Product News Archives - Page 234 of 260

Ray Darcy Retires After 37 Years in Tyres

After 37 years in the family business, Ray Darcy is handing over the reins to a non-family member. Ray Darcy has been with the company firstly on a part time basis, then as full time manager, since his parents set up North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts in 1971, and is now retiring from the position of Retail Director. Roger Griggs, who brings with him 27 years experience in the industry, takes up the role with immediate effect.

The company, originally known as Melbourne Tyre and Exhausts was based in Brotton but expanded quickly and today boasts 11 bases across the retail and warehouse sectors, across the entire North of England. Having run the Marske and Brotton outlets for 23 years, Ray then took over the entire retail operation and took up the reigns of chairman in 1997.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Australia Expresses Regret over Goodyear Closure

Product News

Bridgestone Australia Ltd has expressed its regret that rival manufacturer Goodyear is ceasing tyre manufacturing in the country, a decision that leaves Bridgestone as the only tyre manufacturer operating in the Australia/New Zealand region.

“We understand the increasing challenges to Australian manufacturing,” said Mac Ohashi, Bridgestone Australia chairman and CEO. “However, Bridgestone remains committed to local tyre manufacturing and we are proud of providing quality Australian-made tyres to our customers.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Triangle to go Public

Product News

Shandong Triangle Tire Co. Ltd is to hold an initial public share offering, marking the final step in its move away from Chinese government (specifically the government of Weihai, Shandong province) ownership. This could potentially result in new funds to hire staff and build the Triangle brand. However, it also means ending its state-owned ties with Weihai town hall, and therefore the benefits that came with that.

Triangle holds roughly 1 per cent global market share, but it also has five serious domestic competitors, 20 medium-sized rivals and another 300 or so small ones. Despite this, Triangle’s passenger car tyre sales are said to be growing by more than 20 per cent a year, compared with a global market average of 6 per cent annually. In addition, Triangle’s construction, farming and mining vehicle division is reportedly doubling production this year.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Roadsmart Wins Bike Magazine Tyre Test

Product News

The Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart sports touring motorbike tyre, which features a “Triple Tread Compound” has topped Bike magazine’s test for budget middle-weight rubber (August issue). The Roadsmart was up against offerings from five other tyre manufacturers: Continental, Michelin, Pirelli, Avon and Bridgestone, but was the only brand to be awarded the full five stars in the blind test at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground.

Tester Bruce Dunn commented: “I’d rate the Roadsmart as my favourite all-rounder here…You would have to ride like a maniac on the road to find the limit of these tyres…Very stable on the front end at higher speeds, good under braking and turning in and they are especially good on the higher radius turns. The Roadsmarts feel on the sporty side and there’s definitely less flex in the sidewalls than the Bridgestones, and they’re definitely all-round better than the Continentals.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Private Equity Acquisition Unlikely, Say DB Analysts

Product News

Shares in Continental AG have apparently declined again after rising by more than seven per cent on June 25, the result, say traders, of renewed market talk of interest in a private equity bid. The German financial newspaper named Boersen-Zeitung, Banco Santander SA, ING Groep NV and Deutsche Bank AG as the favoured contenders for bidding. The company has, however, declined to offer any information on the issue. “We don’t comment on speculation,” said Conti spokesman Hannes Boekhoff.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Heuver Continues Spectacular Growth

Product News

Established in 1966 by Mans Heuver, Heuver Bandengroothandel has expanded from a small business (for which Mr. Heuver personally made tyre deliveries on his motorcycle) into a global organisation with a wholesale business for industry clients and a number of outlets – the Profile Tyrecenters – for both business and retail customers. Today the Netherlands based business is run by Mr. Heuver senior’s two sons, Bertus and Jan, and the growth continues.

To facilitate an expanding business base, two years ago the company opened a new 12,000 square metre facility in its hometown of Hardenberg. Now, reports Bertus Heuver, the company is looking at the need to build another 12,000 square metre premises. “Since we completed the new buildings in 2006, we’ve seen that the choices we make today enable us to accelerate our expansion plans,” he said. “In other words, we’re ahead of our goals. At the end of this year, we’ll be taking the next step in our development strategy and doubling our warehouse inventory.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vipal Opens New Warehouse in Hamburg

Product News

Less than three weeks before the Essen show, Brazilian retreading material supplier, Borrachas Vipal demonstrated just how much the company developed its export business. The news was that the company that had long been market leader in Brazil had chosen Mexico as the site for its first non-domestic production plant. At the time Vipal’s International Business Director, Maria Locatelli, explained that Mexico was chosen because it is an “entrance door” to the US. However, during an interview with Tyres & Accessories at the recent Reifen exhibition, Maria Locatelli explained that increased production in Mexico would also benefit European customers, both economically and due to shorter delivery times.

The main strategy behind the investment is to make use of Mexico’s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ties. However, the company also intends to capitalise on the production cost benefits available in the petrochemical producing country, with a view to passing a saving onto consumers in export markets like Europe. “This is not the main target, but there will be possibilities to supply [Europe],” said Maria Locatelli.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Opens Asian Office

Product News

RFID-maker Advanced ID Corporation has gained approval for the incorporation of a subsidiary in Hong Kong, Advanced ID Asia Pacific Company Limited. The decision took effect on 20 June 2008, meaning Advanced ID has already opened its offices in Hong Kong led by its newly appointed managing director Cherry Lim.

