Continental Tire Canada Inc. will raise prices up to 5.5 percent on Continental, General and associate brand passenger and light truck tires, effective July 1.

MEDICINE HAT, Alberta - Cancarb Ltd., the Canadian producer of thermal carbon blacks, has signed two new distribution agreements in Europe.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - T&WA Inc., a supplier of preassembled tire and wheel modules in which Goodyear owns a minority share, plans to close its Birmingham plant and lay off 51 employees after Honda Manufacturing of Alabama L.L.C. did not renew a supply contract.

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. purchased Bandag Inc. to build upon "the great Bandag legacy" and enhance its revenues and product portfolio, Saul Solomon, chairman, CEO and president of the new Bridgestone Bandag L.L.C. said.

MIDLAND, Michigan: Dow Chemical Co. increased prices for Carbowax and Carbowax Sentry mold release agents and Tergitol NPE surfactants used with adhesives by 3 cents a pound.

JACKSON, Georgia: Firefighters put out a massive fire at the Tires Inc. crumb rubber processing facility in Jackson that burned for 24 hours after its start May 15, according to the Butts County, Ga., fire department.

Source: Daily "The News International", Karachi; 1 June 2007

A U.S. appeals court has declined to rehear a case involving carbon black producer Continental Carbon Co. and damage caused by emissions from one of its plants, but the company is taking the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.