Cemb introducing upgraded Argos at Autopromotec
Garage equipment manufacturer Cemb has announced that is presenting some recently-develop upgrades to its Argos machine at Autopromtec. According to the company, the improvements have made it “even faster and more efficient”. Argos software now recognizes vehicle’s license plate, automatically selecting relevant specs and starting the measuring process. As a result, wheel alignment is even faster. Indeed, it reportedly takes just five seconds from the vehicle’s arrival to getting results.
Continue ReadingMcLaren makes 20,000th car
McLaren Automotive made its 20,000th hand-assembled car at its McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey. The 20,000th car built was a right-hand drive 600LT Spider in Chicane Grey from the brand’s Sports Series line-up. Launched only last summer as the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ story, all production slots for the Coupe variant have already been filled. It has been fitted with Pirelli Trofeo R tyres.
Continue ReadingGoodyear partnering with Citroën in 100th anniversary autonomous electric car project
The Citroën 19_19 Concept marks the brand’s 100th anniversary and is designed to deliver exclusivity, comfort and privacy. Conceptualised with an extra-large dimension and aesthetics to match the 19_19 Concept’s spectacular design, Goodyear has designed the C100 concept tyre especially for this unique project.
Continue ReadingPaolo Roversi to shoot 2020 Pirelli Calendar
Paolo Roversi has been given the remit of snapping pics for the 2020 Pirelli Calendar. The Italian-born, Paris-based photographer brings half a century of experience to the role. Pirelli comments that Roversi is “considered one of the most talented contemporary photographers, above all for his style which is personal and highly recognisable.”
Continue ReadingFinTyre completes Rs Exclusivreifengrosshandel and Tyrexpert Reifen + Autoservice acquisition
Following the announcement made on 28 December 2018, on 10 May 2019, European FinTyre Distribution (EfTD) announced that it has completed the acquisition of 100 per cent of German tyre firms Rs ExclusivReifengrosshandel GmbH and Tyrexpert Reifen+Autoservice GmbH.
Continue ReadingUSA increasing tariffs on US$200 billion of Chinese imports…including tyres
In the USA, the recent United States Trade Representative (USTR) Section 301 investigation exploring potential tariffs on a range of Chinese imports has reported back. After tariffs of 10 per cent were put into place in September, the planned increase to 25 per cent in January was delayed while trade talks continued.
Continue ReadingCan artificial intelligence reduce warranty claims?
At the start of April 2019, Bridgestone formally completed its billion-dollar acquisition of TomTom Telematics. The goal – as ever – is to capitalise on the benefits of big data, leveraging its usefulness in the cause of better tyres and greater efficiency for all stakeholders. Of course, Bridgestone is not the only tyremaker seeking to make the most of tyre data. Many have invested significantly in developing cyber tyres over the course of the last 10 to 15 years, harnessing the fact that tyres are a vehicles’ only point of contact with the road and therefore the only means of generating real-time road surface:vehicle contact data. This same approach also yields tyre condition and performance data, which can be used for everything from motorsport to commercial fleet applications. But what about in the manufacturing process itself?
Continue ReadingNokian’s US staff travelling to Europe for training
Nokian Tyres is sending the first group of US employees from its Dayton, Tennessee factory to Europe for training. After a month of orientation, Nokian reports that it is sending the staff group on a six-week training trip to its facilities in Russia and Finland.
Continue ReadingNexen Tire opens central R&D facility
Nexen Tire has a new R&D hub – the Nexen Central Research Institute, or Nexen univerCITY. Located in the Magok Industrial Complex in Seoul, South Korea, the 57,000 square metre facility will act as a research and development hub for Nexen Tire’s centres in the USA, Europe and China. More than 300 people attended an official opening ceremony for the Nexen univerCITY late last month.
Continue ReadingGRI and Al Dobowi launch strategic partnership
A new strategic business partnership between Al Dobowi and GRI has been set up to facilitate the distribution of the GRI off-highway tyre brand in Middle Eastern and African markets. The partnership was officially launched at a function in Dubai on 29 April.
Continue ReadingTirescanner.com appoints VP sales
Tirescanner.com has appointed former Jack Williams director of marketing, Scott Friedman as VP of sales. The US online tyre sales portal’s president, and founder of Blackcircles.com in the UK, Mike Welch said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Scott into the Tirescanner family. It is really important to me that we appoint the very best talent from the tyre industry.”
Continue ReadingKobe Steel buys out L&T Kobelco Machinery
Kobe Steel has bought all the shares of its Indian tyre and rubber machinery joint venture, L&T Kobelco Machinery (LTKM), making it a wholly owned subsidiary. LTKM manufactures, designs and sells rubber machinery used in tyre manufacturing.
Continue ReadingPeter Taylor becomes vice president of ETRA
Peter Taylor OBE, secretary general of the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), has been elected vice president of the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA) nine-member board. The board, comprised of nine members, oversees the formation and execution of ETRA’s strategic priorities and focus areas. Taylor is the only UK representative on the board.
Continue ReadingGulf Air selects Michelin as tyre partner
Bahraini national airline Gulf Air has announced its selection of Michelin to equip every aircraft type within its fleet with tyres. Michelin’s supply to Gulf Air includes fitment on its new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Airbus 320neo and Airbus 321neo planes.
Continue ReadingMichelin contributing to UAE ‘rubber asphalt’ project
Michelin is partnering with the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Infrastructure Development on a pilot project to pave roads with a ‘rubber asphalt’ produced from a mixture of concrete and rubber recycled from end of life tyres. The Ministry announced yesterday that a two-month trial of the new mixture will begin next week.
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