Colmec acquires Finnish Bandag retreader Pentep Oy
Colmec Group has acquired Bandag retreader Pentep Oy, one of Finland’s biggest independent retreaders. The company has built a strong customer base of tyre service operations and end-users since it was established in 1992. ”To be a part of Colmec will strengthen Pentep and secure that we can grow and take the next step in the Finnish market, this will positively gain both new and existing customers, but also our employees,” says Teppo Vekka CEO at Pentep.
Continue ReadingIndefinite strike threatens supply of TMD Friction brake products
Pay strikes intensified at TMD Frictions Hartlepool factory, according to Unite, the UK’s leading union, on 23 February. Around 150 workers began strike action over pay earlier this month. That number has since increased to over 180 as more workers join the union. The workers have now moved to continuous indefinite strike action, risking brake product shortages for TMD’s partners, which include Rolls Royce, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Bentley and McLaren.
Continue ReadingSPC Rubber forms new tyre brand Nova Motorsport, appoints ex-Avon motorsport head
UK compounder SPC Rubber Group has formed a new tyre brand targeting the global motorsport market. Nova Motorsport founder and SPC Rubber managing director Paul Hallas said the company will focus “solely on low-volume racing and specialist tyres,” looking forward to announcing its first products and international partnerships in 2024. With a website and social media channels already in place, Nova will take its public bow at Retromobile – The Classic Car Show in Paris (31 January to 4 February 2024, Hall 1, Stand M-002). Nova has also recruited strong segment experience in its leadership team, including former Avon Motorsport head Paul Coates. Nova launches shortly after Goodyear’s closure of the Cooper Tire manufacturing facility in Melksham, the historical home of Avon and its motorsport operations. Nova is headquartered in Wiltshire, the same UK county as Melksham. “Nova”, as will already be apparent to those in the tyre industry, is Avon in reverse, perhaps a nod to a UK brand with a long motorsport heritage, whose future is being reconfigured under its new owner.
Continue ReadingContinental presents efficient, sustainable Smart Agriculture vision at Agritechnica 2023
Continental presented its product and service portfolio for the agricultural sector at Hannover’s Agritechnica 2023 show in November. The manufacturer demonstrated its technology solutions to support farmers and manufacturers tackling today’s agricultural challenges under the tagline “Our Smart Farming. For your harvest of tomorrow.” Conti used insights gathered in its “Agriculture in Transition” study, which looked at farm operators’ attitudes in five large regional markets (Germany, France, USA, Japan and Brazil). The study confirms that most farmers take the responsibility to pursue more sustainable farming very seriously while trying to tackle the challenge of adapting to new conditions caused by environmental change. Conti’s display demonstrates how the company’s divisions are engaging with the agricultural market, including the new environmentally friendly weed control system, designed and developed by Continental Engineering Services (CES), and ContiConnect Lite, a version of its tyre pressure monitoring system that integrates with farmers’ smartphones.
Continue ReadingTyres & Accessories January 2024 issue available to read online now
The January issue of Tyres & Accessories Magazine is now available as an e-paper for subscribers to Tyrepress, following the distribution of the print edition. The latest issue includes special features on agricultural tyres and TPMS and sensor technology. It also includes the usual mix of in-depth articles and analysis tackling current events and trends in the global tyre industry. Non-subscribers can gain access to Tyrepress with a print or online subscription, or tyre professionals can take advantage of the current Tyrepress Membership offer, helping to drive business online and stay informed with the industry’s leading magazine and websites.
Continue ReadingGoodyear gives CFO Zamarro a 7-figure award
In addition to the news that Goodyears new CEO has been offered a $20 million-dollar year one package, effective 1 January 2024, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s board of directors compensation committee granted a “cash retention award” to Christina L. Zamarro, the firm’s executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Continue ReadingGB Tyres distributing Uniroyal truck tyre range
Uniroyal has appointed GB Tyres (UK) LTD as its official UK wholesale distributor for the Uniroyal truck tyre range. Announcing the new arrangement, GB Tyres states that this partnership “marks a significant milestone,” the wholesale expressing pride in aligning itself with “a brand known for its quality, innovation, and commitment to customer satisfaction.”
Continue ReadingNew Goodyear CEO Stewart gets ~$20 million year-one package
Following the news that Mark Stewart has been appointed as Goodyear’s new global chief executive, further details of his remuneration have emerged. He’s getting paid a double-digit-million-dollar package in year one.
Continue ReadingPyrum establishes subsidiary for second pyrolysis plant
At the start of January, Pyrum Innovations established a wholly owned subsidiary to operate its second pyrolysis tyre recycling plant. This ‘Pyrum GreenFactory II GmbH’ facility is located in Perl-Besch on the Moselle, in Germany’s Saarland region, and will enter service by the end of 2025. Pyrum has modelled the plant on its main site in nearby Dillingen/Saar, and when operational it will double the company’s recycling capacity to 40,000 tonnes of used tyres per annum. Pyrum says it already starting to order certain plant components – those with “notoriously long delivery times” – in the first quarter of 2024.
Continue ReadingLinglong’s net profit increases >300%
On 15 January, Linglong disclosed its estimated net profit for 2023. The tyre manufacturer reported net profit in 2023 of between 1.35 billion yuan (approximately £148 million; €173 million) and 1.61 billion yuan (about £176 million; €206 million), a year-on-year increase of 362 per cent to 451 per cent.
Continue ReadingGoodyear: Mark Stewart succeeds Rich Kramer as CEO
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Mark Stewart as chief executive officer and president, effective 29 January 2024. He succeeds Richard J. Kramer, who announced his retirement from Goodyear towards the end of 2023. In addition, also as of 29 January, Laurette T. Koellner, independent lead director of Goodyear’s board since 2019, will become non-executive board chair, and Stewart will be added to the Goodyear board as a director.
Continue ReadingSailun’s Vietnam plant begins rubber track production
With additions made during the third phase of Sailun Group’s Vietnam factory project now operational, the plant has started manufacturing rubber tracks. Members of the Sailun management team recently invited partners and plant employees to a ceremony celebrating the inauguration of track production.
Continue ReadingPrinx Europe – growth to follow success in 2024
Prinx Europe says it is raising the bar after an “extremely successful 2023,” with “big plans” already in place for this year. The tyre maker intends to further grow both its European dealer network and local product range in 2024.
Continue ReadingSRI utilising hydrogen energy in tyre manufacturing
Since establishing its new long-term sustainability policy in 2021, Sumitomo Rubber Group has piloted and demonstrated proof of concept for the use of hydrogen as a source of energy at its tyre factory in Shirakawa, Japan. Combined with power generated from solar photovoltaic panels installed in the plant’s carpark, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) claims that the use of hydrogen has led to carbon neutrality (Scopes 1 and 2) for its production at Shirakawa, beginning in January 2023.
Continue ReadingPirelli’s Italian shareholders increase stakes
Following on from the execution of the Italian government’s golden power directive, which removed Sinochem’s power to appoint a chief executive, Pirelli’s major investors have struck an investment agreement that effectively gives increased control to Pirelli’s Italian shareholders as well as to executive Marco Tronchetti-Proveras eponymous company.
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