USA Archives - Page 230 of 268 - Tyrepress

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.

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US Tyre Demand to Increase by 4.1 per cent

Tyre Market USA The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has said that it expects demand for tyres to increase by 4.1 per cent in the US. The growth is attributed mainly to “broad-based economic growth in the consumer and commercial sectors.” According to the association, this growth is expected to continue over the next few years inline with the US economy’s moderate growth pattern. Overall, the combined original equipment (OE) and replacement shipments for both the car and truck categories are anticipated to increase by 12.6 million units to nearly 323 million units. In 2003 it amounted to 310.3 million. The association is projecting that this figure will reach 356 million units by 2009.

7th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

August New Car Market Dips

August’s new car market has dipped 4.9 per cent at 84,996 units. However, this figure remains one per cent up compared with last year’s total thus far. Another saving grace for the figures is that they are six per cent better than the five-year average of 80,221 units.

The August market is typically three per cent of year-end total compared to around 17 per cent in September. According to the SMMT since the start of the twice yearly plate change in 1999 the September market has on average accounted for 411,157 units. Industry representatives are expecting a market on par with last year’s 439,365 units, in the 430,000 to 440,000 unit range. They recognise that the new car market has started to cool and the effect of interest rate rises on consumer confidence are said to account for this.

Commenting on the August market, SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan said: “Until the industry moved to a twice yearly registration plate change, August was the month to watch. Now, its significance is dwarfed by the key September market.

“Growth that has sustained the market for the last four years has eased a little in recent months and it will be the September figures that tell us if a strong start to 2004 will bring a fourth consecutive record year.’

7th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook: Ready To Move On

These are exciting times for Hankook Tyre UK, as the company prepares to relocate its headquarters into a new warehouse and office complex, designed and built to the company’s own specifications. In terms of distance, the move is negligible – just half a mile or so down the road in Daventry, Northants – but in terms of what it means to the company, the significance is enormous.

To download this article as a PDF file, click here.

6th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Chrysler Boss Warns Auotmotive Suppliers to Adapt or Die

During a speech given at the Auto Tech 2004 conference Chrysler CEO, Dieter Zetsche told 1000 executives that “it’s adapt or die” for automotive suppliers.

6th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Applaud Michelin Deal

The recent cost cutting agreement signed by Michelin and USWA is a “significant achievement,” according to Deutsche Bank analysts.

6th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

US Sales and Production Expectations

Analysts expect August’s US light vehicle sales to reach 17.5 million units compared with 17.2 million from July and 19 million from last August. They predict that Chrysler’s sales will increase by three per cent, however GM’s and Ford’s are expected to decrease by one and five per cent respectively. Investors will be focusing on both GM’s and Ford’s fourth quarter results where they are expecting production to be down by 2.4 and 7.8 per cent respectively.

1st September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Support the US Military

The Titan Tire Corporation, a subsidiary of Tian International, has been awarded two multi-year contracts by TACOM (Tank Automotive Command). Together the contracts total an estimated value of $40 million and cover the US Army’s anticipated requirements for tyres used on 2.5 and five ton military trucks, for the next five years.

“We are proud to continue our tradition of supplying products to support the US military and are appreciative of the confidence placed in Titan,” stated Maurice Taylor Jr, Titan president and CEO. “This is further evidence of Titan’s recognised expertise in the off-highway sector.”

27th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Batteries for All Applications

The Delphi Corporation is one of the world’s leading technology companies, with substantial business in the automotive and transportation industries as well as other high-technology sectors, such as telecommunications and computers. Its world headquarters are at Troy, Michigan and the corporation has regional headquarters in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. The global workforce numbers 188,000 and Delphi operates 53 customer service centres and 32 technical centres, has 167 manufacturing facilities and 42 joint ventures. Sales in 2002 were $27.4 billion (£14.8 billion)

By any standards, Delphi is a big company, so it is not surprising that its involvement in the battery business is on a large scale, with manufacturing carried out at eleven factories worldwide and a product range that covers 98 per cent of the vehicle parc. Delphi is active in both the aftermarket and in original equipment sales, where it supplies many leading manufacturers in Europe, the USA and Japan – a recent success was the winning of a contract to supply batteries worth $22 million for the Renault Megane II, Scenic II and Clio.

In Europe, battery production is at a factory in Sarreguemines, France. The plant was built in 1980 and covers 35,000 square metres on 18 hectares of land. It is certified QS 9000 and VDA (quality), OHSAS 18001 (safety) and ISO 14001 and EMAS II (environment) and production this year will top 5.4 million batteries. Worldwide, Delphi produces more than 30 million batteries.

