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Apollo Quarter Results Reflect Tough Times for Industry

Upon reporting Apollo Tyres’ second quarter 2008 results, a quarter in which consolidated net profit dropped 74 per cent on the previous year, company chairman Onkar S Kanwar stated that, despite difficult times, Apollo retains a positive outlook for the future. “It has been a testing quarter for the company and us as an industry, but I do believe that the worst might be behind us and it’s time to plan for the future,” he said. “The positive that I take from here is a consistent growth in sales, especially in South Africa, where we are able to now reap the benefits of our manufacturing and marketing excellence with a near 30 per cent sales growth this quarter.”

23rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sheppard Takes the Helm at Manbat

Manbat Batteries Ltd has announced a major restructuring of its Shrewsbury based senior management team. As a planned action during the second of Manbat’s five year rolling business planning, long-term managing director Roger Pemberton has moved to become the executive chairman, making way for Steve Sheppard to move from his position of sales director and take the reins as Manbat’s managing director.

23rd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Grouptyre Competition Winners Visit Ford Rally Aces

The two-month Pirelli promotion on wholesaler, Grouptyre’s website successfully boosted sales of Pirelli car, van and 4×4 tyres in the independent and garage sector by 10.7 per cent compared with the previous average sales of participating dealers. It was the first in a series of national incentives and exclusive promotions the wholesaler aims to run in conjunction with premium brand tyre manufacturers. In addition, the company – in conjunction with the Italian premium manufacturer – sent an independent retail manager to the World Rally Championship in Spain, allowed an auto-services site owner to send his sons to Oxfordshire for the Pirelli Driving Experience and gave the proprietor of an exhausts and tyre centre a Pirelli track day to enjoy with his son.

Aaron Bothamley, manager of Fairway Tyre and Auto Services in Rickmansworth, was delighted to win an all expenses paid trip to the WRC Rally of Spain in the promotion. Bothamley, accompanied by his brother-in-law Paul, joined a dawn VIP helicopter trip to familiarise themselves with the sweeping asphalt roads of stage one before moving on to the third stage, where they watched defending World Rally Champion and current Championship leader Sebastien Loeb and BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala demonstrate their skills. Then it was on to the service area for lunch with team principal Malcolm Wilson and the drivers.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kim Wilde Backs Waste Tyre Playground Campaign

Kim Wilde is backing Dunweedin’s nationwide playground regeneration project. The company is donating 100 tonnes of its eco-friendly playground chippings, made from 100 per cent recycled tyres, to help create vibrant play areas that are safe for youngsters.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

NHTSA to Investigate Valve Stem in 2007 US Ford Models

In the US, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has disclosed it is investigating the Ford Motor Company’s use of potentially defective valve stems on more than one million vehicles built during the 2007 model year. The component, if defective, can crack, causing air pressure in a tyre to suddenly decrease. Investigators suspect a cracked valve stem was a causal factor in an accident that killed a 31-year old man last year.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Amerityre to Produce Polyurethane ‘Super Grip’ Tyre Range

Commercial grade industrial and mining tyre supplier Supergrip announced on October 21 it has selected Amerityre Corporation to manufacture and supply a new range of long wearing flat-proof polyurethane tyres. The new tyres, which will be sold under the Supergrip brand name, will be produced in multiple sizes for a variety of commercial applications, and manufactured using the proprietary polyurethane formulations developed by Amerityre.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

China Tyre Production up 6.8% in September

Tyre production in China during the month of September increased 6.8 per cent year on year, to 45.6 million units. Synthetic rubber production totalled 170,000 tons during the month, down 5.7 per cent on the previous year.

During the January-September period, tyre output totalled 425.92 million units, an increase of 12.9 per cent year on year, while synthetic rubber output totalled 1.76 million tons, up 9 per cent.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Tyres Continues ERC Domination

Avon Tyres has once again proved a successful choice for FIA European Rallycross Championship drivers, with rallycross legend Kenneth Hansen recording his 14th ERC title, topping off a year of domination for the company in this category. Hansen’s 500bhp, four-wheel drive, Citroën C4 has run on Avon’s new-for-2008 ACB11 this year, a tyre specially designed for the ERC. It has also adorned the cars of the winners of Divisions 1A and 2, as well as the RX Cup class.

Swede Hansen finished fourth in the penultimate round of the championship in Poland to seal the main Division 1 title on his 225/640-17 ACB11s. He finished the year eight points ahead of nearest rival, Ludvig Hunsbedt. Hansen has scored two overall event wins in a close-fought season that has seen six drivers achieve race victories. The result means that Hansen has extended his own previous record of 13 ERC crowns.

