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HPC Buys Economatics Compressed Air Operation

HPC plc has announced that it has completed the purchase of the Compressed Air activities of Economatics Industrial Limited. The purchase includes the sales and service divisions of the Economatics branches in Sheffield, Leicester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Welwyn Garden City and Salford, but excludes Marshall Branson in Hebburn.

“Having supported Economatics in supplying cost effective, industry leading compressed air equipment, parts and service for almost 40 years, we are pleased to have completed this acquisition and are delighted to welcome the compressed air staff and customers of Economatics to HPC” said Trevor Stott, Managing Director of HPC Compressed Air Systems. He continued: “Economatics is one of the best known and most respected names in the UK compressed air industry and such an experienced sales and service organisation immediately strengthens our UK distribution base. We are looking forward to continuing to provide first-rate services for all our customers’ compressed air needs.”

1st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Going Wireless with Tyre Shredders UK

Northamptonshire based shredding specialists Tyre Shredders UK Limited (TSUK), a subsidiary of the Systems4Recycling Group, has a recycling ace up its sleeve – the company offers what it reports to be the only true single pass shredding system capable of removing virtually all tyre wire, creating 20mm rubber chip from whole passenger car and 4×4 tyres.

Two shredding systems are available from TSUK – the TS50 and the TS100 series. Both of these single pass machines deliver the pure 20mm rubber chip (TSUK reports that clean steel wire is removed from the tyre with only 5 to 9 per cent rubber contamination) that is frequently sought after by manufacturers of numerous rubber products, such as playground safety systems, equestrian surfaces and garden products.

24th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Blackcircles.com Adds a Personal Touch with New Call Centre

Last year online tyre retailer Blackcircles.com conducted a review of internet trends, and determined that customers are interested in comparing tyre prices online but still value the option of obtaining advice from a tyre professional. In response to this, the company is launching a new call centre operation at its Peebles headquarters.

“One of the themes we have picked up from customers is that the Internet does not talk back to you and we aim to change that,” commented company managing director Mike Welch. “Our research has shown that people feel there is a general lack of access to expert advice within the tyre industry. By offering an expert call centre operation we believe we can win more business by making the experience of purchasing tyres far more interactive.

23rd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin: OE Customers Prepared to Pay Extra for “Green Tyres”

Analysts from the Société Générale report that Michelin representatives have, during a Roadshow event, expressed the opinion that OE manufacturers would be prepared to spend extra for environmentally friendly “green tyres.” The willingness to spend extra for such a product would no doubt be aided by CO2 emission reductions currently on the EU agenda; reductions of 120 to 130 grams per kilometre may in future be required.

Should Michelin’s predictions be correct, it will not only be the environment that benefits; while environmentally friendly tyres currently cost the consumer more to purchase, the manufacture of “green tyres” requires less raw materials, thus lowering production costs.

18th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Launches Winter Tyre Range

India’s Auto Expo 2008 motor show in New Delhi has been the venue for another first from Apollo Tyres – the company’s chairman and managing director, Onkar S Kanwar, unveiled Apollo Tyres’ – and India’s – first winter tyre ranges. Called the Acelere Ice and Hawkz Ice, the new tyres will be produced in sizes to fit passenger cars and 4x4s.

The Ice range of winter tyres have been designed for European and North American markets, and utilise the compounds (100 per cent silica), siping and tread patterns traditionally associated with this market segment. Apollo reports that both the Acelere Ice and the Hawkz Ice underwent extensive testing at the Ivalo Test Track in Finland prior to their unveiling, and will become available for purchase in the autumn of 2008.

15th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Lionax Reaches DPS Development ‘Milestone’

Lionax, the first Chinese company listed on the Euronext pan-European stock exchange, announced on January 7 that it has reached a ‘key milestone’ in its quest to develop the industry’s leading next generation Digital Pressure Sensor (DPS), a critical component in TPMS systems in terms of both function and cost.

Presently, comments Lionax, TPMS manufacturers purchase DPS units from third party suppliers such as Motorola, Siemens and GE, adding what the Chinese company calls a ‘significant cost’ to TPMS products. Leveraging on proprietary innovative “Ring Oscillation” technology, Lionax’s Silicon Valley office is working with scientists and researchers from Scotland’s SemeFab and Tsinghua University in China to jointly pursue a superior and more cost effective solution. Based on recently available preliminary results, Lionax claims it will have access to the next generation DPS technology at half to one-third of the current market price.

