Sailun reports rapid growth, busy Reifen Show debut
Sailun reports that it has been enjoying a period of strong establishment across Europe as well as a successful time in Essen this June, when the Chinese brand made its Reifen show debut.
Sailun reports that it has been enjoying a period of strong establishment across Europe as well as a successful time in Essen this June, when the Chinese brand made its Reifen show debut.
HiQ has launched its latest safety project for motorists: a bespoke new safety guide pack. The fast-fit network says it has invested £30,000 into the guides, which include a suite of information bulletins in one ‘handy’ pack. The network says the guides have been produced based on motorists’ feedback. It aims to cover drivers’ needs, explaining everything there is to know about keeping tyres and cars in the best possible condition comprehensively. Covering everything from the hazards associated with buying part worn tyres and winter driving tips to fuel efficiency and battery care, the guides simplify tyre and car care, as well as providing useful motoring reference material.
The winners of a Pirelli online competition have completed an exclusive McLaren Formula One team factory tour in Woking, Surrey. Bill Massey and Sarah Cooper were announced as the winners of the competition run on the official Pirelli Facebook page last month. Both winners were allowed to bring one guest for a tour of the team’s headquarters.
Cooper Tire and Rubber Company has entered into a new tyre distribution arrangement in Southern and Eastern Africa. Following the agreement, a newly established company called Top Draw Tyres will import the company’s full range of SUV, 4×4 and passenger Cooper manufactured products for sale Southern and Eastern Africa.
Much is said about the so-called ‘special relationship’ Britain shares with the United States, and surveys carried out by the US-based Rubber Manufacturers Association shows that our affinity extends to mutual apathy when it comes to tyre care. The RMA surveys produced similar results to studies conducted by TyreSafe and other organisations on this side of the pond; the industry association found that only about one in six vehicles boast four correctly inflated tyres and only 15 per cent of drivers actually know how to properly check tyre pressure.
Taiwan-based news service CENS reports that Kenda Rubber intends to invest approximately NT$10 billion (£212 million) to set up a plant in China’s Guangdong Province. At the company’s recent shareholders meeting, chairman Yang Ying Ming stated the tyre maker is acquiring 700 acres in Huizhou, and intends to relocate its existing Shenzhen factory there. The plant will produce motorcycle and bicycle tyres and daily output is expected to reach 83,000 pieces by 2016. Industry sources also say the new Huizhou factory will be much bigger than the Shenzhen plant as it will contain passenger car radial production lines intended to serve the European and US markets.
At the end of May, Kumho Tire China and the Qingdao University of Science and Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement. According to the university, under the new agreement the two entities will increase their joint work in a number of areas. Graduate students will be trained at a Kumho-established research and development centre, which is described as being a world class facility, and both parties will cooperate on developing tyre industry solutions, such as the development of environmentally-friendly materials.
Media reports from New Zealand indicate Goodyear Dunlop intends to close 24 fast fit outlets in the country – almost a third of its national ‘Beaurepaires’ commercial network. According to Marty Dinniss, a public relations consultant who acts as the tyre company’s spokesman in New Zealand, the closures will be focused on the commercial vehicle sector, and Beaurepaires' consumer and agricultural-focused businesses will not be affected. Up to 219 employees may lose their jobs, however Dinniss comments that the company is currently engaged in a consultancy period with workers and their representative union.
Leading tyre and wheel supplier to the global agricultural industry, Trelleborg Wheel Systems showcased its extensive range of high performance tyres at Cereals 2012, held in Lincolnshire, England, on 13-14 June. Located on stand 602, sector E, the company exhibited its latest innovations for the agricultural industry as part of a new stand design and concept, the ‘Blue Box’.
Korea’s longest-established tyre maker, Nexen Tire, recently opened its latest factory, a highly automated plant that will help the tyre maker reach its goal of almost tripling output by the end of the decade. The Changnyeong plant entered production in April and this year it will turn out some three million passenger car, 4×4 and light commercial vehicle tyres. This figure will then rise significantly over the next few years, reaching 21 million – 60,000 tyres a day – by 2018. By that date, Nexen says it will have invested a total of 1,200 billion won (£650 million) in the plant.
Conti is working to enhance the efficiency of the roadside breakdown service it provides to commercial vehicle operators and hauliers through its Conti360° fleet service network. The manufacturer reports the development of a series of bespoke roadside training courses for its Conti360° network partners, which it believes will help raise safety standards among tyre fitters and promote best practice in attending roadside breakdowns. The three levels of training course are designed to equip the Conti360° network with improved tyre fitting expertise and allow its partners to gain the industry-approved NTDA REACT Roadside Breakdown Licence, which is now mandatory for all NTDA members engaged in roadside maintenance or repairs.
Fifty-six race cars from around the world took to Le Mans on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 June for the classic 24 Hours of Le Mans, and brake disc manufacturer, Brembo supplied more than two-thirds of the field with its lightweight, long-lasting brake technology. Lightness was of particular importance this year, as Audi’s No.1 R18 e-tron Quattro became the first event-winning hybrid. According to Brembo, most of the prototypes run lightweight monobloc aluminum calipers with carbon-carbon discs, 380mm in front and 355 or 332mm on the rear axle, while GT cars are required to use the heavier cast iron rotors. The Italian brake manufacturer has been dominant in its field at the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe and this year Brembo supplied 18 LMP prototypes and 18 GT cars, including every Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche.
The streets of the beautiful Spanish port town of Valencia will host the Grand Prix of Europe on 22-24 June 2012. The third consecutive street circuit contains the highest number of corners of any track all year (25) and is likely to be run in high temperatures – Pirelli will supply its P Zero White medium tyres and P Zero Yellow soft tyres for the occasion. Overtaking is notoriously difficult at Valencia, just like Monaco, so qualifying will be crucial, and Pirelli says the speed of the soft tyre will be vital at this stage. During the race, teams will utilise the additional strength and consistency of the medium tyre to form an essential part of their strategies.
The tyre and automotive sectors are Lanxess’ most important in Turkey, and the company aims to further expand in this growing market. On 18 June the specialty chemicals firm took what it calls an “important step in this direction” with the official opening of its new subsidiary in Istanbul. In future, Lanxess Kimya Ticaret will manage the company’s business in Turkey, a market where it generated record sales of some 125 million euros in 2011, nearly triple the firm’s 2009 result. The new company will initially start off with 20 employees and is headed by general manager Ömer Bakir.
Four tyre makers at this month’s Reifen 2012 show in Germany spoke of ‘AA’ label rated tyres. One of these was Kumho Tyres, whose new “Ecowing ES01” took pride of place on the company’s exhibition stand. The “all-new standard performance tyre”, as Kumho calls it, will be available in various sizes from spring 2013 and will – at least in size 195/65R15 91H – come with an A/A/71dB label rating. According to Kumho Tire Europe GmbH sales director Michael Zirnzak, the range will be available in 21 dimensions between 14 and 16-inches and feature rolling resistance and wet grip label ratings of A to C. More precise details of each individual tyre’s performance will be released in the near future; Kumho says it will apply label information to all tyres produced after 30 June.
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