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.
Bob Majewski, president of the US-based Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, has reminded all member retreaders of the costs involved in TRIB’s day-to-day operation, and appealed for annual membership dues to be paid – before errant members find themselves out of the loop.
Following positive experiences at its Mt. Vernon, USA plant, Continental has implemented a ‘Work-in-Process’ (WIP) Visibility solution from AeroScout at its tyre plant in Sarreguemines, France. AeroScout, a specialist in enterprise visibility solutions, first supplied the Wi-Fi RFID-enabled solution to Continental Tire the Americas as part of expansion plans for the Mt. Vernon facility; AeroScout says its product helped enable the site achieve a 20 per cent reduction in component tyre losses. Continental anticipates the French project will increase daily output at Sarreguemines by 4,000 units.
Goodyear has converted the last bits of its former Truckwise truck tyre programme to the FleetHQ moniker, reports Tire Review. Announced at the recent Truck World event in Toronto, Goodyear rebranded its Canadian fleet tyre and service to FleetHQ. The new Canadian brand will “create a consistent business solutions brand that offers products, services and information tools for trucking fleets and owner/operators throughout North America,” the company said.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has completed refinancing its principal US credit facilities. Darren R Wells, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the actions “position the company” to continue implementation of its Strategy Roadmap: “We see this refinancing as a proactive step to improve our financial position, leaving us with no term debt repayments required until 2019.”
Yokohama’s Forever Forest programme continued last week with the planting of some 2,500 seedlings at Yokohama Tire Corporation’s Salem factory on 11 April. The latest action means that a total of 6,800 seedlings have been planted at the site as part of the Forever Forest scheme, which aims to plant more than 500,000 trees worldwide by 2017.
Harvey Brodsky, Retread Tire Association’s managing director, has announced that the association will feature at Messe Essen during Europe’s largest tyre exhibition. Reifen 2012 takes place between 5 and 8 June 2012, and the RTA booth (4.0-128 in Hall 4.0) will feature copies of RTA news releases, newsletters, casing & supplier memos, and more.
While progress in its campaign for increased safety checks on take-off, or second hand commercial wheels entering the UK market was delayed by the UK government’s back-tracking on proposed MOT changes, Motor Wheel Service has continued to develop its forged aluminium xlite brand, on which it has a worldwide distribution deal, launching its “next generation Xbrite” single part, transparent finish. The protective coating was specially developed for MWS, offering what it calls “the highest levels of corrosion resistance and unrivalled shine for xlite forged aluminium wheels”. In other news, a change in truck racing’s technical regulations will allow forged aluminium wheels to be fitted to the outside of the rear axle from 2013 onwards, responding to the wishes of 10-time British Truck Racing Championship, Stuart Oliver, who said of xlite: "lighter wheels mean less unsprung weight on the axle, creating less wear and tear to surrounding parts and greater grip between the tyre and the circuit.”
Australian mining tyre supplier Global Tyre Management Services has reportedly entered administration. Business news site SmartCompany.com.au shares information from Deloitte Australia regarding the Maroochydore, Queensland-based firm’s fate; Deloitte partner Richard Hughes said the company ceased trading on 4 April. Its assets, including trucks, tyres, forklifts and property, will most likely be sold off, and the company’s staff of less than ten faces redundancy.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has combined its current Affiliated Dealer, TireStarz and Family Retail Dealer programmes under one umbrella for the United States market. This new independent retail dealer programme has been named the Bridgestone Affiliated Retailer Nationwide Network and will encompass over 2,500 points of sale nationwide.
Turkey’s Sabanci Holding intends to invest around US$130 million in its Kordsa cord and yarn operation and $110 million in its Brisa tyre making division during the course of 2012. According to Mehmet Pekarun head of Sabanci’s Tire, Tire Reinforcement and Automotive Group, these two investments are being undertaken as part of an overall $275 million investment programme.
The Commercial Vehicle show 2012 will provide Blitz Rotary with the perfect environment to launch their new light capacity HydroLift S2 6.2 Tonne capacity wireless mobile column lifts.
The new lift is an important addition to the comprehensive range of Blitz Rotary commercial vehicle lifting equipment now available, including the very popular, 8.2 tonne capacity wireless mobile column lifts, recently launched at the Coach and bus live show.
At present the Italian retreading market, following years of crisis, is experiencing a new birth. “From this and the coming years we expect that industry will recognise retreading in terms of its quality and its utility to the market,” comments Brenno Benaglia, vice-president of the Italian retreading association AIRP (Associazione Italiana Ricostruttori Pneumatici) and the European association Bipaver.
When not producing tyres, Germany’s Continental AG spends its time developing automotive and mobility technologies. This requires the company to concentrate heavily on research and development, and a current focus is on technology that eliminates the greatest risk factor on our roads – human error.
Dunlop claims to be the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement market motorcycle tyres in the US, and to cater to this important market the company has launched an all-new website. The dunlopmotorcycle.com site is designed specifically for the American market and its content includes racing news and insider views, tyre technology insights, videos, tips, care and maintenance information, a tyre fitment guide and tyre catalogue, a special section for Dunlop Download Magazine, plus a gallery of free downloadable wallpaper images covering race bikes, customs and more.
ATS Euromaster says it is ducking to meet the finish line of its preparations for the London Olympics in late-July through to 9 September, when the Paralympic Games close. The company has been introducing measures to ensure its ability to support customers in areas affected by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With three centres located within six miles of the Olympic Park in Stratford (Bow, Leyton and Camden), the company has special reason to make special plans, though ATS-E says it is taking into account all of its 15 centres within the M25, those close to Olympic venues outside London and centres near major airports, where traffic is expected to reach record levels on 13 August (the day after the Olympic Games closing ceremony).
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