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Marangoni Benefitting From Its Differentiated Structure

Times are hard; for some they are even too hard. During the prevailing financial and economic crisis plenty of steps need to be taken if a company wants to successfully weather the hardships involved. In an exclusive interview with Tyres & Accessories, Massimo De Alessandri, CEO of the Marangoni Group, explains how his company is facing the current situation, why its prospects are quite good, and why there won’t be any long-term damage to the group.

TYRES & ACCESSORIES:
The economic environment in Europe has been difficult in recent months, to say the least. How has the Marangoni Group been affected by this?

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Batteries Appoints Higson as Marketing Manager

UK Batteries, the company behind the Platinium brand of aftermarket batteries, has appointed Mark Higson as marketing manager. Higson joins UK Batteries from TMD Friction where he was marketing manager for over three years and was responsible for the development of the company’s various aftermarket brands.

The 26-year-old has taken over the role of UK Batteries’ marketing manager from James O’Connor who has moved into the company’s OE and key accounts department to play a leading role in the development of new and existing accounts.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Becomes Elite Northampton Saints Sponsor

Hankook has strengthened its links Northampton Saints Rugby Club by joining its group of elite sponsors. Hankook has had a visible presence at the team’s Franklin’s Gardens ground since January, when it became one of the stadium’s biggest advertisers. However, the tyre manufacturer has since decided to increase its commitment to the club and this new deal will see Hankook’s logo appear on all the Saints’ playing shirts for the next three years.

Hankook’s UK headquarters are in Daventry, Northamptonshire where the company now employs more than 50 people on these premises. It also has more than 1,000 retail locations throughout the UK.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Market in Line for a Sell-in Bounce

Market analysts are predicting tyre industry sell-in sales volumes will improve sharply in the second quarter of 2009. Morgan Stanley experts explained in an investor’s note issued on 9 April that production cuts of between 40 and 60 per cent in OE and 10 to 40 per cent in replacement tyre production in January and February were “far more draconian than anticipated,” but nonetheless “deliberate and forthright” action. “We estimate Michelin’s sell-in tyre volume through the first two months of the year has declined approximately 20 per cent, assuming constant market share. Simply put, we believe this pace of volume decline is not sustainable,” the analysts commented.

The theory is that dealers that de-stocked tyres rather than purchase additional products at the beginning of 2009 are currently, or will soon, run low on inventory and therefore tyre factories must start running again. “We forecast Michelin tyre volume down 6.6 per cent for the full year, implying rest-of-year volumes down 3.9 per cent. At a minimum, we expect the extraordinary pace of volume decline to diminish sharply and soon.”

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Monarch: At Home in a Niche Market

Ever since tyres first rolled onto the scene, there has also been a need for tyre repairs. For users of earthmover tyres, which are often used in intense operating conditions, tyre repair represents a particularly substantial contribution towards the maintenance of their value – the costs incurred with these tyres can quickly amount to a high five-digit figure. Since the early 1970s British company Monarch Vulcanising Systems has entirely dedicated itself to this niche market – with continued success, as company president Toni Elderfield shared during Tyrexpo Asia.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Names Commercial OE Account Manager

Continental Tire North America has named Wyatt Hamilton its key account manager for original equipment sales in the commercial vehicle tyre division. Hamilton is based in CTNA’s North American headquarters in Indian Land, South Caroline, and will service truck and trailer manufacturers for the eastern USA and Canada, said Tom Fanning, CTNA’s director of OE sales for the Americas. Hamilton was previously a key account manager for aftermarket tyre sales and has been with Continental for five years.

“Wyatt’s expertise in commercial tyre sales will assist us with increasing our OE sales in these key territories,” said Fanning. “His overall knowledge of the Continental brand will be invaluable in providing excellent service to our existing manufacturing partners, as well as developing new relationships that support our growth strategy.” Hamilton, a native of Charlotte, is a graduate of North Carolina State University and holds a bachelor of science degree in business management. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Kicks Off Dealer Training Program

Dealers across the USA will get a chance to test many of Yokohama’s tyres – including the all-new ADVAN Neova AD08 – in a series of 10 specialized training programmes beginning this month. Cities on the 10-city training tour include Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Texas, Orlando, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis and Albuquerque.

The ADVAN Neova AD08, an updated version of Yokohama’s ADVAN Neova AD07, will be available in the US in May in 32 sizes ranging from 15 to 19 inches. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Blue is New Green for Canadian Tire

Following the success of Canadian Tire’s 2008 “Buy a Bulb, Plant a Tree Campaign,” Canadians can again help the environment by purchasing an environmentally-friendly Blue Planet product and having a tree planted in their name. The promotion will take place from 11 April to 8 May at Canadian Tire stores across Canada, in partnership with Trees Ontario. Like the 2008 campaign, it is expected that the Blue Planet Program will result in the planting of an additional 100,000 trees.

