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Indian Figures Show Production Up, Exports Down

Detailed figures showing tyre production and exports by Indian manufacturers have been released, covering the months of December 2006 and January this year. The figures are split into a number of categories – 12 in all – and the January figures show that, in eight of these, production rose compared with January last year. The total number of tyres produced during the month was 10 per cent up on January 2006.

Figure 1 shows the numbers of tyres produced in January, the percentage change over January 2006, plus the percentage change for the period from April to January (06-07) over April- January (05-06). This last figure gives a more accurate indication of trends, as a single month’s figures could be affected by such things as seasonal factors.

16th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Adds to Mixed Service Truck Tyre Range

Peterborough’s TruckFest show – an event co-sponsored by Dunlop Tyres UK – was chosen as the launch venue for new additions to two of the tyremaker’s new product lines. The SP382 and SP482 tyre ranges, designed specifically for vehicles operating in on and off-road conditions, have both received new additions.

The SP482 range has welcomed the introduction of tyre that Dunlop claims now ensures all popular sizes are catered for, a 12R22.5 drive tyre. This tyre range is most commonly used on tippers, concrete mixers, cranes and other construction plant equipment that operate on-road most of the time but also find employment in locations such as construction sites and quarries. Therefore the tyre offers high road mileage while delivering the necessary off-road traction and resistance to stone cuts.

15th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin and Goodyear Dunlop Chosen for Pan-Govt Supply Agreement

Michelin, with its service partner ATS Euromaster, has been appointed as one of two suppliers of tyres and associated services in a three-year framework agreement for a pan-government tyre sourcing initiative led by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA), in conjunction with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). The other supplier is understood to be Goodyear Dunlop who will service the agreement through its HiQ and Truck Force retail networks. According to sources close to the arrangement, the contract is divided equally between the two suppliers.

Available to all Public Sector Organisations (PSOs) across the UK – encompassing a combined vehicle parc of more than 300,000 vehicles, ranging from cars and motorbikes to vans, trucks and earthmovers – the deal represents the largest tyre framework agreement of its type ever established in the UK. It also includes the option of a 12 month extension until January 2011 and is estimated to be worth tens of millions of pounds.

The agreement has been set up to deliver significant efficiencies as a result of combined volumes, additional leverage and collaborative working between central government departments and wider public bodies nationwide.

14th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Awards First Expert Level Dealers

At the end of April Bridgestone UK announced details of its Expert Level Truck Point Dealer Audit Programme, naming the first three recipients. The accreditation scheme is the latest stage in the multi-million-pound total tyre management investment programme Bridgestone has been engaged in for the last three years. A further 46 external “Expert Level” audits were scheduled to have been completed at the end of April. Bridgestone plan to hold an official awards ceremony for the remaining Expert Level dealers at the annual Truck Point conference in October.

Talking to Tyres & Accessories, Bridgestone representatives described how working with Lloyd’s register made their scheme “a first.” As external auditors, LRQA (Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance), a leading management systems assessment body, carry out the necessary checks independently, adding greater value to the validation of the Expert Level dealers.
The objective of the programme is to recognise the high service standards of Expert Level Truck Point dealers, and to further improve the service standards of the entire network. The Expert Level Truck Point Audit Programme audits customer service provision, casing management, health & safety policy, equipment checks, administration, invoicing and training within Truck Point dealers.

14th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Files Suits Against Double Coin Dealers

Michelin has informed the media that it is filing suits against tyre dealers selling the Double Coin brand as it follows up previous notifications regarding the sale of tyres with tread patterns resembling those on Michelin truck tyres. The French tyremaker alerted more than 5,000 dealers of the risks involved in marketing these look-alike tyres sourced from Asia back in December 2005, stating that while the treads may look the same on both tyres, the look-alikes may not deliver the same grip or longevity as an authentic Michelin tyre.

With tyres bearing unauthorised copies of patented Michelin tread patterns still available on a number of markets 18 months later, the company has chosen to pursue legal action against dealers of these products in all countries where Michelin sales teams have identified the products.

11th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Announces Truck Tyre Price Increases

Michelin has announced a price increase of up to 4 per cent for its truck tyres in the US. The increase will take effect on 1 June. In addition from 1 July prices of agricultural tyres sold under the Michelin, BFGoodrich, Kleber and Taurus brands will rise by an average of 3 per cent in the US and Canada, the group said.

Referring to the truck tyre price increase, Deutsche Bank analysts said: “We believe that only a small portion will stick. However, this small portion will go directly to the bottom line since natural rubber price (primary used in truck tyres) is now more or less stable since the beginning of February. So far the reporting season of the industry has highlighted a very strong price/mix effect.”

4th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Publishes “Very Strong” First Quarter Figures

Continental AG’s consolidated sales for the first quarter of 2007 rose by 9.8 per cent compared with the same period of the previous year to 3.964 billion. At the same time EBIT rose by 24 per cent to 436.8 million euros, up from 352.4 million the previous year. For the first three months of 2007, there was a free cash flow of -119.8 million euros, down from -230.2 million. Net debt was 141.3 million euros higher than at year-end 2006. “This was mainly incurred through the financing of the acquisition of the automotive electronics business of Motorola and the contributions to the Contractual Trust Arrangement (CTA) of 630 million euros,” explained CFO Dr. Alan Hippe.

