East European Trailer Market hit by more falls in Turkish vehicle demand
Market analysts at Clear report that the Eastern Europe trailer market has been hit by a severe downturn in the Turkish market for commercial vehicles. The forecast for Turkey in 2017 is for a fall in trailer demand of 29 per cent on the back of large declines in 2015 and 2016. Political instability had already undermined business confidence in early 2016 and then in mid-year there was an attempted military coup. This had a dire and worsening effect on business investment. As a result, a further 19,700 trailers have been wiped from the Turkish forecast.
Continue ReadingWorld record for electric bus
An electric bus, designed by Californian company Proterra, has broken a world record by travelling more than 1,000 miles on a single charge.
Continue ReadingCamso buys Stanley Industrial Tires
Camso has acquired US firm Stanley Industrial Tires, which offers tyre service and distribution in Texas and Louisiana. The business has locations in Dallas, Waco, and Gladewater, Texas and one in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Continue ReadingTyre sales lower in Q3 2017: ETRMA
Companies belonging to the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) experienced a further decrease of replacement market tyre sales in all segments during the third quarter of 2017. This decline was particularly strong in the agricultural segment, where member sales were down 25 per cent year-on-year in the three months to 30 September 2017. The ETRMA comments that sales in agricultural segment confirm a negative trend already seen in 2016.
Continue ReadingYokohama Celebrates Centenary
The Yokohama Rubber Company Ltd is today celebrating its 100th anniversary since it was founded in the city of Yokohama, Japan on 13 October 1917.
Continue ReadingBelshina produces first 63-inch tyre
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC reports the production of its first 63-inch mining tyre. The tyre, which has a diameter of more than four metres and weighs 5.7 tonnes, is intended for fitment on dump trucks used in quarry and mining applications. Belshina reports that the tyre’s capacity exceeds 100 tonnes thanks to its steel cord casing, and it can be used at ambient temperatures between -55ºC and +45ºC.
Continue ReadingBridgestone closing Firestone Fibers and Textiles plant in Canada
Operations at the Firestone Fibers and Textiles plant in Woodstock, Canada will cease by the end of next year, reports Bridgestone Canada Inc. The company’s decision to close the facility, whose product portfolio includes reinforcement materials for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, will affect a total of 170 employees. Bridgestone intends to close the plant in phases, beginning 31 December 2017 and culminating in the total cessation of operations in the second half of 2018.
Continue ReadingPoint S opens first store in Malaysia
On 5 October (the day after Chinese mid-Autumn festival) Point S auspiciously opened its first store in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia a short 30 mins drive from Kuala Lumpur city Centre. The news comes barely after Malaysia’s public listed GIIB group signed on as a licensee of Point S Malaysia. GIIB group, is known for its “Supercool” brand of retread rubber.
Continue ReadingGoodyear ups common stock dividend by 40 per cent
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has increased the company’s quarterly common stock dividend to 14 cents per share from 10 cents per share. The 40 per cent dividend increase represents an annual rate of 44 cents per share for 2017 and 56 cents per share for 2018.
Continue ReadingCITExpo 2017 Review
The 15th edition of the China International Tire Expo (CITExpo), and its second at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, opened its two-hall, 40,000sqm exhibition space at a time of uncertainty for the Chinese tyre industry – especially the aspirational medium and small sized companies the show tends to attract as exhibitors. Two factors that promise to change the shape of the industry provided a backdrop for the show: in Europe, the European Commission announced its intention to initiate an anti-dumping proceeding focusing on imports of truck and bus tyres originating in the People’s Republic, prompted by the “coalition against unfair tyres imports,” a group representing the interests of manufacturers accounting for more than 45 per cent of all new and retreaded truck and bus tyre production in the European Union. Meanwhile in China, the government’s crackdown on certain factories for environmental reasons looks likely to affect some tyre manufacturers’ pricing structure at best, and ability to continue to operate at worst. Tyres & Accessories spoke to one representative who suggested that some factories could struggle to meet demands as the availability of raw materials for tyre production is affected by the state mandated closures.
Continue ReadingCeat acquires land for new tyre plant
India’s Ceat Ltd. has acquired 163 acres (66 hectares) of land in Chennai for building a new factory. The deal was concluded by JLL India, the country’s largest real estate consultancy, who also negotiated associated incentives with the government of Tamil Nadu state.
Continue ReadingNew mixer, greater utilisation to facilitate expansion at Sumitomo’s US tyre plant
According to a permit issued by a state authority, car tyre capacity at Sumitomo Rubber USA’s plant in Tonawanda, New York will double to 10,000 tyres per day. In addition to its existing production of 5,000 motorcycle tyres per day and 2,000 medium truck/bus tyres per day, this expansion will lift the plant’s annual rubber production capacity to 250 million pounds or 113,400 tonnes.
Continue ReadingVipal: treads outperform tier one new tyres in European comparative tests
Vipal Rubber has released the results of two comparative tests carried out on two European highways involving the VRT3 and VL150. Vipal’s performance evaluations seek to compare similar products, applied in their intended segments and submitted to use in equal conditions, ensuring impartiality in the results obtained. For this to be possible, the tests follow strict standards stipulated by Vipal’s methodology on performance evaluation.
Continue ReadingLinglong’s dandelion and polyurethane tyres on-show at Tire+
Continuing the theme of technological development, Linglong Tire – a top five Chinese tyre enterprise – exhibited a number of technological developments including its: a dandelion natural rubber-based tyre, a tyre featuring a graphene compound and a polyurethane tyre manufactured with 3D printing techniques.
Continue ReadingLiqui Moly continues to back winter sports
Winter time is Liqui Moly time, the German motor oil and additive specialist states, as the colder months allow many of its products to show their true potential. And so the company has made sure that its logo can be seen at winter sports events around the world. This will remain this way in the coming two seasons. Furthermore, the company is setting its sights on new sports and is investing several million euros. This significantly tops the previous investment for advertising in winter sports.
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