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Infinity Distributors Mix Business and Pleasure at ‘Partners Day’

The Infinity brand is one that steadily continues to gain momentum in Europe as a popular choice for competitively priced quality in the passenger car and truck sectors. The number of distributors that have been appointed in 25 countries throughout the region is growing and, towards the end of April parent company – The Al Dobowi Group in conjunction with their European associate – Goldspark Trading Limited, organised a special three-day dealership event for both new and existing distributors.

At the ‘Infinity Partners Day’ Infinity distributors from Europe, the UK and Ireland were invited to be the guests of Al Dobowi’s Chairman, Mr Surender Singh Kandhari and his family for a combination of business and recreation in the United Arab Emirates. Attendees came from all corners of Europe and included Bond International (UK), Kings Road Tyres (UK), Daly Tyres (Ireland) Kings Road Tyres (Ireland), Reifen Ruhdorfer (Austria), Fort Pneus (France), Intergomma (Italy), Distyre (Spain), Guitires (Spain), Heuver Banden (Netherlands), Euro-Tyre (Netherlands), AKH (Hungary) and Latex (Poland.)

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Appoints Car Dealer Executive

Carl Williams has been appointed as car dealer executive within Bridgestone’s Consumer Sales department. Williams celebrated 10 years with the organisation at the start of the year having joined the firm in 1998 as area sales manager, before transferring to the role of business development manager with Bridgestone’s First Stop network in 2007. In his new role Carl will continue to be responsible for the south and Wales, working alongside Phil Livingston, car dealer executive for the northern region.

Commenting on his new role, Carl Williams said: “I have worked within the tyre industry for 28 years and although I have worked in various roles, it has always been in a retail environment. This new role provides the opportunity to use my experience in consumer sales to tackle new challenges.”

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius Appoints Paul Hannah as New Business Development Director

Klarius Group, a market-leading supplier of aftermarket exhausts and catalytic converters, filters and shock absorbers, reports that it has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Paul Hannah as Business Development Director. A qualified mechanical engineer, Paul Hannah’s appointment is being seen as a strategic appointment for the business, which acquired ArvinMeritor LVA in 2007, as it continues to build its presence as the market leader.

Paul Hannah has a wealth of experience in the engineering, aerospace and automotive sectors gained over 20 years of international sales and marketing success in Renold plc and Edbro plc. As an advocate of lean manufacturing, he has helped to build sales teams across export markets such as Far East Asia, Russia, the USA and Europe in his previous roles.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

5500 Garages Intend to Join New Code of Practice

The new Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair was launched by Motor Codes Limited to the trade at the Office of Fair Trading in London on 29 May. Over 5,500 garages have reportedly signalled their intent to subscribe via a pre-launch commitment programme. Any UK garage can sign up to the voluntary code, which is currently progressing through the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS). To comply with the code, a business will need to commit to meet the requirements for completing service and repair work whilst engaging with their customers.

The announcement follows threats of a so-called “super complaint” from consumer agencies, due to variable and sometimes poor service in the garage trade. The code aims to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers by helping them identify subscribing garages, and by “providing an easily accessible and robust dispute resolution mechanism when required.”

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Launches New Anakee 2 Range

Following two record years of growth in the UK two-wheel market, Michelin has released a new Anakee range of tyres in the “radial adventure category.” The French manufacturer hopes the latest incarnation of adventure-orientated motorbike offering will help it take back some of the sales it lost in this sector in previous years.

According to Michelin, the new Anakee 2 offers includes new technology that reconciles the old soft compound (high give/short life) versus hard compound (long life/less grip) dilemma. Michelin reports that the new compound was developed through race tyre testing. The MotoGP bikes Michelin supplies are required to meet seemingly insurmountable challenges. Powered by 240 hp engines, these bikes can reach speeds of more than 340 km/h and yet weigh less than 145 kilograms.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo to Build New Asia Facility, Increase Capacity in North America

A new manufacturing facility in Asia and increased capacity in North America have been announced by Toyo Tire & Rubber in order to reinforce its tyre business’s global supply system. This measure is being undertaken as part of its Medium-Term Business Plan 2008, a three-year business plan that will be in operation through to the year ending March 31, 2011.

Toyo believes that simply boosting production at existing plants is not sufficient to meet anticipated growth in global demand. Therefore the company has drawn up a shortlist of potential locations for a new tyre production plant in Asia, which will serve as an export centre for the global market. This facility is scheduled to be ready during the 2010 fiscal year and will be built at a total investment of around 24 billion yen (£115.6 million). Planned production will mainly concentrate on passenger car tyres and by March 2012 annual output at the site is expected to reach 4 million units.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Host ‘Company’ Rugby Team in US Match

Sports fans in the US are soon to be treated to the thrills of rugby, thanks to Michelin North America. The tyremaker is hosting a match between top French rugby team Clermont-Auvergne and the US national rugby team, the USA Eagles. The game, to be held in South Carolina on August 9, is the first ever international rugby exhibition match to be played in this state.

Michelin North America will be the presenting sponsor for this first “Michelin Challenge Rugby” event, held in its home state. Since 1911, the Clermont-Auvergne rugby team has been sponsored by the Michelin Group in its home city of Clermont-Ferrand, France. The French team currently sits atop the standings in the country’s Top 14 division and leads its main rival, Toulouse, by nine points in the standings.

