2009 - Page 96 of 205 - Tyrepress

Sumitomo Establishing Falken European Sales Company

News that has already been doing the rounds in the tyre world for several months has now been officially announced – in response to questions from Tyres & Accessories, Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd has confirmed the establishment of a new sales company for the European market. Called Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, the new company will be based in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, Germany (where the manufacturer’s European liaison office is already located) and will take over the Falken and Ohtsu brands in the European replacement tyre market from Goodyear Dunlop as of January 1, 2010.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Snaps Up Motor Transport Innovation Award

The Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane played host to some 1,300 road transport professionals on the evening of 1 July. The reason for this gathering of senior industry figures was of course the 23rd Motor Transport Awards, in which approximately 70 contenders vied for victory in the 16 award categories. Amongst this elite group was Michelin, who on the evening walked away with the Innovation Award, having beat off stiff competition from a trio of fellow finalists – white goods manufacturer Indesit UK, asset management specialist Amey, and a joint entry from B&Q and Ceva Logistics.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mitas/CGS Extends Size Range

Earlier this year Mitas a.s./CGS Tyres added a range of additional Continental SuperVolumeTyre sizes and the new 65 Series Mitas RD-03 to its portfolio. The company extended its successful SuperVolumeTyre range to include powerful machines which have over 180 hp by adding the rear axle size 710/75R42 and the matching 650/65R34 for the front to its portfolio. “The 710/75R42 size in our SVT range is designed for high-performance tractors with 300 hp and more,” explained Andrew Mabin, marketing and sales manager at Mitas/CGS.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Magna Tyre Releases New E4 and 240 Tonne Products

In June Dutch company Magna Tyres launched its MA04 E4 tyre. Developed specifically for mining, quarry and construction applications, this product is intended for 40 – 100 tons nominal payload off-highway trucks in order to help them keep materials moving at high volume with lower costs per ton. According to Magna, the new MA04 is “reliable, durable, dependable” and features “an aggressive tread pattern to ensure maximum traction.”

The release of the MA04 follows the earlier launch of another project for even larger 240 ton rigid dump trucks. The Magna MR420 is designed to offer lower cost per hour, long tyre life and outstanding protection. The MR420 E4 pattern is already available in three major sizes: 40.00R57; 36.00R51; and 33.00R51.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Coppid Hall Farm Switches From Goodyear to Michelin XMCL Tyres

Coppid Hall Farm on the Isle of Wight has switched to Michelin XMCL tyres on its JCB Loadall on the recommendation of local agricultural tyre specialist ATS Euromaster. The change in tyre policy was reportedly made after the previous set of tyres needed replacing after just 1,800 hours operation. As the workhorse around the dairy, the Loadall is said to clock up approximately 1,100 hours each year on tasks ranging from transporting cattle feed through to putting silage into the pits, as well as general duties around the 250 acre farm.

Harold George, owner of Coppid Hall Farm, says: “I’d previously seen as much as 3,000 hours out of a set of tyres on the telescopic handler, but this has steadily dropped off with the last two sets of Goodyear tyres, to 2,500 and 1,800 hours respectively. ATS Euromaster’s local agricultural specialist, Jim Wollweber, suggested we try Michelin XMCL tyres and after three months operation, I’m confident they are performing well and will deliver a significantly longer life.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BKT Promotes All-Steel Radial OTR Tyres

Balkrishna Tyre (BKT) launched its latest range of OTR radials, which are sub-branded Earthmax at the Intermat show in April. At present they are available in SR 30 pattern E3/L3 tyres in 25-inch rim diameter and are the first Indian produced all steel casing radial tyre for earthmover application. According to the company, the first phase BKT is to extend the product line up to 35-inch diameter tyres in various patterns with multiple compound options. BKT has also increased its existing industrial and construction tyre range, with expansion of its radial industrial tractor tyre segment and launch of AT 621 pattern tyres for Backhoe loaders with special cut resistance compound & lug geometry.

BKT boasts a comprehensive range of industrial, construction, material handling and earthmoving tyres from 8’ to 51-inch rim diameters covering wide applications including underground mining tyres and specialized port application tyres. Now having ventured into the Radial OTR BKT representatives believe the company is “all geared up to make in-roads and widening its penetration in servicing this market.”

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

More than Just Rubber

No other tyres are submitted to as much stress as those fitted on earthmovers. As a result retreading these tyres requires specific experience and solutions, especially with regards to the development of the most appropriate compounds and tread patterns, says leading tread rubber, machinery and retread manufacturer Marangoni.

Earthmover and off-the-road tyres require compounds that have high resistance to mechanical stress and atmospheric agents, so as to guarantee the required working life. In many cases cut resistant compounds are needed, but at the same time the compounds must feature low hysteresis/heat generation (two technologically opposing characteristics when obtained using standard materials and processes). Consequently new reinforcing agents with specific characteristics need to be added.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

An Uphill Struggle?

Certain tyre industry players have suggested that the green shoots of recovery are already visible in the North American off-road and construction markets (see elsewhere in this feature for more on this) meaning recovery in some markets could begin as soon as this year. However, CECE (European Committee of Site Machinery Manufacturers Associations) figures show that the OE side of the business isn’t really expecting growth to return until 2011. According to the CECE, the machinery market peaked in 2007 with a record year, while 2008 – despite still being worth 30 billion euros across Europe – is characterised as “a crisis year.” Projections for 2009 suggest there will be a drop in orders of around 30 per cent on a European scale compared to the previous – some companies hit lows of 60 per cent in February 2009.

