Bandvulc Enters New Tyre Market
The Bandvulc Group has entered the new tyre market by becoming the leading stockist of the Fulda range of commercial tyres in the UK. Covering sizes from 17.5 to 22.5-inch, Bandvulc will wholesale and distribute the Fulda brand alongside its own products and the recently agreed small order Goodyear/Dunlop arrangements.
Continue ReadingAeolus Announces New Truck Tyres
Aeolus Tyres has announced that it is introducing two new types of truck tyres. The new HN254 and HN369 truck tyres have a widened tread and a new rubber composition designed to improve road safety and wear resistance. They will replace the brand’s HN257 and HN355 profiles. “Aeolus Tyres puts all its efforts into the evolution of its current tyre programme. They will not be diverted off this course, not even in the current worldwide financial situation,” says Bertus Heuver on behalf of Aeolus Tyres Europe, exclusive importer for Aeolus in continental Europe.
Continue ReadingAutopromotec a “Fundamental Appointment” for MAK Wheels
At Autopromotec, MAK Wheels launched their new Tornado range. This wheel incorporates a five-spoke design, the spokes being positioned on the right side of the wheel which creates a light and shade effect. The silver colour underlines the slenderness and delicate elegance of this wheel. The Tornado is particularly designed for fitment on saloon and medium to high powered cars. “Autopromotec represents a fundamental appointment for MAK, since the show is probably the most suitable place and occasion to meet national and international dealers. Autopromotec represents a strategic showcase at which the company can present its most important wheel designs,” said MAK Wheels press and public relations manager, Elisabetta Rezzani.
Continue ReadingSykes-Pickavant Launches Pneumatic Wheel Lifter
Sykes-Pickavant has announced its new Pneumatic Wheel Lifter, which the company says helps to comply with regulations regarding the working environment and safety in the workplace. It is – says Sykes-Pickavant – particularly useful for larger SUV, 4WD and Van wheels and tyre. Features include the ability to lift wheels in less than ten seconds with its all in one continuous movement, stopping precisely at the desired position, the wheels rest on rollers making it easy to turn the wheel until the correct position is found and it has an additional compressed air outlet to connect an air wrench with free access to wheel nuts. In addition to the lifter, the company has announced a wheel trolley, specifically for mounting and dismounting large wheels on SUVs, 4WDs, vans and trucks. It has rotating rollers make it easy to turn the wheel until the correct position is found, with the rollers able to be fitted in 3 positions for different wheel sizes. Find the detailed specifications for both pieces of equipment after the jump.
Continue ReadingTRIB MD Brodsky Writes Open Letter to Obama, Congress
Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau managing director Harvey Brodsky has written an open letter to US president Barack Obama and the members of Congress in general, praising the work of the bureau’s members in advancing retreads as a viable, safe alternative to new tyres. Brodsky also included the bureau’s Retread Tire Information Pack, illustrating “the environmental and economic benefits of retreaded tyres.” The full content of the letter is reproduced below.
Continue ReadingPirelli Announces 2009-10 SUV, Van Winter Tyre Roster
Pirelli has announced its range of winter tyres designed for the 4x4/SUV and van segments. The Scorpion Ice & Snow is designed to work particularly well at low temperatures and is produced in aspect ratios 35 to 75 Series, wheel diameter codes 15 to 21 and speed codes T, H and V. The Chrono Winter, meanwhile, is available for vans in aspect ratios 60 to 75 Series, wheel diameter codes 14 and 16 and speed codes R, S and T. Both tyres are emblazoned with the “Snowflake” symbol in the North American market, which is embossed on the sidewall of winter tyres that indicates their specialisation for snow.
Continue ReadingPirelli to Release Microchipped “Intelligent” Tyre
The Energy Harvesting Journal has reported that Pirelli is close to releasing its latest innovative tyre technology – a microchip to supply tyre and road condition information to the car’s electronic control system. It is designed to increase safety. The new product is expected to become available in the company’s Cyber Tyre Lean and Cyber Tyre in early 2010. The Cyber Lean will register tyre pressure and temperature data, noting too the average load of the vehicle. It is attached to the inner lining and can store information such as the tyre’s production date and site. It derives the energy necessary to work from vibrations, further enhancing its environmentally friendly credentials. The Cyber Tyre, which will be released later, will have the electronic sensor inserted directly into the tyre structure. A triaxial accelerometer will, according to the Journal, “give data on the actual and potential friction coefficients, the force of the contact between tyre and road, and on the load, instantaneously.” It supersedes current tyre sensor technology by being able to “correct wrong behaviour in advance.”
Continue ReadingAlabama Health Department Fines BFGoodrich
BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is to be fined $650 civil after violating state environmental health rules. According to local newspaper reports, Alabama Department of Public Health official identified the violation when BFGoodrich reported in May that “two devices containing radioactive sources were missing from the Tuscaloosa plant site.” WHNT news explained that they were discovered missing in April and were last accounted for in October 2008 and report suggests the devices might have left the site when “the production line they were on was dismantled and removed as scrap.” Such devices are used in gauges that measure the thickness of rubber during production.
