Toyo issues post-earthquake statement
Expressing it’s the company’s deepest condolences to the victims of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Toyo Tires group has released further details about the how the tragedy has affected its business and what it is doing to ensure the safety of workers. Despite the fact that Toyo runs a plant in Sendai near the epicentre of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake, the company reports that neither this nor its other manufacturing plants in Japan have been affected by the tsunami, and there has not been any significant earthquake damage to plant building or facilities.
Continue ReadingHankook continues ‘success story’ with Ventus Prime2
Drawing inspiration from sources that include the “teeth of predatory cats,” the next generation Hankook Ventus premium comfort tyre has pounced onto the European market. The all-new Ventus Prime2 follows on from its similarly-named predecessor, a tyre that achieved European sales of more than ten million units during the seven years it was available. Hankook describes the new tyre, intended for “frequent drivers with a high safety awareness and maximum demands, as an evolution of a format “Ventus Prime drivers have known for many years and grown to love.” The lion’s share of the range will be produced in the company’s Rácalmás, Hungary factory.
Continue ReadingEvonik raises carbon black prices
Evonik Carbon Black GmbH, a subsidiary of Evonik Industries, is increasing prices for carbon black and carbon black preparations by up to 200 euros per tonne for deliveries to locations in Europe and the rest of the world. The price increase will be effective for all deliveries on or after April 1, 2011.
Continue ReadingAvoiding regular car servicing a false economy, warns HiQ
A motorist survey conducted by HiQ shows economic factors are prompting 32 per cent of drivers to opt out of regular vehicle servicing. This is, admittedly, four per cent less than a similar survey taken by the fast fit network a year ago, yet HiQ manager Stuart Car points out that “while the initial outlay for a car service might be off-putting for some drivers, the implications of not taking one will hit the pocket harder in the long run.”
Continue ReadingFirestone to continue with IndyCar until end of 2013
Following Bridgestone Americas’ announcement that its Firestone brand would exit the IndyCar series at the end of the 2011 season, race teams met and confirmed their resolve to remain loyal to Firestone and seek a means of retaining the tyre maker’s involvement. This determination has paid off – Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and IndyCar have announced that Firestone will continue to serve as the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2013 race season.
Continue ReadingRossi takes on Bridgestone advisory role
Six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has signed on as a motorcycle tyre development advisor for Bridgestone following the finalisation of a Marketing Service Agreement between the Italian rider and Bridgestone Europe in February 2011. Under the agreement, Rossi and Bridgestone will, as the tyre maker explains, “work together to promote the passion of motorcycling to end users and enthusiasts throughout Europe.” Rossi will act alone as a professional rider; his MotoGP team and sponsors are not involved in the deal.
Continue ReadingJapanese tyre makers respond to earthquake disaster
The Bridgestone Group has responded to the widespread earthquake and tsunami damage in Japan with a pledge to contribute donations of 300 million yen (approximately US$3.5 million) to assist with relief efforts. Bridgestone Corporation will donate 200 million yen and Bridgestone Group will donate bicycles and bedclothes worth 100 million yen.
Continue ReadingMaxxis British Motocross Championship opens 2011 season
Title-sponsor Maxxis reports that the 2011 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship got underway in Exeter on Sunday 6 March with five different winners from six races, leaving both the MX1 and MX2 classes “wide open”. Despite the cold weather, Maxxis says the season opener drew a large gallery of spectators who watched Shaun Simpson on the LS Racing Honda CRF450 take victory in the MX1 Class ahead of Buildbase CCM-Racing’s Tom Church and Jason Dougan of the Bike It Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha team. Despite a win in race three, the fact that pre-event favourite Stephen Sword did not finish the first two motos means he is lying in 14th position with some catching up to do.
Continue ReadingTyreman moves offices
Provider of technology software solutions to the tyre and exhaust industry since 1985, Tyreman has announced the opening of its new, larger office in Hadleigh, Suffolk. The company stated that the move from its premises on Semer Business Park in Ipswich has come on the back of “another successful year of trading".
Continue ReadingCooper Tire Europe announces Sales and Marketing director
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe has announced the appointment of Nigel Hampson as its new sales and marketing director, which took effect at the beginning of this year. He had previously held the post of European major account manager, having worked for Cooper Tire since 1996, as an export sales executive. He became marketing services manager in 2004, before switching to subsidiary sales manager for France, Germany and Switzerland in 2006.
Continue ReadingBest Buy Tyres begins mobile tyre fitting
Best Buy Tyres has launched a free mobile tyre fitting service operating out of three Merityre branches in Purley, Thame and Bagshot. The online tyre shop has fitting options at 450 centres in the UK and Ireland and the e-Commerce retailer says it plans to expand the mobile service across more branches in the coming months.
Continue ReadingRaw material costs declining: DB report
A March 11 report from DB Equity Research Automotive observes that the cost of “certain key raw materials” used by tyre manufacturers have begun to decline. The Deutsche Bank equity research team states: “Most notably, we estimate that natural rubber prices have declined by nine per cent since last Friday…and rubber has declined by approx. 15 per cent (from the $2.45-$2.50/lb level) since US tyre companies reported their Q4 results. If this decline in natural rubber costs is sustained, total raw material costs could decline by 4.0 per cent compared with Deutsche Bank estimates.”
Continue ReadingChina TPMS regulations “on the drawing board”
A Taiwan based news source has reported claims by a domestic vehicle components supplier that China intends to make the fitment of tyre pressure monitoring systems mandatory on new cars. Kim Tsai, chairman of Mobiletron Electronics, aims for his firm to seize at least ten per cent of the market boosted by this policy – a market expected to create business opportunities in excess of NT$20 billion (£422 million).
Continue ReadingBridgestone donates to New Zealand earthquake appeal
Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand have donated AU$100,000 (£62,000) to the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Appeal, a charity fund set up to assist those affected by the earthquake which struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch on February 22. The 6.3 magnitude quake caused significant loss of life and injury, as well as severely damaging buildings, infrastructure and services; Bridgestone Australia Ltd's group chairman and managing director Nobuyuki Mieno said the earthquake had "deeply affected the entire Bridgestone family.
Continue ReadingVehicle manufacturers evaluating TRW’s ‘cost competitive' TPMS system
US motor industry supplier TRM Automotive Holdings reports its zero initiator tyre pressure monitoring system – a product the company refers to as “its lowest cost auto location system ever” –recently entered mass production and is now under evaluation with global vehicle manufacturers. Announcing the new product’s rollout, Laurent Crosnier, product portfolio director for TRW Radio Frequency Electronics, commented that “TRW seeks to bring cost competitive systems to market in our effort to deliver the safety that everyone deserves, and affirms its TPMS technological leadership with this innovative new product launch.”
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