Platinum v4 – Caterpillar awards Yokohama’s Onomichi tyre plant
For the fourth year in a row, Yokohama Rubber’s Onomichi plant in Japan has been instrumental in the tyre maker earning Caterpillar’s premier supplier award: Platinum Level Recertification in its Supplier Quality Excellence Process (SQEP). The Onomichi factory produces original equipment and replacement OTR tyres for a wide range of equipment, and supplies the construction and mining machinery manufacturer in a range of countries, including the UK, USA, China and Japan.
Zenises appoints Fabio Spina as Italy general manager
Zenises has named Fabio Spina as general manager for Italy. Spina brings over 20 years’ tyre experience into his new role.
Based in the central region of Italy, Fabio will take charge of an expanding brand portfolio, improving customer service and responsibility for key accounts and new partners.
A ceremony held on 20 January marked the official opening of Yokohama Rubber’s new winter tyre testing facility in Japan. The ribbon on the Tire Test Center of Hokkaido (TTCH) was cut by a number of dignitaries, including Yokohama Rubber president Hikomitsu Noji and Masahito Nishikawa, mayor of host city Asahikawa.
Cooper Tire & Rubber is interested in expanding its presence in Latin America. Last November the tyre maker signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Argentina’s Fate SAICI, an agreement that initially covers distribution but may be extended to R&D and offtake production, and this month Cooper announced it has established a sales office in São Paulo, Brazil.
The 2016 opening of a Bridgestone tyre production facility in Russia, as reported by Tyrepress.com on 22 January, is the culmination of a joint project agreed upon almost three years ago. On 12 April 2013, Bridgestone Corporation concluded an investment contract with co-investor Mitsubishi Corporation and with the Ulyanovsk Oblast government and Ulyanovsk Region Development Corporation, to build a ¥37.5 billion (£221 million) passenger car radial tyre plant in the Zavolzhye Industrial Zone in Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia.
Bridgestone is open its first tyre production plant in Russia later in 2016, according to Russian news reports. The Russian Tass news agency reports that Bridgestone will invest the equivalent of US$147.7 million in the plans, which should take shape in the second half of the year.
Iranian car market to experience modest growth after sanctions removal
Analysts at IHS Automotive light-vehicle predicting modest growth in the Iranian light vehicle market after the UN lifts sanctions against the country. This suggestion contradicts some suggestions from the Iranian automotive and tyre industries that the country could be on the brink of a production boom. According to HIS, despite the signing of nuclear deal between […]
Roughly a year since the opening of Hamiton Limited in 2015, the UK branch of Hamaton, China (a well-known TPMS manufacturer) is continuing to develop the strong customer portfolio that is parent company has developed since the business was founded in 1993.
Pirelli gets Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango homologations
Pirelli’s North American operation reports that Scorpion Verde and Scorpion Verde All Season tyres have been chosen as original equipment fitments for the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.
Membat is exhibiting at Automechanika Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s leading regional trade fair for automotive industry, which takes place between 26 and 28 January 2016.
The Mediterranean tyre brand will introduce the tyre patterns developed during 2015 to the local market. The new catalogue will include the Passion Runflat tyre. In less than a year, this pattern has achieved A Grade in all sizes for Wet Grip.
Continental has announced plans to start production of ABS and ESC units in India in 2016. A new assembly line for ABS and ESC for passenger cars and later ABS for two-wheelers will be located in the existing Continental Automotive Brake Systems plant in Gurgaon, Haryana. Local production of the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is planned for 2018 in Bangalore.
Apollo sites first Indian ‘Go The Distance’ pitch in Mumbai
The establishment of dual-branded Apollo Manchester United Go The Distance community pitches was said to be a key part of Apollo’s Man U sponsorship when it began back in August 2013. The first such pitch was officially opened a year after the relationship began just outside the h
95% of diesel cars are breaking emissions limits – Which?
VW has borne the brunt of criticism for its admitted use of defeat devices in order to manipulate test results. However, the latest research from Which? found that many other manufacturers are breaking emission limits too.
Nokian announced ‘operational structure and management team’ changes
Alexej von Bagh is to take over the responsibility for global Process development at Nokian Tyres as of 1 April 2016. Mr von Bagh will have responsibility for the overall process architecture and process development. Mr von Bagh reports to the president and CEO. “Alexej has been a strong driver in Vianor’s success. Vianor’s processes are world class and business is growing. He will take the planning and execution of the whole company’s process architecture to the top level”, says Ari Lehtoranta, president and CEO of Nokian Tyres.
Indian industry association the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) reports that exports of tyres from India decreased in the first half of the country’s current financial year, the period between April and September 2015. Exports of passenger car tyres produced in India fell 22 per cent year-on-year to 1.08 million units, while medium and heavy commercial vehicle tyre exports declined nine per cent to 968,000 pieces.
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