rural and forest roads, thus reducing the need for road maintenance. To help reach this objective, timber haulier James Jones & Sons Ltd has been working with Michelin in Scotland, operating specially adapted Dennison and SDC trailers equipped with Tireboss central tyre inflation systems and Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres. The use of this combination equipment, reports Michelin, increases the tyres’ footprint, and in doing so reduces soil erosion and damage to roads and forestry land.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Tire USA Unveils First DOT Approved Drag Radial

Toyo Tire USA has introduced its first Department of Transport approved drag radial. Known as the Proxes TQ, the new tyre is specifically designed for high-horsepower muscle cars and street machines. The tyre was unveiled before a crowd of racing enthusiasts at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Tire Announces Tentative Agreement for Texarkana Factory

Cooper Tire’s four factories are still awaiting the company’s decision regarding its review of US operations, and each is naturally eager to place itself in the best position in terms of its long-term viability. Hot on the heels of the ratification of an agreement between Cooper and the USW regarding the Findlay, Ohio facility comes one for the factory in Texarkana, Arkansas. Cooper Tire announced on December 11 that it had reached a new tentative agreement with the USW Local 752L, which represents workers at the facility. Union members will cast their votes on the agreement on December 13. The USW chapter is currently working under an agreement that would not have expired until 2010.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors