Belshina tyre sales up 58% in Ukraine
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC reports that its sales in neighbouring Ukraine rose 57.9 per cent year-on-year in 2016. Between 1 January and 21 December the company sold some 1,017,000 tyres in Ukraine, a significant increase on the 644,000 pieces sold in 2015 and around nine times more than the 110,000 tyres sold in 2010; Belshina attributes this growth in part to the opening of new regional warehouses throughout the country.
Continue ReadingFurther investment in Bridgestone’s Wilson plant
Bridgestone has announced an additional investment in its Wilson tyre plant in the USA. The passenger car and light truck tyre making facility in North Carolina will receive a new, state-of-the-art rubber mixer under a newly-announced US$180 million investment that will also facilitate the introduction of more innovative manufacturing processes and technologies. This investment is in addition to the $164 million expansion announced in January 2016.
Continue ReadingDutch study calls crumb rubber football pitches safe
A Dutch government public health organization has said it is safe to play football and other sports on artificial turf fields covered in rubber crumb. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment published a report saying that the health risk from playing on such fields, which are common throughout the Netherlands and elsewhere as low maintenance alternatives to natural grass, is virtually negligible.
Continue ReadingTaiwan-based tyre manufacturers raising prices
The leading Taiwanese tyre manufactures are reportedly planning to raise prices by between 8-12 per cent during 2017. According to local news reports, the price hike is a reaction to the jump in synthetic rubber and natural rubber prices.
Continue ReadingYokohama to exhibit at Tokyo Auto Salon
Yokohama Rubber has confirmed its exhibition presence at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2017, which will be held at Makuhari Messe between 13 and 15 January. The Yokohama exhibit will feature booths dedicated to tyres and alloy wheels, with the spotlight particularly thrown upon the company’s Advan global flagship brand by the presence of two Advan-shod racing cars.
Continue ReadingTesloop and Goodyear planning digital tyre future
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has signed a technology agreement with California-based Tesloop Inc. to model tyre performance based on data generated by the city-to-city mobility service. Tesloop operates a fleet of semi-autonomous Tesla vehicles, providing a shared passenger transportation service for distances between 50 and 300 miles.
Continue ReadingGRI breaks ground on second tyre plant
Sri Lankan industrial tyre maker Global Rubber Industries, or GRI, has laid the foundation for its new off-road tyre factory. Groundbreaking took place 4 January and marks the start of construction on a plant that will be built with an investment of US$40 million. The facility will be built adjacent to GRI’s current solid industrial tyre factory in Badalgama, Sri Lanka.
Continue ReadingAutodata sold for £340 million
Following the news Autodata was sold yesterday, it has emerged that Solera Holdings paid some £340 million. Autodata originally sold for £143 million in May 2014 when the founders sold the business to Bowmark and Five Arrow Principal Investments. Therefore the price Solera paid represents a 137 per cent increase in Autodata’s valuation.
Continue ReadingSolera buys Autodata
Solera Holdings, Inc. has agreed to acquire Autodata, a provider of technical information and knowledge solutions for the automotive service, maintenance and repair industry. “Throughout a car’s life, there are over 54 transactions that occur between motorists and automotive businesses,” said Tony Aquila, Solera’s founder, chairman and CEO. “One of Solera’s missions is to digitize the vehicle ownership ecosystem by developing cognitive applications that not only power connectivity and engagement, but also proliferate awareness and transparency across the entire automotive lifecycle.”
Continue ReadingTitan International cutting wheel production at its Saltville plant
In response to weakness in the mining market, key North American wheel production is to be relocated from Titan International’s manufacturing facility in Saltville, Virginia to its wheel division headquarters in Quincy, Illinois. The company reports this measure is being taken in order to “take advantage of production capacities.”
Continue ReadingKuehne + Nagel takes over Michelin warehousing in Poland
Logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel Poland is now managing Michelin’s warehouse activities in Poland. This arrangement is the first new business under a global master agreement for contract logistics recently signed by the two companies.
Continue ReadingWork begins on Marangoni-equipped Sri Lanka tyre plant
Tomorrow the foundation stone will be laid for a new tyre making facility in Sri Lanka that utilises Marangoni technology. The plant belongs to Rigid Tyre Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd. and will be built at a cost of LKR 11.25 billion (£60.1 million). The company says the factory to arise on a 100 acre site at the BOI Industrial Zone in Horana will be “commissioned to manufacture the whole gamut of tyres that roll on the roads, and off it.”
Continue ReadingAutoliv and Volvo agree driverless car software joint venture
Autoliv, Inc. and Volvo Cars have signed a final agreement regarding the formation of a 50:50 joint venture to develop software for autonomous driving and driver assistance systems, based on the letter of intent announced during autumn 2016.
Continue ReadingEldan expands Italian tyre recycling plant
Eldan Recycling A/S reports that it successfully expanded an Eldan tyre recycling plant located at the premises of Italian customer GATIM. The original Eldan tyre recycling plant was supplied in 2001.
Continue ReadingYokohama makes senior management changes
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd, made a personnel and board member change at a meeting held on 27 December 2016. The change will be effective as of 1 January 2017.
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