Michelin Awarded Military Aircraft Contract
Michelin Aircraft Tire Corp, based in Greenville, South Carolina, has been awarded a $93 million contract to supply 23 separate naval aviation tyres for aircraft including, F14 and F18 jets.
Michelin Aircraft Tire Corp, based in Greenville, South Carolina, has been awarded a $93 million contract to supply 23 separate naval aviation tyres for aircraft including, F14 and F18 jets.
Hofmann, has won the contract to supply Fast Fit Ireland with all of their wheel service equipment requirements. Fast Fit Ireland, who look over the Kwik-Fit depots in the Republic of Ireland last year, are now one of the largest fast-fit chains in Ireland with over 22 depots. All depots have been equipped with “top of the range Hofmann products,” the company reports.
The Tyre Industry Council is to endorse tyre safety related products and services. The first such endorsement is an aftermarket product, allowing the motorist to monitor the pressure in his spare tyre and inflate it easily, if required.
Sapphire Energy Recovery is to open a new tyre processing site at South Trafford park near Manchester. The facility is set to be operational by January 2006 and will serve the surrounding and near-by conurbations. The new plant will begin processing 25,000 tonnes annually with the capacity to increase up to 50,000 tonnes.
“This latest development is an excellent opportunity to serve our customers where the tyres are. This way our customers can spend more time on the road collecting tyres rather than coming to us,” said marketing manager Ryan Mifflin, adding: “The new site will be a bespoke plant to serve tyre needs. It follows our strategy of putting a site in every major city in Britain.”
The TIC has released its latest survey figures, based on almost 30,000 tyres checked from March to November last year. These roadside checks involved almost half of all UK police forces.
Credential Environmental Limited (CEL), the tyre, automotive and special waste collector and reprocessor, has acquired Betta Special waste and Betta Environmental Solutions. The deal, details of which were not revealed, effectively doubles the size of CEL’s hazardous waste division.
Trend Tracker Limited, the UK automotive research, consultancy and training firm established in 2004, has formed an exclusive alliance with German-based automotive aftermarket consultancy Wolk & Partner Car Consult GmbH.
This alliance, says the firm, will result in UK suppliers benefiting from: Access to market expertise on the German aftermarket; the availability of English-language reports on the German aftermarket; and the introduction of a range of web-based tools only previously available to companies in Germany.
Some weeks ago, ThyssenKrupp Technologies AG sold its Harburg-Freudenberger GmbH mechanical engineering business to Luebeck, Germany-based L Possehl & Co mbH. Under new ownership, the company will produce machinery for the rubber and tyre industries.
Lanxess has announced that it is strengthening its position in the Chinese tyre market by entering into a joint venture with Anhui Tongfeng Electronic Co Ltd. The agreement will see the company produce rubber antioxidants for the tyre industry and is due to come on stream in the second half of next year, said Martin Wienkenhoever, a member of Lanxess’ board of management. “At present due to the [World Trade Organization] we see that the American and European market is shifting to China,” he said. “Some of (the investment) is a also going to India, Vietnam and other countries – but the mainstream companies are still going into China and the lower-end manufacturing is going to other destinations, but we are not so active in that.”
The Accuride Corporation has announced that its stock has been added to the Russell 2000 Index. The annual reconstitution of Russell’s 21 US equity indexes captures the 3,000 largest US stocks, ranking them by market capitalization to create the broad market Russell 3000 Index. This year marks the 21st anniversary of Russell’s US indexes.
Kenda Tires has completed the long-term test of its latest snow tyre. According to the company, the Polar Trax KR19 is designed to supply the grip and traction on the ice, snow, and wet road conditions. The new product will now be launched into the European market.
Kenda reports that it has produced its latest offering with winter road conditions in mind. The Polar Trax features what the company called a “premium twine construction” and drainage grooves for more efficient water clearance. Handling ability is said to have been enhanced by a special silica compound, which Kenda claims is an essential element when it comes to preventing aquaplaning. The tyre’s zigzag sipes also provide traction and grip to cope with the winter roads.
(Akron/Tire Review) All is not yet lost for Slovakia in its bid to land a new tyre plant from Hankook Tire Co. The South Korean tyre manufacturer has made a counterproposal for government aid to support its planned 500 million euro tyre plant.
Slovakia Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda reportedly met with Hankook representatives late last week at Hankook’s request. Hankook is reported to have lowered its request for state assistance by 9.79 million euros. The meeting came just two days after Slovakia’s cabinet ministers rejected an investment package that included infrastructure improvements in the area surrounding the proposed plant.
FIA president, Max Mosley, is considering introducing turbo boosters into Formula 1, The Guardian has reported. According to the newspaper, Mr Mosely is in discussion with “several of the car makers.” The idea is to introduce energy retention systems, like those used in hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius.
Chris Kisby joins Hi-Q, the Goodyear Dunlop retail network, from his position as key account director within the company’s consumer business unit, where he has worked for three years. During this time, Mr Kisby focused on key accounts such as Kwik Fit Europe, ATS and Hi-Q Retail.
(Akron/Tire Review) A new study by the Polk Center for Automotive Studies reveals that American consumers may not yet be sold on the idea of hybrid vehicles, despite fast-rising gas prices. The primary reason for their hesitation? Their feeling that there are added costs connected to hybrid technology.
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