The United Steel-workers announced last Thursday that its members at Goodyear’s Asheboro, NC wire plant ratified a contract by a 98 per cent vote. The contract covers 330 workers. The agreement provides for a general wage increase and a bonus upon ratification.
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has taken the first steps toward closing its Athens, Georgia, retread rubber and racing tyre plant by the end of summer. The news comes after the yremaker filed paperwork with the Security and Exchange Commission outlining the write-down it expects to take as a result of the action.
Goodyear has launched a new “viral marketing” campaign using black humour to draw attention to the benefits of the company’s RunOnFlat technology.
The video clips, which will exclusively be distributed by “word-of-mail,” highlight the perils of roadside tyre changing through an exaggerated, entertaining and certainly unforgettable approach.
(Akron/Tire Review) News reports from Ontario say that three masked men ambushed and stole two tractor-trailers loaded with tyres from a Bridgestone/Firestone warehouse in Mississauga, Ont. Local police are looking for witnesses in the robbery, which occurred in the wee hours of April 1. According to reports, a security guard at the facility was jumped by three armed men wearing masks. He was thrown to the ground and tied up, and the suspects drove off with the two trucks.
Bridgestone has launched the Blizzak Nordic studless winter tyre range. According to the company the line has been specifically developed to meet the toughest performance demands of Northern Europe’s winter climate. This new-generation design replaces the existing WS-50 series, and Bridgestone says brings with it enhanced capabilities under most adverse weather conditions.
(Akron/Tire Review) Relations between the United Steelworkers (USW) and Continental Tire North America (CTNA) continue to deteriorate, with most of the focus on CTNA’s demands for major cuts at its Charlotte, North Carolina passenger and light truck/SUV tyre plant.
Union leaders are now angry over remarks attributed to CTNA human resources vice president Rick Ledsinger, who said in a recent CTNA press release that “it was time for the union to get serious about preserving jobs in Charlotte.”
Amtel-Vredestein N.V. has announced plans to issue credit linked notes (CLN) for 100 million Euros during the first quarter of 2006. The CLN issue will be used to finance the company’s retail expansion and to refinance debt. The term of the security will be four years with a two-year put option. The coupon will be paid twice yearly. According to the company, the issue lead manager is Alfa-Bank, Russia.
On 16 Friday December 2005 12 Pzero Nero M&S tyres went missing from a transport vehicle destined for Gothenburg. The 225/50R17 94V PZero Nero, M&S tyres were loaded at Pirelli, Burton-on-Trent but failed to arrive at their destination.
Michael R Wessel, an attorney with many years experience as a policy and international trade advisor in Washington, DC, has been elected to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s board of directors.
BMW Car Magazine has praised Goodyear for cracking the ride comfort issue of run-flat tyres. It complimented the manufacturer’s RunOnFlat tyre for not “jiggling about your internal organs as a pay-off for the extra security that run-flat technology brings.”
The publication commended Goodyear’s technology for overcoming many of the shortcomings of other run-flat tyres. According to the article, “there is no doubt that the RunOnFlats are a significant leap forward over previous run-flats… This car rode noticeably smoother than a previous Three (series) we have tested on the older Goodyear EMT run-flat tyres. Ruts and bumps were simply soaked up, the Three never losing its taut sports saloon composure or feeling anything other than planted.”
The very latest device in the battle against the car thieves has been launched by security specialists, Autolok. Developed from the Autolok 2000, the new Autolok 2000 Plus incorporates the latest security technology and new user friendly features.
SmarTire Systems Inc. (Richmond, BC, Canada) has recruited David Warkentin as its new Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Warkentin brings over 25 years of sales, sales management and marketing experience in emerging technology sectors to the company.
Approximately 320 tyres were stolen from RH Claydon’s Bury St Edmunds branch at the end of May. Thieves took advantage of the bank holiday weekend to gain entry into the depot before loading the products onto a stolen truck. 80 of the stolen tyres were truck products with the rest being comprised of various passenger car brands.
The stolen tyres are listed below, any distributor being offered these brands and sizes from an unusual source should contact Dick Anderson at raa@rhc.co.uk immediately.
11R22.5 148/145L MATADOR DR1 1
295/80R22.5 152/148M MATADOR DH1 15
295/80R22.5 152/148M MATADOR FR2 1
195/45R15 78V FEDERAL SS595 13
195/45R16 80V FEDERAL SS595 5
195/50R15 82V FEDERAL SS535 5
195/55R15 84V FEDERAL SS535 39
205/45R16 83V FEDERAL SS595 12
205/45R16 83W FEDERAL SS595 2
205/50R15 86V FEDERAL SS535 13
205/50R16 87V FEDERAL SS535 1
205/50R16 87W FEDERAL SS595 32
205/55R15 88V FEDERAL SS535 24
205/55R16 91V FEDERAL SS535 32
215/45R17 87W FEDERAL SS595 20
225/45R17 91V FEDERAL SS595 20
225/50R16 92V FEDERAL SS535 11
235/40R18 91W FEDERAL SS595 2
255/40R17 94V FEDERAL SS595 10
245/70R19.5 133/131M KUMHO RS03 40
295/80R22.5 152/148M KUMHO 964 10
295/80R22.5 152/148M KUMHO RD02 14
295/80R22.5 152/148M ROADLUX R210 1
38565R22.5 160K KUMHO 968 25
385/65R22.5 160K MATADOR TH1 4
425/65R22.5 165K KUMHO 958 5
(Akron/Tire Review) Workers at six Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) and Bridgestone Americas Holding (BAH) plants have ratified a new three-year master contract. The contract proposal was accepted by wide margins at BFNAT tyre facilities in Akron; LaVergne, Tennessee.; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Des Moines, Iowa; and Bloomington, Illinois. United Steelworkers (USW) workers at BFNAT’s truck tyre plant in warren County, Tennessee, previously rejected the contract. There was no word what action, if any, union workers there might – or could – take.
Security Risk Management Ltd (SRM), a UK provider of operational risk management services, has announced that it has added Stapletons Tyre Services to its client portfolio. From 1 June SRM will be offering a dedicated confidential phone service providing Stapletons employees with the opportunity to raise any concerns relating to illegal or improper behaviour in the workplace. The service will be open to all of Stapleton’s 800 employees.
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