Kumho Tire has announced the supply of their products as OE on the US market version of the Sprinter van. The Sprinter, which sports the Mercedes-Benz badge in UK and European markets, will go on sale in the US under the Dodge and Freightliner brand names in the first quarter of 2007.
Amtel-Vredestein has announced the appointment of new directors in the company’s Russian division. J. Anisimova has taken on the role of personnel department director and V. Ignatyev has been selected as the company’s new director for sales and marketing in Russia.
The UK launch of the new Verso tyre by Marangoni S.p.A. is being spearheaded by a high-impact trade advertising campaign, set to run until mid-2007. Highlighting the exceptional comfort and quietness levels of Verso, together with its superb wet weather performance, the striking Italian-created imagery continues the theme of the ‘Intelligent Creatures’ 2006 campaign which proved so successful in building brand awareness in the UK.
(Akron/Tire Review) Cara Junkins was promoted to director of sales and marketing for Titan International. Junkins was previously tyre technology manager for Titan, and came to the company from Continental Tire North America where she held a number of research and engineering posts. Junkins will be based in Quincy, Ill., at the Titan Wheel Corp. facility and will focus oin OE accounts.
Sapphire Energy Recovery’s 2007 focus on quality service delivery went a step further last year when customer administration staff embarked on a study programme to improve effective customer service. Claire Childs and Sarah Mead, completed an NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service in December 2006 following seven months of study in house by Phil Gorst of PBC Associates who have helped devise other customer service training for Sapphire.
Sapphire Energy Recovery has launched a new-look website designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences including tyre retailers, the waste disposal industry, children and students and the general public. Sapphire’s sales and marketing manager, Ryan Mifflin commented:
Yokohama in the US has signed an OE deal with the Chrysler Group that will see the tyremaker supplying a large proportion of the tyres for the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. This supply agreement is, according to the company’s OE sales and marketing department, Yokohama’s first high-volume OE deal with a US manufacturer.
(Akron/Tire Review) The PLT replacement sales and marketing group of Continental Tire North America Inc. (CTNA) has appointed Dana Zamalloa manager, public relations and communications.
Zamalloa’s new position was effective Dec. 14. A communications graduate of the University of Nevada, Zamalloa has nine years of advertising and public relations experience. She most recently served as senior marketing communications manager with Toyo Tire USA Corp.
Zamalloa will report to Travis Roffler, director of marketing for the PLT replacement group.
Sapphire Energy Recovery has announced an increase in tyre disposal charges effective from 1 February 2007. From the tyre retailer’s perspective, the price rise equates to an increase of between £0.08 and £0.10 per tyre. Sales and marketing manager Ryan Mifflin explained: “Sapphire and the UK cement industry have invested over £15 million in state-of-the-art equipment and accessible regional facilities. We offer the only national coverage for tyre collection and disposal service, assuring our customers of a sustainable first class service. We have recently seen an increase in tyre size and weight with more 4×4, run-flat, and low profile sports tyres. These affect the amount of tyres per tonne which are likely to lead to increased collection charges to the retailer.”
Sapphire Energy Recovery has announced an increase in tyre disposal charges effective from 1 February 2007. Sales and marketing manager Ryan Mifflin explained: “Sapphire and the UK cement industry have invested over £15 million in state-of-the-art equipment and accessible regional facilities. We offer the only national coverage for tyre collection and disposal service, assuring our customers of a sustainable first class service. We have recently seen an increase in tyre size and weight with more 4×4, run-flat, and low profile sports tyres. These affect the amount of tyres per tonne which are likely to lead to increased collection charges to the retailer.”
Marangoni tyres were showcased at Birmingham’s recent Classic Car Show after the tyre maker reached an agreement with the publisher Octane Media Ltd. The publisher, who produces both Octane and MG Enthusiast Magazine, opted to fit Marangoni Zeta Linea tyres to the centrepiece of the MG Enthusiast stand – their MGF project, the subject of a free-to-enter Prize Draw competition.
KUMHO’s ECSTA KH11 tyre has been chosen by the Chrysler Group to be original equipment on the 2007 Chrysler Sebring. The ultra-high performance tyre, in size 215/55R18, will be a top-of-the-line plus-size option on the Chrysler Sebring in international markets, the company reports. The vehicle will be available in the UK from June 2007.
Airtec Corporation Asia announced the release of a new Core Retracting Inflation Tool. The new transparent body allows the user to see the retracted core, supposedly eliminating guesswork. Concurrently released last month at both Automechanika Frankfurt and Tyrexpo Africa, industry response has been overwhelming. According to Airtec’s GM for sales and marketing, MC Loh, the New Tool speeds up the inflation and deflation process of the tyres and the inflation time is cut by half, and as the core can be viewed through the transparent body, it’s easy to use.
(Akron/Tire Review) Longtime tyre industry veteran and current Giti Tire sales director Don Driver died unexpectedly on Oct. 14. The well-known and respected tireman was 56, and apparently suffered a heart attack. Driver began his tyre career as a territory sales representative with Michelin in the early 1970s, moving on to Canada’s Active Green+Ross as a commercial salesman later that decade. He then joined Bridgestone/Firestone Canada and spent 17 years with the tyremaker, including a stint as national sales manager. Driver then moved on to Maine Industrial Tire as vice president of sales and marketing before joining Giti Tire in 2003. He leaves wife, Carolyn, and sons, David and Shane.
During the course of 2006 Singapore based wholesaler/distributor Sumo Tyres has aimed to increase its sales presence and media impact in the UK and Europe, marketing its Sumo range as a new brand alternative in the high performance and ultra high performance sectors.
Sumo tyres are available in a range of size and pattern styles, spanning a number of different sectors of the international tyre market. It is the high performance range that the company has specifically targeted for future sales growth through their recently introduced Sumo Firenza range.
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