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The Kumho Asiana Group has held its ‘5th Kumho Asiana Group Technology Awards Ceremony’ in South Korea. The ceremony in Seoul was attended by some 150 executives, including Kumho Asiana Group chairman Sam-Koo Park. This year the company’s technology award was presented to three employees from the Kumho Petrochemical rubber research team, along with team director Young-Hoon Koh. In total, ten teams were honoured with awards at the ceremony.
NHTSA has announced a voluntary recall by Bridgestone Americas of some 150,000 radial passenger tyres. Being recalled are 135,310 Firestone FR380 in size P235/75R15 produced between 4 June, 2006 and 8 September, 2007; and 26,941 LeMans Champion SE tyres in then same size P235/75R15, manufactured between 4 June, 2006 and 2 September, 2006.
NHTSA said the tyres were produced with insufficient tread base gauge, which could lead to vibration and groove cracking, while extended use could lead to tread distortion or tread separation. Bridgestone Americas is notifying owners and will replace the affected tyres free of charge. (Tire Review/Akron)
Toyo Tire & Rubber is continuing its search for an optimal location for a new Asia region tyre factory outside of Japan. The new facility, in which the company plans to invest more than 200 million euros, should be completed by 2010, and the following year is anticipated to produce around four million tyres, mostly passenger car products. Output from the new factory will mainly be directed to export markets.
The British Rallycross Drivers Association has unveiled the schedule for the 2009 Kumho Tyres British Rallycross Championship season. The 2009 championship will consist of eight rounds taking place over six weekends. The current financial climate as well as the need, wherever possible, to avoid date clashes with the European series and other UK rallycross meetings have been considered in the planning of the programme, said BRDA Chairman John Horton. These factors and the welcome return of the European Rallycross Championship to Britain have resulted in the 2009 calendar effectively offering a spring and autumn championship, giving competitors the possibility to spread their cost of competing and allowing time for family holidays in the summer months. The Championship will also maintain its strong links with the Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Championship; the latter’s final round forming the first round of the BRC at Mondello Park on March 8. The two series plan a second joint event at Pembrey in September.
Goodyear has announced an end to Saturday production at its Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg factory. This decision, taken as a result of falling demand for commercial vehicle tyres, follows an announcement in early October that the plant’s Sunday shift was being suspended.
Company spokesperson Jean-Paul Bruck has commented that the further reductions in production at the factory have been scheduled due to existing stock levels. Following the October cut in reduction stock levels fell, however they are again stagnating. “We are concerned that they will rise further,” Bruck commented. “We want to produce no tyres [that are] already in inventory.”
Canadian Tire has announced that it will open two experimental stores that will push the boundaries of which products a tyre retailer chooses to stock. The “smart store” concept will be tested in new locations in Welland (Niagra) and Orleans (Ottawa), both of which are due to open in the middle of November. Newly available products will include foodstuff, such as bread and milk, though many other product lines are planned. The idea is not without precedent; Canadian Tire stores already sell sporting goods, household appliances, gardening products and clothing and footwear, in addition to snack foods and cleaning products.
Motorcycle tyre wholesaler Bike Tyrestore (BTS) is once again asking customers for their opinions about its service. BTS conducts the survey every year, asking buyers to rate all aspects of the service it provides on a scale of 1 (abysmal) to 10 (brilliant). All survey forms returned by freepost to the Birmingham based wholesaler, are entered into a draw with the first picked out of the hat winning form’s a Fortnum and Mason Christmas Hamper worth in excess of £150. BTS MD Peter Smith told Tyres & Accessories that performance score rates are generally 9 or 10 and that every year useful ideas and suggestions are picked up from the survey.
The Firestone agricultural tyre factory in Des Moines, USA has a new plant manager. Company veteran Norvel Smith has been appointed to the position at the Firestone Agricultural Tire (FSAG) plant in Iowa, effective October 16.
“We are confident that Norvel will be a strong asset to our team. Safety and quality are Norvel’s top priorities and with his experience and ability to motivate people we will continue to build upon the many successes here in Des Moines,” said Ken Allen, vice president, FSAG.
