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OTR Implements New Service Management System

OTR Tyres Ltd has implemented a new Service Management System as part of its strategy to continually improve onsite service for customers. According to the company, the system provides a seamless transfer of data to and from the OTR Service Engineer and Regional Depot and gives real time information to allow accurate job management. “Travel time and distance, job start and finish information, vehicle downtime, details of work requested and work done are all recorded and used to continually improve the service offered,” said UK operations director Darren Flint.

13th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ETRMA: Rules Sets Tyre Safety at ‘Unprecedented Levels’

European tyre manufacturing body, ETRMA, has welcomed the approval of new requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles in yesterday’s first-reading agreement by the European Parliament. According to the association, the new type approval requirements recognise the importance of an integrated approach to tyre performance for consumers by considering both safety and environmental performance in the same act. “The implementation of this legislation will be challenging, but the tyre industry is ready to meet the challenge in light of the consumers and citizens interests,” said ETRMA president Francesco Gori. The challenge will be for the 27 enforcement Authorities to ensure consistent and effective market surveillance.

From ETRMA’s point of view the new regulation is about “environmental and safety objectives with challenging targets, while providing visibility and regulatory certainty for the next 10 years. It is about a single regulation, directly applicable in all the Member States, creating a level playing field in the EU.”

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Halts Korean Production for Five Days

Kumho has stopped its production for a period of five days at its three Korean plants, following a drop in demand. The factories closed today (Thursday, 12 March) and will be closed until Monday, according to a release from the manufacturer.

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

“A Very Demanding Situation for Our Gravel Tyres”

Drivers at the upcoming Cyprus round of the World Rally Championship are to face an increased challenge on the island following the decision to supply competitors with only hard compound gravel tyres, despite the change of format to include a first day on asphalt in addition to the more traditional gravel surfaces of the later stages.

Mario Isola, the rally manager at Pirelli – the official tyre supplier to the WRC – stated, “this is a very demanding situation for our gravel tyres and surely the skills required from the drivers will be somewhat different. There is surely less grip but everyone has been surprised by how well the tyres stood up in the tests.”

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

AAIA: Vehicle Repairs Cost 34% More at Car Dealers

Vehicle repairs cost an average 34 per cent more at car dealerships than at independent repair shops, according to a study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). That price differential, AAIA said, results in $11.7 billion annually in excess costs to consumers. The study also reveals differences in the costs of parts and labor from city to city. Consumers in Los Angeles, the study showed, pay as much as 46.8% more for repairs at car dealers than at independent repair shops. (Tire Review/Akron)

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Firestone Makes 71 Redundant at Prescott, Ark. Plant

The Firestone plant in Prescott, Arkansas will lay off 71 employees on 3 April 2009. Tina Gaines, a spokesperson for the plant, says the layoffs, based on seniority, were due to an “unprecedented decline” in construction.

The plant makes a high-performance synthetic rubber compound for roofing AND employs about 525. Firestone Building Products is owned by Bridgestone.

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Schaeffler ‘Buys’ Time from Banks With ‘Bridging Loan’

Schaeffler Group has reportedly obtained a form of bridge financing that gives the automotive supplier more time to negotiate long-term funding, the German Die Welt newspaper has reported. Schaeffler owner, Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler, apparently agreed to contribute part of her fortune in the deal with a group of lenders including Commerzbank AG and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, according to the report, which added: “The arrangement means Schaeffler is no longer in danger of breaching covenants in the coming months.” However, Bloomberg reports suggest the financing was drawn from a revolving credit facility and that companies “don’t usually draw on the facilities.”

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Plimsoll Report Tackles Rising Insolvencies Prediction

A new report from business intelligence analysts Plimsoll investigates the prediction by restructuring specialists that the number of UK insolvencies will soar by 55 per cent towards the end of 2009, a figure that has more than doubled since the credit crunch. Addressed specifically to the needs of the 156 UK tyres, exhausts and batteries companies rated as being at high risk of failure, the report suggests that if they are to survive, they must start to fix their problems now. Copies of the report are to be sold for £350.

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Breathe Easy This Allergy Season

With the rate of allergies rising and spring on its way, air conditioning and air purity should be top priority says Beissbarth UK. The company has introduced Saniflux, a new purification system which can be easily integrated into their advanced technology MAC aircon range. Managing director Philip Hodges said: “Saniflux is highly efficient in terms of eliminating allergens, purifying the aircon system and neutralising annoying odours in the car interior.

