Goodyear Engineered Products
Goodyear Engineered Products is a division of The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, USA. Whilst Goodyear has the majority of its business in the tire industry, its Engineered Products division does have a remarkable size and is generating a global turnover of well over 1 billion USD. This puts Engineered Products among the leading global suppliers of technical rubber products.

The product lines offered by Goodyear E.P. :

• Airsprings
• Automotive Hoses
• Conveyor Belts
• Industrial hoses
• Molded Products
• Power Transmission Products

Goodyear Engineered Products in Europe?
Goodyear Engineered Products has steadily been increasing its European presence. From an American importer it transformed itself into what is today a true European supplier. A new headquarter has been formed in Kranj, Slovenia. European production has become an important element of the new strategy:

• production of Airspings in Slovenia
• production of Airsprings in France
• production of Power Transmission Belts in Slovenia
• production of Automotive Hoses in Slovenia (start-up 3rd quarter2003)

Goodyear started producing in Europe for several OE customers within the car, truck and bus industry. Customers are being served by dedicated account responsible associates, as well as by the local Product Development and Application Engineering Centre.

At several European customers innovative OE products have been introduced. Examples are:

• Helicog™ or Gatorback ™ FEAD belts
• H.O.T. ™ or Eagle Pd ™ Timing Belts
• Galaxy ™ 4890 super low emission Air-conditioning Hose

These new products are designed for superior performance, noise reduction or lower emissions.

Automotive Hose innovations
An example of rubber hoses used in cars is the air-conditioning hose. Goodyear Engineered Products has increasingly been working with the European car manufacturers and its Tier 1 suppliers to meet the specifications of the major car manufacturers, whilst introducing better products with a cost competitive solution. Goodyear has introduced hoses which help solving noise problems, which reduce refrigerant permeation, or which reduce costs.

In 2002 the “4890 SLE” air-conditioning hose was introduced in Europe on the new Opel Vectra. This Goodyear hose was the first to offer the industry lowest emission values. Goodyear Engineered Products has become a leading supplier of air-conditioning hoses in Europe, but also has used this technology to offer fuel line hoses, which allow the car manufacturers to build cars meeting the toughest emission regulations.

During the next 12 months, Goodyear will start manufacturing such innovative products in its European plant in Slovenia. Meanwhile, the global Research and Development team is already working on further improvements and is targeting a “zero permeation” air-conditioning hose. This hose is expected to be available during 2004.

Excell in satisfying the European Customer
Goodyear Engineered Products provides excellent customer service.

• Local manufacturing of technical rubber products in Slovenia and France.
• SAP-software based customer service system, which provides European wide and global access to inventory and logistics.
• Deliveries throughout Europe from its UK or Slovenia distribution centre, meeting the stringent customer demands on correct and in time deliveries.
• Products tailored to customer demands with the help of the Development and Application centre in Slovenia which provides state-of-the-art technology and multinational expert engineers.
• Highly motivated associates, to serve the customer with professional and nearby support.

Goodyear Engineered Products will continue to be a supplier dedicated to the automotive and industrial markets, bringing technologically superior and problem solving products at a competitive price.

Contact info:

Goodyear Engineered Products Europe
Automotive Hose
Xantener Strasse 105
D-50733 Koeln
Germany

www.goodyear.com
autohose.europe@goodyear.com