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Negotiations on a new labour agreement for unionised workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay, Ohio factory failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion before the existing agreement’s expiry on October 31, and local newspaper The Courier says talks between the tyre maker and United Steelworkers representatives are still ongoing.
After two consecutive terms as ETRMA president Pirelli CEO Dr. Francesco Gori is making way for Michelin’s Patrick Lepercq for a three-year presidential mandate set to run from 2012 to 2014. The news follows Lepercq’s election to the role by ETRMA’s board of directors who also appointed Contiental’s Christian Koetz vice–president for the same period.
Upon publishing its results for the nine months to September 30, Continental states its expectation of annual sales reaching at least 29.5 billion euros remains unchanged. The tyre maker and automotive supplier also believes it can still achieve an adjusted EBIT margin of around ten per cent for the full year, however Executive Board chairman Dr. Elmar Degenhart concedes this “must meanwhile be viewed an an ambitious target owing to the higher-than-expected burden we are experiencing from raw material costs.” Yet these costs, Degenhart adds, should be “roughly offset” by the “very good utilisation” of Continental’s capacities, with strong order books aiding the company’s fortunes.
Infrared temperature sensors from the Calex PyroCouple Series are being used by a major tyre manufacturer. The equipment is being used to detect the presence of hot rubber tyre material as it passes a point on a conveyor. The tyre material is transported in two thin bands on a cooled aluminium conveyor. The temperature of the tyre material is normally 75°C and the cooled conveyor surface temperature is typically 20°C.
To better target female consumers, Cooper Tire & Rubber has signed a parternship with well-known North American online automotive resource AskPatty.com. This formal agreement continues the tyre maker’s relationship with AskPatty, which began in July with a series of online articles supported by AskPatty’s social media outlets to help educate women on the importance of tyre care.
Dunlop’s launch of its latest touring tyre, the RoadSmart II, is a move from the manufacturer to meet “tougher expectations” in the two-wheel segment. Developed to succeed its RoadSmart, Dunlop says the new premium tyre uses Jointless Belt and Multi-Tread technologies derived from the brand’s motorsport involvement to deliver class-equalling or class-beating performance in key handling areas, alongside the substantial mileage traditionally required of tyres in the segment. “The sport touring market has seen a lot of changes in recent years,” says Sharon Antonaros, marketing director Dunlop motorcycle tyres EMEA.
Apollo Tyres Ltd chairman, Onkar S Kanwar, was inducted into the Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) Hall of Fame 2011 at a special ceremony held on 31 October in Las Vegas.
Every year the TIA honours the outstanding individuals who have created lasting value for the tyre, rubber and transportation industries. This year, along with Onkar Kanwar, three others have been honoured for their significant contribution to the American tyre industry. Kanwar, who is the only non-American to be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame, unfortunately was not able to attend the ceremony in Las Vegas.
Delhi’s new Buddh circuit evolved considerably during the weekend’s Formula One action, helping drivers to get progressively faster as the track cleaned and more rubber was laid down. The P Zero Yellow soft tyre and P Zero Silver hard tyre were nominated for the race, with the softer tyre proving to be around two seconds per lap faster than the harder compound. Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery commented: “Without knowing exactly how the circuit would be, we decided to bring the hard tyre to India, which was a deliberately conservative choice. This led to some very interesting strategies, with a few drivers running the hard compound at the very beginning of the race and others using it at the very end.
Although the United States tariff on imported Chinese consumer tyres is scheduled to end next year and import duties will thus drop from 29 to four per cent, Chinese manufactured tyres are not expected to regain the massive competitive advantage they once held over their US-made counterparts. During a quarter results conference call, Cooper Tire & Rubber chairman, chief executive officer and president Roy Armes commented that tyres produced in China held a 15 to 20 per cent cost advantage over locally produced tyres in the US market in early 2009. “Now it is in that 10 per cent to 15 per cent range,” he shared. Chief financial officer Brad Hughes added that the cost advantage for a landed tyre from China in the US was “moving towards” 10 per cent.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has carded an all-time record for quarterly sales and earnings in the third quarter, going past the $6 billion mark in sales for the first time. “I’m very pleased with our performace,” said Richard J. Kramer, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our third quarter results are another step on the path toward our 2013 targets and especially meaningful given the challenging market conditions in much of the world,” he added.
Fast fit franchise HiQ has announced that it will give free winter safety checks to motorists, prompted by Department for Transport figures indicating a three per cent increase in road accidents resultant from slippery road conditions caused by bad weather in the last five years. The free comprehensive vehicle inspections will be available at all of HiQ’s 150 centres. HiQ fast fit manager Stuart Carr says that the franchise believes winter tyres are “absolutely essential when travelling safely during the inevitable freezing temperatures.”
MAXAM Tire S.a.r.l has announced the appointment of Tim Good as the company's North American Territory Manager, effective October 2011. Tim Good previously worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 37 years holding a variety of positions, including manager global customer accounts, OTR Tires. In this latter position, which he held for the past 22 years, Tim Good focused on the company's major OTR customers throughout the world. He holds an MBA in marketing from Kent State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Malone College.
Interstate Tire & Rubber Co. has announced third quarter results reportedly showing double digit growth “across all markets.” According to the company’s official statement on the matter, the business performed strongly in “Europe, CIS states and Asia.”
Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery says the newly-introduced Indian Grand Prix, taking place at the recently-constructed Buddh International Circuit near the manufacturer’s Indian HQ in New Delhi, has led to Formula One’s tyre supplier taking a “deliberately conservative” compound line-up “simply because on a brand new circuit you are never quite sure of the exact race conditions you will encounter.” With the track never having been used before, Pirelli has opted for a tyre nomination that should cover every eventuality, with the P Zero Silver hard tyre – making its final appearance of the season – alongside the P Zero Yellow soft tyre.
Hercules Tire & Rubber Co has introduced its Ironman tyre brand for OTR and agricultural applications, reports Tire Review. The new line conforms to European REACH standards, and is now available worldwide.
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