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A job well done may be its own reward, but sharing the resulting profits benefits both employee and employer. This seems to be a principle that Michelin understands well, as the tyre maker has announced its ‘Bib’Action’ employee share ownership plan. Open to 120,000 members of its workforce, Michelin says this latest initiative illustrates its determination to “have its employees collectively rank among its main shareholders.”
Several additional sizes have joined the Dunlop Qualifier Core line-up, meaning that fitments are now available across multiple sports and naked segments. The new dimensions include a 120/60ZR17 front and three new rears: 190/50ZR17, 190/55ZR17 and 200/50ZR17. These join the launch rear sizes of 160/60ZR17 and 180/55ZR17, plus the 120/70ZR17 front fitment.
The fourth generation of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa is now completing its final stages of development and testing, and Pirelli says both versions of the motorcycle tyre that “symbolises sports riding” will be available to buy from the start of 2023. Their release will complete a renewal of the Diablo Sport range that began in 2021 with the Diablo Rosso IV and continued this year with the Diablo Rosso IV Corsa.
To meet growing demand for mining tyre recycling and recycled rubber products, specifically carbon black and rCB, Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group and Mitsui & Co. have entered into a joint venture commercialise the Kal Tire thermal conversion recycling facility in Chile from early 2023. Activities there will act as a “foundation” as the venture pursues “opportunities to bring OTR tyre recycling solutions to mining regions around the world.”
Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd. claims a world first with the commercialisation of a tyre cord that combines an adhesive that does not contain resorcinol formaldehyde (RF) with a chemically recycled polyester fibre. Test production of the tyre cord will begin next year, and the Teijin Group company aims to achieve annual production of 200,000 tonnes by 2030.
With the launch of its all-new Generation 5 Conti Hybrid tyre range, Continental seeks to equip regional haulage operators with the latest in tyre innovation and technology. First to arrive in the Generation 5 line-up are the Conti Hybrid HS5 for the steer axle in HS5 385/55 R 22.5 and HS5 315/70R22.5 and the Conti Hybrid HD5 for the drive axle in HD5 315/70 R 22.5. Further dimensions will join the range over the coming year.
With construction of main buildings now complete, China’s first research and development facility for aircraft tyres is expected to open early next month. Guangzhou Development District Management Committee reports that the first scientific researchers are now moving into the Aviation Tire Exhibition Center, an integral part of the Aviation Tire Science Center, and are preparing to start work.
Leading independent tyre building machinery manufacturer VMI has invested in its technical support teams in Yantai, China, Epe, the Netherlands and Stow, USA. It says each expert team is now equipped to provide the same level of support anywhere.
The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) believes there are “no sustainable alternatives” to natural rubber. In order to gain a greater understanding of how climate change economically and socially impacts this industry, IRSG has enhanced its collaboration with the Singapore Agri-Food Lab (SAIL) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This collaboration may expand in future to focus on sustainability in the supply chain beyond the plantation.
Commenting on the “best ever” second quarter that Titan International, Inc. (TWI) reported this year, Morry Taylor has congratulated company president and chief executive officer Paul Reitz and his team on an “outstanding job.” He credits the team with results so good that “the Board of Directors expected that TWI stock would rise, instead of the 16 per cent drop that happened.” TWI has declined in value from US$16.29 per share on 25 August to $12.64 yesterday.
On 7 September, American Tire Distributors (ATD) announced the completion of its Canadian subsidiary’s sale to Groupe Touchette, Canada’s largest locally-owned tyre distributor. By divesting the National Tire Distributors (NTD) business, the wholesaler says it is now “better positioned to serve its customers across the US” and to “invest in the enhanced innovation that is driving its transformation efforts.”
A wide range of Hankook Atlas BX brand battery products will be on display at Automechanika Frankfurt from 13 to 17 September. Hankook & Company Energy Solution (ES) Business Headquarters will present its latest technologies for start-stop vehicles, passenger cars and commercial vehicles, as well as for boats and motorhomes, at stand E51 in Hall 4.1.
A new flagship tyre will arrive in Bridgestone’s summer touring line-up next year, and it’s a product that “gives drivers control and confidence in stressful and unforeseen conditions, including on a rainy day.” Introducing the Bridgestone Turanza 6, Bridgestone states that its successor to the Turanza T005 offers best-in-class wet performance as well as superior mileage and improved fuel/energy efficiency.
The UK’s largest aftermarket manufacturer of exhausts has announced the opening of a dedicated distribution centre in France. The new Klarius Products site near Lille will enable next-day deliveries to stockists and distributors in the majority of France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, as well as 48 to 72-hour deliveries to other parts of the EU.
In light of strongly rising energy prices in Europe, chemical firm and synthetic rubber manufacturer Synthos has announced that it can no longer produce Emulsion-SBR (ESBR) at full capacity. It will thus reduce ESBR output by approximately 30%, equivalent to around 100,000 MTPA, effective immediately.
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