“Together with our customers, we are part of the solution for creating a sustainable environment. Through product innovation, Canadian Tire provides customers with quality merchandise that meets their needs and supports their personal environmental goals,” says Reg McLay, senior vice president of marketing and sourcing services for Canadian Tire. “This initiative not only offers customers environmentally-preferred product solutions for their home, but also allows us to give back to the communities across Canada through the planting of trees.” The Blue Planet product line includes items such as natural household cleaning products, CFL light bulbs that use 75 per cent less energy, rechargeable batteries, energy meters and more. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

TMD Friction Acquired in Equity-backed Management Buy Out

On 3 April TMD Friction was bought out in an all equity acquisition led by its senior management team and Pamplona Capital Management, a London-based investment fund. According to a company statement, the move will safeguard approximately 3,800 jobs worldwide. Completion of the acquisition is expected by the end of April.

TMD Friction manufactures disc brake pads and drum brake linings for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, together with brake pads for racing cars, and friction materials for industrial and rail applications. TMD Friction supplies global automotive and commercial OEMs across a wide range of vehicle platforms. The company is also one of the largest suppliers to the global aftermarket with its Textar, Pagid, Mintex, Don, Cobreq, and Cosid brands. The company operates from locations across Europe, the US, Brazil, Mexico, China and Japan.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Prison for Tyre Dumping Ex-Policeman

A former Police inspector faces a year in prison for his role in the dumping of 175,000 tyres. Geraint Evans, who retired from the Police in 2005, was one of three people sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on April 8 for illegally disposing of tyres at sites in England and Wales. Also sentenced were Norman Cassidy, who received an eight-month prison sentence, and Evans’ partner Marilyn Hanks, who has been ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.

“You are thoroughly unscrupulous men with no regard whatsoever for the financial consequences of those you exploit,” commented Judge Stephen Hopkins QC, referring to Evans and Cassidy. “You were deliberately dealing in waste without a licence for purely financial reason and it’s had a substantial impact on the community.”

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius Releases Biggest Ever Timax Catalogue

Klarius Group recently published its biggest ever catalogue of Timax branded exhaust products. Timax, the only UK replacement exhaust manufacturer to gain type approval for all it’s exhaust products sold in the UK and abroad, says the new brochure shows the thousands of items available, including hundreds of new systems for this year.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Announces Further Carlisle Redundancies

It appears as if Pirelli is seeking further voluntary redundancies amongst it production staff in Carlisle. The company has confirmed this in a statement, however at this stage it is not clear how many positions will be cut.

Pirelli says it has informed senior trade union officials at both its Burton on Trent and Carlisle plants that it is willing to consider voluntary redundancy applications from production workers and supporting services. Information about the cutbacks was given as a second five-day shutdown, the result of falling demand, began on April 8.

9th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Snider Tire Joins Michelin Retread Technologies Network

The North America based Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) network of servicing dealers has grown through the addition of Snider Tire. The retreader, headquartered in North Carolina, is one of the largest commercial tyre dealers and retreaders in the US. At present the company operates eight retread facilities and 31 commercial service locations, primarily in the Carolinas, Georgia and Texas area.

“Snider Tire has long been recognised for the quality of its people and service to the fleets,” said Francois Corbin, COO of Michelin Americas Truck Tires. “We are confident that John Snider and his team will help us continue to provide excellent commercial truck services to fleet customers.”

8th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone & TIA Educating Consumers With New Video

Bridgestone Americas is helping consumers make informed choices through the production of a short video that will be launched in time for ‘National Car Care Month’ in April. The company has teamed up with the Tire Industry Association (TIA) to work on the seven-minute video, which is available for viewing online.

The video, titled ‘Passenger Tire Replacement’, is comprised of three modules: Module 1 discusses tyre sizing and how the information contained on the vehicle tyre placard helps consumers select the best tyre and inflation pressure for their vehicle. Module 2 helps consumers understand tyre replacement guidelines, most importantly the proper installation when replacing only two tyres and the consequences of improper installation. Module 3 educates consumers on the critical issue of tyre rotation, and how proper tyre rotation can save consumers money, fuel and ensure maximum tyre life and performance.

8th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Bringing the World Cup to Your Mobile

Football fans that can’t get by without their mobile phones will soon be able to gain blessed relief from an online service operated by Continental. The manufacturer is launching a new service that provides news and facts on the Conti sponsored 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. Information about tyres and other Continental products will also be available. The website for the company’s German home market has already been launched (http://mobil.continental.de) and Conti says sites for other countries will be introduced in the near future. Additional content is also planned, including a search engine for locating garages, workshops and motorway services.

8th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors