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.
Goodyear COO and president of its North American Tire unit, Richard J. Kramer, has been elected chairman of the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Kramer succeeds Jim MacMaster, executive vice president of Yokohama Tire, whose two-year term has come to an end.
Feddi, the cheerful corporate mascot of Taiwanese tyre manufacturer Federal, has been preparing for the new year by readying himself for a variety of excursions to top tourist destinations depicted in the new 2010 Federal Calendar. The full-colour calendar highlights the World’s most visited attractions on a monthly basis. Feddi clearly wishes to fit in, since his outfits for circumnavigating the globe include several national costumes, showing – in his inimitable style – Federal’s desire to continue to strengthen its brand name worldwide.
In September Goodyear announced an intention to increase its ownership stake in the company’s Polish Debica unit. Of the total 13.8 million shares in Debica, some 4.69 were still owned by other parties, and it was the US manufacturer’s intention to “acquire any and all outstanding shares of Polish tire company TC Debica for 59.52 zloty (£12.88) per share.” Goodyear has announced that its cash tender offer, which ran between October 12 and November 10, landed the company exactly 8,220 Debica shares – equivalent to approximately 0.06 per cent of the unit’s worth.
Giti Tire (USA) Ltd. announced that Vic Delorio, its executive vice president since 2005, has retired.
The 28-year tyre industry veteran had been on the forefront of the recent battle over higher import tariffs on China-made passenger tyres. “Giti Tire is a remarkable company with a strong presence, the right market approach and is poised for successful growth, not only in North America, but worldwide,” Delorio said.
Each year the US based Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) awards a company or site its Corporate Habitat of the Year Award for its efforts towards habitat enhancement and restoration. This year’s award, announced at the WHC annual national symposium, has gone to the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations plant in Warren County, Tennessee. The award recognises the plant’s wildlife habitat, which was certified as a WHC Wildlife at Work location in 2004, and the Bridgestone Environmental Education Classroom & Habitat (BEECH), which was established in 2008 and certified as a WHC Corporate Lands for Learning site in 2009.
Magnum D’Or Resources reports that recycling operations at its Hudson tyre landfill site in the US state of Colorado officially began on November 12. Activities at the site include the sorting, preparation, and shredding of tyres into small pieces that will be accumulated as input into the company’s powder equipment, currently under contract to be built and installed through Magnum Engineering International (MEI) and its affiliates. In order to create a stream of revenue while awaiting delivery and installation of this machinery, the company has also recently began accepting a wide variety of scrap tyres.
The Goodyear Dunlop factory in the US town of Tonawanda (New York State) is anticipating an increased workload following the closure of the company’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. According to Goodyear, a portion of the work now carried out in Spartanburg will be transferred to Tonawanda following the South Carolina facility’s closure at the end of the year, however Tonawanda plant spokeswoman Diane Zwirecki said specific details, including whether the factory will benefit from an expanded workforce, are still being finalised.
Cheryl Cole has already proved herself adept at miming vacuous pop songs, judging televised karaoke, climbing mountains, putting up with a widely despised husband and generally being a National Sweetheart (not to mention allegedly being a bit handy in a scrap), but who would have thought the tiny-framed totty would also be named the UK’s ideal driving companion? In a recent survey by Bridgestone, one in three motorists cited her as their favourite celebrity to share a ride with.
Wolverhampton’s Express & Star newspaper has brought us news on one former Kwik Fit sales manager’s criminal activities. Deepak Uppal, who used to be employed at the fast fit chain’s West Bromwich branch, has pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation following his arrest for tyre theft.
If you want to make your car stand out from the crowd – particularly at night, then a new product from the USA could be right up your street. MotionLite (patent pending) is an innovative, high-quality, wheel illumination system that does what no other product can; it lights up a vehicle's wheels from the outside. Said by the makers to be easy to install, the electric system includes strobe and morph functions and is remote control operated, allowing users to switch between seven colours while in motion. MotionLite does not attach to or affect the look of a car's wheels.
Industry veteran John Hagan has been named senior director of sales operations for Toyo Tire USA Corp.
Replacing Armand Allaire, who left Toyo for a similar post with Kumho Tire USA Inc., Hagan will be responsible for all of Toyo’s sales operations and will report directly to president and CEO Yasushi Takagi.
Hagan’s past experience serving as vice president of OE sales for Pirelli Tire North America, and as vice president of sales and marketing for companies in the chemical and import/export industries. (Tire Review)
Solideal USA has acquired SPW Industries Inc. SPW is an Atlanta-based service provider and distributor of construction and industrial tyres, wheels and rubber tracks. Solideal said SPW’s 13 locations throughout the Southeast will compliment its own service network.
The approval of operational permits and licensing means that Magnum D'Or Resources subsidiary Magnum Recycling USA is now able to supply waste tyres from its 120+ acre Hudson, Colorado landfill facility to Magnum’s planned recycling facility, where rubber powders and compounds such as those the company recently tested in light truck tyres will be manufactured.
Aluminium wheel maker Superior Industries International posted a narrower year-on-year loss in the third quarter due to cost cuts and increased production volumes. In the quarter ending September 30 the company reported a loss of US$12.7 million, or 48 cents a share, compared with a loss of $14.2 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier. Quarterly sales of $111.4 million represented a decline of 32 per cent on the same quarter of 2008.
Next January Goodyear Tire & Rubber will cease offering its “Republic” associate tyre brand in North America. In hand with the dropping of Republic, the US tyre major will increase the profile of its Kelly brand through new products and making the range available to all dealers in its distribution network. Ditching the Republic brand also will reduce manufacturing complexity, Goodyear reports.
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