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Autoglym Makes ‘Best Employers’ List

Autoglym, as part of The Altro Group, has been named in The Sunday Times’ ‘100 Best Companies To Work For’. The Letchworth-based group, which employs over 500 people across six sites, was ranked at number 70 in the annual survey.

“We are very proud to have been named in this prestigious list,” said Paul Caller, Autoglym’s CEO. “It is a testament to our inclusive management style and the strong values upheld by everyone in the company. We all strive to make our products the best on the market in every sector of car care. It is the desire for perfection and the need to remain the best that generates our great staff morale and motivates us all.”

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Scottish Haulage Company Switches to Michelin

Scottish haulage company Ian S Roger has switched to an all-Michelin tyre policy for trucks and trailers following a successful in-house trial which saw a set of Michelin XDN2 Grip tyres on a drive axle return 260,000km with their first re-groove. Company director Colin Roger commented: “We initially trialled a set of Michelin’s and were amazed at the performance. Over the last decade we have fitted cheaper tyres to our vehicles in the belief that we would be saving money, but we never seemed to get any mileage out of them and suffered frequent punctures. It proved that in this business you really do get what you pay for.

“Our vehicles use a mixture of A-roads, motorways and occasionally go off-road when visiting livestock or agricultural customers, so tyres endure a hard life with us. XDN2 Grip tyres offer increased performance and traction over a variety of surfaces and, coupled with a complete Michelin fitment package, we have noticed a significant reduction in the number of tyre related breakdowns,” adds Mr Roger.

12th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Upgrade Goodyear and Cooper Shares

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., both experienced gains in their share prices after analysts raised their ratings for the two firms’ stock. According to Bloomberg, Cooper climbed 17 per cent after CRT Capital Group Inc. rated the stock as “fair value,” up from “sell.” Goodyear gained 15 per cent after KeyBanc Capital upped its rating to “hold” from “underweight.”

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandvulc Cuts 20 Jobs

Leading retread manufacturer and fleet service provider, Bandvulc is to shed about 20 jobs at its factory due to reduced commercial haulage. The company, which has contracts with most of the leading supermarket fleets and the likes of Boots and frozen food giant Yearsley Group, has previously performed well in recessions as a result of fleets trying to save money. However, this time around managing director Patrick O’Connell has highlighted the fact that “smaller local firms,” such as Bandvulc, are not benefiting from large scale Government investment.

As a result the firm has reportedly “started the process” of reducing its workforce by about 20. “Bandvulc is a family company which is owned and operates locally. It is therefore especially difficult for us to face the fact that we must reduce the number of our employees. We are acutely aware of the problem it causes those affected, but we must run a viable company which will be strong and able to capitalise on the upturn when it comes to again to create good jobs,” O’Connell told thisiscornwall.co.uk.

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg to Distribute GPX Galaxy Tyres in Europe

Galaxy-branded farm, forestry, agri-industrial and and OTR will be distributed exclusively by Trelleborg Wheel Systems following an agreement between the companies to form a strategic alliance. The agreement will be effective from 1 April, and covers 25 European countries: Albania, Belgium, Belarus, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Germany, Georgia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and Ukraine.

The range of Galaxy-branded pneumatic products covered by the agreement includes tyres for diverse and demanding applications such as: agricultural radial and bias, skid steer, forestry, lawn and garden, OTR, backhoe and telescopic handlers, as well as other agricultural and industrial segments. GPX will continue to market its range of Forklift Industrial, Inter-Modal port and full range of solid tyres independently.

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

British Carmakers Overtaken On Continent, Race for Euro Funds

Only two UK-based car manufacturers have applied for European financial support, leading the Financial Times to conclude that the British automotive sector is being slow in applying. According to FT, cabinet ministers don’t want UK-based companies to miss out on European Investment Bank funding which is said to be unlikely to exceed 7 billion euros (£6.5 billion), significantly less than the 40 billion euros the industry had previously sought. This is in addition the government’s £2.5 billion automotive support package, which includes £1.3 billion of guarantees to back loans from the European Investment Bank and £1 billion of guarantees for other loans.

According to the FT, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover have both applied for EIB financing to support research and development work. Jaguar said it was waiting for Wednesday’s meeting to get details of the non-EIB guarantees. Neither General Motors nor Ford Motor had yet applied for EIB-backed loans in the UK, the companies said.

11th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors