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.
Continental Tire Americas has recalled 1990 commercial vehicle tyres, which could have tyre cords visible through the inner liner. According to a NHTSA statement, the 11R22.5 Conti Hybrid HS3 Load Range H tyres were produced between 25 February – April 7 2018 and were originally sold as OE and on the replacement market in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
An opening ceremony has been held for Yokohama Tire Corporation’s new tyre research and development facility in the USA. Local officials joined Yokohama executives for the ribbon-cutting festivities at the 25,000 square foot (2,323 square metre) Yokohama Development Center America (YDCA) in Cornelius, North Carolina. The facility replaces the temporary research and development office that Yokohama has utilised since 2016.
On 1 October Hexpol completed the acquisition of 80 per cent of the shares of Italian compounder Mesgo Group from previous owner Francesco Caldara and co-owners. Hexpol describes Mesgo as “an industry leader in high performance elastomers as fluorocarbons and silicone”. In addition, Mesgo also specializes in conventional rubber compounds and thermoplastics. The major customer segments Mesgo focuses on are industry, consumer products, transportation and automotive. Mesgo Group reports annual turnover of around 100 million euros, with around 180 employees in six facilities.
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has elected Dan Nothdurft as its new board secretary effective Monday 29 October 2018.
Engagements in MotoGP, WRC and Formula E are just fine, but let’s face it, many tyre makers participate in motorsport. Yet Michelin need not be downhearted, because as far as Tyrepress.com is aware it is the only tyre firm involved in the art of rock painting.
German oil and additive specialist Liqui Moly has partnered up with the Chicago Bulls. Advertising in the stadium and on social media seeks to tap into the broad appeal of the American basketball team. Liqui Moly is paying a seven-digit figure in return for the two-year deal. “This is our largest-scale sponsorship program ever in North America,” says Peter Baumann, marketing manager at Liqui Moly.
The Trump administration upped the ante once again in the ongoing trade war between the USA and China on 18 September with the introduction of tariffs on all US$200 billion of imports including basically all categories of tyres, retreads and inner tubes. At President Trump’s direction the additional tariffs will initially be set at 10 per cent and will take effect on 24 September 2018. However, as of 1 January 2019, the level of additional tariffs will increase to 25 per cent.
LeasePlan Corporation N.V. has signed an agreement at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco with Land Life Company, a leading nature restoration venture, to help LeasePlan customers make their trips carbon neutral.
Discount Tire announced the opening of the franchise’s 1,000th tyre store located in Phoenix, Arizona on 12 September 2018. The store design may appear the same as every other neighbourhood Discount Tire location, but the new store at 24725 N 23rd Ave will hold a place of significance in the hearts of many who know the brand or have worked for the company.
On 5 September Moody’s Investors Service downgraded its Probability of Default Rating and senior subordinated notes rating for American Tire Distributors, Inc., to Ca-PD (from Caa3-PD) and C (from Caa3) respectively, following the company’s proposed debt-for-equity exchange offer to holders of the rated notes. All other ratings, including the company’s Caa2 Corporate Family Rating and Caa1 senior secured bank debt (term loan) rating remain under review for downgrade.
Yokohama Rubber’s Mississippi tyre factory has fired 29 employees for not meeting job requirements.
Local media has reported that employees at the plant in West Point were fired for using fake worker certifications. The workers obtained fraudulent certification documents from a job-training program that companies use to determine the aptitude of potential hires.
In the USA, Sears Auto Center is expanding its tyre installation and balancing programme for customers who purchase tyres on Amazon.com. Initially launched in May at 47 Sears Auto Centers in eight metropolitan areas, the ship-to-store option for buying tyres is now available nationwide including Alaska and Hawaii.
Solar panels installed on the roof of Nokian Tyres’ distribution centre in Vermont, USA have the capacity to more than meet the facility’s entire electricity requirements. The solar equipment’s total annual output is said to be approximately 427,500 kWh, which is 110 per cent of annual usage at the Colchester site. Excess energy will be supplied to the grid.
According to local news sources, the Michelin earthmover tyre factory in Starr, South Carolina will reopen today. The Anderson Observer writes that the facility’s reactivation will be made official at an event held at the plant today.
Will the agricultural market shift towards wheeled 4WD tractors over their tracked counterparts in the years to come? Titan International believes so. It bases this projection upon feedback from US agricultural equipment dealers and their customers, as well as from testing the tyre maker carried out in North America together with dealer group Van Wall Equipment. This showed that super single tyres offer comparable field performance and reduced soil compaction at a much lower cost than tracks.
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