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Blackcircles.com Opens Dutch Web Shop

British e-Tailer Blackcircles.com has thrown its hat into the ring in The Netherlands, seeking to do battle with competitors who, managing director Mike Welch says, “are growing on the back of offering customers an inferior deal.” Autobandenshop.com will offer Dutch motorists access to all the major tyre brands carried by the British website.

Welch continues, “One of the core guiding principles of Blackcircles.com is that there should be no barriers to tyre safety and we are delighted to be helping Dutch motorists to stay safe on the road. Our aim in Holland is to set a new standard for low cost tyres combined with high quality service.”

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

In Tyres & Accessories, April 2009:
Private Brands
Wheel Report
Wheel Alignment

Private Business

The opportunity to exclusively offer a range of tyres is very attractive, and gives a business a point of difference between it and the competitor around the corner. The UK is reported to have one of the most active private brand markets in the world, with new labels regularly added to the healthy range currently available. A good private brand in the portfolio can make noticeable difference to a company’s sales figures – just one reason to include April’s Private Brands feature on your monthly must-read list.

At the Centre of Things

It takes more than a tyre to make a wheel, and without that metal bit in the middle we’d be left with a rubber circle flopping about on the road. Thank goodness then for rims, the oft-overlooked partner to the tyre. The April edition of Tyres & Accessories puts the centre part of the wheel on centre stage: See next month’s Wheel Report for the latest product and industry news.

No Deviation Allowed

If you’ve ever strayed from the straight and narrow, gone off the beaten track or exhibited divergent characteristics, don’t spend too much time in soul searching – it was probably just your vehicle’s wheel alignment. While the Department for Transport attributes only around 4 per cent of MOT failures to steering defects, undetected wheel alignment issues are much more frequent and are a key cause of premature tyre wear. Next month’s Wheel Alignment feature will help you stay trim and true with all things alignment-related.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Survey Investigates Servicing Loyalty

Almost half of UK car owners (47 per cent) would get their car serviced at a local garage rather than take it to the dealer they bought the car from. They are even less likely to use a franchised dealer that sells the same brand of car to service their vehicle (13 per cent), according to a survey by information and marketing services provider Experian.

The survey also revealed a clear difference between new and used car owners. 64 per cent of used car owners would go to a local garage to get their car serviced, compared to just 23 per cent of new car owners. Meanwhile, half (51 per cent) of new car owners would prefer to use the dealer they bought their car from (compared to 13 per cent of used car owners).

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Superior Industries Reports $26.1 Million 2008 Loss

Wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International has reported a net loss of US$20.1 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008. This result is compares with a net income of $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of the previous financial year. For the 2008 full year, net loss was $26.1 million, compared to net income of $9.3 million in 2007.

“Our results included a number of non-recurring items related to asset impairments for the two announced plant closures, other workforce reductions, as well as an inventory write-down to recognize lower aluminium rates,” said company chairman, CEO and president Steven Borick. “In aggregate, these special adjustments totalled $23.3 million for the full year 2008. The workforce reductions and plant closings were severe measures, but steps that we believe were necessary in order to right-size our capacity and position the company to operate more efficiently. Perhaps most important, our actions will serve to protect our balance sheet and cash, allowing us to weather this unprecedented business cycle. Despite the economic challenges, we maintained a positive cash flow in 2008.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sapphire Merges With Glacier

Sapphire Energy Recovery – now fully-owned by Lafarge Cement UK following a buy-out of joint venture shares from Michelin Tyre plc – has restructured in what it describes as “an aim to operate closer to the sources of waste and further improve customer service.” The business has completed a merger with sister Lafarge resource recovery company Glacier, which was dedicated to sourcing alternative raw materials and fuels for the cement business. The Glacier name will go, and the new company will operate across the waste spectrum with one management team.

Headed by General Manager Jamie Randall, the new-look Sapphire Energy Recovery will continue to serve the tyre recovery market, and even has plans for growth despite the current downturn. Thanks to recent new contracts, it expects to process well over 18 million tyres in 2009; a significant increase on previous years’ averages of 16 million.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Builds on “Fastest SUV” Fitment

Toyo retained its title as tyre of the “fastest SUV in the world” with the Proxes S/T on Sportec’s modified Porsche Cayenne Turbo at high speed oval course, the ATP in Germany. Selected for its ability to deliver the handling and stability required of a 4×4 of the modified Cayenne’s magnitude, the Proxes range exemplifies the ultra-high performance range of Toyo’s 4×4 line, though the company also recognises that not all off road vehicles are driven by off-road enthusiasts; it carries a wide range of tyres to suit all sectors of the 4×4 market, whether it is a sporty tyre for those who rarely venture away from the tarmac, or a true off-roader who loves to tear around the muddy terrains.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lockout at Apollo Outsourced Factory Resolved

Late in the evening of March 4, union and management representatives met in an attempt to parry a continuation of the deadlock over negotiations at PTL Enterprises’ Kalamassery, India tyre manufacturing unit, a plant outsourced to Apollo Tyres. According to Apollo, the meeting resulted in an agreement that the unit would re-enter production on March 6.

