![Apollo appoints ex-Goodyear OE specialist as senior vice president for North America](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Steven-Smidlein.jpg)
Apollo appoints ex-Goodyear OE specialist as senior vice president for North America
Apollo Tyres has appointed Steven Smidlein as the senior vice president for North America. This new role will be based in the firm’s New Jersey office and will see Smidlein reporting to Neeraj Kanwar, vice chairman and managing director, Apollo Tyres Ltd. An OE specialist, with previous experience at Goodyear, Steven Smidlein has spent most of his career working in various executive roles for car makers such as Chrysler, Honda and Accura in the US. According to the Apollo, Smidlein’s latest role sees him take responsibility for ”building the brand and sales in North America for both, Apollo and Vredestein”.
Continue ReadingRemanufacturing business ‘booming’ for Brake Engineering
Brake Engineering has reported an increased demand in remanufacturing, as the braking brand continues to gain success with its Original Aftermarket campaign. While remanufactured brake calipers experience higher demand at this time of year, Brake Engineering is reporting an even greater upsurge in demand for calipers than in previous years.
Continue Reading![Yokohama website goes multilingual](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/yoko-russian.jpg)
Yokohama website goes multilingual
Nine new language options have been added to Yokohama Rubber’s corporate website. In addition to being available in English and Japanese, the site now includes information in Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Thai, Korean, Russian, Indonesian, and German. Users can access corporate information in their language of choice by selecting at the www.y-yokohama.com/global/ start page.
Continue ReadingYokohama Rubber acquiring Alliance Tire Group
On 25 March, the Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. announced it has reached an agreement with global investment firm KKR and three other parties to purchase all shares in Alliance Tire Group (ATG) for an agreed equity value of US$1,179 million. The transaction is expected to be finalised on 1 July 2016, after the completion of all necessary closing procedures, including regulatory approvals.
Continue Reading![Klarius to invest £1.5million from 2016](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/klarius-investment-e1458834899234.jpg)
Klarius to invest £1.5million from 2016
The UK’s largest manufacturer of exhausts, CATs and DPFs for the aftermarket has announced £1.5m of project investment to begin in 2016. Klarius Products states that it has allocated the money to production capacity increases, quality improvements, and lead time reduction on new parts.
Continue Reading![Goodyear converting Luxembourg wire plant land into Automotive Campus](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Cam-15-final-neu-goodyear-resized-2.jpg)
Goodyear converting Luxembourg wire plant land into Automotive Campus
Goodyear, together with the Luxembourg government and IEE, have announced plans to develop a new Automotive Campus dedicated to innovation. The Luxembourg Automotive Campus research and development area is intended to provide state of the art facilities to companies involved in technological innovation for the automotive sector. The tyre manufacturer also announced that part of its partnership with the Automotive Campus project means moving all its local non-manufacturing personnel onto the new site.
Continue Reading![Arlanxeo – synthetic rubber JV’s Executive Board named](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/de-Vries-5_zoom.jpg)
Arlanxeo – synthetic rubber JV’s Executive Board named
The Executive Board for the new Arlanxeo synthetic rubber joint venture has been announced, with parent companies Lanxess and Saudi Aramco gaining equal representation on the four-person Board.
Continue Reading![UK car manufacturing still booming, up 13% in February](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Car-output_rolling-year-totals-Feb-2016.png)
UK car manufacturing still booming, up 13% in February
British car manufacturing figures for February 2016 show that car manufacturing is still booming. According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), output rose 13.1 per cent compared with February 2015. Reflecting the growing popularity of UK-built cars both at home and abroad, February’s performance puts production for the year-to-date up 10.6 per cent over the same period last year. Output for the domestic market rose 24.4 per cent in the month, accompanied by a 9.1 per cent increase in export production.
Continue Reading![Tyrenet secures TOM Vehicle Rental fleet management using CAM’s e-jobsheet](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tyrenet.jpg)
Tyrenet secures TOM Vehicle Rental fleet management using CAM’s e-jobsheet
Fleet maintenance and breakdown specialist Tyrenet will provide its services to Airdrie-based TOM Vehicle Rental’s 11,000-plus fleet. Using CAM’s digital tablet-based solution e-jobsheet as part of its bespoke solution, Tyrenet will improve efficiency and control over TOM’s entire tyre function, helping to deliver cost-saving benefits.
Continue ReadingKwik Fit doubles fleet warranty on brake parts
Kwik Fit has doubled the fleet warranty it offers on friction brake parts. According to the company, it is an “industry-leading move that will deliver operating cost savings to the corporate sector”. This means the firm now offers 24 months/24,000 miles warranty, up from 12 months/12,000 miles across brake pads, discs, drums and shoes. Kwik Fit reports that it is able to do this due to the training and workmanship of its expert technicians.
Continue Reading![Kwik Fit expanding into Italy, across Europe](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Kwik-Fit-1.jpg)
Kwik Fit expanding into Italy, across Europe
The Kwik Fit Group has agreed a partnership deal that sees the Kwik Fit tyre retail and fast-fit brand expand into Italy. Under the terms of the agreement, 200 centres are set to open over the next decade. The expansion is based on a franchise agreement with CDG-ONE, part of Segema S.p.A., a leading tyre distribution group in Italy. Segema imports and distributes Yokohama tyres in Italy through Yokohama Italia S.p.A. and GiTi Tyres through Magri Gomme S.p.A.
Continue Reading![Kobe Steel opens tyre and rubber machinery firm in China](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/26-4.jpg)
Kobe Steel opens tyre and rubber machinery firm in China
In April Kobe Steel, Ltd. will open a company in China to sell tyre and rubber machinery and provide after-sales service. Kobelco Machinery System Engineering Qingdao Co., Ltd. (or KMQ), based in Qingdao, Shangdong Province will supply rubber mixers, twin screw roller head extruders and tyre testing machines used in the manufacture of tyres for cars, construction equipment and other rubber products. Kobe Steel has invested 2 million yuan (about 40 million yen; £216,000) in KMQ.
Continue Reading![Motor Wheel Service to offer ‘complete wheel solution’ with accessories range](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MWS-accessories.jpg)
Motor Wheel Service to offer ‘complete wheel solution’ with accessories range
Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) has introduced a comprehensive range of accessories for Xlite and Xbrite+ forged aluminium and steel wheel ranges. The wheel distributor said the range focuses on aesthetics, safety and security. The list of products includes wheel nuts, checkpoints, centre rings, studs, pliers, cap covers and cleaning goods, among many others.
Continue Reading![Louzán SL to produce Marangoni Ringtread retread tyres in Spain](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/WEB-Marangoni-Louzan.jpg)
Louzán SL to produce Marangoni Ringtread retread tyres in Spain
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced a new partnership with Spanish retreading partner, Louzán SL. The Galicia-based company, which was formed in the 1940s, offers a range of services for fleets, including retreading, with ten sales outlets for extensive territorial coverage. Marangoni said the partnership reflects the “major changes” taking place in the retreading industry. While the future of the retread manufacturer’s Rovereto remains uncertain, Marangoni has moved to increase its global partnerships in various markets around the world. The company characterises its latest Spanish partnership as an “expansion” of its activities in the country.
Continue Reading![Pirelli truck tyres separating and merging with Aeolus/ChemChina](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/pirell-truck-aeolus-merge.jpg)
Pirelli truck tyres separating and merging with Aeolus/ChemChina
Pirelli’s Chinese owner ChemChina has officially entered into negotiations relating to the separating out the Italian firm’s truck tyre business in order to combine it with Aeolus and the three other ChemChina-owned tyre businesses.
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