Take the Strain out of Moving Tyres with Mace
The days when employees could put their back into a job are long gone, and workplace safety regulations have instead resulted in companies fearing employees putting their backs out. Mace Industries Ltd supply a valuable range of equipment that can help employers avoid workplace injuries and the costly legal action that can result from such events. Of particular interest to those in operating in the tyre trade is the Uni-Loada Tyre Lift, a conveyor belt that can rapidly transport tyres and other products from ground to mezzanine level. And according to Mace Industries’ Tony Mace, the Uni-Loada can be moved and set up in a matter of seconds, making it a convenient addition to the workplace. Demonstrating the merits of the Uni-Loada at Brityrex, Tony Mace and his colleagues loaded the unit with large quantities of tyres to show how easily the Uni-Loada could shift them upstairs. The Uni-Loada’s 13 amp two-speed electric drum motor, which can move the conveyor belt at between 20 and 26 metres a minute, made light work of the tyres. In fact if required the Uni-Loada can move up to 1200 items in a single hour.
Continue ReadingNizhnekamskshina To Open New Rubber Mixing Facility
Nizhnekamskshina, Russia’s third largest tyre manufacturer, will in June complete the final stage of its production line for Kama Euro tyres, a range that draws on technical expertise from Italy’s Pirelli. The final facility in the project, a 25 million euro rubber mixing facility with a capacity of 21,000 tonnes of silica rubber compound, will open in June 2007.
Continue ReadingHayes Lemmerz Reports Estimated Q1 Results
On May 15 Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc., global supplier of wheels, brakes and powertrain components, announced their estimated results for the first quarter of 2007 and issued updated guidance for the 2007 full fiscal year. The estimated results are unaudited, have not been reviewed by the companys independent auditors, and are subject to adjustment during the course of preparation and review of the Hayes Lemmerz quarterly financial statements. For the fiscal year first quarter 2007 Hayes Lemmerz expects to achieve sales of approximately US$560 to $565 million, Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $54 to $58 million, slightly negative free cash flow and capital expenditures of approximately $16 million.
Continue ReadingNew Date for Brityrex as Show Returns in 2009
Positive feedback from May’s Brityrex International exhibition at Manchester’s G-MEX Centre has been followed by confirmation that the UK’s only dedicated tyre show will return to the same venue in 2009. Although Manchester will again act as host city, the show has been rescheduled to a new slot in September, to avoid a crowded exhibition programme that includes two other major aftermarket trade shows in April and May. “We’re delighted with the overall feedback we’ve received from exhibitors and visitors and believe that we can continue to develop the show further in two years time. Part of that development includes moving to a new slot in September, which we believe will benefit exhibitors and visitors by avoiding clashes with other exhibitions,” said Paul Farrant, managing director of show organiser ECI International. Paul continued: “The new venue worked well, exhibitors made real efforts to present themselves very professionally and we were pleased that visitor numbers increased compared to the last exhibition in Harrogate, two years ago.”
Continue ReadingRiding the Wave
The surface acoustic wave (SAW) tyre pressure monitoring technology that Transense Technologies plc has specialised in since the company’s establishment in 1991 will be used to produce the automotive industry’s first piezo-electric surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor based system. In mid-May Texas Instruments announced their selection of Transense Technologies’ TMS3 20F28X digital signal controller as a key component in the development of this new system, a decision that will see the Oxford-based company supplying a market where, come September 1, all new light motor vehicles registered must be equipped with tyre pressure technology that alerts drivers of significant tyre under-inflation.
Continue ReadingDaimler Sells Chrysler for 5.5 billion euros
Daimler has sold 80.1 per cent of Chrysler to private equity firm Cerberus for 5.5 billion euros, far below the $36 billion price-tag the company originally paid. Daimler will retain a 19.9 per cent minority share and has committed to reinvesting 4.5 billion euros back into Chrysler, leaving Daimler with just 1 billion euros. Despite this market observers report that margins in all industrial activities (Mercedes trucks, vans and buses) are likely to rise sharply over the next few years. Analysts at Deutsche Bank have calculated that Cerberus’ bid values Chrysler at -3.4 billion euros. They also have pointed out that the deal will have implications on GM and Ford and signal a harder line when it comes to any future labour negotiations:
Continue ReadingMaxxis Raises its Profile at Brityrex
Maxxis has reported that the company enjoyed a busy three days at Brityrex International 2007, the UK’s only independent tyre trade show, with the Maxxis Centres of Excellence initiative and the new Maxxis catalogue reportedly generating major interest. “Visitors to Brityrex were the first to see our new product catalogue, which incorporates 500 tyre patterns and sizes and covers performance radials, high performance tyres and 4x4 tyres for cars and vans, plus heavy truck products and our Trailermaxx high speed trailer range,” said Derek McMartin, managing director of Maxxis International UK. “We were also impressed with the level of interest Group Tyre members showed in the Maxxis Centres of Excellence programme, which is designed to help retailers maximise profitability though a winning combination of quality products, value for money and industry-leading delivery and technical support,” he continued. According to Group Tyre (UK) commercial operations director, Karl Naylor, several dealerships have already signed up to become Maxxis Centres of Excellence (see T&A June 2007’s retail feature for more details on this).