Lim, 42, has spent her entire career working with companies that have innovative technology applications. With positions as chief executive officer and other executive management roles, she has concentrated in the fields of information technology, wireless technologies and integrated circuits. A Hong Kong native fluent in three dialects of Chinese and English, Lim was educated in the United States and received a Bachelors of Science from the University of South Florida, which was followed by an Executive MBA received from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Temporarily Closes Canadian Plant

Product News

Goodyear’s Napanee plant between Belleville and Kingston in Ontario, Canada is to close for a week as the manufacturer continues to react against a stagnating marketplace. The closure, which has an impact on up to 760 jobs, will take place between 30 June and 7 July.

Company spokesman Tom Hogeboom told local journalists that the closure’s timing made relative sense, coming as it does in the week that contains Canada Day and the United States’ Independence Day, which has a predictable effect on production rates. Hogeboom stated that “it’s not a decision we make lightly but the marketplace is telling us it’s something we have to do,” adding “all of our North American plants are doing it.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ADL Releases Catalogue, Receives ISO Certification

Product News

ADL S.A., France’s leading designer and manufacturer of theft protection devices for automobile wheels has been awarded with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO/TS 16949 certification. The company is part of Germany’s ABC Umformtechnik – a division of The Altenloh, Brinck & Co Group – which specialises in fastening systems for the automotive industry.

The company, based in Lagny to the north of Paris, has also announced the release of its new catalogues for the forthcoming year. The catalogues detail the appropriate fixing systems by car manufacturer and model. ADL’s brands include Simbolz, Blocky and Fixa.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Shares Slump

Product News

Following Goodyear’s announcements yesterday concerning the company’s closure of its Melbourne plant and its plans to invest further in Brazil and China and to refurbish four of its American facilities, NYSE shares in the organisation fell by a steep 11.2 per cent. The drop sees the company’s stocks fall to their lowest value since December 2006.

Reports suggest that the dip has been caused by a variety of factors compounded by the manufacturer’s strategic announcements. The decline in the market for replacement tyres, especially within the heavy vehicle sector, and perpetually rising fuel and raw material costs have led both to Goodyear’s aggressive – and developing-market regarding – approach and the company’s slump in the stock market.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Raise Japan Market Tyre Prices

Product News

As of September 1 prices for Bridgestone tyres, tubes and flaps sold in the Japan replacement market will increase, the company announced on June 26. The new pricing structure applies to both summer and winter tyres. Bridgestone adds that it will also ask original equipment manufacturers for significant increases in their tyre prices.

Specific replacement market price increases include five per cent for passenger car and light truck tyres, seven per cent for truck and bus tyres, per cent for OTR tyres, between seven and ten per cent for industrial vehicle tyres, three to ten per cent for motorcycle tyres, seven per cent for other kinds of tyres, and ten per cent for tubes and flaps.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Introduces ‘New Generation’ On/Off Highway Tyre

Product News

Firestone has introduced what it has called “the first of a new generation of Firestone on/off highway tyres.” Called the FD385 On/Off-Highway Drive, the new tyre is designed to deliver a strong level of traction and exceptional removal mileage in severe service applications. The tyremaker reports it is ideal for logging, construction, mining refuse and oil field applications.

The FD835 has a block tread pattern that Firestone describes as ‘aggressive’, and angled sipes positioned in each block, which are intended to cut through rain for solid wet-surface handling. An extra-deep open shoulder design provides enhanced traction on soft surfaces, including mud and snow. With a tread over one inch deep, the FD835 offers good removal mileage. Ultra-tough tread compounds combat cuts, chips, chunks and tears for long tread life – even in severe service.

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Beefs Up Heavy Load Range

Premium, Product News

Following a surge in demand for tyres with heavier load carrying capacities, Goodyear has unveiled a newly upsized Sure Grip Implement. From August 2008 the 12.5/80-18 size Implement will offer support to heavier machine loads, increasing from a 10 ply rating to a 14 ply rating.

Goodyear is the first tyre manufacturer to feature a 14 ply rated tyre as leading competitors only offer a maximum of 12 ply. The increase will allow the new tyre a maximum nominal carrying capacity of 3000kg which represents an increase of 1140kg across the axle. The tyre is designed primarily for soft underfoot conditions, in which greater traction is a must.

The new tyre will be featured as OE fitment on agricultural machinery manufactured by Case New Holland and rough terrain specialists, Manitou.

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26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

30 Years of Turbocharger Production in Bradford

Product News

BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems has just celebrated the 30th anniversary of the opening of its commercial vehicle turbocharger factory in the city of Bradford. Only recently, the plant underwent extensive modernisation to ensure that it can optimally meet the ever-increasing demand for turbocharged commercial vehicle engines. In the past ten years alone, output in Bradford has more than doubled to over 400,000 units a year. The main customers include Renault/Volvo, Daimler and above all Deutz, who equips all engines with turbochargers from BorgWarner.
The commercial vehicle industry has been booming for years and new markets in Eastern Europe and Asia promise further growth. Environmentally friendly technologies are required to ensure that manufacturers continue to benefit from the current positive situation. As the market leader in the commercial vehicle sector and with many years of experience, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems makes a major contribution to guaranteeing that even the strictest emissions standards can be met without any loss of driving performance.

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

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