“I am so happy, relieved, satisfied and quite dizzy from all the excitement,” beamed Hansen in Poland. “Of all my 14 gold medals, this was the most difficult to get and therefore I value it very highly. Now, my team and I will celebrate in style.” Jussi Pinomaki, Tomas Kotek and Michael de Keersmaecker won Div 1A, Div 2 and RX Cup classes respectively.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Construction Delayed at Kumho’s Georgia, USA Factory

The global economy and a downturn in the US automotive industry are said to be principal factors behind construction delays at Kumho’s tyre factory in Bibb County in the US state of Georgia. Macon, Georgia newspaper The Telegraph reports this news was given by local Chamber of Commerce president Chip Cherry on October 20.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

GM to Temporarily Halt Production

General Motors, the owner of European brands Vauxhall and Opel, is considering temporarily halting production at all its European plants, according to press reports. Speaking to Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung German union official Rainer Einenkel said GM was mulling a plant shutdown for the two last weeks in November and from December 15 until the end of the year. GM has previously announced that it wants to reduce output by 40,000 vehicles by the end of the year. The group’s European boss, Carl-Peter Forster, told AFP sales of its main models in Europe had fallen by 30 per cent.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TyreSafe Warns of Handling Issues Linked to Under-Inflated Tyres

Drivers are facing an increased risk of being involved in a serious or even fatal accident by failing to regularly check their tyre pressures. This warning has been issued by UK tyre safety organisation TyreSafe as part of Tyre Safety Month, held throughout October.

“Although the majority of motorists are uninterested in their vehicle’s tyres, it is important to remember that they are a complex component of the vehicle that have been engineered to work in harmony with the vehicle’s sophisticated brake, steering and suspension systems and must be taken seriously,” explains TyreSafe chairman Rob Beddis. “Without regularly ensuring that tyres are correctly inflated, motorists risk compromising the way that their car behaves on the road. The first time they may become aware of this performance deficit could be when they lose control of the vehicle on an innocuous bend and are heading towards a hedgerow or into the path of an oncoming vehicle.”

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Released Mid-term Management Plan 2008

Bridgestone Corporation has released details of its “Mid-term Management Plan 2008” (MTP2008), which covers the period 2009 through 2013. The outline of the plan is as follows.

1. Basic Approach to MTP2008 Formulation

Bridgestone has formulated MTP2008, which covers the period 2009 through 2013, which is one year further on from MTP2007 (2008 to 2012). In making the revisions, Bridgestone updated and added initiatives in response to recent changes in the business environment, including changes in demand trends and the cost environment, in order to achieve the goals set in MTP2007.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper to Conduct US Capacity Study

On October 21 Cooper Tire & Rubber announced plans to conduct a capacity study of its United States manufacturing facilities over the following ninety days. The study will determine how to optimise manufacturing capacity in relation to developing market and customer needs, and the company says it will likely result in restructuring, including capacity consolidation or geographical shifts to production.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

“What an Eye-Opener!”

Maxxis selected a winner for its online caption competition, which was run as part of the company’s duties as the Official Tyre Partner of this year’s Isle of Man TT Races. Trevor King from Mansfield came up with, “After a relentless search for tyres I discovered Maxxis, what an eye opener!” to win the top prize of VIP hospitality for two at the last round of the 2008 British Superbike Championship (BSB) on Sunday 12 October.

King decided to try his luck and enter the competition while he was looking for 4×4 tyres on the Maxxis website. He and his wife Melanie are keen BSB fans and had pre-booked tickets for the season finale at Brands Hatch. However, King quickly cancelled the reservation when he learned they would be attending the event as guests of Maxxis: “I once won bike show tickets in a radio competition, but that was about ten years ago, so I was amazed when I got a call to say I’d won this VIP package including hospitality, pit lane passes, access to the Team Maxxis technical areas and a photograph with one of the Maxxis Bykerbabes.

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Announces 2008 Charity Ball

Goodyear Dunlop has announced its 2008 Charity Ball, which will take place on 29 November. The event will be the second ball in two years, and follows the success of a similar event in 2007, where the impressive sum of £24,500 was raised for the company’s corporate charity. Earlier in 2008, Goodyear Dunlop pledged to raise £50,000 to fund the development of a specialist play area for the Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at the hospital. Since the appeal was launched in April 2008 the company’s’ associates have been jumping at the chance to support the cause with Goodyear Marathon truck tyre rolls, dress down days and even a cycle ride from Birmingham to Paris.

“This event is a great opportunity to support the work of the Children’s Hospital, while having a good time,” says Anna Stanley, Goodyear Dunlop communications specialist. “Compared to previous events there is no training, sweat or bungee ropes involved, just a great evening. People can buy single tickets or purchase a whole table for friends, family or corporate guests. Either way a good night is guaranteed. The evening will include a Champagne reception, live band and four course meal, with Central News’ Bob Hall playing host making this a real night to remember in aid of a very worthy cause.”

22nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors