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Swedish commercial vehicle tyre wholesale specialist, Gripen Wheels, is now well and truly up and running in the UK. Tyres & Accessories met up with UK director, Ray Coulson, during the Essen show and found out how business is progressing.
Participating for the seventh consecutive time at Reifen Essen, Dutch manufacturer Interstate Tire & Rubber Co. used the exhibition to introduce a new line of tyres; the Interstate SUV Sport GT, a full line of modern SUV tyres with unique tread pattern. The range boasts SUV tyres sized between 16-inch and 18-inch, including ISST noise technology for low noise and low rolling resistance. Also displayed was the new range of UHP tyres, the Interstate Sport IXT-1 in 19 and 20 inch and also the new sizes in the Interstate Winter IWT-2 line.
Perhaps the most obvious development at Lassa is the launch of the company’s new corporate identity. Lassa’s marketing department refers its new design as “liberating the brand,” but this wasn’t simply a case of commissioning a designer one week and finishing it another. In fact Lassa spent roughly a year deciding on the new logo; and the consultation process involved many different stakeholders in the decision. Lassa’s decision to opt for a two story Essen stand – for the first time – literally raised the profile of the new design.
Ohio-based manufacturer Cooper Tire has revealed its plans to move its warehouse facility from Dayton to Franklin, Ohio. According to local news sources, the move is scheduled to be completed in 2011, when the new site – which will be positioned near Interstate 65 on Franklin Tech Park – will open with a staff of 60.
Reportedly, Cooper has requested approaching $750,000 in tax exemptions and state incentives in return for relocating to the new setting, which will see a new 808,500 sq ft building erected for the purpose.
The Ford Motor Company has chosen Hunter Engineering as its exclusive wheel alignment system supplier for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in the United States.
Hunter Engineering has maintained a strong partnership with Ford since joining the Rotunda equipment program in 1964 as the first supplier of alignment and balancing equipment. The relationship between the two companies has strengthened over the years, as Hunter’s product line has expanded to include tyre changers, brake lathes and inspection equipment, which are also approved for the Rotunda program.
You don’t have to look very far these days to encounter news about Zimbabwe. A steady stream of grim reportage and chilling images are fed through television, internet and print media, all conveying the same basic message that things aren’t what they should be in this troubled African nation. And in addition to the much talked about violence and political issues, conditions for business are, to put it mildly, dire.
Kwik Fit is readying its new distribution centre in Corby, Northamptonshire for its operational opening later this month. The £10 million facility provides 200 new jobs as drivers, distributors and administrative staff.
Kwik Fit’s marketing and business development director Chris Bosworth complimented the Northants town as a “great location”, chosen for its centrality: “We’re very excited about our new depot… We’ll be taking more workers on as and when we are ready and there is a great potential for more growth at the site.”
NASCAR is Goodyear’s single largest motorsport customer in North America, and the US tyre major holds the position of official tyre supplier until 2012. Every year the championship requires 150,000 Goodyear race tyres. The company’s relationship with NASCAR began in 1954, with the tyre alliance becoming official in 1997. In this time the sport has seen some iconic race drivers and cars, none more so than the legendary Bobby Allison, with 85 career wins placing him with the top drivers of all time.
Beijing based Best Choice International Trade Co. has a presence in more than a hundred countries, and in its 13 years of business has grown into a company with an annual turnover exceeding US$40 million. At the Reifen Essen show T&A met with BCIT’s European representative, Andro Yan.
“One of the major events for us at the Reifen show is promoting our new Sunew brand,” he commented. The Sunew line-up, manufactured by the Qingdao Rubber (Group) Co., Ltd and first released last year, has initially been made available as a UHP range; 29 sizes for rim diameters between 16 and 21-inch have to date been released. According to Mr. Yan, this line-up will soon be joined by 4×4 and winter tyre ranges, and BCIT is eager to increase the brand’s profile in this part of the world. At present the company is looking for European partners, in all regions, for the Sunew product. “An introduction date for the new brand is dependent on partners, but a 2008 launch is possible,” he says.
For its 50th year of business Bandag delivered a strong presence at the Essen show with a sizable booth, in which was displayed the company’s latest product and technological innovations. The running of the Reifen Essen was also chosen as an opportunity to give several new Bandag released their first public airing, including the company’s new Application Specific product line featuring Bandag designed premium retread products.
Part of this range is the new BTR-WB (E), the Bandag Trailer Regional-Wide Base. A premium offering for the 3-axle trailer segment, the BTR-WB (E) is, says Bandag, the result of exhaustive testing. Wide base trailer tyres used in regional applications are used under tough operating conditions and must cope with endless tight turns and manoeuvring. The result can often be irregular wear patterns, and Bandag had this in mind when it began developing the new tyre. Several prototypes, hundreds of test tyres and many millions of test kilometres later, Bandag introduced a product it believes performs well in all circumstances.
The newest addition to the Nokian range of summer tyres is the Z G2; a W and Y speed rated uhp tyre, designed for sporty cars and fast driving. It is available in a number of sizes, for wheels from 16″ to 20″ diameter. The Nokian Z G2 has been developed and tested on fast European tracks, as well as on rough-surfaced roads, over several years. Special attention was paid to wet grip and the prevention of aquaplaning. Wear resistance was developed by means of thorough laboratory testing and driving hard durability tests on harsh asphalt surfaces. The tyre is targeted at demanding consumers, and its top-of-the-range performance has been achieved with the help of the latest development and production technology.
Fulda is sponsoring a 1991 Fiat Panda 4×4 taking part in the Mongol Rally 2008. The Fiat will set off on the 19th July and will be fitted with the Fulda EcoControl tyres.
James Philpott and Sebastian Barraclough from Hereford will be driving the 17 year old Fiat from London to Ulaanbaatar the capital of Mongolia. The rally, in aid of numerous charities based in Mongolia, will take the charitable pair through 18 countries, covering a distance of over 10,000 miles, putting the Fulda EcoControl tyres to the test.
Aluminium wheel producer and suppler Superior Industries International has appointed Parveen Kakar to the position of senior vice president, Corporate Engineering and Product Development. The 42-year old has been with Superior since 1989, most recently serving as the company’s vice president, Program Development. Kakar holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from India’s Punjab Engineering College.
Current Bridgestone Americas Holding director of Media Relations, Dan MacDonald, was on July 1 promoted to the position of executive director, Communications, effective immediately. In his new role MacDonald is in charge of managing corporate communications and is responsible for providing accurate information about the company, its products and its performance. He is also responsible for managing the company’s corporate image advertising efforts and often serves as the company’s spokesman.
According to Christine Karbowiak, vice president, Community and Corporate Relations, “Dan is extremely deserving of his promotion, having earned the trust of those whose messages he helps communicate and as well as those to whom those messages are delivered. He is a great asset to the Bridgestone Americas family of companies, grounded in good judgment and intent on producing a quality product.”
Continental has increased its share in Continental Matador Rubber following a July 1 agreement to transfer an additional 15 per cent of Continental Matador shares. Following the transaction the Continental Group holds 66 per cent of shares in Continental Matador Rubber.
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