Williamson joins IAAF
The first of April saw the arrival of Wendy Williamson at the IAAF’s offices in Birmingham to take up her position as chief executive (designate). Wendy takes over from Brian Spratt, who is retiring at the end of June.
The first of April saw the arrival of Wendy Williamson at the IAAF’s offices in Birmingham to take up her position as chief executive (designate). Wendy takes over from Brian Spratt, who is retiring at the end of June.
Chancellor George Osborne confirmed at the Budget that he would maintain the freeze on fuel duty – yet drivers still see the cost of fuel as their biggest motoring worry according to new data from leading vehicle remarketing company, British Car Auctions (BCA). Research amongst motorists at the start of 2014 revealed that over 70 per cent of motorists worry most about the price of fuel – the same as 2013.
Since spring 2012, Lanxess has run a pilot project involving a more energy and cost efficient butyl rubber production process. The process was tested at two plants at its Zwijndrecht site in Belgium, and built on research and development work it began seven years ago. The specialty chemicals company reports that this pilot project has now been concluded, with successful results. Now that the project is complete, Lanxess says it intends to mothball the plants. It has begun a labour consultation process with unions and employees.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has launched its agricultural tyre dealer programme at a meeting of its key dealers. Taking place at Mercedes Benz World, Brooklands, the event provided the chance to “share information, which is the crux of why we are here,” according to Trelleborg marketing manager Bruce Lauder’s introduction. The network of 28 Trelleborg dealers that have chosen, and been chosen, to cooperate in the Trelleborg Professional Centre (TPC) programme were invited to participate in an extended discussion during the conference. Trelleborg’s managing director UK and Ireland Andrea Manenti outlined the TPC concept, gave an overview of the UK agricultural tyre market and the manufacturer’s place within it and answered dealers’ questions.
Not many companies operating in the OTR tyre business either locally or further afield are very happy at the moment. While the manufacturers of new tyres in particular must contend with substantial losses and respond to the weak market with discounts, retreaders – as is often the case – occasionally benefit from the situation. The global mining sector has especially suffered as a result of sinking raw material prices, a phenomenon that in turn has directly influenced the production of and consequently the demand for tyres; in contrast, the construction sector has lately shown signs of stability in Europe. Nevertheless, it is important for companies within this market segment to adapt to conditions. With this in mind, in recent months Rösler Tyre Innovators has made several important decisions.
This year, Kraiburg Austria has launched a new in-house developed trailer pattern and also supplemented its existing patterns with additional sizes. The new trailer tread is now available as the K 800 in the K_Base range, as the KLT 1 in the K_plus line-up. The new tread is initially available in 287mm and 295mm widths and will be joined by 305mm and 320mm widths in the middle of the year. The retreading specialist says the K800/KLT1 is ideal for local and long-haul applications on semi-trailer, trailer and towed axles.
During the financial year before last, the Brazilian Iochpe-Maxion Group (the parent company of Maxion wheels) bought Hayes Lemmerz for approximately US$725 million. The acquisition came after the world’s largest wheel manufacturer put down two bankruptcies during the first part of the new millennium, and thus had large amounts of debt to contend with. Eventually the company’s investors finally ran out of patience leaving the obvious question – what has happened to the car aluminium wheel division since then?
Crewe-based online tyre retailer Tyres On The Drive has enlisted outdoor advertising specialist Out Of Home International to help promote its services with a series of billboard advertising. Starting yesterday, six sheet adverts have been strategically placed at forecourts across Yorkshire and the North West. The two-week campaign was launched to inform motorists of the company’s tyre purchasing and fitting facilities and highlights the convenience and cost savings of mobile tyre fitting compared with the traditional garage experience. The billboards promise prices “up to 40 per cent cheaper than the high street,” and a service that fits around home and work schedules.
For the upcoming second round of the World Superbike Championship at the Aragón circuit in Spain, Pirelli will introduce a new rear tyre for the EVO class of riders. The aim of supplying a separate tyre solution for the EVO class, which was introduced this season and uses Superstock specification engines and electronics, is to reduce the performance gap between EVO bikes and full-spec WSBK machines. Pirelli says it will continue to offer EVO riders different tyres throughout the season, and their specifications may differ from one round to the next.
The sponsorship agreement between BKT and Feld Motor Sports was officialised at the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas late last month, the tyre maker reports. The deal, which sees BKT supplying the Monster Jam vehicles through to 2018, was confirmed by BKT executive director Rajiv Poddar and Feld Entertainment CEO Kenneth Feld.
Russia’s Baltika Breweries, a member of the Carlsberg Group, is the largest player in the country’s beer market and holds a 36.8 per cent market share. The company operates eleven breweries and a number of maltings and distribution centres across Russia, and operates a sizable fleet of forklift trucks in these facilities. Starco reports that Baltika has adopted its Starco-brand Tusker forklift tyre as standard across this fleet fleet.
Run-flat tyres released into the aftermarket are typically intended for vehicles initially fitted with run-flats as original equipment, however the latest run-flat Bridgestone is releasing in North America is aimed at cars purchased new with standard tyres. Bridgestone Americas says the new DriveGuard is the first full line of mass-market replacement tyres with this particular focus.
Now in the second phase of its rollout of passenger car tyres, World Rally Championship tyre supplier Dmack is seeking the right partners around the world for its Shandong Yongtai manufactured road tyres. The company has quadrupled the number of sizes in its PCR tyre range of four patterns in the first half of 2014. Tyrepress interviewed managing director Dick Cormack, communications director Glenn Patterson, and newly appointed sales director Greg Graham at the company’s office and warehouse facility in Carlisle.
Bridgestone has been looking to increase its truck and bus tyre market position via strategic retreading acquisitions in this part of the European market for around a decade now. One such acquisition was the targeted purchase of Lincolnshire-based Bulldog remoulds back in 2005. A little more than a year later this key part of the UK market which specialised in mould-cure retreads was joined by the entire global Bandag operation, which of course specialises in pre-cure franchising around the world. The two operations couldn’t be more different aspects of retreading, however while the acquisitions came in quick succession and the benefits of both are obvious, Bridgestone has now spent years working through the integration of both into its wider business model.
Those attending the MCN Motorcycle Show in London back in February were amongst the first to see Michelin’s latest-generation sport touring tyre up close. Since that time, the Pilot Road 4 has been officially launched, and its manufacturer says the range’s introduction confirms Michelin’s number one status in the European and North America sport touring radial markets. Michelin also says the new line-up sees the brand “continue to push out the envelope” in terms of overall performance. Amongst the improvements Michelin promises riders are better wet braking and greater longevity.
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