Creation	1889
Legal form	Partnership limited by shares
Action	Euronext : ML
Slogan (s)	"A better way forward"
Headquarters	Clermont-Ferrand ( France )
Direction	Michel Rollier
Shareholders	Foreign Institutional Investors 53.22% French institutional investors 22.8% Individual shareholders 12.2% Capital Research and Management 10.08% Company savings plan 1.7% (2008)
Turnover	16.408 billion (2008)
Net income	1049 M (2010)
change

Michelin is a French manufacturer of tires. It is a multinational company with headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand ( Puy de Dome ) in France. With 20% of the world, it is the world leader in tires . Its net sales amounted to 16.867 billion in 2007 , it is currently ranked in second place behind Bridgestone (29.7 billion dollars in 2007), and to Goodyear. Operations in 19 countries, employs 123,975 people, including 31,000 in France.

The parent company, Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, is an SCA. Group companies outside France are overseen by a company holding company , Compagnie Financire Michelin, Granges-Paccot domiciled in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.

Among his many inventions, there is the removable tire, the tire rail ( pneurail "), the carcass radial tires fitted to all contemporary and tire "green" reduces fuel consumption by less resistance to the advancement of vehicles. Michelin also publishes a popular series of maps and the famous Michelin guide , which mentions restaurants and sells worldwide. In 2009, the factory celebrates the 100th edition of its guide.

Summary 1 Activities 1.1 Tyres 1.2 Activities discontinued 2 History 3 Bibendum 4 Innovation 5 Michelin Clermont-Ferrand 6 Michelin Sport 6.1 Formula 1 6.2 Le Mans 24h 7 Trivia 8 Management Board 8.1 Former managers 8.2 Supervisory Board 8.3 Executive Board 9 Mode of company management 10 Conditions of work in the company 11 Economic Information 11.1 Distribution of capital 11.2 Financial Data 11/03 Stock exchange data 12 Controversies 12.1 Conditions of Work 12.2 Discrimination Association 13 Notes and references 14 Annexes 14.1 Related Articles 2.14 External Links

Activities

In 2005, the group is present on the markets (mostly radial):

Tyres

• Car tires (18% market share).
• Truck tires (30% of the original equipment market).
• Other tires, two wheels, civil engineering , agricultural aircraft.
• Reissue of tires for collector cars .
• Tire distribution: Euromaster in Europe and TCI in the United States.

Record: the tire the bigger the world is the Michelin 59/80R63. It equips trucks giant Caterpillar 797B mining excavation in Australia. Weighing five tonnes and measuring four meters in diameter and 1.48 m wide, its cost is 30 000 euros each. They are inflated to 6.5 bar pressure.

BFGoodrich , Michelin subsidiary, operates in markets aftermarket, OE and even for SUVs and other 4x4. The tires are classified in the second line of products, that is to say, just below the product of six major brands in terms of price. BFGoodrich is also third in the tire market in the United States and fourth in the tire market 4x4 Europe , 4x4 is considered the specialty of the mark.

Discontinued

In the railway sector, Michelin produced during the 1930s of railcars on tires , known as the railcar.

Roadside French, there are still signs Michelin in ceramic dish on a base of reinforced concrete , produced between 1910 and 1971 .

In the mid- ^nineteenth century , appears to control the rubber , especially by vulcanization.

History

In 1889 , the Michelin brothers ( Andre Michelin - Centrale - and Edouard Michelin ) based Michelin & Cie near the Place des Carmes in Clermont-Ferrand on a plot of 12 hectares. Fifty two people working in the company. The headquarters is still located on the same site. In 1891 , after helping a cyclist English came to the factory where the tire (developed by a Dunlop ), had burst , the Michelin brothers develop the removable tire for bicycles. The patent was filed on June 18. Charles Terront win the cycling race Paris - Brest on a bike with Michelin tires next year.

In 1898 , creation of the Michelin man by the designer O'Galop. The character is overcome by the maxim "Nunc est bibendum (Now is the drink), processed by the author in advertising slogan:" The Michelin drink the obstacle. " In 1899 , the automotive electric the Buckeye Bullet , fitted with Michelin tires, over 100 km / h.

In 1900 , the first red guide with recommended restaurants. In 1901 , the first poster with the character Bibendum little resemblance to its current version. The character will be made more expressive with time. In 1907 , opening a new factory in Clermont-Ferrand: Cataroux. Michelin installs its first plant outside France to Turin . In 1908 , paired for the first tire truck.

In 1910 , Bibendum - Monthly Review No. 1, April 15, 1910, signed Bibendum (Curnonsky?). And early intervention Michelin on road signs: appearance of the plates "Thank You" to both sides which were listed on city names, designation and number of roads, security and inscriptions such as "Please slow down" placed at the entrance to the town and a "Thank You" to the exit.

In 1916 , the first concrete runway for aircraft is built to Clermont-Ferrand ; it allows all-weather takeoff of aircraft Breguet-Michelin products for the war in the Michelin factories. The production will be 57 aircraft in 1915, 141 in 1916, 264 in 1917 and 1422 in 1918. The first 100 copies were produced and offered the following sold at cost price. In 1918 , the first prototype corner post (terminal Michelin), air traffic signals at four sides.

In 1926 , publication of the regional tourist guide (future "green guide") on Britain. In 1927 , Michelin employs 10,000 people in Clermont-Ferrand. In 1928 , the corner post (terminal Michelin) took its final shape.

In 1929 , development of the railcar , railcar light whose wheels are equipped with special tires invented by Andr Michelin.

