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.
Ontario Canada-based tyre marketer and distributor Hercules Tire International has joined the Imported Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ITMA). Hercules, which has worldwide sales in excess of US$500,000,000.00, will be represented within the association by its European Sales and Purchasing manager, Paul Sleath.
Germany is not just Europe’s largest single tyre market – sales of wheel balancing weights there account for a large proportion of the region’s total sales of this product, so a German market presence is naturally a very good thing indeed. Therefore it has understandably concerned UK manufacturer Trax JH Ltd that it has been unable to sell zinc weights into Germany since European directive 2000/53/EC came into effect on July 1, 2005. All this is set to change, however. Trax is tooling up to begin volume production of an innovative new steel wheel weight, and the company’s sights are firmly set on the German market.
Toyo Tire USA Corp. has expanded its online fitment guide with the release of a mobile version for Android phones, reports Tire Review. The Tire Finder now works with Apple iPhones, iTouches and Google Android operating system handheld devices.
The marketing manager at HiQ’s largest franchise has raised £500 from a 5K run completed with her sister for Cancer Research UK. Emma-Jane Kisby, marketing manager for Easy Autocentres, and her sister Claire Murray, completed the Sutton Park Race for Life, to the delight of their friends and family.
The US state of Virginia is getting closer to eliminating millions of abandoned tyres that for decades have accumulated at hundreds of locations across the state. And now many of them are put to better use. The state has been working since the early 1990s to clean up the tyre piles, which have long been a major environmental and health problem because they pose a fire hazard and are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The old tyres can be recycled, with the material used as a landfill cushion, mulch and as a fuel source.
Goodyear India Ltd. shares remain listed on the Bombay stock exchange following a failed delisting offer from parent company Goodyear Tire & Rubber. The US tyre maker made an offer to acquire close to six million shares in the Indian company, a figure representing 26 per cent of its equity capital. However it only received bids for around 1.136 million shares at a discovered price of Rs 340 (₤4.96) each. According to the Bombay Stock Exchange’s delisting regulations, the delisting offer would have only been considered successful if at least 3.69 million shares had been tended at or below the discovered price.
As part of its investment in marketing communications aimed at boosting brand profile both within the tyre industry and amongst key consumer audiences such as tuning and performance enthusiasts, Maxxis has appointed Amy Colbourne to the position of marketing and sales coordinator. Ms Colbourne, 24, works alongside Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin and has taken on the day-to-day responsibility for the smooth running of the company’s advertising and sponsorship programme and its online marketing activities.
The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit US based association of large employers, has honoured Michelin North America with its highest award, the Platinum Award, for its commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy workplace. The Platinum Award also acknowledges Michelin for encouraging its workers and families to support and maintain healthy lifestyles.
Retail franchise network HiQ is using its marketing capabilities on a national level to emphasise “local service” this year, and one franchisee is using a poster campaign featuring staff working in his four Cornwall HiQ fast fit centres. Justin Roberton is unveiling posters advertising his stores in Truro, Bodmin, Helston and St Austell courtesy of the new marketing materials, which places his staff at the heart of his business.
At an Exane BNP Paribas seminar on June 11, Michelin outlined its intention to double passenger car and light truck tyre capacity in growth regions by 2012 and to increased truck tyre capacity by 40 per cent within this timeframe. This growth will in part be facilitated by the construction of three greenfield plants – a new US$800 million truck tyre facility in India, an $800 million passenger car and truck tyre factory in China, and a passenger car tyre facility in Brazil. All three plants are anticipated to enter production in 2012.
The HiQ network has announced the recruitment of Stuart Carr, who has been appointed as a new fast fit manager. Carr comes from IN’n’OUT Services, where he worked as an operations project manager for three years. His immediate goal will be to increase sales opportunities for franchisees in their servicing, mechanical, and repair offerings, says HiQ.
PT Cabot Indonesia is investing US$10 million to increase the capacity of its plant in Merak, Banten, by 20 per cent. According to Dave Miller, executive vice president and general manager of Core Segment at Cabot, the expansion should be completed by the middle of next year and give the plant an annual capacity of 160,000 tons – a quantity needed should the plant continue to meet growing demand from the Indonesian tyre industry. Miller believes carbon black demand in Indonesia will reach 200,000 tons next year.
Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera believes confirmation of next year’s Formula One tyre supplier may not be just around the corner. Despite previous remarks from those familiar with the negotiations regarding a likely announcement before the end of May, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone reportedly left the Turkish GP in Istanbul “frustrated” about recent delays.
In the USA, Goodyear is taking to the skies with its fleet of company blimps in order to publicise the tyre safety messages coming out of the country’s ‘National Tire Safety Week’. Spirit of America, based in Carson, California; Spirit of Goodyear, based in Akron, Ohio; and Spirit of Innovation, based in Pompano Beach, Florida will fly with specially designed day and night messages between 6 and 12 June. Messages will include: “Keep your tyres properly inflated,” “Check the air pressure monthly or before a long trip,” and “Check your tyres’ tread wear and rotate your car’s tyres every 3-5,000 miles,” will be programmed on the airships’ EagleVision message boards, a company press release states.
Cam Systems has introduced its Cameo platform into AMS Tyres & Autocentre across all of its three sites in Paignton, Torquay and Newton Abbot. The Cameo system replaces AMS’ existing point of sale and business management system. The integration of the Cameo system into AMS will improve day to day operations and enable the company to become more time efficient, offering a higher quality of service to its customers. Cam Systems reports that Cameo currently has 2,000 users.
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