Now, you may be thinking that as far as the infrastructure/construction part of the OTR tyre business is concerned, much of the annual market volume is purchased through the replacement market. However, while these figures only relate directly to the original equipment part of the tyre business, the OEM business can also be seen as a barometer of confidence in the industry as a whole. After all, OEM sales are determined by general economic output and construction demand and if there is no construction work taking place, this will affect both OE and replacement tyre sales.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sibur Still Interested in All of Amtel-Vredestein

Sibur Russian-Tyres is still moving towards an acquisition of Amtel-Vredestein’s (A-V) bankrupt Russian operations, with all parts of the fractured business remaining under consideration. Sibur Russian-Tyres initiated this approach in late January 2009 stating its interest in buying $600 million of Amtel-Vredestein’s $800 million debt. However earlier news reports, also published by Kommersant, suggested other parties are also interested and may be attempting to take control of certain assets.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo to Launch Full Range into Europe in 6-12 Months

Despite the fact that the Apollo/Vredestein takeover contracts were signed just a month before Tyres & Accessories visited Enschede, the integration process is said to be already well underway. What’s new is the announcement that in less than a year a full range of Apollo tyres will be launched into the European market. The newly merged Apollo Vredestein will be responsible for sales and marketing of all group brands in Europe. Of course when it comes to making major changes to the Apollo brand strategy this will have to be done in consultation with Delhi, but to all intents and purposes Vredestein will be masters of their own and Apollo's destiny within the bounds of the continent of Europe and the USA. In return Apollo will take the lead when it comes to selling Vredestein-branded tyres into the new Asian market territory the recent combination of the two companies brings.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Global Natural Rubber Production Shows 2009 Decline

Production of natural rubber in the seven countries that account for 93 per cent of world supplies – Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka – is continuing to fall. Data covering the period to May 2009 indicated that natural rubber in Thailand (the country that supplies a third of the world’s requirements) dropped 22 per cent during the first four months of 2009 to 107,175 thousand tons. In the first five months of the year Malaysian output fell 28 per cent to 47,333 thousand tons due to a combination of factors including lower than anticipated rains which slowed tapping activity, poor export demand and an ongoing replanting programme. Replanting and the resultant reduction in tappable crop area were largely responsible for production in Vietnam declining 22 per cent year-on-year in the January to May period to 11,036 thousand tons, while natural rubber output in India fell nine per cent in the first five months of the year.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mid East Industry Representatives Meet to Discuss Barbican Turbo

Representatives from the custom, tuning and motorsports industry have met in Dubai to discuss the Barbican Turbo show, which will be held between the 8th and 10th October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Last year’s inaugural show was attended by more than 19,000 enthusiasts, a very respectable headcount for a first-time show. Critical to the show’s ongoing success, believes organiser United Business Media, is direct input from the industry about Barbican Turbo’s future development and how it can meet the needs of participating companies.

“We are especially pleased the organisers have decided to involve us and other companies in the event process as it allows them to produce an event that we actually want and need to support our businesses goals,” stated Foilacar managing director Swen Roters, who was present at the Dubai meeting.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Advan Sport Given Green Light for Mercedes C-Class OE

At the top of Yokohama’s tyre pecking order sits the Advan performance line-up, and its manufacturer has announced another original equipment selection for the brand. Three sizes of Advan Sport tyres – 205/55R16 91V, 225/45R17 91W, and 245/40R17 91W (the last only for the rear wheels) – will be fitted to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. This mid-size Benz thus joins its AMG tuned stablemates, the CL65 and 63 AMG, C63 AMG and ML 63 AMG, in the ranks of those shod by the Japanese tyre maker.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Punch sells BBS and Punch Metals

Some four months after Punch International nv, parent company of wheel manufacturer BBS, described automotive industry market conditions as “extremely difficult”, it has announced the sale of its BBS and Punch Metals BBS and Punch Metals businesses, which belong to the company’s Motive group. This significant part of Punch International’s automotive business will be acquired by Creacorp nv, Punch’s main shareholder. Punch will retain ownership of the BBS brand, however the transaction gives rise to a one off non-cash loss of around 48 million euros. In return, Creacorp nv is taking over a number of obligations, such as the rental guarantee for the property used by BBS and Punch Metals (approximately 10 million euros), securities for loan agreements and certain key suppliers (7.5 million euros) and the purchase obligation for the Hayes Lemmerz site in Gainesville, Georgia (5 million euros). A licence fee will also be paid for the use of the BBS brand.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Appoints Kramer to New Growth Initiatives Position

Alcoa’s Wheel and Transportation Products business president Kevin B. Kramer has been appointed to a newly created position within the company. He will now serve as president, Growth Initiatives, and in this role is responsible for supporting Alcoa’s commercialisation strategies for organic growth, including the commercialisation of research and development initiatives and identifying and developing new applications that respond to market trends and customers’ needs. In addition, he will support the development and execution of global marketing programs for aluminium applications across existing and new market opportunities.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

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