Arlanxeo – synthetic rubber JV’s Executive Board named
The Executive Board for the new Arlanxeo synthetic rubber joint venture has been announced, with parent companies Lanxess and Saudi Aramco gaining equal representation on the four-person Board.
Continue ReadingUK car manufacturing still booming, up 13% in February
British car manufacturing figures for February 2016 show that car manufacturing is still booming. According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), output rose 13.1 per cent compared with February 2015. Reflecting the growing popularity of UK-built cars both at home and abroad, February’s performance puts production for the year-to-date up 10.6 per cent over the same period last year. Output for the domestic market rose 24.4 per cent in the month, accompanied by a 9.1 per cent increase in export production.
Continue ReadingTyrenet secures TOM Vehicle Rental fleet management using CAM’s e-jobsheet
Fleet maintenance and breakdown specialist Tyrenet will provide its services to Airdrie-based TOM Vehicle Rental’s 11,000-plus fleet. Using CAM’s digital tablet-based solution e-jobsheet as part of its bespoke solution, Tyrenet will improve efficiency and control over TOM’s entire tyre function, helping to deliver cost-saving benefits.
Continue ReadingKwik Fit doubles fleet warranty on brake parts
Kwik Fit has doubled the fleet warranty it offers on friction brake parts. According to the company, it is an “industry-leading move that will deliver operating cost savings to the corporate sector”. This means the firm now offers 24 months/24,000 miles warranty, up from 12 months/12,000 miles across brake pads, discs, drums and shoes. Kwik Fit reports that it is able to do this due to the training and workmanship of its expert technicians.
Continue ReadingKwik Fit expanding into Italy, across Europe
The Kwik Fit Group has agreed a partnership deal that sees the Kwik Fit tyre retail and fast-fit brand expand into Italy. Under the terms of the agreement, 200 centres are set to open over the next decade. The expansion is based on a franchise agreement with CDG-ONE, part of Segema S.p.A., a leading tyre distribution group in Italy. Segema imports and distributes Yokohama tyres in Italy through Yokohama Italia S.p.A. and GiTi Tyres through Magri Gomme S.p.A.
Continue ReadingKobe Steel opens tyre and rubber machinery firm in China
In April Kobe Steel, Ltd. will open a company in China to sell tyre and rubber machinery and provide after-sales service. Kobelco Machinery System Engineering Qingdao Co., Ltd. (or KMQ), based in Qingdao, Shangdong Province will supply rubber mixers, twin screw roller head extruders and tyre testing machines used in the manufacture of tyres for cars, construction equipment and other rubber products. Kobe Steel has invested 2 million yuan (about 40 million yen; £216,000) in KMQ.
Continue ReadingMotor Wheel Service to offer ‘complete wheel solution’ with accessories range
Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) has introduced a comprehensive range of accessories for Xlite and Xbrite+ forged aluminium and steel wheel ranges. The wheel distributor said the range focuses on aesthetics, safety and security. The list of products includes wheel nuts, checkpoints, centre rings, studs, pliers, cap covers and cleaning goods, among many others.
Continue ReadingLouzán SL to produce Marangoni Ringtread retread tyres in Spain
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced a new partnership with Spanish retreading partner, Louzán SL. The Galicia-based company, which was formed in the 1940s, offers a range of services for fleets, including retreading, with ten sales outlets for extensive territorial coverage. Marangoni said the partnership reflects the “major changes” taking place in the retreading industry. While the future of the retread manufacturer’s Rovereto remains uncertain, Marangoni has moved to increase its global partnerships in various markets around the world. The company characterises its latest Spanish partnership as an “expansion” of its activities in the country.
Continue ReadingPirelli truck tyres separating and merging with Aeolus/ChemChina
Pirelli’s Chinese owner ChemChina has officially entered into negotiations relating to the separating out the Italian firm’s truck tyre business in order to combine it with Aeolus and the three other ChemChina-owned tyre businesses.
Continue ReadingPirelli previews latest P Zero tyre in Geneva
Of all the tyres fitted to prestige vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show, 51 per cent were made by Pirelli. Pirelli’s premium vehicle share at the show was 32 per cent. According to Pirelli general manager, operations, Gregorio Borgo the Geneva shares are pretty much the same as Pirelli’s real-world market share. Now consider the fact that registration of prestige marques (the most exclusives brands) have increased seven-fold since 2000. During the same period, the registrations of premium marques have tripled. Meanwhile, general market registrations are only 1.5 times greater than they were at the turn of the millennium. With this in mind, you can see why Pirelli was keen to preview its latest P Zero tyre in the context of the Geneva motor show and why the company is emphasising so-called “marked tyres” more than ever.
Continue ReadingRoadlink’s six-figure factory investment
Roadlink International has invested the best part of £700k in its commercial vehicle caliper remanufacturing operation with the opening of a brand new facility at its head office in Willenhall, West Midlands.
Continue ReadingWhen it comes to tyre testing, where’s the line?
Last month, talk of tyre testing irregularities came to the fore following Nokian’s admissions of “mistakes” in this area. In the April edition of Tyres & Accessories we follow up on this story in some detail with a survey of leading manufacturers’ responses to the issue of the day and an exclusive interview with Nokian president and CEO Ari Lehtoranta. While the detailed views of the world’s leading tyre makers are many and varied, they are all unified in their denials of any underhand behaviour relating to magazine and association tyre testing (see Top tyre manufacturers deny involvement in tyre test manipulation for the full story). And yet Nokian’s Lehtoranta has clearly pointed the finger at the broader industry on a number of occasions in the past – and apparently is continuing to do so.
Continue ReadingAn integrated Bridgestone tyre & industrial range coming to Bauma
Bridgestone intends to jointly present both its tyre and industrial products at next month’s Bauma show in Munich. This is the first time the company has displayed products from both its two divisions together at a European trade show; the company says the content and layout of its more than 200 square metre booth will reflect the goal of “expanding the traditional trade fair role of product display towards an advisory role, offering customers a wide range of premium rubber products from a single supplier.”
Continue ReadingGM names Bridgestone a Supplier of the Year
On 10 March, General Motors held its 24th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony in the company’s headquarters city of Detroit, recognising 110 suppliers from 17 countries, including Bridgestone. It was the 14th occasion that Bridgestone Corporation has been designated a GM Supplier of the Year since the vehicle manufacturer inaugurated the award in 1992.
Continue ReadingWang Feng resigns as Aeolus Tyre chairman
Aeolus Tyre Co. Ltd. has reported the resignation of its chairman Wang Feng. In a Chinese-language statement issued on 15 March, the tyre maker shared that Mr Wang has resigned due to “job changes.”
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