India’s MMTC Closer to Chinese Tyre Imports
India’s state run MMTC trading company appears to be progressing with its plan to import and market Chinese commercial vehicle tyres in India. According to reports, the company has already identified a US-based tyre manufacturer with a production site in China as the possible source of tyre imports on an ongoing basis. The initial volume order is anticipated to be placed in September or October. The US based company has not been specifically named, however sources say the firm first entered China in 2006 and recently acquired a production facility there. The company was incorporated in 2005 through a series of mergers and also has production bases in Europe and North America.
Continue ReadingBBS OEM Wheel For Performance Lexus
BBS of America has released its latest OEM alloy wheel fitment. The custom designed 10-spoke, 19-inch forged alloy wheels are intended for the 2008 Lexus IS F, the luxury division’s first high-performance sports sedan to carry the new F marque. “The IS F comes standard with serious performance credentials, and the BBS brand’s decades of motorsports success made it the ideal wheel partner for us,” said Brian Bolain, Lexus national engagement marketing manager. “IS F owners enjoy the car’s aggressive character, and BBS wheels ensure that performance is on complete par with style.” The Lexus IS F’s satin-finished, dark-grey BBS wheels are up to 40 per cent lighter than cast aluminium wheels of the same size, and they are designed to meet rigorous Lexus factory performance standards as well as exceeding stringent international TUV/JWL certification requirements. The BBS engineers have focused on superior light wheel weight, balanced by exceptional strength, the result being a high-performance wheel with an good stiffness to weight ratio, which helps to absorb hard acceleration, forceful cornering and aggressive braking.
Continue ReadingPhillips Carbon Black Considering Greenfield Facility
India’s largest carbon black producer, Phillips Carbon Black Ltd, plans to establish a fourth facility and expand capacity at two existing plants, those at Baroda and Durgapur. Following the company’s recent AGM, company chairman Sanjeev Goenka indicated another facility, or alternatively a further acquisition of capacity, may be necessary now that existing capacity at the three factories in fully utilised. This fourth greenfield plant, should the company choose to take this option, may be located either within India or overseas.
Continue ReadingCalls for Winter Tyre Restrictions in New Zealand Renewed
Pressure is mounting in New Zealand for the government to legislate against the importation of used cold weather tyres. These tyres, known as snow tyres in New Zealand, are regularly entering the country fitted to used vehicles imported from Japan – the most common source of second hand cars in this country – or loose in containers. While the tread depth on these tyres exceeds the 1.5mm minimum required in New Zealand, they are often fitted to vehicles also fitted with summer tyres and used in conditions they were not intended for. The inappropriate use of these tyres has been linked to several fatal accidents.
Continue ReadingThe Right Alignment Equipment is Essential – Supertracker
Offering a wheel alignment service is arguably essential for any garage workshop or fast fit operation wishing to remain competitive. When customers request this service it is important to make sure the correct equipment to carry it out is at hand, and, says Supertracker Limited, if they’re not asking for wheel alignment, it should be a service that is on offer and actively promoted. The wheel alignment system manufacturer recommends that garage and fast fit operators make this a part of every customer visit. Tyres should be visually checked for uneven wear and customers asked if they have noticed any handling problems, such as whether the steering wheel is straight when the car is driven. Offering such a free inspection service will generate income, Supertracker adds.
Continue ReadingATC Plans to Start – Or Not Start – Operating in August
American Tire Corporation (ATC), a company reporting to have “established dozens of operations in different states and countries,” states it is gearing up to begin production in its Washington, USA plant, a facility it says will be developed into the “largest giant OTR tyre manufacturing base in the world.” In a July 28 statement the company said it would begin operations in Washington in August 2008 – maybe. “American Tire Corporation (ATC) is pleased to announce that its Washington operations will start in August 2008,” read the press statement. “ATCs staff recruiting is undergoing in Washington. A 500,000 square feet facility for the 1st phase is almost done. Manufacturing equipments will be moved to its new facilities step by step. Production will begin as soon as everything is ready but not in August.” The company has not made clear how long the Washington site will operate before it produces its first tyre.
Continue ReadingTenneco to Transfer Rubber Moulding Operations to Mexico
Automotive parts manufacturer Tenneco has reportedly announced it will relocate its rubber moulding division from its Milan, Ohio facility to Reynosa in Mexico. This transfer of operations will lead to approximately 65 job redundancies at the Milan plant. According to the company, the decision to move operations to Mexico is necessary to remain competitive in the domestic and global markets, due to ever increasing fuel, rubber and steel prices.
Continue ReadingPCL Expands Sales Operation with New Appointments
PCL has promoted Gareth McGuigan – who was for three and a half years one of the company’s regional sales managers – to business development manager for the UK and Eire, while Paul Carrington has joined the company in his place, representing Scotland and the north. The company, which specialises in tyre inflation equipment and pneumatic products, has reinforced its sales team in response to increasing demand. Before joining PCL, McGuigan spent seven years in America on a football scholarship, finally returning to the UK to spend six years in sales management with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Nissan. Looking forward to his promotion, McGuigan commented: “My goal is to build on the success we’ve had to date on national accounts, providing support to existing customers and distributors, whilst developing new business.”
