Michelin Agilis Receives What Van? Technology Award
Michelin’s Agilis van tyre is the recipient of the What Van? Technology award for 2008. This is, says the tyre maker, further recognition that its Agilis sets the standard for van operators seeking increased grip, extended longevity, reduced fuel consumption and thus lower CO2 emissions. Presenting the What Van? Technology award to Michelin, magazine editor Neil McIntee emphasised the significance of the Technology award. “The attributes of the new Michelin Agilis light commercial vehicle tyre offer vehicle operators improvements in all sectors of a tyre’s performance. In judging this category these advantages clearly indicated the merit of the Technology Award being presented to Agilis. This award is not presented every year but only when the judging panel identify such an important innovation as Agilis.”
Continue ReadingEuropean New Car Market Contracts by a Quarter in November
According to data released by on December 16 by JATO Dynamics, the European new car market fell by 25.3 per cent (313,361 units) during November 2008, when compared to the same month last year. Total sales for the month now stand at 924,936 units, down from 1,238,297 in 2007. This further decline in the market, which has dropped consistently over the past seven months, sees an increased year to date deficit figure in comparison to 2007. The total number of vehicles sold during the first 11 months of 2008 is 13,556,052 units – 7.1 per cent (1,030,584 units) less than during the same period last year.
Continue ReadingCooper Announces Plant Closure Intention
Cooper announced today that it plans to close its manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia. The company states that the announcement “follows a network capacity study analysing the companys optimal manufacturing footprint in the United States.” Tire Review, based in Akron, Ohio said that the move was announced during a conference call with employees at all four of Cooper’s U.S. plants. Cooper will retain its plants in Findlay, Ohio; Texarkana, Arkansas, and Tupelo, Mississippi. As reported on Tyrepress.com, Cooper announced in October that it would review the viability of its U.S. capacity, with an eye towards closing at least one plant. An announcement on the result was not expected until January, but the decisions may have been hastened by the new union contracts and incentives the state of Mississippi is expected to extend to the tyre maker.
Continue ReadingPirelli Going Green in VW Race Series
Pirelli has been named the official tyre supplier for the 2009-11 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, the first zero-carbon racing series in the world. The Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup was founded in 2008 and is comprised of 30 factory-prepared and managed 2009 clean-diesel Jetta TDIs piloted by relatively unknown talented drivers aged 16 to 26. Volkswagens goal is to find drivers with the most talent and help them break into the world of professional motorsports. “Pirelli is very excited to be the exclusive tyre supplier to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup, the worlds only carbon-free racing series,” said Rafael Navarro, Pirelli Tire North America’s director of motorsport and media communications. “This series is a very important part of our motorsport growth in North America as it provides a platform to introduce young developing talent to our brand while reducing the impact motorsport has on the environment.” The series kicks off with a driver selection event on 1-4 February. Races will begin 24-26 April at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, making stops in Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ontario, and New Jersey before the series wraps up at Road Atlanta on 25-27 September. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingJapanese Tyre Production to Fall 5%
Reuters reports published online today suggest that Japanese production is to fall 5 per cent in 2009. The story cites a Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association forecast that in terms of rubber usage tyre manufacturing would take a considerable hit in the following year. Despite Japan’s status as the world’s third biggest rubber consumer (following China and the USA), tyre output may fall to 1.28 million tonnes, representing a year-on-year decrease of 5 per cent from 1.35 million in 2008 according to JATMA. Domestic auto sales are likely to drop 7 per cent with expected sales of 4.7 million vehicles next year.
Continue ReadingLitre Meter’s 30,000th Flow Meter Used By Michelin
The 30,000th flow meter produced by specialist flow meter maker Litre Meter is being used by tyre manufacturer Michelin to measure water spray. The LMH Pelton wheel flow meter was shipped to Michelin for use in its rubber mixing operation in South Carolina. Rubber is mixed to the exact ratio required to make tyres for the automotive industry. The meter forms part of a spray system that is used to jet hot water onto the rubber mixture to maintain a constant temperature as it passes through the production line. It precisely measures the amount of water passing through the spray system in order to ensure consistency. Fred Tienken, mechanical design engineer at Michelin North America, said: “We use Litre Meter flow meters throughout the rubber mixing process. It is essential that the water flow rates in our spraying system are kept constant and the Pelton wheel flow meter enables us to achieve this.”
Continue ReadingTyre Shredder Goes in Administration
Dunkeswell-based Tom Dunn Limited and its associated companies have reportedly gone into administration. According to the Midweek Herald, the firm, which shredded and baled used tyres for recycling has gone under at the cost of around 30 jobs. The newspaper says Tim Ball and Rod Weston, of international accountants Mazars, have been appointed joint administrators and say they are actively seeking a buyer for the business.
