Unite & USW Sign ‘Super Union’ Document
On July 2 Unite, the UKs biggest union and the USW, the largest private sector union in the USA and Canada, signed an agreement creating the first global union. The document was signed at the USWs Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 2nd 2008. The union, to be called Workers Uniting, will represent three million people from every industrial sector in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada and the Caribbean. The agreement to form a global union, said Unite in a press statement, was initiated by the leaders of the two unions in response to the challenges of globalisation, particularly the casualisation of employment and reductions in pay experienced by many in North America and Europe.
Continue ReadingTyre Recycler Retains World Toe Wrestling Title
When you tell your friends, remember to say that you read it here at tyrepress.com… Tyre recycling manager Paul Beech from Tyre Recycle 2000 Ltd – a digitally formidable man also known as the ‘Toeminator’ – has secured his fourth successive world toe wrestling championship win. The 38-year old from Burton-on-Trent retained his crown after he fought off the ‘Itonian Stallion’ in the final thrilling round of the evening-long event, a spectacle witnessed by a crowd of about 200.
Continue ReadingTitan 63-inch Radial Gets OK
Titan Tire has released its new 63-inch steel-belted radial OTR tyre to full production at its Bryan, Ohio, plant. The 59/80R63 radials will begin full production as of July 7. “We believe this is the beginning of a change in the specialty tyre and wheel business worldwide,” said Titan Chairman and CEO Morry Taylor. “This tyre should out-perform any tyre out there and we think as production moves forward, we should continue to find more ways to improve these giant tyres.
Continue ReadingPorsche Tuner Sets New Conti Tyre Record
Continental’s UHP ContiSportContact Vmax has broken the 400 km/h barrier at tests held at the Papenburg circuit in Germany. Jan Fatthauer, head of the Porsche Tuners 9ff team, drove his GT9 to a speed of 409 km/h, setting a new record for both the tyre and the street legal 987 horsepower car. The test was also attended by Holger Berkmann, ContiSportContact Vmax development engineer from Continental Tuning. The ContiSportContact Vmax, which is actually only approved for speeds of up to 360 km/h, was given clearance for higher speeds for the record attempt in the GT9; according to Holger Berkmann, after all, the tyre was expected to be able to withstand a higher load under controlled test conditions.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Makes Six-Figure Investment in Wolverhampton Site
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres has announced that further ‘substantial’ investment will be made in its Wolverhampton truck tyre retreading facility. The company has just taken delivery of two new state of the art SDS Shearography Machines, representing a six-figure investment. The Wolverhampton factory, which employs over 400 people, is home to the company’s Next Tread operations, which specialises in retreading used truck tyre casings. The company states its latest investment will add to the high quality levels of the company’s Next Tread products.
Continue ReadingMichelin Encourages American Truckers to ‘Go Wide, Save Green’
Go Wide. Save Green, says Michelin. The company spreading this message through a North America campaign in which it intends to share what thousands of fleets have already learned – that environmentally friendly transportation makes good business sense. Michelins North American tour, says the tyremaker, will feature real world examples of commercial trucking fleets and owner/operators who have benefited from the improved fuel efficiency, weight savings, and time savings that Michelin X One wide single tyres deliver.
Continue ReadingReifen 2008: TSI/SSG Reports Busy Show
American tyre service and recycling machinery manufacturers TSI/SSG (Tire Service Equipment and Saf-tee Siping & Grooving) has reported a busy and successful showing in all three key business segments at this year’s Reifen Exhibition. The company divides its output into siping machines, small tyre service machines (like manual tyre changers and bead seaters) and recycling machines (tyre cutters and wheel crushers). Since 1998, when TSI/SSG first exhibited at Reifen, the company has seen a large increase in both interest and actual orders in the recycling portion of the business. Export Manager Arvid Vaaten believes that “more and more markets are getting ready to seriously deal with the ever increasing scrap tire problem.”
Continue ReadingElgitread Splits Its Divisions to form Treadsdirect
Elgitread, who exhibited its tread rubber manufacturing division in Hall 3, Booth 122 at Reifen 2008, has relisted Treadsdirect as a separate company on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The new company is categorised as An ELGI Associate, and will concentrate its energies on manufacturing tread rubber, bonding gum retreading and bus operations, while Elgitread – retaining the company name – will give more attention to retreading accessories, retreading machinery and manufacturing with reclaimed rubber. Treadsdirect is now the proprietor of 14 operational retreading units and possesses three manufacturing units.
Continue ReadingTyre Pyrolysis Plant Boosts Octagon Profits
Malaysia’s Octagon Consolidated Bhd, operator of what is said to currently be the world’s largest tyre pyrolysis facility, expects its green energy division to contribute as much as 30 per cent to both company turnover and pre-tax profit in the financial year ending October. The company commissioned the 120 tonne per day plant in May, after more than four years of development.
Continue ReadingPrice Increases For Michelin NA Products Announced
These days it comes as no surprise to learn of another price increase linked to rising raw material, energy and transportation costs. The latest to be announced comes from Michelin North America, who is increasing prices on a number of product lines. US market prices for Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal passenger and light truck replacement tyres, plus those for private and associate brands, will rise by up to 12 per cent as of September 1. Michelin and BFGoodrich brand commercial truck tyres sold in the US replacement market will increase in price by as much as 8 per cent, also effective September 1. This price increase will also apply to Michelin Retread Technologies retreads, the company adds. On the same date motorcycle, scooter and bicycle tyre and tube prices will increase by up to 15 per cent on Michelin brand products sold in Canada, Mexico and the US. All two-wheel products delivered after August 31 will be invoiced at the new price.
Continue ReadingTyreSafe Appoints Market Engineering for National PR Campaigns
TyreSafe has appointed Market Engineering as its PR agency. The agency was selected from a shortlist of five and will deliver a stream of news and educational stories to both trade and consumer audiences. The agency will also be responsible for promoting Tyre Safety Month in October.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Spends on Chilean Production Expansion
Goodyear will double its production capacity at the company’s Maipú plant in Chile, following an investment of US$400 million over the next four years. Chilean business news sources quoted Goodyear’s Chilean president, Claudio Rodríguez Pemjean, stating that despite the 100 per cent proportion of raw materials imported to the factory, Goodyear plans to compensate by increasing the efficiency of the production process and updating its current technologies.
Continue ReadingSibur Buys Stock-Exchange Listed Amtel-Vredestein
What may appear to some a complicated transaction is actually very simple: The unlisted holding company Sibur Holding, having sold its Sibur Russian Tyre business to the stock-exchange listed Amtel-Vredestein and then acquired the majority of all outstanding Amtel-Vredestein shares, has been able to obtain a tyre business that remains registered with the London Stock Exchange.
Continue ReadingKumho Workers Strike Over Wage Dispute
Partial day strike action at Kumho’s two main South Korean facilities is likely to cost the company about KRW 2.98 billion (£1.4 million) a day in lost output. Strike action initiated by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) began on July 2, and Kumho stated in a filing with the Korea Exchange that the strike calls for each shift and the factory to remain idle for four hours a day.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Modifies F1 Slick Compounds
Following the FIA announcement that tyre warmers will not be banned from next season, Bridgestone has made the decision to alter its slick tyre compounds preceding this month’s round of testing. Motorsport journalists have reported that Hirohide Hamashima – leader of Bridgestone motorsport – stated that the basic construction of the slicks would remain the same, despite the changes to the compounds used.
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