Hi-Q Becomes Approved Supplier to Avonline Telecoms
National fast fit operator, Hi-Q Fleet, has secured a major contract to supply the tyre management service to an expanding telecommunications installation company. Avonline plc, based in Ashton Vale in Bristol, is one of the UK’s leading installation contractors and has a fleet of over 600 vehicles which cover the length and breadth of the UK.
Continue ReadingMichelin Shareholders Support Nigerian Plant Closure
Michelin Group shareholders have expressed their support for the company’s decision to end the production of tyres at its factory in Portharcourt, Nigeria. This decision has been one that has attracted much questioning from manufacturing sector stakeholders, as the reasons behind Michelin’s withdrawal have been shrouded in uncertainty and rumours have abounded that it must in some way be liked to existing security risks for French personnel at the plant. A recent rumour alleges that a French national employed by Michelin was kidnapped and a ransom of an undisclosed amount was required before his release.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Releases 2006 Results
Bridgestone Corporation expects its profits to increase by almost six per cent this year due to improving sales in the U.S. and Europe. In a media statement, Bridgestone said that it projects net income to increase to 90 billion yen (£384 million) as sales rise 3 per cent, to 3.08 trillion yen (£13.2 billion). Net income in 2006 fell 53% to 85.1 billion yen (£364 million) on sales of 2.99 trillion yen (£12.8 billion), compared to a net income of 180.7 billion yen (£772 million) a year earlier.
Continue ReadingKomei Appoints Sole UK Agent
Ecosystem Ltd has announced its appointment as sole UK agents for the Italian Komei range of recycling equipment. Komei specialise in the manufacture of granulation equipment for wood, plastic and rubber, and their 15600kg KG-1R granulator has been designed specifically for shredding used tyres. The features of this unit include a heat exchanger to maintain low temperatures for the rotor and counter blade, and the machine is powered by an 180kw motor.
Continue ReadingNew Appointments at Blackcircles.com Support Rapid Expansion
Innovative tyre retailer Blackcircles.com has announced two new additions to its executive team as it prepares for another year of exciting growth. Launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch (28), the online tyre retailer has set a new quality standard for the tyre industry and strong sales in 2006 has seen it create the two new posts of commercial director and head of finance.
Continue ReadingGoodyear’s Polish Affiliate to Branch into UHP Tyres
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has stated that its affiliate company in Poland plans to invest more than US$100 million to expand production of high-value tyres. The investment, which will be implemented during the next four years, will be made at Goodyear’s TC Debica plant, one of the company’s lowest cost facilities. The investment is consistent with Goodyears current strategy of upgrading and expanding existing capacity to produce HP and UHP tyres.
Continue ReadingPro-Align Takes Sabbatical from ATS’07
Pro-Align has announced that it has made the conscious decision to take a sabbatical from exhibiting at the Automotive Trade Show, which runs alongside the CV show. Pro-Align will instead attend the Brityrex International show at the GMEX centre in Manchester 1-3rd May 2007.
Continue ReadingThe New Tip Top Digiair
Rema Tip Top has introduced a new hand-held digital tyre inflator that the company believes is one of the most accurate and easiest to use tyre inflation devices in the marketplace. Augmented by its streamlined aluminium handle and simple lever pressure control, the device gives the operator complete control during the inflation process. Additionally the clear digital display makes reading the measurement a piece of cake - no more eye strain then trying to line up the needle against small digits.
Continue ReadingBoosting Economy with a Software Tweak
A Dutch scientist claims that the fuel consumption in many of today’s cars could be reduced by 2.6 per cent through the addition of new software to the engine’s computer. John Kessels from the University of Eindhoven worked in conjunction with Ford to develop software that would improve engine performance, and the initial results of this collaboration look promising.
Continue ReadingSibur-Russian Establishes Tyremakers’ Union
Sibur-Russian Tyres has instigated the formation of a subcommittee, subordinate to the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s committee on entrepreneurship in the automotive industry, to focus upon the development of Russia’s tyre and rubber industry. The aim of this subcommittee is to facilitate the consolidation of Russian tyremakers in order to protect their interests at the governmental level.
Continue ReadingPartnership to Fuel Cement Industry
The scrap tyre companies Sapphire Energy Recovery and Saltire Recovery have entered into a major contract with tyre wholesaler and retailer Stapleton’s Tyre Services. The three-year contract, that commenced at the end of 2006, will see Sapphire and Saltire potentially receive more than a million worn out tyres a year.
Continue ReadingTPMS Firms Strike Deal
(Akron/Tire Review) Ontario-based TireStamp announced that it had entered into a partnership deal with Vehicle Monitoring Systems in which both parties will offer TPMS products created by Taiwan’s Orange Electronic Co. VMS is Orange’s North American marketing and sales representative.
Continue ReadingTyre De-vulcanization Concept Gains WRAP Commercialisation Support
Tyre recycler Rubber-Regen LLP has become the first company to sign up for support through the Recycling Commercialisation Centre, the facility established by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to support and accelerate the growth and development of early stage technologies in the recycling sector.
Continue ReadingRetread Pioneer George Edwards Dies
(Akron/Tire Review) George Edwards, one of the founders of the former American Retreaders Association whose efforts on behalf of U.S. retreaders earned him induction into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame, has died.
Continue ReadingNew Prestivo UHP Sizes Added to Stapleton’s Range
Since its introduction into the UK less than six months ago, Prestivo, Stapleton’s own brand range of tyres, has enjoyed impressive sales and has a large number of customers already committed to the brand. Steve Parker, Stapleton’s wholesale director says: “We have expanded the range to offer more choice for customers with extra sizes within the Sport range.
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