10th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Solus Masterlease Agreement For Kwik-Fit Fleet

Effective 1st January, Kwik-Fit Fleet has won a solus multi-million pound contract to supply a range of fast-fit services, including tyre repair, replacement and management, to Masterlease. The previous fast-fit agreement was with a number of suppliers, including Kwik-Fit Fleet.

Masterlease is one of the UK’s largest leasing and fleet management specialists with more than 100,000 cars and vans on its books and the company will benefit from Kwik-Fit Fleet’s new web-based ‘intelligent’ tyre management authorisation and reporting system, which is being rolled out to Britain’s biggest fleet operators.

7th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Petrochemical Increases Stake in Kumho Tire

The London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory New Service reports that Kumho Petrochemical has increased its shareholding in Kumho Tire Co., Inc. The majority shareholder raised its shareholding in the tyremaker from 44.65 per cent to 44.77 per cent through the purchase of 85,000 common shares. Kumho Petrochemical now holds 31,339,160 shares in the company.

10th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

‘New Era’ at Conti Following Siemens VDO Purchase

Continental has wasted no time getting down to business following the completion of the company’s acquisition of the Siemens VDO Automotive unit. Day one of the “new Continental” was December 5, and Continental Executive Board chairman Manfred Wennemer travelled to Regensburg in Germany’s south, where the unit has its headquarters, to meet with the company’s newest colleagues.

“We warmly welcome the employees from the former Siemens VDO Automotive AG. By consolidating forces, we will forge our Continental into one of the world’s foremost automotive suppliers,” said Mr. Wennemer in his address to the unit’s employees, just one day after the official conclusion of the 11.4 billion euro purchase. “Following exhaustive preparation we can now tackle the integration with a flying start.

“It will take us another two to three months, however, to make a series of key decisions,” he added. “This gives us enough time to thoroughly examine data that antitrust laws have so far barred us access to. This applies in particular to information concerning sales, earnings and the number of employees by product group and plant. In the final analysis, the plans required for the operative business and especially for production will form the basis for the generation of synergy effects, paving the way for the emergence of a better and more efficient corporation from two top-notch companies as well.”

On the basis of planning to date, Continental anticipates net synergy effects in the order of at least 170 million euros as of 2010. “From what we know at the moment, we would be disappointed if it remained at this conservatively estimated sum. The amount will presumably be higher. We will be able to provide more details in the next ten weeks,” stated Wennemer.

The number of divisions under the Continental AG umbrella has increased from four to six; three of the existing divisions, Passenger and Light Truck Tires, Commercial Vehicle Tires and ContiTech, remain unchanged by this reorganisation and remain the respective responsibilities of Dr. Hans-Joachim Nikolin, Manfred Wennemer and Gerhard Lerch. The company’s old Automotive division and the Siemens VDO Automotive unit together form three new divisions:

Chassis & Safety – headed by Dr. Ralf Cramer under the Board responsibility of Dr. Neumann, this division is positioned to provide technology solutions for brake and chassis systems, the networking of active and passive safety systems, and sensors. The division has more than 27,000 employees at over 65 locations worldwide and reports more than 5 billion euros in sales.

Powertrain – this division is headed by Dieter Rogge, also under Dr. Neumann’s Board responsibility, and offers products and system solutions for powertrain, engine management, injection technology, sensors, actuators and hybrid technology. According to Conti, the division lays claim to worldwide market and technology leadership in the area of economical and eco-friendly driving. More than 27,000 people are employed by the Powertrain division at approximately 70 locations worldwide, and the division generates more than 5 billion euros in sales.

Interior – the new Interior division, headed by Helmut Matschi under the Board responsibility of Manfred Wennemer, positions itself as a worldwide market and technology leader for information management with systems that provide a link between the vehicle and the driver and passengers, between different vehicles, and between the vehicle and the infrastructure in which it operates. The division generates more than 6 billion euros in sales and employs more than 33,000 people at approximately 70 global locations. “Viewing ourselves as information managers in vehicles, we intend to optimise the flow of information,” said Mr. Wennemer regarding the division. “We will develop new functions that establish a link with the vehicle surroundings and present information in a way that motorists can grasp intuitively.

Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Executive Board member in charge of corporate-wide technological development and the new Chassis & Safety and Powertrain divisions, stressed that with its expanded global operations and stronger product portfolio, the new Continental will be able to greater profit from future key auto industry trends: “Our innovative force and core competence cover precisely those automotive industry megatrends that will clearly dominate the upcoming years – safety, sustainability and Information”.

