Concorde Tyres From Michelin
Group Michelin has developed a new radial aircraft tyre. Designed to be more damage resistant than existing aircraft tyres, testing will take place on an Air France Concorde in the next few weeks.
Group Michelin has developed a new radial aircraft tyre. Designed to be more damage resistant than existing aircraft tyres, testing will take place on an Air France Concorde in the next few weeks.
Following the tragic Concorde crash last summer, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) approached tyre manufacturers to see if any research was on-going to improve the resistance of tyres to damage by foreign objects. In Paris, Michelin unveiled its response, the radial NZG. NZG, which stands for “near zero growth” is described as “the latest innovation in radial technology”. It uses a high-modulus reinforcement material which is lighter and offers higher damage resistance. The tyre was tested by running over a 30 cm blade both at taxiing and take-off speeds and the tyre suffered no damage.
Malaysian tyre manufacturer Simex Aircraft Tyre Company has signed an agreement to supply Boeing with radial tyres for the 777. Although Simex began aircraft tyre production in 1975, this will be the first time that the company has made radial aircraft tyres and production will begin next year. Simex has named Sumitomo Rubber Industries of Japan as its technical partner in the two-year deal.
On the eve of the Paris Air Show, Goodyear announced that it was to triple production of radial aircraft tyres at its plant in Danville, USA, where the company has recently invested $10 million. The production increase is in response to growing demand due to increasing radialisation in the aircraft tyre sector, although bias-ply tyres still make up the majority of this market. The radials will fit military and private planes, as well as commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Bridgestone Corp. has purchased the remaining 50 per cent stake of Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Comp. Asia (BATASIA) from Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Comp. Ltd. Bridgestone produces new aircraft tyres in Japan and owns retreading plants in USA, Belgium, Hong Kong and Japan.
Michelin and its local joint-venture partner Siam Cement has announced an investment of THB 3,82 billion in their Laem Chabang production plant near Bangkok. The development will double the capacity to 6.12 million passenger and light truck tyres a year. Michelin Siam also operate an additional two plants in Thailand providing production of truck, earthmover and motorcycle tyres.
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