Michelin expands safety training
GREENVILLE, S.C.-Michelin North America Inc.'s earthmover tire unit is expanding the scope of its safety training program to all market segments.
Introduced in 2004 to address mine safety, the program will be expanded to cover all segments that use earthmover tires, Michelin said.
The safety program is designed to explain best safety practices to managers, maintenance personnel, equipment operators and support staff in construction and ports and terminals businesses as well as mines. Earthmover field sales team members, the safety team at the business site or an authorized Michelin dealer can deliver the safety message.
The program includes 12 one-hour modules.
GM, Ford honor tire suppliers
DEARBORN, Mich.-General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. recognized tire makers Bridgestone Corp., GITI Tire (China) Investment Co. Ltd. and Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. recently with supplier quality awards for 2005.
GM honored Bridgestone and GITI as suppliers of the year, while Ford gave Hankook its highest supplier honor, the Gold Award. This is the 11th straight year Bridgestone has received the GM award.
GM also honored wheel maker Superior Industries Inc. and powertrain products supplier Federal-Mogul Corp. In all, GM recognized 85 suppliers for providing it with ``world-class parts and services.''
Hankook, an original equipment tire supplier to Ford since 2004, earned Ford's Gold Award for superior quality, cost and delivery for its Taejon, South Korea, plant. It was one of only 13 gold award winners and the only tire company recognized for any award this year.
Michelin to build tread rubber plant
GREENVILLE, S.C.-Michelin North America Inc. will build a $40 million tread rubber processing plant in Queretaro, Mexico, adjacent to its Michelin Mexico headquarters and passenger tire plant.
Michelin did not divulge the expected capacity of the plant.
Michelin said the plant will produce tread rubber for the North American commercial tire market. Michelin franchisees plan to open 15 retread plants this year. Construction will begin immediately, and the facility will employ up to 120 when it begins production in spring 2007.
Tread rubber for Mexico is made in Covington, Ga., where a project to double capacity should wrap up by mid-year, Michelin said. Capacity there now is 2 million pounds a year.
Pirelli teams with Schrader
MILAN-Pirelli & C. S.p.A. has agreed with Schrader Electronics Ltd. to develop and market a system positioned inside a tire to read identification data as well as temperature and pressure.
Pirelli said the system consists of a miniature sensor that does not need a battery and can generate its own energy. The system relays identification data such as size and type of summer or winter tread. The sensor interacts with the car, enabling the on-board electronic systems to adapt to the information received, Pirelli claimed.
The system is particularly suitable for run-flat tires, as it permits optimal management of the parameters relating to driving on the flat following a puncture, the tire maker said.
ASA urges more Perkins funding
WASHINGTON-The Bush administration again has recommended not funding the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, and again the automotive aftermarket is opposing the proposal.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is urging its members to visit the ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com, to contact their representatives to get their support in funding the Perkins Act, which provides federal funds to technical and vocational schools, for fiscal year 2007.
The Bush administration previously tried to cancel Perkins Act funds in fiscal 2006, in favor of funding more general education programs, but Congress voted to approve the funds.