Apollo: Kerala plant returning to normal levels
Apollo Tyres’ manufacturing facilities in Kerala (located in Perambra and Kalamassery) are now returning to normal production levels, according to the company. Production operations in the two plants were affected by heavy floods in the state which prevented employees getting in to work. Writing in an official statement on the matter, company representatives said: “There is no damage to equipment or property, and all the employees of the company are safe and secure. The production loss due to this natural calamity is 3000 metric tonnes approximately. However, consequential loss of profit is not significant.”
Continue ReadingPrometeon takes part in SmartBus zero emission project
Prometeon Tyre Group has signed a tyre supply agreement with the SmartBUS project which is being developed by the Eco – Hev company, a spin-off of the Politecnico di Milano, active in the development of innovative electro mobility systems for the spread of sustainable mobility. The project involves the installation of an innovative fast charging system using a charging station located at the end of the urban line. This energy storage system, being tested on a bus circulating in the city of La Spezia, is based on the Ultracapacitor system developed by Eco - Hev in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano. The system eliminates the need for batteries on board the vehicle, ensuring a considerable reduction in charging times (from 8 hours to 5 minutes).
Continue ReadingSuperdoll Zambia gains mine safety accreditation
Superdoll OTR Retreading plant in Ndola, Zambia has been granted accreditation for OTR retreaded tyre distribution after going through all required documentation, company profile and records, according to Superdoll country manager Vick Nachson.
Continue ReadingInter-Sprint founder Van Vliet dies
Tributes are being made to Job van Vliet, the founder and owner of the Inter-Sprint Group, who died on Thursday 30 August at the age of 77. Under his leadership Inter-Sprint grew to become one of the largest tyre wholesalers in Europe, with group businesses including De Sprint Autobanden, Inter-Tire and the Bandenexpress. In 2014 the company bought Van de Ban Banden. At the same time the companies he founded grew, van Vliet himself also prospered eventually becoming one of the hundred richest people in the Netherlands, according to Quote magazine.
Continue ReadingAmazon offers Alexa car integration kit
Amazon has launched a developer kit that makes it possible to integrate the company’s Alexa into car infotainment systems. In addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, drivers now have a third option for navigation, streaming songs, making calls and finding restaurants, gas stations and hotels. Alexa as part of the infotainment system eliminates the need to plug a mobile device into the car.
Continue ReadingYokohama sacks 29 Mississippi tyre factory workers
Yokohama Rubber’s Mississippi tyre factory has fired 29 employees for not meeting job requirements. Local media has reported that employees at the plant in West Point were fired for using fake worker certifications. The workers obtained fraudulent certification documents from a job-training program that companies use to determine the aptitude of potential hires.
Continue ReadingAmazon, Sears extend online tyre programme across US
In the USA, Sears Auto Center is expanding its tyre installation and balancing programme for customers who purchase tyres on Amazon.com. Initially launched in May at 47 Sears Auto Centers in eight metropolitan areas, the ship-to-store option for buying tyres is now available nationwide including Alaska and Hawaii.
Continue ReadingWLTP impacting tyre markets
Introduction of the new vehicle emissions and fuel consumption test protocol, the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) is already having an impact on what wheels and tyres are available in the market. Of course, the size of vehicle wheels and consequently tyres is hugely influential in vehicle carbon dioxide (CO2) and fuel consumption (miles per gallon – MPG) performance and in recent years there has been a trend by motor manufacturers to fit larger wheels to vehicles, including even larger rim sizes as options.
Continue ReadingAccreditation for Rosava tyre testing laboratory
The tyre testing laboratory operated by Rosava has been accredited according to DSTU ISO/IEC 17025: 2006 (ISO/IEC 17025: 2005) by the National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine. The accreditation was granted on 6 August and is valid through to 2023.
Continue ReadingDuPont increases Zytel prices globally
Polymer producer DuPont has announce that it will increase its Zytel prices globally. Effective from 1 October, or as soon as contracts allow, DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers is increasing the price of Zytel products by the equivalent of $550 per metric tonne.
Continue ReadingSumitomo Rubber Industries becomes ball supplier to Australian Open
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI), manufacturer of the Falken tyre brand as well as the Dunlop tyre brand for Japan and several other markets, has entered into a sponsorship agreement for the Australian Open. The agreement with Tennis Australia sees SRI become official supplier of tennis balls for the Australian Open starting in 2019, and official supplier for the Emirates Australian Open Series. As such, SRI is the first Japanese company to become an official ball supplier for a Grand Slam tournament.
Continue ReadingPirelli restarts Venezuela production
After a stoppage of two days, Pirelli’s tyre factory in Guacara, Venezuela is said to be operating again. Venezuelan daily El Universal reports that the country’s Ministry of Labour has intervened in the matter, and this led to production recommencing on 29 August.
Continue ReadingGoodyear South Africa’s new HQ
While Goodyear celebrates 120 Years of Innovation in 2018, in South Africa the company is also celebrating moving to a new headquarters at the Hertford Office Park in Midrand. Goodyear South Africa has consolidated its Johannesburg-based offices to support the dompanys business strategy of business simplification, increased efficiencies and enabling effective employee engagement.
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres’ US warehouse goes solar
Solar panels installed on the roof of Nokian Tyres’ distribution centre in Vermont, USA have the capacity to more than meet the facility’s entire electricity requirements. The solar equipment’s total annual output is said to be approximately 427,500 kWh, which is 110 per cent of annual usage at the Colchester site. Excess energy will be supplied to the grid.
Continue ReadingMichelin restarting production at US giant OTR tyre plant
According to local news sources, the Michelin earthmover tyre factory in Starr, South Carolina will reopen today. The Anderson Observer writes that the facility’s reactivation will be made official at an event held at the plant today.
Continue Reading