Continue ReadingViking Online Grows in Strength
Viking International’s online ordering facility for tyres, exhausts and cats is continuing to go from strength to strength, according to the company. Company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that last year’s improvement’s to its web site (including improved user-friendliness and system speed upgrades) have resulted in a five-fold increase in the number and value of orders the company takes through this channel. Huw Lewis Tyres, a Viking International customer for a number of years, commented: “The site is an excellent selling aid. Customers’ transactions can be completed without having to leave the office. I can immediately see stock availability and offer customers an instant quotation plus guarantee next day delivery.” Jem Tyres, another Viking International customer based in Bolton, also commended the site, describing it as “much more convenient and quicker since its upgrade.”
Continue ReadingMichelin Outlines Cost of Italy Restructuring Plans
Michelin has disclosed that the cost attached to the restructuring plans for its Italian operations, which it announced on October 28, will amount to approximately 80 million euros. The company states this sum includes project severance and plant and equipment depreciation costs as well as those in connection with the ending of tyre production at its Stura facility at the end of 2009 and an employment revitalisation programme for the surrounding Turin region. These non-recurring charges, adds Michelin, will be fully allocated to Michelin Group accounts for the 2008 fiscal year.
Continue ReadingNew Butadiene Technology Ready for Commercial Development
A new technology for manufacturing butadiene from butenes has been developed and tested by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC). Production in a pilot plant at the company’s Mizushima facility in Japan has already begun, and MCC states it is proceeding with plans to industrialise the new production technology within the coming year.
Continue ReadingCabot Corporation ‘Repositioning’ in Light of Weaker Demand
Cabot Corporation reports it is expecting a significantly lower volume of sales in the first quarter of the 2009 financial year, and has decided to embark on a series of “aggressive actions” to address these ongoing market challenges. Global weakness in the tyre, automotive and construction industries, intensified by customer inventory reduction, is causing significant volume declines during the first quarter of fiscal 2009 in each of our major geographies,” said Cabot president and CEO Patrick Prevost. “First quarter volumes in our Rubber Blacks, Performance Products and Fumed Metal Oxides Businesses are expected to be 20-30 per cent lower than in the same period last year.
Continue ReadingStrong Retreading Potential in Chinese Tyre Market
Enormous domestic tyre production capacity, a scarcity of domestic rubber supply and increased output prices could be pointing to strong opportunities in China’s tyre retreading business. Zhou Linyan, president of China Tyre Retreading, Repairing and Recycling Association (CTRA), recently told reporters that China produced 556 million tyres in 2007. And while many of these are destined for export markets, Chinese motorists are expected to discard 200 million end-of-life tyres in 2010. Other CTRA statistics show that the number of end-of-life (ELT) tyres generated by the People’s Republic have sky-rocketed in recent years - from 32 million in 2000 to 150 million in 2007. Meanwhile, the raw weight of ELTs increased from 12 thousand tons to 3.1 million tons in the same period. While the association predicts China will generate 200 million waste tyres by 2010, the amount of retreading taking place has not yet caught up with the growth in new tyre production and the new tyre to retread rate lies somewhere between 4 and 7 per cent of recovered tyres.
Continue ReadingTyre Lover, Allegedly Driven by Desire, Steals Wheels
A North Platte, Nebraska man stands accused of committing an unusual, though perhaps understandable, crime of passion; stealing not the heart of a married woman, but the tyres and rims with which he supposedly “fell so much in love.” Local news source the North Platte Bulletin describes the courtship of a set of four Hankook tyres mounted on Pacer rims (be still, thine heavy-beating heart, dear reader) by area man, Anthony L Bennett. Witnesses at the TO Haas Tires dealership told investigators looking into the theft that Bennett had been to the store several times to view the wheels. It was clear, they say, that he was something of an admirer.
Continue ReadingMaxxis Increases Centres of Excellence to 400
Maxxis has reported that the popularity of its “Centres of Excellence” programme continues to grow. According to the manufacturer, 400 retailers of car and motorcycle tyres are now promoting Maxxis “as the affordable alternative to the premium brands,” helping to increase the size of its UK PCR market share. Derek McMartin, the managing director of Maxxis International UK, states, “We know the extent to which buying decisions can be influenced by over the counter advice provided at the point of sale and have made a serious commitment to build trade relationships, especially within the independent sector. “Through a variety of marketing communications activity, including top level sponsorship of Premiership football, the European Drift Championship, British Superbikes, the Isle of Man TT Races and motocross, we are getting across the message that Maxxis tyres represent reliability and good value. This is reinforced by our growing network of professionally branded Maxxis Centres of Excellence, which also boosts our profile among the tyre-buying public,” he continues.
Continue ReadingFinichi Release New Monza Wheel
The latest wheel from the respected Finichi stable is the attractive and durable Monza. The latest wheel features a stainless steel lip to give the wheel the visual ‘kick’ of a polished lip, but without the maintenance problems that those styles can bring.
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