Two PR campaigns by tyre company Goodyear Dunlop have been commended by industry experts, having been awarded three gold awards for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and use of photography, as well as receiving the prize for best publication.
The 2008 Goodyear Playground Appeal, which saw the tyre giant grant a needy playground a £10,000 makeover, has been deemed a worthy winner in the Midlands CIPR PRide Awards which recognise outstanding work in the field of communications and public relations. The accolade, which was awarded in the corporate responsibility category, was given to Goodyear for successfully executing the campaign and communicating the brand’s continued commitment to family safety through the Playground Appeal. Using an intensive media relations strategy, the campaign successfully positioned the brand as champion in the family safety arena whilst taking a responsible stance on the environment through recycling.
Bankrupt former General Motor parts business Delphi Corporation is seeking an extension of up to six months for about US$4.35 billion in borrowed funds. The company reported in a regulatory filing that is meeting with investors to discuss a proposal to extend the timeframe within which the company can repay the loans, and is hoping for an extension through to June 30, 2009 or the company’s exit from court protection, whichever comes first.
Michelin North America will significantly cut production at four of its U.S. plants as the company reacts to downturns in the replacement and OE markets. The reductions will impact MNA’s passenger and light truck/SUV tire plants in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Opeilka, Ala. Some 40 per cent of the workforce at those plants will be on temporary layoff, MNA said, an estimated 1,500 people. The cutback will last up to eight weeks, MNA said.
The company said eligible employees will receive state unemployment benefits during the slowdown period, and supplemental income per the company’s contract with the USW. At press time, the reductions will not affect MNA’s other U.S. or Canada plants, though there have been reports of some production slowdowns at other facilities.
As demand slows, other tyre makers have take action to reduce production. Bridgestone Americas and Goodyear both have reduced output. Cooper announced last week that it was examining its U.S. production with an eye toward closing at least one plant. Kumho has delayed construction of its planned U.S. plant in Macon, Ga. (Tire Review/Akron)
To attract customers, a fast fit outlet can offer value for money, good service and a product range that suits varying motoring requirements – or they can place a wrecked car, complete with an authentic looking deceased driver, outside the premises. Shop managers tempted to opt for this second retailing approach, however, should learn from Frank Holcomb’s experience.
Michelin owned BFGoodrich Tire has sent notice to a third US factory that nearly half its workforce will be idled because of decreased product demand. Employees at the BFGoodrich factory in Woodburn, Indiana may not have such a merry Christmas after being informed on October 24 that up to 40 per cent of workers could be laid off for two months, starting November 1.
This latest announcement comes on top of similar layoffs at the company’s two facilities in Alabama. Plans to reduce output at the Tuscaloosa and Opelika sites, along with that at Woodburn, will affect about 1,500 workers in total.
On October 28 Michelin announced its plan to make operations in Italy more competitive. More than 200 million euros will be invested between now and 2013 to upgrade the company’s production facilities in the country, in order to make them more productive and specialised.
Production capacity will be significantly increased in Cuneo; following this expansion the Michelin plant will be the largest premium passenger car tyre production facility in Europe. Car tyre production will end at the company’s Stura workshop in Turin at the end of 2009. Semi-finished products will continue to be manufactured there, however, and the site’s logistics centre will operate following the transfer of the Vercelli warehouse.
The Financial Express in India is reporting that synthetic rubber production has fallen in July 2008, compared to the month’s figures a year ago. Output has been measured at 8,186 tonnes, down from July ‘07’s figure of 8,256 tonnes.
In the period April-July, however, more synthetic rubber has been produced compared with the same period last year. 33,439 tonnes have come off the production line, compared with 32,748 tonnes in the same period last year. This 2.11 per cent rise has been matched synthetic imports in the period, jumping from 59,960 tonnes to 76,890. A similar pattern can be seen in the nationwide consumption of the product; the 93,715 tonnes demanded last year between April and July has risen this year to 100,045 tonnes.
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