As agreed in the previous meeting, held on February 24, the unions remain committed to sorting out 10 of 12 issues at hand within a month of reopening the plant. The two pending issues, those of moving out the mixing process and machinery and increasing the capacity from the current 86 to 98 tonnes per day, have not yet been fully resolved.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CGS Gains Top Fendt Supplier Rating in Germany

The German sales company for CGS Tyres, CGS Reifen Deutschland, has been awarded the highest rating in the supplier programme operated by tractor Manufacturer Fendt. The company was given an ‘A’ rating in all the categories evaluated, which include quality, logistics, service and environment.

“We are delighted to have gained the highest award, which our customer Fendt has conferred on us for several years in succession” commented Andrew Mabin, Marketing and Sales managing director at MITAS a.s./CGS Tyres.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Makes Appearance in UK ‘Superbrands’ Top Ten

Michelin has been named amongst the top ten “superbrands” in the UK. The top ten new arrival secured a berth at number eight on the list of the Business Superbrands Top 500, which is compiled by the London based Centre for Brand Analysis.

“The Superbrands research is very thorough and it’s quite an achievement for us to be recognised as a stronger business brand than companies like BP and Bupa,” commented Michelin head of communications Peter Snelling. “These are challenging times, and to be rated so highly by our peers can only be seen as a very positive sign for the future of our business.”

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Economy Issues Putting Squeeze on Goodyear HQ Plans

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Goodyear’s plans for an all-new headquarters complex is pressing ahead, but at a far slower pace than planned, victimized by the concurrent downturn in credit and automotive markets. Akron Developer Stuart Lichter, who plans to buy Goodyear’s current headquarters facilities and convert them to retail and office space while building an new headquarters complex for the tyre maker, is being hamstrung by “an unprecedented meltdown of the credit markets,” according to the newspaper. Lichter told the newspaper that the city of Akron and county officials are working on bridge financing to make up shortfalls and keep the project moving forward. There was nothing to indicate that the deal might fall apart. “Anyone who’s shocked that this developer can’t get financing has been asleep for the last six months to a year,” Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic was quoted as saying.

The Plain Dealer said that the Summit County Port Authority “hopes to issue bonds by June 1, making Lichter’s purchase possible without the aid of banks or other private sources. Lichter would personally guarantee the bonds, with Akron and Summit County backing him up. He would repay the debt, with interest, using rent from Goodyear, which will lease back its buildings after the property sale. After three years, Lichter would pay off the remaining debt or refinance using other money sources.” (Tire Review/Akron)

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Brisa & Pirelli Production Resumes in Turkey

Production is one more underway at the Brisa/Bridgestone and Pirelli factories in Turkey. Both companies halted the manufacture of tyres late in February to realign output with demand, and resumed operations on March 3.

Production at the two companies’ factories restarted with the midnight shift on March 3, said labour union representative Hüseyin Çakar. Over the past week 2,200 workers, 1,072 at Brisa Bridgestone and the remainder at Turk Pirelli Tire Corporation, were placed on paid leave.

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lassa Competes With Competus Range

Lassa’s 4×4 offering focuses on its Competus range of on/off road four-wheel drive radials. According to company literature the Competus design philosophy was to produce a tyre that can “handle all types of weather on all kinds of driving surfaces including snow, mud and dirt.”

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop India Shahgunj Facility Re-Opening

Dunlop India’s factory in Shahgunj will re-open on March 6 after sitting idle for three months. On March 3 the company released a statement saying the plant’s maintenance and engineering division would be the first back on the job, with 229 workers undertaking the task of repairing the factory and making it production ready.

The suspension of operations at the plant was announced on November 30, 2008, and company management says it now hopes to resolve all outstanding issues with labour unions one the repair work is under way. Dunlop India has also indicated that assurances have been received from banks regarding the disbursement of working capital as required for the plant’s sustained operation.

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo to Appear at ‘The Valley’

This year Toyo Tires has secured perimeter advertising at ‘The Valley’ home of Charlton Athletic Football Club. The 50 metres of TV facing, perimeter advertising is positioned on the goal line in full view of the national TV cameras. Sky broadcast matches reportedly attract an average audience of 1,000,000 viewers per game, not to mention news coverage and the highlights shown on ITV’s Championship on Sunday mornings. By the end of the nine months of the Championship season, the hoardings will have been shown at 22 home fixtures.

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Increases its European OE Market Share

During 2008, Continental’s market share of the European original equipment market is said to have increased from 30 per cent to over 32 per cent. In contrast to this growth, the company reports it “sacrificed” some of its “unprofitable business” in the NAFTA states and South America, reducing its market share to 14 per cent – as planned. In total, Continental sold almost 40 million original equipment passenger and light truck tyres last year. The German company is anticipating fewer sales to vehicle manufacturers in 2009 and expects the market will pick up again in the fourth quarter. At the same time, Conti reports it will continue to focus on profitable deals in NAFTA countries. Supplies to Asian car manufacturers, which last year accounted for 0.7 million tyres, are forecast to remain fundamentally unchanged.

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors