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.
When Maurice Taylor visited Goodyear’s plant in Amiens, France, he claims to have observed workers talking for several hours a day instead of getting busy with the tasks they were paid to do, and when he challenged them about this they replied it was “the French way.” Now the Amiens plant workers are engaging in a behaviour more in line with the American way – they have sued Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
Tructyre Fleet Management is rolling out a new e-Tablet solution from CAM Systems to 80 plus mobile fitters in April and May. The application will enable the truck tyre service specialist to track commercial transactions effectively from initial capture to invoicing. The e-Tablet application, provided and managed by TrackItNow, supports HTML5, making it compatible with Android, iOS and Windows Mobile operating systems for tablet devices.
A successful start to the Superstars and GT Sprint International Series was enjoyed by tyre supplier Hankook. The opening round of the two SWR promoted series at Monza took place in conditions Hankook Tire describes as “tricky”, with occasional rain and cool temperatures demanding the upmost performance from drivers and tyres. The tyre maker says the Ventus slicks received “high praise” from top drivers for their “reliable performance and high level of consistency.”
Avon Tyres has launched its new Storm 3D X-M sports-touring bike tyre, manufactured in Britain for the hypersport motorcycle market. The tyre aims to combine the performance of the Storm 3D Ultra tyre with the increased longevity demanded by riders using their bikes more regularly. The tyre will be available from UK dealers in April.
Kick off at the opening match of the next World Cup is just over 14 months away, and Germany’s Continental AG is once again a sponsor of the FIFA-organised event. As part of its World Cup involvement, Continental has committed itself to the UERE education project in the Favelas, or the Baixa do Sapateiro slum district of Rio de Janeiro. The UERE project targets children and youths aged between 4 and 18, and over a three-year period Continental will use the media attention the football world’s premier event will give Brazil to raise the profile of UERE and what the project has achieved.
Yokohama Rubber has announced three personnel changes that will take effect on 1 May.
Hikomitsu Noji has been appointed CEO of the tyre maker’s US operation, Yokohama Tire Corporation, and CEO of Yokohama Corporation of North America. Noji retains the title of president and representative director of parent company Yokohama Rubber. Noji is expected to travel to the United States regularly in his new role but will remain based at Yokohama Rubber’s headquarters in Tokyo.
Russia’s Omsk Carbon Group intends to erect a new carbon black facility in Mogilev, Belarus. The plant will be operated by new company subsidiary IOOO Omsk Carbon Mogilev and established at a cost of around US$130 million. Output is expected to start at 80,000 tons of carbon black per annum in 2015 and reach 150,000 tons a year by 2019. More than half the plant’s production will go to local tyre maker Belshina, a further three to five per cent will be sold to other domestic consumers and the remainder exported.
Bridgestone Americas subsidiary Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations reports that its commercial tyre division has a new vice-president of marketing. As of 1 March this position has been occupied by Matthew Stevenson, who joins the company from Meritor, Inc., where he served as general manager of North American Field Operations and Marketing. Prior to beginning his role with Meritor in 2010, Stevenson spent ten years at Daimler Trucks North America, where he held several positions of increasing responsibility in both sales and marketing.
Indian tyre manufacturer GRL is best known for bicycle and two-wheel products, but at Tyrexpo Asia, the company is showcasing its recent strategic investment in off highway tyres. The company is manufacturing tyres covering agricultural, industrial and construction applications.
Chancellor George Osborne chose budget day to join the twittersphere, using his maiden post to say: "Today I'll present a Budget that tackles the economy's problems head on helping those who want to work hard & get on." But what is this likely to mean for those of us that are hard working?
Speaking as principal guest at the opening of Tyrexpo Asia 2013, the secretary-general of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has predicted strong global demand for tyres through the coming decade. Dr Stephen Evans said that large scale Chinese and Indian car registration growth is projected to help increase the world’s vehicle pool by more than 50 per cent in the next decade. The ninth staging of the show opened in Singapore on 19 March, with more than 250 exhibitors in tyre, rubber, equipment, machinery and accessory suppliers participating.
It’s taken almost 49 years, but on 14 March Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Texarkana factory in the US state of Arkansas produced its 350 millionth tyre. The tyre maker says 7 million tyres are produced in Texarkana every year these days, giving the plant an annual output that’s a far cry from the early years; the first tyre was produced at the factory on 16 April 1964, and it took 24 years before the millionth tyre was manufactured.
Celebrating their 75th anniversary, staff at MAC Tools, the automotive division of Stanley Black & Decker, raised an impressive £4,100 through an auction in aid of BEN, the automotive industry charity. Tony Prueitt, UK Commercial Director of the Industrial & Automotive Division, invited Peter Cottle, BEN's Head of Business Development, to outline the charity's role for all franchisees attending their annual conference. Peter ensured everyone understood the breadth of support available to anyone who works, or has worked, in all automotive and related industries, as well as their dependents.
In the US, Bridgestone recently submitted four Bandag retread products to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for SmartWay verification. Upon approval, Bridgestone will offer a total of seven SmartWay verified retreads following a number earlier approvals. Three Bandag retread products – the B710 FuelTech, B197 FuelTech, and B135 FuelTech – are already on the agency’s list of low rolling resistance retreads.
Reports from India suggest private equity firm KKR and Co. is in the last stage of talks to buy as much as an 80 per cent stake Alliance Tire Group. The latest news, which follows a couple of months of speculation about the deal, values the company at around US$600 million. According to livemint.com, KKR will buy out the stake currently held by another private equity firm, Warburg Pincus Llc, as well as the minority stake held by certain other stakeholders.
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