25th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

‘Without Us Britain Stops Moving’

As part of the NTDA’s series of 75th anniversary celebrations, association chairman, Martin Rowlands, and director, Richard Edy invited NTDA members to ‘walk the halls of power.’

On a sweltering midsummer’s evening the Houses of Parliament provided the backdrop for NTDA members to rub shoulders with parliamentarians. The evening reception was held at the invitation of David Lidington, Member of Parliament for the NTDA’s home constituency, Alylesbury.

In their welcoming speeches Mr Lidington and Mr Rowlands encouraged dialogue between the industry and government. “We value our relationship with both government MPs and the civil service and will continue to represent our members interests on government working groups covering scrap tyre disposal and road safety. As one of the guest MPs said: ‘it is important that a trade association has a voice and that we parliamentarians have an organisation with whom we can talk’,” said Martin Rowlands.

Throughout the evening guests had the opportunity to network with influential members of the tyre business and, in chairman Martin Rowlands’ words, “bend the ear of politicians, with a particular interest in our industry.”

25th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems on the Advance

When a concept, like Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), is still relatively new, it means that developments are more clearly noticeable. Even in a few months it is possible to trace the concept’s development.

There are two versions of this technology; direct and indirect measuring systems. As you would expect, both have advantages and disadvantages. Direct systems are substantially more expensive but more precise than indirect systems. Indirect systems are cheaper, but less accurate. These systems were originally based on the ABS infrastructure, but are now also based on ESP. Indirect systems cross-link with the vehicle’s electronics so they cannot be installed after manufacture. Conversely, direct systems are components of the wheel and therefore can be re-tooled relatively straightforwardly in the aftermarket.

It is not yet clear which system will be accepted as the standard, something that is largely to do with American legislation. The American road safety authority, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will have to decide which criteria will govern the regulation of these devices before they can become components in newly certified vehicles in the USA.

In the past decisions had to be taken back because interest groups opposed them. Sometimes representatives of the other competing technology protested, sometimes consumer federations did, and on other occasions the automakers makers used their influence. Again and again new arguments arose, most of which contained at least a few good ideas. The consumer federations, for example, argued that drivers have a right to the best technical solution, which supports direct measurement. The manufacturers, on the other hand, referred to the fact that, in the US, ABS is still far from penetrating the market as well as the technology has in Europe (100 per cent of new vehicles produced in Europe are now fitted with ABS). If one side decides to support indirect measuring systems, ABS has to be introduced at the same time, which gives significantly more leverage to the safety argument. In short the decision remains up in the air.

25th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

BF Goodrich Workers Accept Michelin Deal

The associated press is reporting that workers at the Michelin-owned BF Goodrich plant in Ontario, Canada voted 94 per cent in favour of an offer from the tyre manufacturer, ending a strike of nearly three-months.

24th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Determined to cut North American Labour Costs

In a continuation of its recent wage dispute, Michelin has started negotiating a new wage agreement. The deal, which also discusses medical benefits, concerns four plants and 5,000 members of the company’s North American workforce.

16th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Maywood Recruits ‘Leader in His Field’

Pat Henson, UK sales manager for Rotary Lifts for the past eight years, has joined Maywood Equipment Group, leading suppliers of garage lifting equipment. Maywood acquired the Hofmann brand in January, and Mr Henson, 56, will initially be area sales manager for Maywood in the West Midlands and North Wales.

13th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Amerityre Appoint Chief Financial Officer

Amerityre Corp has appointed Anders Suarez as chief financial officer. Prior to the appointment Mr Suarez had been employed as the company’s financial systems administrator, a position he had held since October 2003.

10th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Amcast Completes the Sale of its Flow Control Business

Amcast Industrial Corporation, has completed the sale of the majority of assets from its Flow Control operation. The sale was made to the US subsidiary of Dutch group Aalberts Industries NV.

Elkhart Plumbing, Elkhart Industrial and Amcast Industrial Ltd were all included in the sale. It is reported that the sale was made in order to comply with provisions of the company’s loan agreements. The net proceeds of the sale equated to approximately $54 million and will be used to reduce debt.

With an expected turnover of around $130 million (£71 million) and a workforce of 430 employees, Elkhart Products Corporation (EPC), is one of the three biggest players in the North American market. The company has an estimated 35 per cent share of the wholesaling market and a 10 per cent share of the retail market.

The agreement puts the Dutch company at the top of the world market for copper fittings and provides it with a strong American base. With the acquisition of the three production facilities Aalberts will also gain an extensive sales network in the US and Canada.

6th August 2004/by Tyrepress Editors