Across the Atlantic they are called tires, while over here we use a “Y” and say tyres. This tag provides the latest tyre business news emanating from the United States of America (USA), whichever way you spell it.
Groundbreaking for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations' new 1.5 million-square-foot (140,000 square metre) large and ultra-large radial manufacturing facility has taken place at the greenfield site the company selected in Aiken County, South Carolina. The tyre maker also announced further information regarding the start-up team that will take the helm in overseeing construction and hiring efforts. The core team is as follows:
Bridgestone travels to Valencia for this MotoGP season’s final round, which the tyre supplier says will be run in tribute to Marco Simoncelli, whose death in Malaysia last week devastated those involved in the series. Hiroshi Yamada, manager at Bridgestone’s Motorsport Department said: “It is with heavy hearts that we travel to Valencia this week for the final round of the season, but that we continue racing is in itself a fitting tribute to Marco. He never gave up, so nor shall we.
Point S and Independent Tire Dealers Group, a US-based organisation that represents more than 350 independent tyre and automotive service locations across 27 states, have announced they will make a “special announcement of global proportions” at the SEMA show in Las Vegas tomorrow. No further details regarding the announcement’s content have been made public, yet tomorrow’s statement should finally shed light on comments made by Point S Development director Jürgen Benz in April; at the time, Benz reported plans for the France-based operation to hold concrete negotiations with potential network partners in the US, and he stated he was “firmly convinced that the first Point S flags will soon flutter in North America.”
Amongst the exhibits at the upcoming Agritechnica show in Hanover, Germany will be the largest agricultural radial ever produced. This behemoth of the farm is Firestone’s new DT23 in size IF850/75R42. Manufactured by Firestone in the USA, the giant DT23 is designed for the latest generation of 500 plus horsepower heavy tractors. With an overall diameter of 2.32 metres, the DT23 has an 850/75 section/aspect ratio and rim size of 42 inches (107 centimetres). It weighs 510 kilograms and has a load capacity of 9.5 tons at speeds of up to 50 km/h when inflated at 1.6 bar.
Kumho Tire USA has issued the 99th individual tyre price hike in the US and Canada this year, planning to raise prices by up to 8 per cent on its passenger, light truck/SUV and medium truck radials tyres, reports Tire Review.
Toyo Tire USA has announced its fourth vehicle to be displayed at its booth at the 2011 SEMA Show: Le Monstre, a one-of-a-kind 2012 CTS-V Coupe from renowned Cadillac tuner, The D3 Group. The car will roll on 275/30ZR20 and 345/25ZR20 Toyo Proxes T1R UHP summer tyres. It will compete in time attack events during the 2012 road racing season.
Tire Group International has announced its appointment of Osvaldo Marchante as vice-president of business development. Marchante has more than 25 years of extensive automotive and on/off highway industry experience with multinationals. He was most recently the president and CEO of Detroit Diesel-Allison (Florida), overseeing eight full service facilities and a network of multiple dealers, customers and OEM’s throughout Florida.
Bridgestone Americas has clarified that its capacity expansion plans in the USA will not include increased aircraft tyre manufacturing facilities, contrary to reports published on Bloomberg last week. The misunderstanding was a result of the inclusion of aircraft radials in the company’s portfolio of strategic products, published in the corporation’s mid-term management plan on 21 October.
Nationwide Accident Repair Services has opened a new Nationwide Fast Fit Plus centre in Redruth, Cornwall. It follows the company’s two Fast Fit Plus pilot centres in Kettering and Leicester. Fast Fit Plus centres offer tyres, MOTs, servicing and all other traditional fast fit options alongside the automotive body and glass repairs for which Nationwide says it is the UK’s market leader.
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.
Klarius Group has appointed Heloisa Monzani as commercial Ddrector for Quinton Hazell España to help ensure the company’s ambitious plans are realised for the automotive aftermarket. With a wealth of commercial insight drawn from management roles working with major international companies and over 12 years management experience in the European automotive aftermarket, Ms Monzani is now a key member of the international management team and has been given the explicit task of driving a highly customer focussed growth strategy in the Iberian region.
Toyo has announced three out of the four vehicles to be displayed on its stand at SEMA in Las Vegas. The Toyo Tires Ultimate Ride Sweepstakes custom Dodge Durango, the 2011 Ford F-150 Raptor by Street Concepts, and the BMW 5 Series based WALD F10 Black Bison will all feature, shod with the manufacturer’s rubber. Attendees visiting Toyo’s booth will also have the chance to win one of its special vehicles.
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Sri Lanka’s Global Rubber Industries, manufacturer of the Globe Star, Ultimate XT, Peak Master, Performer and Air Ryde brands, has opened its second plant. The US$6 million facility, which has the capacity to produce 400,000 solid industrial and press on band tyres a year, was declared operational on September 8.
US based private equity fund Transportation Resource Partners, who focuses on investing in growth-oriented businesses in the transportation sector, has entered into a partnership with Tire Group International, Inc. and the McLarty Companies, who are active in the transportation and automotive retail and distribution sectors. While financial details of the deal between the tyre wholesaler, McCarty and the $245 million private equity fund have not yet been disclosed, Tire Group International CEO Tony Gonzalez says he is positive about his company’s joint future with its new partners.
China-based nano-precipitated calcium carbonate manufacturer ShengdaTech, which in August filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, reports the resignation of a member of its Board of Directors, Mr. Dongquan Zhang. The resignation took effect on October 8; at the same time, Zhang effectively resigned as a member of all standing ShengdaTech committees. The remaining members of the company's Board of Directors are A. Carl Mudd and Sheldon B. Saidman.
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