Continue ReadingIndustrial Tyre Association Makes Best Practice Plea
The Industrial Tyre Association (ITA) has called for more action to reduce the risks of making false economies when it comes to fitting industrial tyres. Len Sambrook, ITA chair explained: “When money is tight it can be tempting to buy cheap tyres or to delay replacing worn ones. But tyres are such an integral part of a forklift or industrial truck that by taking responsibility and following strict standards of specification and fitting of tyres users can significantly reduce the lifetime cost of the machine. Most of the time economies made around tyres are false economies in the long run.” ITA points out that tyres are often the most overlooked part of a truck. But specifying the right type of tyre can affect the lifting, stability and braking distances of an industrial truck, as well as improve its fuel economy. The use of an inferior product will severely impact not only the truck’s performance but also the health and safety of the operator.
Continue ReadingKraiburg Complies Early With New Directive
On January 1st 2010, European Directive 76/796/EEC comes into force. The new Directive prescribes limits on the permissible percentage of processing oils containing PAHs (polycyclic aroma¬tic hydrocarbons) which are subject to declaration. It will be illegal to produce tyres which do not conform to the specified limits. Processing oils plasticise the rubber compound, making it more flexible and pliable during the blending process. However, Kraiburgs retreading partners neednt worry, as the company started to adapt all its precure retreads back in 1997 and completed the process at the beginning of 2007. The aim was to ensure that customers adhering to the Kraiburg three-year shelf life policy for precured treads would not have non-compliant goods in stock at the beginning of next year.
Continue ReadingEllerbrock Mixing Plant Doubles Output After Fire
Earlier this week Ellerbrock Reifenrunderneuerungs-Technologie GmbH puts its new North Hamburg (Henstedt-Ulzburg) mixing facility into operation. As a result of the six million euro investment, the plant has also taken on a completely new role within the Marangoni Group.
Continue ReadingPirelli Group Reorganises its Finances
Financial analysts are predicting that the Pirelli & C SpA will separate shares in its tyre business from the holding company. Writing in an investor’s note, Deutsche Bank analysts predicted “near-term action to reduce holding discount by giving shareholders two stocks: a pure tyre company and a pure holding company” and valued the tyre company at between 0.21 euros and 0.33 euros/share. Good take up of Pirelli Real Estate SpAs capital increase, which closed on Friday 3 July and was 99.4 per cent subscribed, has also resulted in a 14 per cent reduction in net debt, according to analysts. The company itself reported it raised 397 million euros throught the offer.
Continue ReadingAutopromotec Review: FASEP Celebrates 40th Anniversary
FASEP has been one of Autopromotec’s most loyal supporters, having participated in the show every time since its first back in 1981. At what the company considers to be the largest garage equipment exhibition, FASEP went to the show with a number of new products designed to help customers increase and develop their business, despite current general economy conditions, by investing in technological improvements and showing that this can be achieved with reasonably priced quality products. During the show, the company also celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner, at which distributors from all over the world – from Japan to Australia, from Egypt to Sweden, says FASEP – gathered and enjoyed the party in a very friendly atmosphere.
Continue ReadingAutopromotec Review: HPA-Faip Displays Fully Operational Prato Plant
HPA-Faip, a company of Nexion Group, operating in the international market of fitting centres and workshops for over 45 years, displayed its complete range of products alongside news of its new production plant in Prato, Italy. The company’s product display included the B 225 / B 215, a compact wheel balancer; the evolution of the lever-less M 928 Royal tyre changer; a WDK type-approved product as well as the models M 522 and M 624 from the range of products based on what the company terms classic technology. HPA-Faip says that the area of vehicle diagnostics is particularly important for the domestic market, and sees itself with a growing European and international role too.
Continue ReadingLassa: BRISA Partnership Supporting Distribution
Lassa was established in 1974 by the Sabanci Group, of one Turkeys leading industrial conglomerates. In 1988 it significantly increased its capacity and product by becoming joint venture partners with the Bridgestone Corporation. This partnership forms the award-winning BRISA Corporation, enabling the Lassa brand to be supported by enormous resources and investment which, facilitates the production of a quality range of Lassa brand tyres. Now one of Europes largest tyre producers, its integrated plant in Kentsa, Turkey covers over two million square metres and is equipped with state-of-the-art design and production technology and a revolutionary dedicated research and development centre. Customers are offered tyre products of superior quality sustained by outstanding service. BRISA supply Lassa tyres in over 50 countries worldwide through distributors who are specially selected for their location, logistics and experience. An extensive range of passenger tyres, high performance and winter ranges are manufactured, along with 4x4, rally, van and light truck, OTR and agricultural tyres.
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