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Michelin Selected as an IT ‘Best Place’

Michelin North America has been selected as one of the top workplaces for information technology professionals by Computerworld magazine. The distinction comes as part of the weekly IT publication’s 16th annual Best Places to Work in IT survey, which was published in the June 15 issue of Computerworld and online at computerworld.com. Michelin was ranked 18th among the 100 companies selected.

“Respect for people is one of Michelin’s core values, and this honour speaks to the company’s dedication to providing a stimulating and rewarding work environment for all employees, including our information technology team,” says Richard Alexander, vice president of information systems for Michelin North America. “This award also demonstrates Michelin’s ongoing commitment to providing our workforce and our customers with the best technology and IT support resources available.”

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Tire Continues University Robotics Project

This year Hankook Tire is again supporting the Technical University of Kaiserlautern’s Robotics Research Lab. The lab, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Karsten Berns, has devoted itself to the development of working, autonomous un-manned robots that can be implemented, for example, by emergency services in crisis situations. In 2009 the German university’s ‘RAVON’ robot – fitted with Hankook tyres – is taking part in the ELROB (European Land-Robot Trial – Civil Version), held between June 15 and 18 in Oulu, Finnland. The purpose of the event, held every two years, is to demonstrate the current European state of the art in unmanned vehicles and the possibilities this offers.

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to Close Austrian Rubber Mixing Site

Continental has reported the need to ‘respond’ to the continuing downturn experienced by OE and replacement passenger car tyre markets – a market which currently has a production overcapacity of more than 18 million tyres in Europe. As a consequence, the company states, the demand for raw materials is also markedly lower.

“Today, Tuesday, we are informing workers at the Traiskirchen site (in Austria) that we are forced to phase out the mixing and gumming activities in Traiskirchen, which employs a total of 195, by the end of this year,” explained Dr. Bernhard Trilken, in charge of worldwide production for the Continental Passenger and Light Truck Tires division, on June 16.

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Datamonitor: UK Car Consumables and Accessories Sales Flat

Value growth in consumables and accessories fell from 2.4 percentage points in 2008, to nearly flat growth this year, according to research compiled by Datamonitor. The inference is that the value of distress purchases such as tyres and exhausts (in addition to big-ticket satnavs and stereos) is falling as consumers defer replacement and as total average mileage falls. The consumables and accessories (C&A) segment is said to account for the largest share of the European retail aftermarket in the UK (8.3 per cent).

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sunborne Solutions Introduces ‘Liquid Gloves’ to the Tyre Business

Tyre shop equipment and consumables specialists, Sunborne Solutions recently introduced “liquid gloves” to the garage and tyre bay business. Imagine the normal latex gloves used for messy oil changes and air conditioning services, only this time in a bottle. According to Sunborne, the new product “will replace most of the uses Latex gloves were designed for with a plus.”

Liquid Gloves have been used in the home and the health service for a few years now. When first introduced into the UK they were designed for domestic and medical use and the product is still being used for medical purposes by people that suffer with eczema, dry skin, calluses etc. Now, however, according to the company, Liquid Gloves is now ready for heavy industry use by mechanics, tyre fitters, aviation maintenance and ancillary medical support staff.

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Derco Signs Agreement with Michelin Aircraft Tire Company

Sikorsky Aerospace Services company, Derco Aerospace, has signed a new agreement with Michelin Aircraft Tire Company today that will support Derco’s distribution of Michelin’s military aircraft tyres around the world. Aircraft platforms supported under the agreement include, but are not limited to, the C-130, L-100, F-16, KC-135, P-3, UH-60 and Mirage.

“Derco is pleased to continue its relationship with Michelin Aircraft Tire Company to provide our worldwide customer base with high-quality Michelin tyre products,” said Paul Fuhrmann, Derco’s director of OEM & Repair Solutions. “Teaming with Michelin on this new agreement allows us better service our customers with immediate stock availability and competitive pricing for aircraft tyre products.”

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli OE on 8C Spider, Ferrari 599 and Aston Martin V12 Vantage

The latest run of supercars to hit the tarmac – the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, Ferrari 599 HGTE, Aston Martin V12 Vantage – will all be launched with Pirelli P Zero tyres, according to the Italian UHP tyre manufacturer. Initially presented at the Geneva motor show, the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is scheduled for an official launch at Balocco end of June where it will be fitted with P Zero tyres (245/35 ZR20 and 285/35 ZR20). According to the company, the P Zero represents the latest evolution in tyre design from the Pirelli research team and is covered by five patents.

For the Ferrari 599 P Zero developers modified the tyre’s compound for improved sportiness, so it has become something like the P Zero Corsa in sizes (245/35ZR20 and 305/35ZR20), while the British super-sport Aston Martin V12 Vantage went straight for the P Zero Corsa sports tyres (255/35ZR19 and 295/30ZR19).

