May 2005 - Tyrepress

Dave Garratt Becomes EGEA Treasurer

Dave Garratt was appointed as treasurer of the Brussels based European Garage Equipment Association (EGEA). The news was announced following at the association’s recent General Assembly meeting held in Bologna on the 20 May. Mr Garratt’s appointment is seen as an important step for the industry as it ensures a close and ongoing association with the European market. Dave Garrat, also chief executive of the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) in the UK said: “The EGEA, which is based in Brussels, plays an important role in lobbying and advising the European Commission. This appointment shows that the EGEA value an input from the UK and proves that the GEA is fully committed to supporting its members in Europe.”

31st May 2005/by admin

Still Time for Fulda Challenge Applications

Have you ever considered tackling a 48 kilometre mountain bike ride and a half-marathon in Arctic temperatures? Could you climb a 30m-high ice wall, endure 30 kilometres of cross-country skiing, and navigate a team of huskies through alpine woodland in temperatures as low as –45 degrees celcius? Men and women from around the UK are prepared to give it a go as they apply to be part of the 2006 Fulda Challenge team.

31st May 2005/by admin

Apollo Tyres Suspends Production at Vadodara Plant

Apollo Tyres Ltd has shut its manufacturing plant in Vadodara, Gujarat. Local media reports attribute the closure to illegal strike action by one section of trade unions in the factory. As a result, shares in Apollo were down 0.8 per cent at 280 rupees in what the Reuters news agency described as “a slightly firm Bombay market”.

31st May 2005/by admin

MEPs Vote to Rein-in Bull-Bars

MEPs have backed EU plans for tighter controls on the use of ‘bull bars’ on cars, in a bid to minimise injuries to pedestrians and cyclists. The European Parliament voted at a first reading on new EU laws setting out tougher safety standards and strict tests for new cars built with frontal protection systems to improve pedestrian safety.

31st May 2005/by admin

Cooper’s New HP Zeon

Cooper Tire has launched its latest high performance tyre the Zeon XTC to the European market.

Aimed at a range of vehicles from a Ford Focus to a Jaguar X-type the tyre is designed to offer a quiet, comfortable and confident drive in both wet and dry weather.

31st May 2005/by admin

Jiang Xi Federal Tire Doubles Capacity

Federal Tire’s subsidiary in Jiang Xi, China (JFT) will invest $30 million into equipment and people to double annual capacity to 5 million units a year, by the end of 2005. According to the company the investment is required due to an increase in demand for its tyres.

The majority of the investment will go towards the purchase of curing presses, tyre building, uniformity inspection equipment and mixers as JFT increases the size of its current tyres and finalises plans for new additions to its product line. JFT manufactures a range of Hero and Federal brand tyres including UHP, PCR, SUV, light truck.

31st May 2005/by admin

Goodyear Reorganises Off-The-Road

Goodyear Dunlop has reorganised its Off-The-Road department, promoting Mark Turner into the role of key accounts manager for OTR SBU.

Currently farm tyre sales and training specialist, Mr Turner will now focus on key accounts, and the development of farm, industrial, ATV and Terra tyres with dealer customers throughout the UK. In his new role Turner will continue to run the show calendar for Goodyear Dunlop and will maintain his training responsibilities.

31st May 2005/by admin

Alonso Snatches Victory

Fernando Alonso snatched victory from McLaren’s Kimi Raikonnen on the last lap of the European Grand Prix. The Renault driver was able to extend his championship lead to 32 points after the Finnish driver crashed out due to the suspension failure caused by the flatspotting of his front right tyre.

Williams’ Nick Heidfeld and Ferrari’s Rubens Barichello joined Alonso on the podium, followed by the Red Bull of David Coulthard, the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher, Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella and McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya. Jarno Trulli filled the last point scoring postion.

30th May 2005/by admin

Firestone’s Launches World’s Widest Agricultural Tyre

Firestone has launched what it claims it the world’s widest agricultural tyre. At 1250 millimetres wide, the company reports that the agricultural tyre is a full 200 millimetres wider than the nearest competitor.

30th May 2005/by admin

Apollo Tyre’s Kerala Plant Crosses 16 Million Unit Mark

(India/Rubber Asia) After almost 30 years of manufacturing, Apollo Tyres’ first production plant has produced more than 16 million units. The factory at Perambra in Kerala, south India, has grown into one of India’s leading tyre manufacturing sites with the capacity to role out 9 billion rupees (£130 million) worth of tyres each year, according to Onkar S Kanwar, chairman and managing director.

30th May 2005/by admin

New Cars Come to India from US Producers

(India/Rubber Asia) There has been a flurry of new car launches in the Indian market thanks to the apparent growth of Indian consumer purchasing power. General Motors, the world’s largest car maker for example, has even come out with a new strategy specific to the Indian market, the main component of which is to launch two new cars every year in the country between 2006 and 2008, local media sources report.

30th May 2005/by admin

Indian Truck and Bus Tyre Exports Rise

(India/Rubber Asia) Indian truck and bus tyre exports grew 16 per cent in March 2005 compared with the same time last year (222,527 in March 2004 compared with 258,727 March 2005).

The Automotive & Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) figures also show that passenger car tyre exports grew, rising from 98,327 units to 107,559 – a 9 per cent increase. LCV tyre export shipments rose 8 per cent to 118,337 units in March 2005 from 109,272 the previous year. Tractor tyre exports were also significantly higher than the previous year, growing 29 per cent (front), 11 per cent (rear) and 46 per cent (trailer) while OTR tyre shipments jumped 37 per cent. Scooter and motorcycle tyre exports shot up 45 and 44 per cent respectively.

30th May 2005/by admin

Audit Confirms CV Visitors

The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) has confirmed that 26,843 visitors attended the 2005 combined Commercial Vehicle Show and Automotive Trade Show in April.

Demographic data, provided by visitor registration company CTS, shows that those 26,843 visitors had more purchasing power this year than at any previous CV Show and ATS says the SMMT. A detailed breakdown of visitors showed that 72.3 per cent were at owner, director or senior manager level.

The SMMT believes that these figures confirm the informal feedback from exhibitors during and after the event, suggesting that visitors and business leads were of a very high quality. Visitors came from across the UK and Ireland, with a further 1,000 from overseas, finding the NEC an ideal place for a business-to-business event of this type.

The 2006 CV Show and ATS will be on 25, 26 and 27 April, in halls 1 to 5 of the NEC.

27th May 2005/by admin

Car Production Up in April

Provisional output data released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics shows that UK car production rose 10.6 per cent, or 13,689 units, in April.

This puts the year-to-date total above the 2004 level for first time this year.

Both output for home and export volumes rose by over 10 per cent last month.

“Despite problems at Longbridge, today’s figures show that the UK still has a strong vehicle manufacturing base”, said SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan.

27th May 2005/by admin

Alliance Strengthen Forestry Position

Alliance has introduced 40 new forestry tyre designs to its existing ranges in an attempt to strengthen its position in the segment. The tyres feature reinforced steel and include flotation forestry tyres for harvesters, agro-forestry R1 tyres for combined applications in forestry and agriculture, and LS forestry tyres for logger skidders.

The new tyres were developed in co-operation with machinery manufacturers, under severe conditions, said David Shahar, head of R&D for Alliance. “Forestry tyres should be able to drive effortlessly in difficult terrain, without puncture and costly down time,” Shahar explained.

26th May 2005/by admin

1 2 3 … 10 Next »