International News
United We Play – Apollo Tyres & Man Utd promoting young football talent in India
Apollo Tyres has partnered with Manchester United F.C. for more than seven years, and an important aspect of this engagement has been the nurturing of young football talent. The latest programme has now been launched in India and involves the Manchester United U-18 team, which in May will visit the country for the first time.
Finalists for 2020 Tire Tech awards named
The shortlist of nominees for this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence have been announced. Each of the five main awards categories will be contested by five to seven contenders; the winners will be announced on 26 February, as will the recipients of two further awards, the 2020 Young Scientist Prize and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cooper Tires wins Hevea best 4×4/SUV tyre award
Cooper Tires won the ‘Best 4x4/SUV Tire’ award for the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S at the Hevea Awards, which took place in Madrid on 9 January 2019.
Richard Lyons appointed Trelleborg Wheel Systems UK MD
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has announced that Richard Lyons has been appointed as managing director UK and Ireland for Trelleborg Wheel Systems effective 1 January 2020.
India considering higher duties for imported tyres
The 2020 Budget that India is scheduled to present on 1 February is expected to include changes to basic customs or import duty on more than 300 products. Tyres are one of them, and prices for tyres imported into India may soon rise dramatically. In its recommendations to the country’s Ministry of Finance, India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry has proposed increasing customs duty on pneumatic tyres, now 10-15 per cent, to 40 per cent.
Continental’s Taraxagum project a potential winner under Germany’s bioeconomy strategy
Locally-sourced alternatives to natural rubber, such as Continental’s ‘Taraxagum’ Russian dandelion project, look set to benefit from new government policy in Germany. Yesterday, the German cabinet approved its ‘Nationale Bioökonomiestrategie’ (National Bioeconomy Strategy). This brings together existing bioeconomy strategies and paves the way for further development in this area, including funding for research.
Kordsa Global Leadership Summit in Istanbul
Executives from Kordsa's production facilities around the world came together at the annual Global Leadership Summit. In addition to reviewing 2019 and sharing 2020 goals, world-renowned speakers Peter Marsh, the author of The New Industrial Revolution, and Chris Barez-Brown, founder of Upping Your Elvis, were also present at the summit. Kordsa’s annual Global Leadership Summit, bringing together leaders from all production facilities around the world, took place in Istanbul on 7 January.
Goodyear buys two VI-grade driving simulators for tyre development
Goodyear has purchased new VI-grade driving simulators, including a dynamic model, to enhance its product development. The tyre manufacturer has selected a Compact Simulator recently delivered to the company’s innovation centre in Luxembourg and a Dynamic Driving Simulator DiM250 (Driver-in-Motion) to be installed in Akron, Ohio, in the coming months.
Linglong tyres OE on China’s most expensive car
Positive experiences with original equipment tyres play an important role when it comes to choosing replacement tyres, and leading tyre makers therefore strive to gain approvals with OEMs. Linglong Tire recently scored a coup when FAW Group chose its tyres for what’s arguably China’s most expensive car, the Hongqi L5.
North America launch for BFGoodrich agricultural tyres
Michelin has introduced a further brand to its agricultural segment portfolio in North America. In addition to selling Michelin and Kleber tyres as well as Camso tracks and systems, the company has now introduced farm tyres under the BFGoodrich brand name.
Canadian researchers present new method for dissolving tyre rubber
A team of chemists at Canada’s McMaster University claim to have discovered an innovative way to break down and dissolve the rubber used in tyres. They believe their process could lead to more efficient methods of recycling.
Michelin installs Ansible Motion compact driving simulator to assist tyre R&D
Michelin is installing a new Ansible Motion Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulator at its North America Research & Development centre in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. The Theta C simulator offers virtual test driving and evaluation of tyre-road-vehicle interactions in advance and in parallel with physical testing, with detailed simulation environments. Michelin is the first company to take delivery of the Theta C simulator since the product was formally launched.
Sumitomo Rubber sets up rubber procurement company
After considering a number of factors, such as a changing business environment as well as growing awareness of human rights and environmental considerations, Sumitomo Rubber Group has established its own local organisation for procuring natural rubber. It has done so via its member company Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which this month set up Sumitomo Rubber Singapore Pte. Ltd. This entity, located in the world’s largest natural rubber trading hub, will commence operations in April.
Cabot buys Chinese nanotube supplier for $115 million
On 6 January 2020, Cabot China Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cabot Corporation agreed to buy Shenzhen Sanshun Nano New Materials Co., Ltd, a leading carbon nanotube (CNT) producer in China. The $115 million pricetag reportedly includes “liabilities and contingent payments”. According to the company, the move is designed to strengthen Cabot’s position in the high-growth batteries market, particularly in China, which is the largest and fastest growing electric vehicle market in the world.
Linglong car tyre plant commissioned
A ceremony was held on 11 January to officially inaugurate car tyre production at the Hubei Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. facility in Jingmen, China. The event was held in the same location where TBR tyre production was commissioned in December and was attended by nearly 600 guests.