“In the Chassis & Safety division, we intend to integrate high-quality components in the area of brake systems, sensors and chassis to form a safety concept – called ContiGuard – that will make for zero crashes and injuries in the future. We are likewise well placed with respect to “zero emissions”, as envisioned for the future. We have, for instance, set standards with precise and highly efficient piezo injection systems for diesel and gas engines, as well as with hybrid drive solutions or roll-resistance-optimised tyres. In the Powertrain division we are determined to live up to our motto “Experience passion-driven mobility” by offering innovative products and system solutions that make diesel- and gas-engine vehicles more economical, reliable, powerful and eco-friendly,” said Dr. Neumann.

Continental now counts itself amongst the top five automotive suppliers worldwide and, based on 2006 figures, generates annual global sales in excess of 25 billion euros. The corporation currently employs approximately 150,000 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Remain in Akron

The decision that many in Goodyear’s hometown of Akron, Ohio have awaited for months was finally made public on December 5 – the US tyre major will continue its long-standing relationship with the city. At a press conference held at Goodyear’s World Technical Center, adjacent to the proposed future site of its new headquarters building, Goodyear chairman and CEO Bob Keegan made the announcement in the presence of state, city and county representatives, along with representatives from Industrial Realty Group (IRG), the developer selected to build the company’s new world headquarters.

6th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Purchase of Siemens VDO Officially Concluded

The Continental Corporation concluded its purchase of Siemens VDO Automotive AG on December 3, four days after the EU Commission issued its unconditional approval. The company remitted 11.4 billion, euros, including tax benefits of around 1 billion euros, to Siemens AG as payment for the purchase, and Conti reports that it intends to commence the Siemens VDO unit’s integration into the corporation immediately.

“With conclusion of the transaction, we have, in principle, taken the final step in our comprehensive preparation and are delighted that we can now welcome the employees at Siemens VDO as colleagues,” said Continental’s Executive Board chairman Manfred Wennemer. On December 5, the official first day of what Conti has dubbed the “new Continental”, Mr. Wennemer will welcome the employees at an internal event to be held at the former headquarters of Siemens VDO in Regensburg, Germany.

4th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Announces ‘Precautionary’ Recall in North America

Goodyear has announced a recall – or, in the company’s own words – a “precautionary customer satisfaction campaign” on particular P215/70R14 tyres sold under a number of names in the US and Canada. The tyres were made between 2003 and 2006 under 23 names, including associate and private labels such as Douglas, Kelly, Mohave and Republic. A complete list of the private label brand names involved in the program can be seen at Goodyear’s website www.goodyear.com.

The tyremaker points out that, although it has launched an exchange program, no manufacturing or design defect has been found in the tyre. “This precautionary campaign is in response to our internal analysis and review of early warning data we monitor on our tyres,” said Sim Ford, manager of Goodyear’s government and customer compliance. “The company has determined some of these tyres have experienced adverse service conditions that have led to a tread separation, and in the interest of customer satisfaction has decided to replace qualifying tyres.

3rd December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

EU Commission Approves VDO Purchase

Continental AG reported on November 29 that it has received approval from the EU Commission for the unconditional acquisition of Siemens VDO Automotive AG. Antitrust authority approval had already been issued by the relevant national offices. This enables Continental to close the transaction in early December and transfer the purchase amount, €11.4 billion including tax benefits of around €1 billion, to Siemens AG. The integration of Siemens VDO into the Continental Corporation will begin immediately after closing.

30th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

On a Mission

Speaking to Nigeria’s Vanguard, Ambassador John Fashanu, managing director/chief executive officer of Tyre Protector Nigeria Ltd said his inspiration to enter this business as a way of giving back to the African people following the blowout related death of a friend, a former speaker in Niger State House of Assembly.

Two years after entering the business Fashanu reports that 85 per cent of road accidents in Nigeria are from punctured tyres. If nothing else, this clearly shows that there is a market for his non-toxic, glycol based, water soluble tyre sealant. The product is designed for use on tubeless tyres and operates in a similar way to most sealants – it forms a thin protective coating between the tyre and the air within the tyre. When a puncturing object penetrates the tyre, air pressure forces the sealant into the “wound” repairing the damage instantly.

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Delticom Pre-tax Profits up 69%

Delticom AG, Europe’s leading Internet tyre retailer, has increased revenues by approximately 34 per cent year-on-year in the first 9 months of this year to 146 million euros (2006: 108.9 million euros). EBIT rose by 69 per cent to 6.9 million euros (previous year: 4.1 million). At the same time, net income for the period was up by 92 per cent to 4.8 million (previous year: 2.5 million euros).

26th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors