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Half a year after a major fire caused extensive damage to its tyre factory in Daejeon, South Korea, Hankook Tire & Technology has recommenced some tyre production within the facility. In a disclosure to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the company reports that it approved the resumption of production at the site’s Plant 1 facility on 1 September 2023.
Three months ago, Goodyear announced it would cut up to half the jobs at the tyre factory in Fulda, Germany. Consultation with the trade union IGBCE and the plant’s works council commenced in June. These discussions came to nothing – last Friday, union and works council representatives announced that the Goodyear negotiator had unilaterally declared the talks a failure and ended them.
Korean waste treatment and raw material recycling company LD Carbon and Switzerland’s Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up a facility in South Korea. This plant will process end-of-life tyres (ELTs) into TyreXol rubber powders using the TRS Water Pulse process. LD Carbon will utilise ELTs not processed into TyreXol to produce tyre pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black products whose quality has already passed various global tyre manufacturers’ assurance tests for commercial adoptions.
Maxion Wheels has launched its latest light vehicle wheel innovation, Maxion Bionic, at IAA Mobility 2023. When it comes to market in 2025, Bionic will be available in 18-inch and larger diameter sizes and customisable finishing. Maxion also speaks of utilising the lowest CO2 primary materials and optimised aerodynamics, as well as “revolutionary design options.”
Battery and low-voltage architecture specialist Clarios has announced its intention to purchase Paragon GmbH & Co. KGaA’s power business, which produces batteries and battery management systems for the automotive industry. The company has not disclosed details of the transaction but will share additional information on how this acquisition fits its long-term vision for low-voltage vehicle architecture during this week’s IAA Mobility Conference.
It appears that car tyres have been drafted into a protective role for Russia’s air force. Military aviation blog The Aviationist reports that “something interesting is emerging” from satellite imagery of Russia’s Engels-2 military airbase in Saratov Oblast, around 450 miles from the Ukrainian border. Satellite pictures show tyres placed on the wings and part of the upper fuselage of at least one Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber.
Volkswagen says the ID. GTI Concept show car it is presenting for the first time at the IAA Mobility in Munich provides a “concrete insight” into how it will transport the GTI label into the “electric future”. Based on the ID. 2all1 presented in March – a future electric compact car expected to cost around 25,000 euros – VW considers the ID. GTI Concept to be “more than just a show car.”
In his first European public appearance as president and COO of automotive technology supplier Denso, Shinnosuke Hayashi revealed that the business plans to invest €63 billion in R&D over the next ten years in line with its pursuit of zero emissions and zero traffic fatalities within mobility and society.
ZC Rubber has entered into a strategic partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co Ltd (Leapmotor) to deepen their mutual cooperation in the automotive sector. ZC Rubber doesn’t share specific details about this new cooperation but notes that it builds upon the tyre maker’s role as “one of the most important original equipment partners of Leapmotor.”
Cambrian Tyres Ltd, premier two-wheel tyre distributor to the trade, has announced a partnership with Rebel Tyres that it calls “an exciting new chapter for the domestic off-road market.” Introducing the Spanish brand, Cambrian says Rebel Tyres is known for its cutting-edge innovation and commitment to excellence.
Alongside its real-world motorsport efforts in the 2023 NLS championship, the Falken racing programme is about to step up a gear following its acceptance into the 2023/24 24H Series Esports championship. Falken sim racers finished fourth overall when participating in a ‘pre-qualifying’ session for the championshi, clearing the official Falken’s Esports team to field a GT3 car in the six-round online racing series, which gets underway with the virtual Spa Francorchamps on 1 October.
Sailun Group reports having produced 14.16 million tyres and selling 13.57 million tyres in Q2 2023. During the first half of this year, the company produced 25.68 million tyres, a year-on-year increase of 12.3 per cent. H1 2023 tyre sales amounted to 25.11 million pieces, up 12.3 per cent year-on-year.
ATS Euromaster has experienced a significant increase in the volume of SMR work it is now completing, with work on brake changes up 27%, commercial vehicle servicing up 41% and the number of MOTs completed increasing by 8%. The tyre and maintenance provider believes a combination of factors is behind the increased SMR workload, and in response, it is hiring new staff and further training the existing ATS workforce.
Niko Haavisto will become the new Chief Financial Officer of Nokian Tyres and a member of the company’s Management team as of 1 October 2023, succeeding Teemu Kangas-Kärki. In this role, he will report to Jukka Moisio, President and Chief Executive Officer. Jari Huuhtanen, VP, Group Business Control, will continue in the interim position of SVP, Finance and Treasury, until the end of February 2024.
In April, a month after its acquisition by oil and gas company Tatneft, the former Nokian Tyres operation in Russia adopted the name Ikon Tyres. The business has now taken the next step in its rebranding with the unveiling of new product names.
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