Continue ReadingBridgestone Aims to Fire Up Arabian Sports Driving Scene
Between 12 to 14 May 2007, Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE offered Potenza Driving Lessons, a concept designed to raise awareness of safe sports driving techniques developed, run in cooperation with former F1 driver Stefano Modena. Part of a long term initiative from Bridgestone, the first three days of lessons were held in Dubai. We decided to host interactive driving lessons to provide a chance for motoring fans to enjoy sports driving in a safe and supervised environment. Using cars fitted with the new Potenza RE001 Adrenalin will effectively convey the joy and pleasure of sports driving to our target market and cultivate Potenza supporters in the region said Mr. Kanahara, President, Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE, Dubai. Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE (BSMEA) is the headquarters for the Middle East and Africa region. It was set up with the objectives of speeding up decision-making and action and of optimizing regional strategy by identifying market trends close to the customer and market.
Continue ReadingBandvulc Director Tires of Govt’s Recycled Arguments Against Retreads
Bandvulc director, Richard O’Connell, has received a government letter confirming his fears that retreaders will continue to be unfairly penalised for the foreseeable future. After a four year fight to be heard, Richard O Connell, director of Ivybridge based Bandvulc Tyres, thinks his struggle has finally reached a dead end, his argument having continually fallen on deaf ears. O’Connell had thought that by confronting Ben Bradshaw MP at labours last annual conference, taking the opportunity to express his Industrys frustration on stage and asking that the government allow it the same benefits as its new tyre counterparts, his efforts would at least lead to an open discussion. Instead, the Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare has written a letter O’Connell says, clearly demonstrates the Government is totally misinformed about the benefits of retreading.
Continue ReadingWabco and TVS Group Agree to Brakes Business Demerger
Wabco, a leading provider of vehicle electronic systems to the global commercial vehicle industry, and India’s TVS Group, who amongst other things produce and distribute automotive components and hardware, have announced their intention of transferring the brakes business of their Indian joint venture Sundaram Clayton Ltd (SCL) to a new wholly-owned subsidiary, WABCO-TVS (INDIA) Ltd., (WABCO-TVS) through a demerger plan. The demerger of the brakes activity will result in two separate corporate entities. The non-brakes business and investments will remain with SCL, who are based in the Indian city of Chennai. The demerger plan is conditional upon securing the approval of the relevant stock exchanges, shareholders, creditors and the Madras High Court.
Continue ReadingCongress’ CAFÉ Boost Plan Includes RMA’s Fuel Efficiency Provision
(Akron/Tire Review – Detroit News) The drive to hike fuel efficiency standards took a dramatic step forward May 8 when a Senate committee approved a 40 per cent increase over the next decade. SR 357 also includes a RMA-written amendment that would create national tyre rolling resistance standards and grading system. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) included the tyre rolling resistance amendment, which RMA calls a “consumer education program.” RMA said the amendment was similar to HR 5632, which was passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee last year but never made it to the full House. Democrats vowed to hold a full Senate vote sometime next month on the CAFE standards bill, which requires automakers to raise the average fuel economy of their vehicle fleets to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, a move the companies denounced as unrealistic. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee, making it the first fuel economy bill to pass that hurdle since 1991. The move sets the stage for a major battle over new rules that could cost automakers tens of billions of dollars.
Continue ReadingBeru – Quarter Figures Show Mixed Results
Tire Safety System (TSS) manufacturer Beru AG has posted total sales revenues of 116.8 million euros for the first quarter of the 2007 financial year, nearly equalling the sales revenues (117.4 million euros) of the prior-year period. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached 14.8 million euros, slightly down from last year’s 17.3 million euros and equivalent to an operating margin of 12.6 per cent. The company’s Electronics and Sensor Technology division maintained its status as growth area during the quarter, with first quarter sales revenues of 38.8 million euros recorded during the quarter, an increase of 16.6 per cent over the previous year. Beru report that their TSS system was largely responsible for driving this growth.
Continue ReadingCeat Ltd Joins TRIB
CEAT, Ltd. has joined the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB), bringing TRIB’s membership to 470 members in 46 countries. “TRIB continues to grow internationally as more and more companies in the new tire and retread industries throughout the world realize that TRIB is the only international retread industry association representing new tyre manufacturers, retreaders and tyre repair companies,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s Managing Director. “We especially appreciate the support we receive from new tyre manufacturers such as CEAT, Ltd, since it underscores the importance they place on retreading as part of the life cycle of a tyre, he added.
Continue ReadingDunlop Adds to Mixed Service Truck Tyre Range
Peterborough’s TruckFest show – an event co-sponsored by Dunlop Tyres UK - was chosen as the launch venue for new additions to two of the tyremaker’s new product lines. The SP382 and SP482 tyre ranges, designed specifically for vehicles operating in on and off-road conditions, have both received new additions. The SP482 range has welcomed the introduction of tyre that Dunlop claims now ensures all popular sizes are catered for, a 12R22.5 drive tyre. This tyre range is most commonly used on tippers, concrete mixers, cranes and other construction plant equipment that operate on-road most of the time but also find employment in locations such as construction sites and quarries. Therefore the tyre offers high road mileage while delivering the necessary off-road traction and resistance to stone cuts.
Continue ReadingBush Directs EPA to Examine Regulating CO2
President Bush has ordered the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin evaluating stricter emissions standards in response to the recent Supreme Court decision that determined CO2 to be a pollutant. By labelling CO2 a pollutant the Supreme Court opened it to regulation by the EPA, potentially circumventing the requirement for Congress to pass stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The President indicated that he wants action prior to his departure from office in January 2009. The EPA will work with the Departments of Transportation and Agriculture in developing the standards which will have to consider factors such as vehicle safety and the cost of the mandates. Deutsche Bank analysts have reported that CO2 regulation will have a “materially positive intermediate-term impact” on some aftermarket companies.
Continue Reading
