Schrader appoint CES (UK) as TPMS distributor
CES (UK) has announced that TPMS specialist, Schrader has appointed it as one of its selected UK distributors. The parts distributor says the partnership will allow it to stock one of the most comprehensive ranges of TPMS sensors available in the UK. It also enables CES to supply the service kits, tools and diagnostics that garages will need to undertake TPMS servicing and repair.
Continue ReadingGoodyear receives US magazine commendations
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has received plaudits from American consumer magazine, Consumers Digest in its January/February 2012 issue. In the “All-Season Car Tires” category, Goodyear’s Assurance TripleTred All-Season was the editors’ selected Premium tyre, receiving “Best Buy” designation. The company’s Assurance ComforTred Touring was awarded a Best Buy label in the “Touring Car Tires” category.
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Open for business: T&A tours Triangle HQ and manufacturing base
Although six of the world’s top 20 largest tyre manufacturers are located in China and/or Taiwan, and despite the fact that all of these have global ambitions, for the most part these companies are still developing their positions in international markets. Likewise while reams have been written about the top names and more recently there has been increased coverage of the activities of the Korean bloc (Hankook, Kumho and Nexen), far less detail is reported about the leading Chinese players. It has to be said that this is partly because of the media’s gravitation towards well-known names but is also because – and this is something of a generalisation – Chinese manufacturers don’t have the best reputation when it comes to international communications.
Continue ReadingBack in REACH – Zafco responds to ETRMA result
Brand representatives report that since its launch in 2005, Zeetex has developed a strong reputation for quality assurance, safety and compliance with environmental requirements, and holds an impressive range of certifications. However, manufacturing body ETRMA found at least one Zeetex branded tyre that was non-REACH compliant was found on the European market in March this year. However, speaking in a recent interview with Tyres & Accessories, the global product manager of Zeetex at Zafco, Zafar Jafri, explained explained the company’s perspective on this issue: “ETRMA found a so-called ‘dirty’ tyre. At that time we were running two production lines (one for international sales and one for Europe).” Explaining that the tyre question was certainly not intended for the European market, Jafri continued by pointing out that the mishandling that led to the aforementioned tyre’s arrival in the European Union could only have come as a result of the mishandling at the factory’s warehouse, similarly unintentional mishandling at Zafco’s distribution centre or via grey-imports.
Continue ReadingSouth Africa to introduce waste tyre levy
South Africa is on the verge of introducing a levy on all tyres manufactured in, or imported into the country in order to finance the creation of a waste tyre collection network. REDISA (Recycling Economic Development Initiative of South Africa) is a government approved scheme to establish a sustainable waste tyre collection infrastructure for South Africa. The financial levy of Rand 2.3 (0.22 Euros) per kilogram of manufactured or imported product, will apply to all tyres, including those fitted to imported equipment, from the beginning of February this year.
Continue ReadingFalken Tyre Europe corporate planning director
Yukio Yoshida (44) has been named corporate planning director for Falken Tyre Europe, replacing Satoru Ushida, who is returning to Japan. Yoshida has held numerous posts with Falken's parent Sumitomo group since joining them in 1990, the most recent of which was sales manager for the Asian region, which includes China and Oceania.
Continue ReadingMAM appoints ex-Goodyear man
MAM Software Ltd has appointed Malcolm Hazard as senior sales manager - tyres, responsible for the management of MAM's tyre industry solutions. The appointment sees MAM further expand its team of industry experts to meet the growing demand for its innovative software applications.
Continue ReadingItalian Agricultural research council tests BKT rubber
Headquartered in the north Italian town of Seregno, BKT Europe says it is committed to increasing product knowledge; the latest action on this front has been a round of European testing of the Mumbai, India company’s agricultural tyre range, Agrimax Fortis. BKT charged the Agricultural Research Council (CRA-ING) in Treviglio, Bergamo with carrying out an independent, standardized and comparative assessment for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the Agrimax Fortis. BKT says the tests show fuel consumption and soil compaction – features that impact productivity, the environment and the farmer’s pocket – comparable to performance features offered by two unnamed “competitors, acknowledged leaders at an international level”. BKT believes the results show the benefits of its investment in research, particularly in “eco-friendliness”.
Continue ReadingMitas offers Tyre Pressure Guide at LAMMA 2012
Off-road tyre specialist, Mitas Tyres Limited – the UK distributor of Mitas tyres manufactured in Eastern Europe – has announced that it will give away copies of its new Tyre Pressure Management Guide as well as exhibiting examples from its three new tyre ranges at LAMMA 2012. The Mitas Tyre Pressure Guide highlights three steps to achieve optimal tyre pressures in the field and on the road. Mitas says the publication will help farmers to achieve significant financial savings by reducing fuel costs and wear-and-tear, whilst also improving performance.
Continue ReadingNokian targets grip and durability with Hakkapeliitta LT2
Nokian Tyres has introduced a new winter range for larger 4x4 vehicles, light trucks and vans. Known as the Hakkapeliitta LT2, the tyre employs the same innovations and technical solutions used in the Hakkapeliitta 7 passenger car tyre, however the Finnish tyre maker says the LT2 has been designed for heavy-duty use and this “combines uncompromised grip and exceptional durability.”
Continue ReadingMichelin launches its ‘recession’ tyre
During a press conference at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michelin North America’s recently appointed chairman and president Pete Selleck introduced the tyre maker’s latest product for a North America still feeling the effect of what some have dubbed the “Great Recession”. Called the Defender, the new passenger car range has been described by Selleck as a “product that meets the demands of Americans who are enduring difficult economic times and are insisting on top value for their money in a way not seen for decades.”
Continue ReadingBrothers in arms – Cooper Findlay delegation meets Serbian union
It’s just over a month since Cooper Tire & Rubber announced its purchase of Serbian manufacturer Trayal’s passenger car tyre business. Since the acquisition agreement was signed on 8 December the Serbian firm has no doubt become more closely acquainted with its new owner; at the same time the union representing its employees has been getting to know the current thorn in Cooper’s side, the United Steelworkers union.
Continue ReadingNew CEO, COO at Bridgestone
Bridgestone Corporation has a new chief executive officer. On 11 January the company’s Board of Directors approved a number of senior personnel changes, including the appointment of Masaaki Tsuya to the role of CEO. Incumbent chairman of the Board, CEO and president Shoshi Arakawa will continue in the position of chairman of the Board, a role Bridgestone says has been “newly redefined”. The tyre maker has not named a successor to Arakawa as president.
Continue ReadingHappy New Year, Happy New MOT
As of the 1 January 2012, the MOT test we all know and love will change. No I am not talking about the government consultation exercise mooting a possible change to 4-2-2 frequencies, that would be opening another can of worms entirely. What I am referring to is the technological evolution of the test that will see our belovedly idiosyncratic MOT stretch itself to incorporate an MIL survey. That’s a Malfunction Indicator Lamp check to you and me.
Continue ReadingDespite tsunami, Yokohama ready for next phase of ‘GD 100’ in 2012
Yasushi Tanaka, who took over as president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corporation in July 2011, reports that parent company Yokohama Rubber is ready to commence the third phase of its ‘Grand Design 100’ plan this year, a plan he is credit as being co-architect and co-founder of. This penultimate phase is scheduled to be acted upon until 2015, when the fourth and final phase will come into effect and be carried out over a two-year period before concluding in time for the company’s centenary in 2017.
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