Michelin has been voted Tire Manufacturer of the Year in the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2010. The awards took place at the Tire Technology Expo in Cologne and were voted for by a panel of 17 internationally-renowned industry experts.

The judges summarised Michelin’s achievements as follows:

‘It has been a busy 12 months for Michelin, with several exciting developments convincing the jury. 2009 saw the company upgrade its global research and development center in Clermont-Ferrand and continue to specialize a number of its industrial operations in France. The project reflects the Group’s commitment to strengthening France’s role as Michelin’s strategic hub and innovation center, and to enhancing the productivity of its manufacturing operations. As part of this commitment, the Group is investing more than €100 million in its Clermont-Ferrand research and development center. This upgrade program is designed to shorten time-to-market cycles for tires and services, and to enable the development of more innovative manufacturing processes. Moreover, to enhance the specialization of its production sites, Michelin is implementing plans to develop its Montceau plant into a high-performance facility for earthmover tires and one of the two largest rubber compound centers in Europe, with the deployment of a €50 million capital spending program. The facility’s current car tire operations will be consolidated with those of other Group plants in Western Europe. The company is also making its Tours plant a benchmark for high-tech truck tires in Europe, with the investment of an additional €15 million to continue upgrading plant installations. To make the facility more competitive, operations will be reorganized and specialized, leading to the closing of the rubber compound unit and the transfer of its production to its plants in Montceau and Cholet. Finally, Michelin is continuing to produce premium tires in France by transferring production at the Seclin facility to Les Gravanches plant near Clermont-Ferrand, and strengthening light truck and SUV tire manufacturing operations at the Cholet plant by integrating light truck tire production from one of the Group’s European plants.

Best of all, Michelin is carrying out this reorganization without any layoffs, implementing a voluntary separation plan open to all employees that mainly involves pre-retirement working arrangements. The plan will enable nearly 495 of the 1,093 employees impacted by the reorganization to take advantage of special early-retirement measures, and the other 598 to benefit from internal placement opportunities.’

Source: http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/more/news-detail/news/20080819113604/26564.html

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Michelin has appointed a new Factory Manager to head up operations at its Ballymena plant.

Wilton Crawford has taken over the lead role at the helm of Ballymena’s operations from Graham Whitehurst and will start his new post from 18 January 2010. With over 20 years of experience at Michelin – with a vast majority of that time spent at five different Michelin locations in the US – Florida born Mr Crawford represents an international appointment to the Ballymena factory’s lead role and he is looking forward to the challenge ahead posed by his new post.

Mr Crawford said: “Having spent a large degree of my working life in the United States, I am delighted to be taking on this very important role in a European plant. I am looking forward to continuing the success story we have here at Ballymena and leading the factory to further successes. We do face some major challenges for 2010 given the current global economic climate, but I am confident we as a team here at Ballymena, will rise to that challenge and continue to deliver the quality, productivity and excellence that underpin all the work we do here at the Raceview Road site.”

The plant’s former Factory Manager, Graham Whitehurst – who worked at the Ballymena site for over 12 years, the last five as Plant Manager - moves on to a new role as the co-ordinator for the Company’s ‘Michelin Manufacturing Way’ programme, based at Michelin Group headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

The Ballymena factory manufactures over 1.4 million truck and bus tyres each year, mostly for export. Having opened in 1969, it celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and currently employs around 1000 people.

Source: http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/more/news-detail/news/20080819113604/26563.html

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As part of its 40th Anniversary celebration, Mazda North American Operations will sponsor the Automotive Fine Arts Society show at the 15th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. For the ninth consecutive year, the two will team to present a rich exhibit of spectacular art and automotive design. The AFAS exhibit will be at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla., from March 11-14. AFAS is an international group of artists whose works are respected by art connoisseurs and auto enthusiasts.

“Mazda has earned a reputation for building cars that combine elegant styling with advanced engineering to stir the soul,” noted AFAS President Ken Eberts. “Their appreciation of the automobile as art means that the public will have the opportunity to enjoy wonderful works by our members at the Amelia Island Concours. We look forward to celebrating excellence in design with a company that expresses that philosophy in their products.”

Mazda’s support includes selecting a show piece for its “Emotion of Motion Award.” In 2009, Bill Neale won the coveted honor for his piece “Aston Martin and Friend.”

“Each year, the quality and creativity of the art in the AFAS tent eclipses the previous year,” said Jay Amestoy, VP, Public and Government Affairs, Mazda North American Operations. “That combination of style and unique creativity is what drives Mazda to support AFAS, and we’re excited to see how the artists have taken their work to an even higher level this year.”

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. Visit www.mazda.com for more information.

Source: http://www.mazdausamedia.com/content/mazda-north-america-returns-sponsor-afas-exhibit-amelia-island-concours

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Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported February 2010 sales of 17,054, an increase of 4.0 percent versus February 2009, and the fourth straight month of sales increases. Year-to-date, Mazda sales are up 2.9 percent, and up 5.1 percent on a DSR (daily selling rate) basis (48 selling days in 2010 compared to 49 selling days through February in 2009).

Leading the charge was the all-new 2010 MAZDA3, winner of ALG’s Residual Value Award for highest retained value after three years in service, with sales of 8,215 units. MAZDA3 had its best February sales month since 2007.

In addition, the Mazda CX-7 and CX-9 boasted strong February sales. CX-7 reported sales of 1,796 units, up 14.1 percent and CX-9 accounted 2,014 units, up 22.0 percent compared to February 2009.

Rounding out the North American market, Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) sold 4,929 units, up 6.0 percent compared to last February, while Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported sales of 1,722 units, down 3.0 percent versus last year.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Source: http://www.mazdausamedia.com/content/mazda-reports-sales-increase-february

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