Bridgestone Gets P&D Units SmartWay Certified
Bridgestone Americas has added to its collection of EPA SmartWay certified medium truck radials – with the first two P&D tyres approved, reports Tire Review.
Bridgestone Americas has added to its collection of EPA SmartWay certified medium truck radials – with the first two P&D tyres approved, reports Tire Review.
Maxxis is offering cash rewards or ‘contingency payments’ totalling more than a million dollars to ATV and motorcycle racers competing in eight major US race series this season. “Historically, Maxxis has offered cash for certain classes and free tyres for the rest. This year, we’ve gone to an all-cash contingency since racers are having a harder time than ever coming up with the money for things like gas, hotels and all other race expenses. And of course, the extra cash will help when they need to replace their well-used Maxxis tyres,” said Maxxis senior sales representative Harry Tripp.
Maxxis International (UK)’’s motorcycle distribution arm, Bickers has expanded its range of brake pads from Vesrah. Made in Japan to OE specifications, Vesrah pads give powerful, responsive braking dependable wet or dry, fast or slow, road or track according to the manufacturer. The three ranges available comprise the RJL pad for road and race; the JL road and off-road pad; and the standard semi-metallic/organic carbon pad.
Regarding braking as one part of the triumvirate of chassis safety, car parts, garage equipment and training provider, CES UK has launched a series of events at educational facilities located close to its branch network across the UK. CES has a “Safety Triangle” logo illustrating this point, with the three ‘s’-es of stopping steering and stability emblazoned on each of the shapes sides. The events, in the words of CES, “will be looking at the safety critical systems within the chassis systems and exploring the results of component failure, duty of care, changes in technology and garages profit opportunities.”
German specialty chemicals manufacturer Lanxess AG has adjusted its earnings forecast for the 2009 business year after preliminary unaudited results revealed what it calls a “significantly better than expected” fourth quarter. The company now expects to achieve pre-exceptional EBITA of 450-470 million euros for full year 2009 after previously forecasting 400-420 million euros upon the publication of the third quarter results in November 2009. LANXESS posted EBITDA pre-exceptionals of 721 million euros in 2008.
TyreSafe has warned motorists that replacing their vehicle’s run-flat tyres with standard tyres could pose a safety hazard. The tyre safety organisation is concerned that attempts to reduce vehicle maintenance costs by selecting tyres which do not incorporate the added technology and features found in run-flat tyre could lead to drivers inadvertently yet significantly changing the handling characteristics of their vehicle, increasing the chance of being involved in an accident.
The specialised requirements of rice and cane farming are being addressed by the latest Goodyear Farm Tires product. Parent company Titan Tire Corporation reports its engineers have worked together with rice and cane farmers and with Bobby Henard Tire, a Titan and Goodyear brand dealer located in Brinkley, Arkansas in order to develop the new Goodyear Special Sure Grip TD-8 Radial R-2 480/80R50, a tyre it says allows rice and cane farmers to plant in 30-inch rows helping to maximise crop yields. In addition, Special Sure Grip is said to provide additional crop clearance and improved flotation in wet fields, and the extra lug bracing provides strength for the horsepower needed in rice and cane conditions.
The first rubber technology engineers studying under the joint education programme run by Hankook Tire Hungary Ltd. and Dunaújváros College have graduated. The tyre maker reports the ten graduates received their diplomas at a ceremony held in February.
The stereotype of the über-efficient Teuton may still be a cause for mirth here in ‘Blighty’, but our European neighbour’s reputation for thoroughness is not wholly undeserved – so when leading motoring magazines in all three German speaking European lands recommend a particular tyre, it’s probably in our best interest to take note.
Nestlé Logistics is rolling out Michelin's 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyres across its fleet following a year-long tyre trial. During the 12-month period, a Montracon trailer in service with Nestlé covered 200,000 kilometres, and at the end was capable of travelling a potential further 20,000 kilometres before re-grooving is performed. The Michelin tyres were fitted as original equipment on the trailer, which has operated since new on busy trunking routes between the Nestlé factory in York and its distribution hubs across the UK.
Aad L Goudriaan has been appointed the new chief executive officer of Dutch emissions control equipment supplier Bosal, effective 1 April. He joins from DAF Trucks where he had been president. He has also performed managerial roles for DAF in logistics, manufacturing and sales since 1987.
China's tyre-makers are facing tougher – and growing – competition from major industry names, says Tire Review, as companies like Groupe Michelin, Bridgestone Corp and others are boosting their investment in China. According to the People’s Daily, “Booming domestic market made foreign companies more confident in their expansion in China, and will lead to more fierce competition,” said a manager from an unnamed Chinese tyre-maker located in Shandong province.
Ecological innovations will take pride of place at the European Tyre Recycling Association’s 17th European Conference on Tyre Recycling in Brussels on 17-19 March, 2010. The themed event will comprise a “Pyrolisys Forum” during the ETRA Assembly Meeting, including the presentation of research studies on tyre recycling materials and their employment on road sector and civil enginery, rubberised bitumen and asphalt, buildings and concrete, thermoplastics, thermal and acoustic insulation.
Founded in Pocklington over 40 years ago, Bond International now occupies a 140,000 square foot site on the town’s industrial estate and employs nearly 100 local people. In addition, the company operates distribution depots in Chepstow, Stevenage and Redditch, which together employ a further 90 people. And adding an international flavour to the operation are representative offices in both China and Singapore. Bond International reports that these two offices assist in the sourcing of brands that provide an alternative to the ‘premium manufacturer offer’. By researching new and competitively priced manufacturing facilities around the globe, Bond has been able to offer exclusive mid-range tyre brands. An example of this is Infinity.
Belgium steel cord manufacturer Bekaert states that capacity increases in China, India and Russia, and the planned integration of the tyre Bridgestone tyre cord plants (in Sardinia, Italy and in Huizhou, China) acquired earlier this year will lift the company’s total tyre cord capacity from its present level of 625,000 tons to an estimated 700,000 tons by the end of 2010. The bulk of this increase will occur in China, where capacity will rise from its current level of 350,000 tons to 400,000 tons.
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