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Wennemer Set to Become Opel Advisor

Former Continental AG CEO, Manfred Wennemer, is set to represent Berlin on an advisory board overseeing the trust that administers Opel, according to a Reuters report. Wennemer, who led Continental’s rearguard action against Schaeffler Group’s July 2008 hostile takeover, stepped down last August after seven years with the company when the automotive supplier managed to overcome Conti’s defences. He was subsequently nominated to join the board of steel wire manufacturer Bekaert in March 2009. According to Reuters, the trust holds 65 per cent of Opel shares and is charged with ensuring that 1.5 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in bridge financing offered by Berlin and the four German states with Opel plants is not misappropriated.

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts: Michelin is Generating Free Cash Flow

Michelin’s decision to pay down a 350 million euro loan borrowed at 6.7 per cent interest and maturing in 2033 is said to be an early sign that the tyre manufacturer is beginning to generate free cash flow. According to a Deutsche Bank report, despite the fact that analysts are expecting Michelin to publish first half net losses of 230 million euros, the fact that the company is buying back a loan that is more expensive than the group’s average debt (5.9 per cent) is “a strong positive signal that Michelin is currently generating free cash.”

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Wins 2009 Reponsible Retailer Award

Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has named Kwik-Fit as the winner of the 2009 Responsible Recycler Award. The award is presented each year to a tyre retailer who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to innovation and best practice in the field of tyre recycling. In choosing Kwik-Fit for this year’s accolade the association wished to acknowledge the company’s ground-breaking reverse logistics programme whereby the delivery of new tyres to Kwik-Fit centres and the recovery of waste casings are integrated into a simple activity. This combined delivery and collection function saves on delivery and transport costs with the added security of caged delivery.

The award was presented by newly-elected TRA president, Barry Stocker. Speaking after the presentation of the award David White, Kwik-Fit’s customer services director expressed his delight at being this year’s recipient. He said: “This was truly a ‘first’ in the industry and whilst I was delighted to collect the award on Kwik-Fit’s behalf the accolade should really go to Ann Macreadie and Neil Arnott, the people at Kwik-Fit who despite many challenges stuck diligently to the plan and of course I must mention Ceva logistics and Murfitts, for without their tireless efforts it would never have been possible.”

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Happy Birthday, Vulcanised Rubber!

Today, June 15, is a red-letter day for the tyre industry – exactly 165 years ago Charles Goodyear was granted the initial patent for process of rubber vulcanisation. But while this patent – number 3633 – may have opened the door to the development of a viable range of rubber products and eventually led to a company bearing his name becoming one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world, the patent delivered far more financial reward to others than to Goodyear himself.

According to accounts of Charles Goodyear’s life, the vulcanised rubber story began in 1834 when Goodyear, whose hardware store had recently been made bankrupt, approached the Roxbury India Rubber Company with a new business idea.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

The Delivery Company Wins RMA Green Fleet Award

The Delivery Company has confirmed its credentials as an environmentally-friendly company by scooping the Green Fleet Award presented by the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA). The Award was presented to Douglas Wright of the Delivery Company by RMA Director David Wilson at the Rubber Industry Dinner held Chesford Grange in Kenilworth on 15 May. The Green Fleet of the Year Award is presented by the RMA to recognise fleets who have been particularly supportive to the retreading industry.

The Delivery Company is a trading division of PaperlinX Services (Europe) Ltd) and has a fleet of 350 vehicles operating throughout the UK delivering paper, board and plastics. As part of an initiative to reduce their carbon footprint, the Delivery Company not only adopted a managed, new and remould, tyre policy, they also introduced a number of other actions aimed at reducing emissions.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gajah Tunggal Offers to Exchange $420 Million of Bonds

Bloomberg reports that PT Gajah Tunggal TbK is offering to exchange US$420 million of 10.25 per cent bonds due in 2010 for new notes maturing in 2014. The Indonesian tyremaker said in a statement that it will exchange the debt at par for noteholders responding to the offer by June 26, and at 95 per cent of face value for those that wait until July 3.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Carlisle Shutdown Planned for Late June

A further temporary closure of Pirelli’s Carlisle factory is scheduled for late June. The company reports that reduced demand for tyres in European markets is the reason behind the June 27 to July 1 shutdown.

Production at the Carlisle site had been increased in May in response to anticipated market stabilisation, however company management reports that short-term demand has reached their “optimistic prediction.”

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Peter Taylor Receives OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Peter Taylor the Tyre Recycling Association’s secretary general and long time director of the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA) has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in a move which is seen as honouring the UK tyre industry’s pioneering work in developing a ground breaking tyre recovery and recycling programme.

“I am absolutely delighted to receive this important honour,” said Peter Taylor: “However without the help and support of other members of the tyre industry and its various trade associations we would not have been able to establish the Responsible Recycler Scheme and make it work as effectively as it does. I am happy to accept this honour on behalf of the UK tyre industry.”

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors