With the latest SMMT data naming the Tesla Model 3 as the most popular new-car in December as well as the second most popular in 2021 – no-one can deny that the era of electric vehicles is well and truly upon. However, while internal combustion engines (ICE) have generally separated engine, wheel and tyre, electric vehicles are bringing these vital mobility components closer together than ever.
Nexen Tire is raising prices across its entire product range, effective 1 February 2022. According to the company, “rising raw material prices as well as freight and logistics costs” are behind the price hike. No details of the percentage increase have yet been released.
Michelin Tyre plc has appointed John Howe as Managing Director for the UK & Ireland, with effect from 1 January 2022. He will also hold the role of B2C Sales Director, with responsibility for the company’s car, motorcycle and bicycle markets.
Japan’s Itochu Corporation announced today the commercial launch of Project TREE, an initiative that uses a blockchain-based traceability system to ensure the sustainability and traceability of natural rubber. Partners participating in the Project include Itochu subsidiaries and tyre manufacturers, and the UK will be the first market to benefit.
Falken Tire Europe GmbH has now announced in a letter to its business partners that it is implementing new price lists effective 1 January 2022 for both the Falken brand and for Sumitomo tyres. The price increases are considerable and extend well into the double-digit range. At the same time, the manufacturer is revising down certain price adjustments announced in September for the new year. However, both sets of price increases are limited to the German-speaking markets with Falken/Sumitomo Rubber representatives confirming to Tyres & Accessories that the price increases do not apply in the UK.
With Continental AG celebrating its 150th birthday in 2021, the company has been presenting milestones in its dynamic development over the last 15 decades in the form of events and interactive games. Following Continental’s actual birthday on 8 October, retail and fleet customers were invited to go on a journey through time to experience how Continental, present in the UK for close to a century, has become a pacesetter for modern automotive solutions and is helping to shape the future of holistic mobility.
Following its rise to prominence and a couple of months after Royal Mail began trialling the same brand, leading parcel delivery firm DPD is conducting “full road trials” of Enso tyres for commercial electric vehicles (EVs). The DPD/Enso trial is a part of Transport for London’s FreightLab Innovation Challenge, which is encouraging innovations that will tackle London’s air pollution and road congestion due to increased freight movement in the Greater London area. The London FreightLab Innovation Challenge is backed by the Mayor of London and Enso is based in London.
Following last week’s news that Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations is recalling 21,513 Bridgestone Dueler H/L, 422 Ecopia, Dueler H/L Alenza, Ecopia H/L 422 Plus, Turanza EL440, and Firestone Destination tyres, on this side of the Atlantic company representatives have confirmed that the UK tyre market is not affected call back.
The past 18 months have been “very challenging and unique”, comments Sailun Tyre Europe. But the company now says it is delighted to announce participation in two forthcoming trade shows. The first is here in the UK: In conjunction with Kirkby Tyres, local distributor of the Sailun truck tyre range, the tyre maker will occupy a 125 square metre stand within Hall 4 of the NEC when the Commercial Vehicle Show comes opens in Birmingham on 31 August.
Big Atom, which operates from Ellesmere Port in the northwest of England, is celebrating the successful processing of its one millionth tyre in three years. Not only is one million a significant sized number, according to the company it represents the first step towards a fully sustainable operation.
Company founder Alexander Guslisty views Big Atom’s milestone as the tip of the iceberg, with the site licenced to process 2,500,000 tyres a year after new machinery was invested to enable higher production levels. At the same time, Big Atom’s workforce has increased to 33 and a recent investment in upgraded machinery has allowed the company to produce rubber crumb in three size variants; 0-2mm, 2-6mm and 20mm.
We’ve notched up three quarters of a century in the business, and much has changed since the first, rationing-restricted issue of Tyres & Accessories appeared in June 1946. Founding editor Frederick Carter is long gone and a mere handful of players now represent the resurgent British tyre making industry he gave a voice to. But much has also remained constant throughout these tumultuous decades, and to this day Tyres & Accessories fulfils Carter’s original remit of providing a ”suitable forum for the discussion of all questions of vital interest to the industry and those engaged in it.”
In November 2020 Scandinavian Enviro’s UK partner 2G BioPOWER began a study into the feasibility of running a largescale tyre pyrolysis plant in the UK. The project has now been completed and found that there are “favourable conditions” for such a pyrolysis plant that “derive primarily from the large domestic demand for recovered oil for the production of renewable vehicle fuel.”
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Ellie Burgin; Pexels
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