In 1931 , the use of equipment for traffic Michelin is officially approved. These terminals Michelin, as well as "walls", "plaques" and "poles" made of glazed lava stone concrete. In 1933 , Michelin Pierre (1903-1937) was appointed co-manager. In 1935 , Michelin became the main shareholder in Citron and Michelin Pierre is named CEO. In 1936 , the company was hit three times by workers' strikes two with occupation. CGT from 100 to over 6,000 union members. It will exceed 7,000 in 1937. The workers receive almost 25% increase in salary in June 1936. In 1937, Pierre Michelin dies in an accident. In 1938 , Edouard Michelin calls him his son Robert Puiseux (1892-1991) and Pierre Boulanger (1885-1950) as co-managers. In 1940 , death of Edouard Michelin, Robert Puiseux became manager.

In 1944 , the Allied General Staff feared that the increase in troops after the Normandy landings is slow on the roads and especially in French cities, because all signs are destroyed or dismantled by the occupying Germans. The secret agreement with the direction of Michelin in Paris, he chose to print and distribute in Washington to each officer a reproduction of the latest edition of the Guide, that of 1939 because of hundreds of city maps, detailed and updated.

In 1946 , Michelin patented the radial tire, marketed in 1949 under the name Michelin X. The commercial success of radial lead to a significant expansion of the group and put the company at the forefront. In 1951 , Foundation for Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin (CGEM) and the French Manufacturer of tires Michelin (which Durin mile (1896-1981) became co-manager with Robert Puiseux). Creation of the first French factory outside of Clermont-Ferrand Orleans .

In 1955 , Francois Michelin enters the station manager. He will manage the growth related to the commercial success of the radial tire and open about thirty factories worldwide during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1971 , opening the first plant in North America to Bridgewater ( Nova Scotia , Canada ) . In June, halting the production of road signs in lave enamelled on reinforced concrete. And in 1975 , opening the first factory in the United States at Greenville ( South Carolina ) . In 1978 , the firm partners with Ferrari , and won his first Grand Prix in Brazil next year the firm Clermont-Ferrand is associated with two world titles (driver and constructor) that Ferrari wins in Formula 1.

In 1981 , Michelin tires Kleber absorbs plants. In 1989 , the group to increase its presence in the U.S., bought Uniroyal-Goodrich Tire.

In 1996 , Michelin invented the PAX System , which allows the tire to roll indjantable even in case of puncture.

In 1998 , the centenary of Bibendum sees, among other celebrations, creating a Michelin Challenge Bibendum , held every year since (except 1999). On international audience, it is organized in different cities of the World

In 1999 , Francois Michelin is leaving his position as manager. His son Edward , Centrale aged 36 years and co-manager since 1991, succeeds him. In September, simultaneous announcement of interim profits up and a plan of restructuring involving 7,500 job cuts, which will open a debate in France on the stock dismissals.

In 2004 , presentation of the Tweel , a concept revolutionary airless wheel. In 2005 , together with Renault while champion of Formula 1 , but announced its withdrawal from the competition at the end of the 2006 season because of disagreements with the FIA.

May 26, 2006 , accidental death of Edouard Michelin. Michel Rollier , co-manager with Edouard Michelin, has since the group management. 3 October 2006 , Michelin decided to install a new storage platform of 70 000 m in Valenciennes. January 26, 2007 , a contract worth 1.7 billion dollars was signed between Michelin and the Pentagon.

" The Michelin Adventure "traces the history of the Michelin Group, its People and its innovations. Opened January 23, 2009 by Michel Rollier, co-manager of the company, visitors can explore the site Cataroux (Clermont-Ferrand) and 2000 sqm dedicated to the heritage of the brand.

Bibendum

The emblem of the company, Bibendum , born in 1899, is one of the oldest logos known. It has also been named Logo Century in 2000.

The idea came from Edouard Michelin, a day when he saw a stack of tires forming a snowman. He said the idea of this character in the first advertisements with the slogan Nunc est Bibendum, literally "now we must drink" Latin equivalent of our "to your health." The Bibendum has become an illustration of the intrinsic image of Michelin with the slogan "The Michelin drink the obstacle."

Innovation

The Research and Development Michelin has 4% of group turnover and employs 6000 people worldwide. Centers located in France, Spain, South Carolina, Japan and China are studying fundamental problems (physical, chemical and mechanical influence the behavior of the tire) and are responsible for the design of prototypes. Michelin maintains important partnerships with the academic world in particular through the industrial chairs Computational mechanics with the Laval University , Architecture of information systems with the Ecole Centrale Paris and Materials Science with ESPCI ParisTech .

Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand

Throughout their history, the city of Clermont-Ferrand and its surroundings were strongly affected by industrial activities Michelin. The company has also been very influential in changing urban and cultural city. The company has employed up to 30,000 people in the 70s. She still uses today, in 2010, approximately 13,000 employees in January 2010

Although less important now, the influence of Michelin is still being felt. Thus, Clermont-Ferrand is the first city to have adopted a two-way tram on tires , and Michelin is a former cooperative that has been redeveloped for the construction of a spacious modern music Clermont, the Cooprative de Mai.

This is one of the few major French companies, with Lactalis , Auchan , Legrand or the Casino Group , not to have its head office in the le-de-France, and only the CAC 40.

Michelin Sport

The entrance to the company in the world of sports dates back to 1891 with the Paris-Brest bicycle race (round trip) on 1200 km. Charles Terron, who competed on Michelin tires removable, won the race in 71 hours and 18 minutes of racing with 9 hours ahead of the second.

Formula 1

The entry of Michelin in F1 coincides with the first participation of Renault Grand Prix of Great Britain 1977. During the first period ending in 1984 the manufacturer will be participating as the conquest of two manufacturers (1979.1984) and four drivers titles (1979,1980,1983,1984).

In 2001, Michelin announced his return to F1 last season with six in the heyday won two world titles with Renault and Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006. Indeed in late 2006 left the group following the manufacturer's unique vote by FIA.