The greatest environmental impact associated with the tyre life cycle occurs during the tyre’s on-road use, and therefore rolling resistance and the role it plays in fuel consumption is an increasing focus for tyre makers and consumers. Yet important as it may be, rolling resistance is only one of a number of factors that require consideration during the development of a ‘green’ tyre.
According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, last year the country spent RMB 861 billion (£85.7 billion) on research and development, a figure equal to 1.83 per cent of its gross domestic product. One area of investment was work towards establishing around 100 ‘National Engineering Laboratories’ that will specialise in facilitating innovation in a range of industries. The interests of China’s tyre industry will be served by a dedicated laboratory, and in August 2011 China’s government appointed the Triangle Group the host company for a joint-funded facility, the National Engineering Laboratory for Radial Tire Design and Manufacturing Technologies (NEL). At the Triangle Group’s 2012 Global Automotive and Tire Industry Forum & Business Summit, held in Beijing on 11 April, NEL associate director Harry Gong explained the laboratory’s purpose in greater detail.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is warning that from 1 July this year all drivers visiting France will need to carry a breathalyser kit in their cars, as French drivers will have to. From November there will be an €11 fine for not complying with this. With a start date for the new measure of 1 July 2012, the rules will apply for anyone travelling to or through France by car in the summer holiday season, even just for a day trip.
Although six of the world’s top 20 largest tyre manufacturers are located in China and/or Taiwan, and despite the fact that all of these have global ambitions, for the most part these companies are still developing their positions in international markets. Likewise while reams have been written about the top names and more recently there has been increased coverage of the activities of the Korean bloc (Hankook, Kumho and Nexen), far less detail is reported about the leading Chinese players. It has to be said that this is partly because of the media’s gravitation towards well-known names but is also because – and this is something of a generalisation – Chinese manufacturers don’t have the best reputation when it comes to international communications.
With China accounting for about 34 per cent of global rubber demand in 2011 and with demand for cars slowing last year in the People’ Republic, the varied economic climate is proving to be a challenging environment for the countries fast growing domestic tyre manufacturers.
According to China Daily and Bloomberg reports, China's economy is forecast to grow 8.5 per cent next year, the least in 11 years, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Vehicle sales may rise by the least in 13 years in 2011, plunging from last year's record 32 per cent, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported.
In December 2011 Triangle’s retreading operation, which at this point was running at 200,000 units a year was recognised as one of Shandong Province’s top 10 “Circular Economy Demonstration Projects” by Shandong provincial government. Triangle’ rubber products centre in Weihai, Shandong Province, is also known as production base number 3. This site has the capacity to produce 10 million rubber flaps and inner tubes, 5000 tonnes of rubber powder and 500,000 retreads a year.
Triangle Tyre reports that on 28 December 2011 it was named the ‘2011 China’s Innovative Enterprise with Most Growth Potential’ at the annual China Independent Innovation Annual Conference, which was held in Beijing. The company says it attained this honour due to its “significant achievements in technology and product innovation.”
Norfolk-based tyre business TYM International has secured its continuing relationship with leading Chinese tyre manufacturer Triangle Tyres. The deal was sealed following meetings between TYM International general manager Steve Eke and Triangle senior vice president and international export director Lin Bin at the manufacturer’s Weihai, Shandong Province headquarters at the end of November. Furthering a relationship that first began in 2004, the agreement sees the two companies aim to develop their growing mutual business in the UK earthmover, truck and passenger car tyre segments.
United Steelworkers (USW) president Leo Gerard has asked the Obama administration to coordinate an inquiry into the recent agreement between the University of Akron and China’s Triangle Group, reports Tire Review. In a 12 October letter written to Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council, Gerard stated: “Polymer research has critical economic and national security applications and the transfer of technology contemplated by this relationship demands strict scrutiny.”
Jewell Tyres has begun selling triangle OTR tyres. Family-owned and run, Jewell Tyres has built a solid reputation based on personal service, reliability and support. Jewell Tyres draws on an extensive network of contacts from Australia and all over the world to source triangle tyre buyers, sellers and service providers.
Today the Triangle Group will officially launch its new US research, development and sales company. The Shandong province, China-based company then intends to begin its activities in North America with the establishment of a research and development centre in Akron, Ohio; this will be followed by sales offices. Triangle has already hired its first local employee and intends to start its US operations with 30 new local employees – 10 in research and development and 20 in sales. The number of employees is expected to grow as Triangle further establishes its North American operation.
German specialty chemicals company Lanxess and Chinese tyre maker Triangle Group have strengthened their long-term partnership with the signing of a halobutyl rubber supply agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed at Triangle’s headquarters in Shandong Province by Ron Commander, global head of Lanxess’s butyl rubber business unit, and Lin Bin, senior vice-president of Triangle Tyre, Lanxess will supply Triangle with halobutyl rubbers from 2012 to 2014. Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.
The China Rubber Industry Association has referred to rising rubber costs as a ‘grim situation’. The CRIA reports that rubber prices, currently approaching RMB 40,000 per ton, have caused tyre production costs to increase by 50 per cent and squeezed profit margins to a record low, with year-on-year profits declining by up to 50 per cent last year. In light of this industry crisis, seven CRIA members met in Beijing on January 13 to discuss possible countermeasures.
The roots of W. von der Heyde GmbH (Stade) run about 130 years deep. When the company receives a smaller order from the Elbe-Weser triangle region of Germany, employees are reminded that the company founded its reputation as a machinery manufacturer as a forge. In the meantime, “VDH” is primarily equipped for high tech solutions in the specialty machinery industry. Without the traditional craftsman-like background repair jobs of rather simple, but often times very old mechanical devices for which drawings and spare parts no longer exist, as well as very complex machines with highly automated processes, would not be conceivable.
China’s Triangle Group reports that a number of individuals and companies have recently falsely represented themselves as authorised Triangle tyre dealers, in an attempt, says Triangle, to cheat foreign customers in the distribution of Triangle tyres via the internet to international markets. The Triangle Group says it has received complaints from export market customers regarding such activities.
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