Rubber Consultants adds to tyre testing facilities
As part of its investment programme for 2015, Rubber Consultants has complemented its existing tyre testing facilities with the purchase of a new two-station passenger test rig. The UK-based TARRC consultancy says the rig will be commissioned in late spring. One hub will have a 320km/h and two tonne capacity and will be able to carry out force and moment measurements that are used to identify tyre performance characteristics and provide insight into how a tyre’s design affects overall vehicle dynamics. Rubber Consultants says it will be one of the few laboratories in Europe that can offer this service.
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Solar systems installed at Australian Bandag retreading plant
Wacol, in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, is in a region of Australia that enjoys more than 260 days of full or partial sunshine a year. It is also home to Bridgestone’s sole manufacturing facility in the country, the retreading plant operated by Bridgestone Australia subsidiary Bandag Manufacturing Pty Ltd. Bridgestone reports it is now utilising the sunshine in Wacol at the facility following the installation of two 100 kilowatt solar power systems.
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Banerji to help Apollo Tyres over the ‘cusp of next global growth phase’
As reported on 6 February, Raj Banerji has succeeded Sunam Sarkar as chief financial officer at Apollo Tyres Ltd. Commenting on Banerji’s appointment, company vice-chairman and managing director Neeraj Kanwar said: “We are on the cusp of our next phase of growth globally. Having a person like Raj join our global team at this crucial time, with a strong international experience, will provide further impetus to this growth, and at the same time, contribute to the organisation’s overall financial health and stability.”
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Efficium HDS offers tyre makers productivity gains & greater flexibility, says Solvay Silica
Solvay Silica has released details of its new highly dispersible silica (HDS), which it will bring to market under the Efficium brand name and as part of its Zeosil family of HDS products. The manufacturer reports that the reinforcing filler is currently being trialled and tested by “major tyre manufacturers,” and global demand following Efficium’s commercial launch will be met with production at three different sites.
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Zircotec continues Andrew Jordan partnership
British Touring Car Championship team Triple Eight Race Engineering, the current title holder, will receive technical support from heat management expert, Zircotec. The coatings specialist will continue its support of 2013 drivers’ champion Andrew Jordan as he makes a return to his former team.
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MWSD welcomes DfT report, questions overall findings
Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) has welcomed the Department for Transports report into wheel safety and the governments classification of CV wheels as safety critical. However the company remains sceptical of the report’s findings and industry awareness of the issue. MWSD has long campaigned for legislation requiring operators to carry out more stringent checks on commercial vehicle wheels to be introduced.
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Michelin profits down, volumes stable – “more assertive” distribution planned for 2015
Although volumes were slightly up, Michelin had to accept lower year-on-year turnover and profit in the 2014 financial year. Nevertheless, CEO Jean-Dominique Senard stated that last years results “provide further confirmation of the groups strong fundamentals.” He added that measures intended to drive growth this year include the introduction of new Michelin product ranges and a “revamped line-up” within the company’s other tyre brands. Another factor Senard says we can look forward to is “more assertive distribution,” a reference to Michelin’s recently increased interest in wholesale operations within Europe.
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Performance Car Show gives Landsail showcase opportunity
While still relatively new to the UK, Grouptyre-distributed Landsail gave itself its biggest marketing platform yet when it became title sponsor of Autosport International 2015’s Performance Car Show. The Sentury Tire brand has already clocked some impressive sales figures in the UK, and the brand’s representatives talked of being “keen to give the brand the profile it deserves”. With a number of performance tyres, Landsail targeted the show as an opportunity to speak to “the right trade and consumer audiences,” as well as getting the product in front of end-consumers.
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Stapleton’s exclusive passenger car tyre brands
Stapleton’s says that availability, affordability, customer focus and safety remain at the top of the agenda in the passenger car tyre market, a philosophy that inspires its stable of exclusive brands, including Maxxis, Nexen, Matador, Primewell and Event. “It’s a matter of horses for courses really… and when the economic going’s tough as it has been for the last few years, our retailers tell us they need to offer hard-pressed drivers a choice of brands and products that covers all sizes, sectors and price points,” says Nigel O’Hara, Stapleton’s head of general wholesale. “If the retailer doesn’t have the right tyre for the customer at the right time and at the right price, chances are they’ll lose the sale. At the same time, neither we nor our retail partners are willing to sacrifice performance or safety just to stay competitive.”
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German OE deals endorse Hankook’s PCR range-topper
A number of recent original equipment deals have acted as an endorsement for the Hankook range’s quality. Audi’s TT and TTS models, the Mercedes-Benz C Class and the BMW 4-Series Coupé will be fitted with the manufacturer’s flagship Ventus S1 evo². The tyre, produced exclusively at the company’s EU manufacturing facility in Hungary, features an especially high grip combined with high long-term durability and a low rolling resistance.
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SIMA launch for latest Mitas VF agri tyres
The latest additions to the Mitas Very High Flexion (VF) agricultural tyre range are set to debut at the SIMA trade fair in Paris later this month. The tyre maker will present two new sizes in its HC 2000 line for high horsepower tractors, namely VF 600/70R30 and VF 710/70R42 fitments. A further introduction in March – size VF 380/105R54 – will add a fifth member to the HC 2000 family.
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