4th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Reshuffles Management For Strategic Customer Focus

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Ltd has announced a number of new appointments designed to strengthen the company’s customer focused management team. Significantly, all but one of these appointments is as a result of internal promotions. The company has also formed a new Customer Strategy team. This team will be led by Mark Davison, who joins the company from Nestle on 8 May. Davison’s role as Customer Strategy Director will be to lead the development and delivery of long-term customer strategies across all business units. (Consumer, Truck, Motorcycle and Off-the-Road).

4th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Second Life

Berwickshire based Rocklug Tyres are well aware of the affect a good tyre – and a bad one – can have on the performance of an earthmover. That is why the company, who have been in the tyre business since 1974, decided to make the provision of quality remoulded OTR tyres one of their priorities.

When Rocklug Tyres co-director Graham Redpath spoke to Tyres & Accessories he likened earthmoving machinery to high performance cars. “They are designed around a particular tyre and are optimised for its specifications,” he said. “For example, a Caterpillar 50 tonne dump truck may be homologated for Bridgestone tyres, and it works at its best when fitted with these. But if the operator is unable to replace the OE tyres with another set and instead must fit cross-ply tyres sourced from China, the equipment will not be able to work to its full design capacity. In many cases there have been major shortcomings in the tonne-per-hour capabilities specified for these machines.”

27th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Revenue up 5.5%

Michelin’s revenue during the first quarter of 2007 rose 5.5 per cent thanks to higher prices and demand from commercial vehicle manufacturers. The tyremaker reported that sales during the quarter came to 4.2 billion euros, compared with 3.98 billion euros a year earlier. The company is sticking to its forecast of a “tangible increase” in full-year profit as a proportion of sales.

In February Michelin affirmed its goal of a margin of 10 per cent by 2010 (compared with 8.2 per cent during 2006), and stated it will reduce costs by as much as 1.7 billion euros by 2010. The company plans to cut spending on purchasing and manufacturing.

According to the company, higher prices and changes in the type of tyres purchased added 4.4 per cent to Michelin’s sales in the quarter. The company had been expected to report sales of 4.15 billion euros.

25th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone – External Audit Accreditation for CV Dealerships

Bridgestone UK is to award “Approved Expert Dealer” status to three commercial vehicle tyre dealerships. In a move that Bridgestone says is the first of its kind, the manufacturer has partnered with Lloyds register to develop a rigour auditing process to be thoroughly inspected by an external body.

The accreditation is the latest stage in the multi-million-pound total tyre management investment programme Bridgestone has been engaged in its Truck Point network in the last three years. Three audit awards will be presented on Wednesday 25 April, at Bridgestone’s stand at the CV Show. 46 other audits are in the process of being finalised and should be completed by the end of April.

23rd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

100 Jobs to Go From Michelin Canada Plant

Michelin will cut 100 jobs from its Granton facility in Nova Scotia, Canada later this year in a move the company says is necessary to keep it competitive in the marketplace. According to Michelin, about 70 per cent of those losing their jobs will be offered early retirement, with the remaining cuts coming through the axing of contract positions.

The Granton plant, which produces passenger car and light truck tyres, as well as rubber compound for other tyre lines, currently employs some 1400 staff, half of whom are, Michelin claim, eligible to retire within the next five years. Company manager of corporate communications Sheri Somerville, speaking to Canadian broadcaster CBC, claimed Michelin are “not laying anyone off and we are not forcing anyone to retire,” and added that the cuts and retirements will give younger workers at the plant increased opportunities to advance. However some employees have voiced the opinion that many will be coerced into retirement despite wanting to continue working.

20th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

£7000 of Tyres Stolen from Bletchley Retailer

Thieves have stolen £7,000 worth of equipment from a tyre centre in Bletchley. The offenders forced a container door at what is believed to have been Bletchley Tyres in Buckingham Road. They stole approximately 46 new tyres, including two fork lift truck tyres, worth nearly £6,000, before breaking into a company van and stealing tools worth £1,000.

20th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

NTDA Dinner at Brityrex – Bigger than Ever

Attendance at the NTDA/TAFF Awards dinner is reaching record levels with over 400 members and guests already booked to attend. Commented NTDA National Chairman John Tarbox: “The dinner is the key business event for the UK Tyre Industry and running it alongside the exhibition has certainly contributed to this year’s record support.” During the Exhibition the NTDA stand at Brityrex will be focusing on one of the key health and safety issues in the trade, manual handling.

In partnership with Penny Hydraulics and Renault UK the stand will showcase the dangers associated with the handling of modern truck tyres both for roadside repairs and on mobile units.

20th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Fire and Theft

In Woking a tyre outlet became the target of an arson attack early on Monday April 16. The fire, lit in front of Hi-Q Tyre Services destroyed a Peugeot motor scooter and a Rover car parked in the forecourt, and a company sign was also damaged.

The fire was extinguished by firefighters at 3.30am. An estimated £1,300 damage was inflicted on the vehicles. The fire is believed to be connected to activities in a neighbouring alleyway that is used by youths selling and taking drugs. Hi-Q manager Ian Cameron told a local newspaper, the Woking News and Mail, that “I would imagine it is the kids that hang around in the alleyway there. We have problems with all the drug-taking that is going on there.”

Mr Cameron, who owned the destroyed scooter, believes the arsonists set fire to a protective cover placed over the scooter and the fire spread from there to the Rover parked alongside. The Rover belonged to a Hi-Q customer.

20th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors