F1 Statistics: Michelin Hot on Dunlop’s Heels
If Michelin can continue its recent run of Formula 1 success by winning in Montreal, the French tyre maker could find itself moving up a place in the sport’s list of all-time greats. Goodyear is top of the pile when it comes to F1 tyres suppliers, but this is mainly due to its position as exclusive supplier for many years. Goodyear leads with 368 victories (between 1962 and 1998), while Bridgestone is in second place with 94 victories (1997 to 2004). Dunlop has clocked up 83 successes (1958 to 1970).
Continue ReadingWRAP Programme To Support Tyre Recycling
WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is to allocate “a large part” of the first year’s budget to developing existing processes and exploring “novel applications.” In a statement WRAP reports that it has begun work on developing the UK used tyre market. The aim of the programme, which is part of Defras new Business Resource Efficiency and Waste initiative (BREW), is to increase the inherent value of recycled tyres by stimulating market demand for higher value products.
Continue ReadingContinental Expects $122.7 million Loss in US
Continental AG is expecting a loss of $122.7 million in its US passenger-car tyre business this year, Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung has reported. The business posted a loss of $98 million the year before. The newspaper did not name any sources but did report that up to 300 of the 1,400 jobs in its plant in Charlotte, North Carolina, plant would be cut in July and production would be reduced by a third to roughly 16,000 tyres per day.
Continue ReadingYaroslavl Reports Operating Results
JSC Yaroslavsky Tire Works in Yaroslavl, one of Russia’s largest tyre manufacturers and a part of Sibur holding, has released full-year 2004 and first quarter 2005 financials. The results show that, once again, although the companys output dropped its profitability has actually increased. 2004 sales fell 30 per cent year-on-year to $95 million, while operating profit dropped 17 per cent to $2.5 million.
Continue ReadingOmskshina Sales Drop 38 per cent
Omskshina, a subsidiary of Sibur, has released its full year 2004 and first quarter 2005 results showing sharp declines in sales and output. In 2004 tyre output fell 27 per cent year-on-year to 3.8 million units. At least part of this sizeable drop can be attributed to Sibur’s decision to transfer the production passenger car and light truck tyres to its Matador-Omskshina joint venture. Although to all intents and purposes this was a sideways move, the transition of these figures from one balance sheet to another, has obviously had a marked impact on Omskshina’s totals.
Continue ReadingAmtel to Hold Private Placement.
Amtel Tire Holding is to hold a private placement which could raise $80-100 million, general director Alexey Gurin told journalists. The analytical information agency suggested that the funds attracted will be used for the partial repayment of debts and the reduction of debt loading.
Continue ReadingFulda Tyres Team Joins the Race
A group of associates from Fulda Tyres in Birmingham have participated in the Great Midlands Fun Run, raising money for the Acorn Children’s Hospice in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham in the process.The 8.5 mile run started in Sutton Park on 5 June and ended in Sutton town centre in front of a crowd of spectators. Fulda Tyres did its bit with six employees lacing up their trainers and battling their way through the challenging course.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Support Four Teams at Le Mans
The Yokohama Rubber Co, Ltd, today announced that it will support five cars from four teams in the 73rd Le Mans 24 hour rance, due to be held 18–19 June at the Sarthe Circuit in France. The company will support the Courage Competition works team in the LMP1 Class and will supply specially developed racing tyres to two entries from the veteran French chassis constructor. In the LM-GT Class, Yokohama will assist Porsche works team Alex Job Racing/BAM, Seikel Motorsport, and T2M Motorsports. Alex Job Racing/BAM will run on tires that it developed jointly with Yokohama. Seikel Motorsport and T2M Motorsports will use tyres based on the Super GT that Yokohama modified with especially for Le Mans.
Continue ReadingSumitomo Rubber to Invest in Thailand
Sumitomo Rubber is reportedly planning to build “the world’s largest quality tyre factory” in Thailand, local media sources have reported. The factory will be base in the eastern province of Rayong and will aim to manufacture 7 million Dunlop branded tyres a year with the first tyres rolling off the production line in 2007, according to the reports. Wiboon Kromdin, president of the Amata City Co Ltd, said that Sumitomo had already signed an agreement to purchase land for the production plant. The move represents the company’s first investment in Thailand. The location is said to have been chosen due to its proximity to Laem Chabang Port, and Thailand’s position at the centre of distribution to the Asian market.
Continue ReadingCompanies Challenge Tyre pressure Rule
Major tyre companies including Bridgestone Corporation, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co have sued the US government in order to block the introduction of a new TPMS regulation. The companies, joined by trade and consumer groups, claimed that the car and light truck regulation was inadequate to ensure safety.
Continue ReadingUK Equipment Ltd New Area Sales Manager
UK Equipment Ltd has appointed David Speirs as area sales manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland. In this role Mr Speirs will be responsible for strengthening the company’s existing distributor base, whilst growing the brand through its OEM business and corporate dealers throughout the region.
Continue ReadingRailways Recycle 10 Million Tyres
Used tyres are finding positive applications within another mode of transport – the railway. More than 10 million tyres have been recycled to be used as rubber level crossings, and in platforms and track access points. The European Union generates 300 million new tyres every year. In the UK between 25 and 30 million tyres are discarded. Network Rail’s 10 million tyre figure refers to the total number of tyres used if all of its waste rubber crossings were put together. None of the crossings used a single ounce of virgin rubber. Network Rail deputy chief executive Iain Coucher said: “Network Rail and the rail industry are committed to caring for and enhancing the environment, and balancing this with the need to deliver a reliable and safe railway network. This recycling initiative underlines the efforts being made to ensure the railway is an environmentally positive mode of transport.”
Continue ReadingCould Nitrogen Offer Retreading Benefits?
In this column SA Treads editor, Liana Shaw, explains why nitrogen inflation could offer little-known benefits to retreaders. It is probably no secret by now that I am a fan of nitrogen in tyres. I have spoken with too many fleet operators who swear by the cost-saving benefits of running on nitrogen, not to be a believer. I have also been using nitrogen in my own car tyres for over a year and enjoy not having to check tyre pressures every time I fill up. Unlike the inconvenience of running on air, which tends to escape from tyres at a rapid rate, the composition of nitrogen gas – which is characterized by larger molecules – substantially reduces the rate of emission. Then take the heat factor, long acknowledged as a tyre’s biggest enemy. Being an inert gas, tyres inflated with nitrogen run cooler, thereby prolonging tyre life. So far, so good. But could nitrogen’s properties and unique features extend further so as to be able to render valuable assistance to the retreader? The experts seem to think so.
Continue ReadingAlliance Ends First Quarter with $5 million Dollar Net Profit
In the first quarter of 2005 Alliance Tire reported net profits of around $9.2 million including deferred tax assets of around $4 million. Alliance’s first-quarter exports amounted to $29.3 million, a growth of 16.7 per cent over the first quarter of 2004. Sales for the first quarter amounted to $37.6 million compared to $32.1 million the previous year, an increase of 17.1 per cent.
Continue ReadingSabanci Acquires Brazialian Tyre Cord Operation
Sabanci Holding has acquiered Acordis’ Brazialian Diolen polyester industrial yarn and tire cord fabric operations, COBAFI (Companhia Bahiana de Fibras). Based in Cama ç ari, Brazil. The acquisition by Sabanci, which already has successful operations in South America, strengthen’s COBAFI’s position as leading supplier of polyester yarns for tire reinforcement and technical applications in South America.
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