Continue ReadingConti Appoints Three to UK Truck Division Sales Team
Continental has added three new staff members to its UK truck division sales team. These new positions, says Conti, have been created to support the division’s growth with dealers and truck operators at both national and regional level. Zoe Worley joins the company as key account manager, National Fleets. Her previous experience includes account management positions with Lloyds TSB Autolease and Reality Group. Ms Worley will be responsible for developing the Continental brand within key national fleets as well as integrating them with ContiNetwork, Continental’s independent retail network.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Reports Booming Business
Kwik-Fit Fleet reports that corporate demand for its range of non-core services - vehicle servicing, MoTs and brake inspection and replacement - has soared in the first six months of 2008. In addition an increasing number of businesses and company car and van drivers are reported to be turning to Kwik-Fit Mobile for tyre repair and replacement and tyre safety checks taking demand to unprecedented levels. Kwik-Fit Fleet anticipates this demand will continue to rise as companies review their fleet operating policies in light of the continuing credit crunch. Kwik-Fit Fleet introduced vehicle servicing and MoTs to fleet cars and vans two years ago, following a retail pilot. Earlier this year, growing corporate demand for the company to regularly service company cars and vans led to it improve its offering to businesses with the launch of its ‘While U Wait’ manufacturers’ service initiative. The 275,000 strong vehicle fleet belonging to Lex, the UK’s largest contract hire and leasing company, was the first to benefit from this new initiative.
Continue ReadingYokohama to Manufacture Tyres in Brazil, Russia
To meet growing demand in Russia and Brazil, Yokohama Rubber intends to begin manufacturing passenger car tyres in these two countries, with production commencing as early as 2010. Tyre supply in both markets is currently met with tyres manufactured in Japan and the Philippines, however a company spokesman reports that the combination of strong business prospects and the opportunity to avoid high import tariffs has led to the decision to set up local operations. It makes more sense to produce tyres there and sell them directly in the region, he said. Well keep shipping value-added products from Japan. The spokesman added that the facilities in Brazil and Russia will “start small and expand if and when sales increase.
Continue ReadingAccura Mobile Delivers Easy Nitrogen Option
Having launched the new Accura Mobile – a Nitrogen tyre inflation cart – at Reifen this year, PCL has noted the increasing popularity of the machine, which is now available on the British market. The firm states that demand for nitrogen tyre inflation is rising fast in the UK, and PCL has pre-empted its popularity with the affordable yet high performance machine. The compact N2 cart is designed for tyre shops, workshops, car dealerships, and transport depots, boasting ease of use, operated with an industry standard bottle or direct from a nitrogen generator and can be preset for a standard inflation top up, or operated with an N2 function for a purge and fill cycle. The Accura can inflate six tyres simultaneously, running off a sealed lead acid battery or a direct mains line.
Continue ReadingPersonnel Moves at ATD
American Tire Distributors Inc. hired David Martin as its new director of sales for equipment, tools and supply products. Most recently, Martin was with TBC Corp. as an equipment sales manager. ATD also promoted Brad Pearson to general manager and director of business development for its Sioux Falls Distribution Center. He has bee with ATD since 2000. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingBrands Hatch Sees Müller, Menu Record WTCC Victories
The British stage of the FIA World Touring Car Championship – staged this weekend in front of 35,000 at a humid Brands Hatch, Kent – saw Jörg Müller of BMW Team Germany and Chevrolet’s Alain Menu claiming 13th and 14th round victories. The reigning world champion, the UK’s Andy Priaulx, racing for BMW Team UK, found things tougher going in both races; he was first held at arm’s length for all 14 laps by Yvan Muller in the SEAT – who remains the championship leader thanks to that determined display – and then suffered a puncture-enforced retirement in the second outing. In spite of this setback, Priaulx leapfrogs Rickard Rydell of Sweden into third place overall. Priaulx stated afterwards that he was relatively happy with the performance.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Supply Potenza OE for Cadillac STS
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) has announced the OE supply of its Potenza RE050A tyres for the 2009 Cadillac STS touring saloon, Bridgestone’s first fitment deal for this vehicle. The tyres in size 255/45R18 99Y will be available for both V6 and V8 versions of the STS, and the car becomes the third Cadillac, after the DTS and Escalade, to be fitted with Bridgestone tyres as original equipment. BFNT has not confirmed whether versions of the STS sold in the UK and Europe will be similarly equipped. “Cadillac says of its luxury touring sedan, ‘it’s all about driving confidence on the road,’ and the same is true of Bridgestone-brand Potenza tyres,” said Michael Martini, President, Consumer OE Tire Sales, BFNT. “The Potenza RE050A is loaded with race-inspired technologies and is built for the pleasure of driving. Like the STS, our tyre blends performance, style and comfort in perfect harmony.”
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