Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe has appointed George Rietbergen as managing director UK and Ireland. Rietbergen will move to Birmingham to take over from Mark Brickhill, who has been promoted to vice-president of the company’s Consumer Business Unit EU. The appointment means Rietbergen is Goodyear Dunlop UK and Ireland’s third managing director since 2004.
A Reuters report says Bridgestone paid $3.28/kg for some quantities on Thai RSS3 rubber in a deal that represents the highest price paid for the grade in 58 years. The report spoke to a dealer in Hat Yai, Thailand, who stated that the Japanese tyre-maker “has been in the market almost every day lately” but that only relatively small quantities were changing hands. The dealer also said that there was little “buying interest from China” currently.
Rhodia Silcea has reported a 16 per cent drop in net sales volume during 2009 to 635 million euros, with the first half of the year marked by the global crisis and ensuing de-stocking in the automotive and several other sectors. By the second half, however, volumes began to recover, driven, says Rhodia, by demand in emerging markets and the dynamics of the automotive industry. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the business was able to report sequential volume recovery due to an improved business trend in all segments. Volumes increased by 19 per cent compared to the final quarter of 2008, to 177 million euros.
Perhaps in an effort to practice what it preaches, Bandvulc recently demonstrated some examples of innovation in in-house design and engineering. As a result, the company has now changed the way it handles over 18,000 truck tyre casings per month and has named this new process Avalon (a reference to the company’s King Arthur-themed production process).
As with the Avalon of King Arthur, where the magical sword Excalibur was forged, company representatives are keeping the Avalon of Bandvulc something of a mystery. However, according to the company, the fact that it was designed, manufactured and installed using internal expertise means the £300,000 investment has gone a lot further than it would have done if outside consultants and engineers were used.
Local media are reporting that USW workers at Denman Tire Corporation’s lone plant in Leavittsburg, Ohio have been told that the troubled tyre-maker is out of money and its banks are not extending credit. 200 union workers met late last week for an explanation of why they were sent home earlier this month and instructed to not return until further notice.
Pensions & Investments magazine reports that Goodyear’s pension plan is badly underfunded, and that the tyremaker will contribute between $275 million and $325 million to its global pension plans in 2010. Goodyear had contributed $430 million to its plans in 2009, the magazine reported.
TNA reports that Groupe Michelin may be planning to boost tyre production in Thailand, but such expansion will be based on prevailing political issues in that country. Michelin Southeast Asia and Oceania managing director Frederic Vincent told TNA that Michelin sees Thailand as Asia’s most important production base for exports worldwide and planned to increase its production capacity to accommodate economic recovery in Thailand. At the same time, the managing director said the company will “monitor the political situation closely as the group did not want to witness any uncertainties.” (Tire Review)
Pirelli’s Sottozero winter tyre has been used to show the advantages of fitting seasonal rubber in cold conditions in tests conducted by EVO magazine. The high performance cold weather tyre made an excellent case for fitting winter tyres when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius; EVO journalist Ollie Marriage's test which was conducted using two Jaguar XFRs, one with non-specialist tyres (Dunlop’s SP Sport Maxx, original equipment on the XFR, was used), the other with Sottozeros. The West Circuit at Bedford Autodrome was used as a testing track, with conditions including snow, slush and wet. The results published by EVO show that Pirelli’s Sottozero surpassed the standard summer rubber tyre in all comparisons of lap time, accelerative traction and 60-0mph braking.
A 54-year old man working at Apaseal in Hailsham, Sussex has died as a result of an “industrial accident”. Local newspaper the Sussex Express has reported that police arrived at the site to find the man dead at the scene, having been at work transporting heavy equipment. According to the report, police will work with the Health and Safety executive to work out what happened, with the man’s identification expected to happen before the end of the week.
Bridgestone Americas will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking tomorrow for its new $100 million technical centre in Akron, Ohio reports Tire Review. Company chairman, CEO and president Mark Emkes, as well as state and local officials, will be present. Bridgestone had debated moving near its national headquarters in Tennessee, but announced in 2008 that it had a preliminary deal to stay in Akron. That deal includes a $68 million public financing package offered by the state, county and city. The overall project, which includes a new 260,000-square-foot technical center at South Main Street and Firestone Boulevard, and neighborhood improvements, has been estimated at $102 million. The company expects workers to move into the building by late 2011 or early 2012, according to a report by the Akron Beacon Journal.
Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America has appointed Christine Moore its new director of Marketing. In her new position, Moore will be responsible for managing all marketing related business for the Dunlop motorcycle and ATV tyre business unit, including brand strategy, advertising, product marketing consumer services and public relations. Moore will report to Joe Rosen, chairman and president of Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America.
During these tough times for the commercial vehicle tyre market, Continental Tire the Americas has turned to charity for help – Chris Charity, that is. The former Continental Tire Automotive Aftermarket national sales manager is taking on the role of national sales manager for the Passenger and Light Truck Tire Division’s Dealer Channel, a role in which he will be responsible for directing, managing, training and supervising the dealer field sales force. Charity will also manage and oversee the development of new business and the growth of existing accounts within the US. Charity replaces Tom Colelli who is retiring after 43 years of service with Continental Tire.
According to The Day newspaper in New London, Connecticut, a local woman’s car was seriously damaged by the tyre shop she took it to for a simple oil change. In the 22 January incident, the woman took her 1994 Buick Century to the local Bridgestone Americas-owned Expert Tire location for an oil change. A short time later, the shop called to tell her that her car would not be done that day, and that she would receive a loaner car to use until her Buick was finished. The woman went back to the Expert Tire location to get a few things from her car, the report said, and discovered the driver’s side door was crushed in.
Reports on Wednesday 3 February suggest that Pirelli is about to be confirmed as the tyre supplier for the World Rally Championship after its current deal runs out at the end of the 2010 season. An anonymous source for Autosport's report suggests that the Italian manufacturer is in fact “the only firm in the running for the contract. We saw that when the envelope with the tenders in was opened last year.” Autosport also states that the value of the company’s bid is likely to be some way short of the 11 million euros paid as part of the current three-year deal. The final decision will be made at a World Motorsport Council meeting in March.
As of February 15 the role of senior vice president at Continental Corporation’s Corporate Communications department will be handled by Dr. Felix Gress. The 49-year old comes to Conti from Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH, where he served as managing director, and succeeds Dr. Heimo Prokop, who left Continental on December 31, 2009. In his new position, Gress will report directly to Conti Executive Board chairman Dr. Elmar Degenhart.
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