30th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Reaches Settlement in Patent Suit

Yokohama Tire Corp. and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. have reached a final settlement agreement with Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. pertaining to design patent infringement, with Hangzhou agreeing to destroy the manufacturing moulds and remaining inventory of its Westlake H280 tyres. In September 2006, Yokohama Tire Corp. and its parent company initiated legal proceedings against China’s Hangzhou alleging, among other claims, a violation of Yokohama’s tyre tread design patent which protects some of its best-selling lines, including the Geolandar A/T+II.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

SRF Buys Thai Tyre Cord Company

SRF Limited has acquired Thailand-based Thai Baroda Industries Limited (TBIL) for 1 billion rupees (£11.8 million). According to the Calcutta News, TBIL has an annual production capacity of 12,000 tonnes of dipped nylon tyre cord fabric. Ashish Bharat Ram, managing director SRF Limited, said in an official statement: “Post financial restructuring and takeover of the company management, we are confident that we will able to turn the company in very short time.”

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Deldo Reports on a Successful Reifen Show

The Reifen Essen Show, arguably Europe’s most prominent tyre event, is still fresh in our minds, and participants are taking stock of the week’s activities. One company that has already reported a successful week is Antwerp, Belgium based Deldo Autobanden N.V., a veteran of numerous exhibitions in Essen. This year the company notes that, thanks to its sizable 140 square metre booth, Deldo held a prominent position during the May 20 to 23 show. Deldo adds it is very happy with the show’s organisation, the number of visitors and the exhibition’s overall results.

During the show several new products were launched. An additional exclusive budget range for Europe, Rockstone, was amongst these new offerings, and Deldo states that now all exclusive and private brands (Wanli, Roadstone, Fortuna, Minerva and Rockstone) can offer a total range in summer and winter tyres. Today, Deldo is preparing the winter season, and will – as in previous years – hold a very large stock of winter tyres.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Industrial Tyremaker Established New US Warehouse

Solideal USA recently took over a 122,596-square-foot warehouse space in Joliet, Illinois. The warehouse, originally constructed in 1969 for Caterpillar, underwent a full renovation to accommodate its requirements, Solideal said, and now features 10 new exterior truck docks, a new drive-in door, and 10 trailer parking stalls.

The new facility consolidates separate facilities Solideal operated in Harvey and Rockford, Illinois. (Tire Review/Akron)

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Giving Additional Half Million Euros to China Quake Victims

The Michelin Group announced on May 27 it would donate an additional 500,000 euros for victims of the earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan Province. This new pledge strengthens initiatives undertaken by Michelin China and its local employees immediately following the earthquake.

On May 13, Michelin China announced it was donating for earthquake victims. That donation has since nearly doubled thanks to donations made by some 5,500 Michelin employees in China. Overall, Michelin will donate 600,000 euros. The Group’s additional donation will be used for specific projects to rebuild Sichuan Province and restore the mobility of its inhabitants. Michelin’s local teams are currently in the process of selecting those projects that will receive support.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Receives Record Entries for “dreams at heArt” contest

The number of entries for Bridgestone’s “dreams at heArt” children’s drawing contest received during 2008 set a new record. A total of 40,700 entries were received from children in 20 European countries, and in mid-May a panel of judges in Brussels selected the 90 winners for this year’s contest, their decisions based upon the originality, creativity and impact of the work.

Combining the issue of ecology with that of road safety, this year’s theme was “Safe Travel on Planet Ecopia”. Primary school children throughout Europe were invited to draw, colour or paint their dreams of how this planet might look. As in previous years, winners were selected in each of three age categories: up to 7 years, 8 to 9, and 10 to 11. The top three winners in each category receive a Bridgestone bicycle and safety helmet; the 4th to 10th placed receive a Bridgestone tennis set of racket and balls; and the 11th to 30th placed in each category win a safety bag. The top nine winners are also acknowledged in a special way – their work will be painted onto a Bridgestone GP2 Series racing car. In addition, a digital camera will be gifted to their school.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Announces Tyre, Oliver Rubber Tread Price Increases

Michelin in North America has announced price increases for some of its own tyre lines and for products manufactured by the Michelin owned Oliver Rubber Company. Continuing increases in raw material, energy and transportation costs are said to be behind these latest price rises.

Michelin North America will, effective July 1, 2008, increase prices between 6 and 36 per cent on Michelin, BFGoodrich and Kléber brand agricultural and compact line tyres and tubes sold in the US and Canadian markets. The company adds that back orders of record as of June 30 will benefit from price protection until July 31, 2008. The Oliver Rubber Company will increase prices for its retread rubber products by 5 per cent, effective June 1, 2008.

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Brenno Benaglia Appointed New BIPAVER President

BIPAVER, the European federation of tyre retreaders’ associations, has named Brenno Benaglia as its new President. The decision was made on 23 May during the Reifen 2008 exhibition in Essen, Germany. During the meeting, a number of changes were made to the Board of the Federation, in line with the organisation’s constitution.

Brenno Benaglia, represents both AIRP (Italy) and the Marangoni Group and replaces Peter Hülzer of BRV (Germany), who becomes one of the Federation’s two Vice-Presidents. Also appointed Vice-President was Jan Driessen, Chairman of the Retreading Sector in VACO (Netherlands).

Retiring from the board was Richard O’Connell, representing the RMA (UK). BIPAVER Secretary Ruud Spuijbroek thanked O’Connell for his services as President between 2006 and 2007 and as a Vice-President during the past year as well as for his valuable contribution to the Federation’s Technical Committee.

During the General Assembly BIPAVER members approved a change in the Federation’s Constitution, which will allow Federation officers to serve two years in office as opposed to one year, as was previously specified in the constitution. This means that Brenno Benaglia will now serve as BIPAVER President from 2008-2010.

In his acceptance speech Brenno Benaglia commented: “Retreading is going through a complex period and BIPAVER now needs to carry on what it’s doing through strong co-operation with those new tyre producers, who are committed to producing retreadable casings. BIPAVER is an open and independent association and the ideas we have developed over the past year will be framework for our future work together.”

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors