Michelin names new UK MD
Wayne Culbertson has been appointed managing director of Michelin Tyre Plc, replacing Eric Le Corre who has taken up the Paris-based position of head of public affairs.
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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New B&J Rocket production manager for US plant
NewsOn 15 July 2013, Marcos Guzman took over the position of production manager, responsible for B&J Rocket’s factory in the USA. With immediate effect, Guzman is in charge of quality assurance and improvement for all B&J production. In addition to further optimising production processes he will closely monitor costs and the resources utilised. Furthermore, he is responsible for improving maintenance to ensure a consistently high quality output.
Falken sponsors ‘old school’ rally
NewsFalken Tyre Europe is sponsoring a ‘rally with a difference’ this month. Yesterday, cars competing in the Black Sea Circle rally headed off from Berlin, and Falken says this – Europe’s most eastern rally – is “about driving the way it used to be.” The rally route takes competitors around the Black Sea as far as Odessa, a total distance of 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles).
Pirelli commends long-serving staff
Career Tracks, News, UK NewsA total of 44 employees from Pirelli’s Burton upon Trent and Carlisle factories have been recognised for their ongoing commitment to premium tyre manufacturer Pirelli. Each year, Pirelli holds annual dinners to reward its employees who have worked with the company for a period of either 21, 30 or 40 years.
BFGoodrich, USW reach agreement
Company News, International News, NewsBFGoodrich has joined Goodyear and Bridgestone in reaching a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers. The tyre maker and union negotiating teams have nutted out a three-year contract covering 2,400 workers at the company’s Tuscaloosa and Fort Wayne plants in the US.
Goodyear, USW progressing towards deal
NewsStrike action at Goodyear plants in the US has been averted following the announcement of a tentative agreement between the tyre maker and the United Steelworkers union. On the evening of Saturday 27 July, as the clock ticked away on the previous four-year contract, the two parties reached an understanding over a four-year labour agreement that covers some 8,500 employees at Goodyear’s Buffalo, Topeka, Fayetteville, Danville, Gadsden and Akron plant.
Strike possible at US Goodyear plants
NewsThe deadline for reaching a new contract agreement at a number of Goodyear, Michelin and Bridgestone plants in the US is Saturday, and the likelihood this will be settled to the satisfaction of both tyre makers and union decreases with every hour.
New language, domain for Double Coin/CMA site
NewsVisitors to Double Coin’s American web presence are invited to say ¡Hola! to a new Spanish language site. The tyre maker and the China Manufacturers Alliance have introduced the option in recognition of demand for information in Spanish from within both North and Central America. To further emphasise the site’s status as a source of information for the region, the existing www.DoubleCoin-us.com domain is being phased out and replaced by a new address, www.DoubleCoinTires.com. Visitors using the old address will be automatically redirected to the site, and Spanish speaking visitors can access the page in their language directly at www.Espanol.DoubleCoinTires.com.
Cooper Rongcheng strike is delaying shipments
NewsRepresentatives of Cooper Tire’s Findlay, Ohio corporate headquarters have confirmed that the company is facing strike action at its Rongcheng, China plant. In answer to Tyres & Accessories questions, a company spokesperson confirmed that as a result the dispute the factory is “in communication with customers…regarding product supply”. No further details of what this means in practice have been released. However T&A has seen once such customer communication, which suggests the strike, which has reportedly been going on for around a month, is resulting in the delay of export shipments.
First all-new licensed ContiTread plant opens in US
NewsOn 19 July, the first all-new ContiTread licensed retreading facility in the US officially opened. The DLS Retreading plant, located in Fort Mill, South Carolina, will serve the retreading market in its home state with truck tyres retreaded with ContiTread flat pre-cure treads, and will also offer emergency road service, truck tyre service and new Continental and General-branded tyres. The 72,000 square foot (6,689 square metre) facility includes a 16,000 square foot retreading unit as well as 11 service docks. DLS Retreading is expected to employ 50 workers within four years.
Transport Canada issues Michelin Tires recall
NewsTransport Canada has issued a recall for several models of Michelin tyres, Tire Review reports. “A loss of inflation pressure could cause increased tyre temperature, which could lead to tyre failure. This could result in a vehicle crash causing property damage and/or personal injury,” Transport Canada said. The SUV or light truck tyre models affected are the LTX M/S2, the X Radial LT2 and the Latitude Tour sold primarily in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Reports: Cooper Chengshan strike over Apollo acquisition
Company News, International News, NewsWorkers at Cooper Chengshan, a joint-venture between Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (USA) and Chengshan Group (China), are reportedly on a strike in protest against Apollo’s proposed acquisition of Cooper. If correct the reports could throw up a fairly significant spanner in the works as the trade union which represents workers at what is deemed to be “the largest, most profitable and fastest-growing factory of the eight” plants that come as part of the Cooper deal, Cooper Chengshan, have expressed their opposition to the deal.
Schaeffler Holding refinances debt, issues bonds
NewsOn 17 July, Schaeffler Holding signed a new €3.875 billion credit agreement that it is said to offer improved terms. As part of the transaction, Schaeffler Holding intends to issue high yield bonds in euro and US dollar tranches, with an issue size equivalent to approximately €1.5 billion. This will go towards repaying the company’s debt. Schaeffler says these measures will further reduce borrowing costs and significantly improve capital structure at the holding level.
Michelin issues North American recall
NewsMichelin North America is seeking 2,500 potentially defective tyres, but in order to retrieve these, the company is recalling around 100,000 tyres. The target 2,500 tyres could experience partial or full sidewall perforations that may cause them to experience loss of air pressure. The recall involves certain sizes of the Michelin LTX M/S2, Michelin X Radial LT2 and Michelin Latitude Tour sold primarily in the US, Canada and Mexico. The tyres are typically found on light trucks and SUVs.
The Parts Alliance appoints new national key accounts manager
NewsThe Parts Alliance has announced the appointment of David Bloxham as national key account manager. He joins the growing National Accounts team, based in Solihull, during what he describes as “an exciting time of growth for the [automotive] aftermarket.”
