Bridgestone And Michelin Launched Sites To Help Drivers
Tire companies decided to help drivers handle the difficult winter conditions with the help of the Internet.
The Bridgestone company launched www.winterdrivingsafety.com portal in the USA. The site contains helpful advice and video with detailed instructions aimed at making winter driving safer.
“Taking into account cold snowy weather that came to many parts of the country most drivers started getting prepared to difficult and potentially dangerous road conditions, - said in the company’s announcement. – American department of Bridgestone together with its team of experts on operation of cars and tires in the winter period will help drivers get rid of the nervousness that they experience before driving in such changeable weather”.
The Michelin company also decided to give a helping hand to the drivers and presented on-line “Winter Driving Academy” where one can also get advice or choose winter tires.
There are also video clips with the instructions and animated sections that explain how to avoid danger when driving on snow-covered surface.
Canadian expert on winter driving Richard Shenard helped with the development of the site and acted in many videos shot for the portal
Bridgestone Plant Was Praised For Environmental Friendliness
Bridgestone plant in Aiken got “Spare the Air” award from the Healthcare and Environment Department of South Carolina.
As it is noted in the company’s announcement, when dealing with environmental issues the management of the plant is abide by the following principle: “Think globally, act locally”. The innovations aimed at the reduction of pollution allowed the plant to get the award.
“We are very glad that the authorities appraised our efforts, - said John Stewart, the manager of the plant. – Protection of the environment and wish to help local residents are the basic priorities both for our plant and our company, that’s why we ask each member of our team to participate directly in the reduction of environmental pollution. The taken measures bring benefit to our neighbors, families and the whole state”.
The “participants” help draw attention to the ecological problems by means of social advertisement and volunteer participation in special events. Besides this, the management of the plant encourages the workers to give each other a lift in case they live on the way to work, use motorcycles and hybrid vehicles that are provided with special parking places available only to those who “help minimize fuel consumption”.
Other mentioned innovations include the use of Innovative Tire Building Technology that allows to reduce emission of fluid organic compounds by 60%; the loaders work on hydrogen and don’t emit CO2; biodiesel equipment for maintenance; besides this 33 000 seedings of longleaf pine have been planted at the works.
Aiken plant was opened in 1998 and got LEED Silver certificate from the American Council for the construction of “green” houses that is handed for the effective use of energy and water, monitoring the use of resources and construction of facilities that retain heat. Bridgestone plants in South Carolina and Tennessee became the first plants awarded with the certificate.
Pirelli Yielded to Hankook On The European Market?
Will Hankook push out Pirelli from the top five tire manufacturers of Europe?
The market research conducted by Hankook showed that the Michelin company remains an absolute leader on the tire market (both in segments of passenger and truck tires). At the same time a new player appeared in the previously stable top five – namely Hankook.
Why did Hankook decided to publish its research now, after one of the most difficult periods in the history of the market? It can be explained by the fact that 2009 was an extremely successful year for the Korean company. The peculiar combination of factors has changed the state of affairs during last 12 months. The major question now – will Hankook be able to retain its positions in Europe in the following years?
Here is the forecast of Hankook for the end of 2009 (passenger tires market): Michelin will remain the leader with the market stake of 20%, the second place goes to Goodyear Dunlop (18%), the third – to Bridgestone (12%), Pirelli has 8%. The most interesting fact here is that Hankook holds the 7th place with 7%. It means that its lagging behind Pirelli is not so big.
What concerns truck tires the first place again goes to Michelin (32%), the second place – Goodyear Dunlop (18%), Continental holds 16% of the market, Bridgestone – 13%. According to Hankook, it performs even better in this segment and holds the 5th place thus having overtaken Pirelli.
Since December has just begun the data can be regarded only as a forecast. At the same time Hankook gives 18% to other companies what means that its research is based on the analysis of the whole market. It also cannot be the result of companies that are members of ERMC Europool because the stake of Cooper and Trelleborg would be much higher in this case. Thus, there may be doubts regarding the correctness of the data in respect of sales volumes of Cooper, Kumho, GTRadial, Nexen, Nokian, Toyo, Yokohama etc. The rise of their stake will inevitably lead to the reduction of that of the five major companies. Anyway, only time can eliminate the doubts.
Has Formula 1 Lost Its Attractiveness?
The editor of Modern Tire Dealer magazine Bob Ulrich says that no one cares about Bridgestone’s leaving Formula 1 championship.
“So, Bridgestone stops supplying Formula 1 with its tires after 2010 season. In its announcement the company noted that it needs to “redirect resources” (i.e. millions of dollars) as it had achieved its goals in F1 – improved the recognizability of the brand and developed innovative technologies. Akron Beacon Journal wrote a small article on the issue and nothing appeared there besides that article. No shouting from F1 teams, no hot discussions at fan forums.
Even International Automobile Association FIA, Formula 1 managing body, buried the press-release in the depths of its website and the text was extremely unemotional: “Formula 1 championship will use the services of a new supplier beginning with 2011, since the Bridgestone company has announced that it will not extend its contract after the termination of its validity term.”
I had an opportunity to meet Christine Crakovyak from Bridgestone at the SEMA exhibition and find out more about the situation.
“The company must constantly assess the importance and necessity of all of its investments, as they should be implemented only at the appropriate time and for the appropriate purposes” – was the answer. The participation of Bridgestone in F1 led to the considerable improvement of the brand recognizability (especially in Europe), new contracts in the Original Equipment sector (with Aston Martin, for example), and modernization of the tires’ design and manufacturing process.
“It was an excellent cooperation, - she continued. – But now it is time to move to the next level”.
Who can replace Bridgestone in Formula 1? Definitely, Michelin won’t participate. Goodyear once left the championship, and its current financial position will hardly allow them to return. Pirelli? Korean Kumho announced in 2004 that it would develop tires for F1 within three years. I’m not sure. Avon Tyres may replace Bridgestone as it supplies Formula 2…
The question is the same: who cares?”
