Exol announces small pack investment
Exol Lubricants has introduced an additional eight-head Masterfil filling machine at its Wednesbury facility, enhancing the efficiency and production capacity of small pack products. The Adelphi Masterfil is designed to offer flexibility of filling volumes, handling both low and high viscosity liquids. The machine’s adjustable nozzles enable the fill of products with variable speed filling capacity.
Continue ReadingKPMG – Brexit would cause ‘UK automotive market concerns’
John Leech, Head of Automotive at KPMG in the UK, has highlighted concerns relating to what would happen to the UK automotive market in the event of Brexit. With SMMT data suggesting that more than nine out of ten automotive market members are in favour of remaining, his views add detail to that consensus perspective. He said:
Continue ReadingTyre e-tailer Pneusmart secures 765,000 euros financing
Pneusmart, the Amsterdam-headquartered online tyre dealer, has secured seed funding of 765,000 euros led by Shark Bites, Digital Magics and a group of international angel investors. According to the company, the funds will be used to consolidate Pneusmart’s position in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. The company will further invest in its Milan office from where it will coordinate its activities in Southern Europe. In the coming months new websites will be launched in Spain and France.
Continue ReadingNational Tyres and Autocare board approves leases for 10 new branches
National Tyres and Autocare will expand its network by 10 branches over the next year. Launching at the start of July, and projected to finish in early 2017, this expansion phase will include new branches in London, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, South Wales and the South West. These branches will join the existing network of 241 branch locations operating throughout the UK. National added that 14 further sites are currently “in the pipeline”. The network is the UK’s third largest; the latest expansion will demonstrate its sharpest growth in locations for five years.
Continue ReadingSimplify and grow – STARCO restructures in order to increase its OE focus
Change of any sort within an organisation can be difficult, says Richard Todd, but sometimes change is necessary in order to find the right area of focus and to grow in this. Upon becoming chief executive officer of STARCO at the start of last year, Todd took over the day-to-day management of a half-century old company on the cusp of starting the sizable task of redefining its focus and long-term direction. He began working on this in close collaboration with company owner, Peer Ejlergaard. Now, some 18 months later, this direction is clearly visible. At Reifen 2016, Richard Todd spoke about the structural reorganisation taking place within STARCO and the steps taken to realise it.
Continue ReadingAramid – a material for a changing industry
On average, new cars sold in the European Union last year emitted three per cent less carbon dioxide than those sold in 2014. Yet average CO2 output was still close to 25 grams per kilometre – or more than 20 per cent – above the 95 gram limit the EU has set for 2020. Achieving the 2020 goal requires a further drop in vehicle running resistance, and car makers expect tyre OEMs to contribute to this goal by offering even lighter products with lower rolling resistance. This push for greener tyres that weigh less is music to the ears of the industry’s market-leading aramid supplier.
Continue ReadingCommissioning of JV biomass power plant lifts Nokian Tyres’ green energy use
In order to increase the proportion of green energy used in the manufacture of its products, Nokian Tyres has entered into a joint venture to construct a biomass power plant. The Finnish tyre maker shares that the Nokianvirran Energia HK 16 facility, which is 32.3 per cent owned by Nokian Tyres, was commissioned yesterday. Nokian’s partners in the joint venture are Sähkö Oy, which holds a 40.3 per cent share, and Oy SCA Hygiene Products Ab, which is a 27.4 per cent shareholder.
Continue ReadingNew products and brand support for Cooper, Avon ranges
Recent initiatives to increase awareness of the Cooper tyre brand in the UK and Europe have yielded positive results, and therefore Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe not only intends to continue these efforts, it has begun extending them to the Avon brand. During Reifen 2016, Tyres & Accessories caught up with Jeff Schumaker, managing director and vice-president of the tyre maker’s European operations, and discussed where Cooper Tire Europe is heading with its two brands in regards to products, positioning and promotion.
Continue ReadingFirst Stop ‘accelerating’ expansion plans
The First Stop fast fit network states that it is accelerating its expansion plans across the UK. Currently operating 72 centres, the network said that it has recently attracted six new members. The network has also become an official supporter of TyreSafe. First Stop’s partner zone manager, Mike Glover said: “First Stop prides itself on outstanding customer service and we consider explaining the importance of tyre safety as an essential part of that relationship.
Continue ReadingObo Tyres adding rubber track retreading
At its beach-themed Reifen 2016 stand, Dutch retreader Obo Tyres shared details of a new area it has branched out into. The company has begun retreading drive rollers and rubber agricultural tracks, and displayed a number of these products at the show. The tyre retreader considers the addition of these products to its retreading portfolio a logical step for the company.
Continue ReadingChemChina to create world’s fourth-largest industrial tyre company
As senior management from Aeolus Tyre disclosed during a Reifen 2016 press conference, the Chinese tyre maker will soon be part of the world’s fourth-largest industrial tyre manufacturing company. This new tyre firm, which has yet to be named, will exist under the umbrella of state-owned concern ChemChina. In addition to Aeolus Tyre, the company will be comprised of Pirelli, which ChemChina acquired last year, and the Italian tyre maker’s new sister companies, Qingdao Yellow Sea Rubber and Double Happiness.
Continue ReadingLaufenn to be sold in 70 markets by year’s end
Not only was Hankook Tire present at Reifen 2016 with products from its flagship Hankook brand, including its new Ventus Prime³ comfort tyre and innovations such as Sealguard and sound absorbing foam, the South Korean manufacturer also presented its second brand, Laufenn, which is now being introduced into European markets.
Continue ReadingGoodyear presents service providers with European TruckForce Awards 2016
Goodyear has presented its European 2016 TruckForce Awards in Luxembourg, recognising the customer support of its 2,000-strong network. The awards ceremony was part of the second international TruckForce Convention and was held in parallel with the launch of the new Dunlop on-road truck tyre range.
Continue ReadingFurther investment in Goodyear’s Lawton, US factory
An upgrade to Goodyear’s Lawton facility in Oklahoma, USA will increase its capability to produce consumer tyres in sizes up to and including 24-inch fitments. The US$27.5 million project will see the plant’s footprint enlarged by 15,600 square feet (around 1,500 square metres) and the addition of curing presses capable of accommodating the larger rim diameter tyres.
Continue ReadingContinental signs MoU for new headquarters site in Hannover
In recent months Continental AG has been evaluating potential sites for its new headquarters, and has examined plots in Hannover and the nearby town of Garbsen. The company now shares that it is favouring the location near the ‘Pferdeturm’ in Hannover as the site for its future headquarters. Continental says it has officially entered concrete, detailed negotiations to this end with the city of Hannover.
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