Yokohama acquires Aichi Tire Industry
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced on 15 March that it completed the acquisition of Aichi Tire Industry Co., Ltd. (Aichi Tire Industry). Yokohama first announced the agreement to acquire Aichi Tire Industry on 6 January 2017.
Continue ReadingYokohama exclusive Nitro Circus tyre in the US
Inspired by the Nitro Circus television phenomenon created by Travis Pastrana, Nitro Circus Live is an action sports show featuring the world’s best athletes in FMX, BMX, skate, base jumping and more, and Yokohama has now become the exclusive tyre of Nitro Circus Live Tour in the United States. The 2017 US Nitro Circus Live Tour kick starts on June 3, and the tyre maker states it has taken on its exclusive tyre role in order to spotlight its Geolandar light truck range.
Continue ReadingBain Capital acquires Fintyre
Italian tyre wholesaler Fintyre has a new owner. Through its Europe IV fund, private equity company Bain Capital has acquired the entire stake controlled by BlueGem Capital Partners. Bain Capital states that it will work together with Fintyre chief executive officer Mauro Pessi and the company’s management in order to further the company’s path of growth towards leadership in the areas of tyre wholesale and retail distribution in Italy in Europe. Existing Fintyre lender Blackstone Group subsidiary GSO Capital Partners will also support the wholesaler’s development plan through a unitranche debt instrument.
Continue ReadingMoU signed for Philippines tyre plant project
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Rubber Farmers Association (PRFA) and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. to establish the country’s first ever tyre production facility.
Continue ReadingPirelli launches Connesso integrated tyre sensor, app, cloud system
While some firms used the Geneva Motor Show platform to communicate their vision for the future, Pirelli has launched some futuristic technology now in its Pirell Connesso system. In short, Pirelli Connesso is an integrated sensor, receiver, cloud and app platform that is designed to give motorists the most in-depth and near real-time status and service integration that has yet been offered.
Continue ReadingAlmost 5,000 enter Valeo Innovation Challenge
The Valeo Innovation Challenge’s fourth year has set a new record for participation. Nearly 5,000 students from around the world have signed up. In all, 1,628 teams (21 per cent more than the previous edition) from 80 countries and 748 universities have submitted their application in one of the two available categories. Some of the worlds most prestigious universities are represented, including MIT, Berkeley, HEC, Supelec Tokyo University, British Columbia.
Continue ReadingAmerican Process and Birla Carbon announce nanocellulose tyre joint venture
On 2 March 2017 American Process Inc. (API) and Aditya Birla Group’s, Birla Carbon signed a joint development agreement to explore the technical and business potential of combining carbon black and nanocellulose to improve tyre performance. Initial evaluations suggest synergies between the companies’ Birla Carbon and BioPlus nanocellulose products when it comes to lowering the rolling resistance of tyres. Over 70 per cent of the world’s carbon black is consumed by the tyre industry, with carbon black constituting 25 per cent of the tyre weight.
Continue ReadingContinental extends North American football sponsorship
Although Continental has already announced its exit from football engagements in Europe, its sponsorship of the sport in North America continues. Continental Tire the Americas has extended its agreement with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), Major League Soccer’s (MLS) commercial arm, to continue as an official partner and the official tyre of MLS in the United States and Canada. The multi-year extension to the agreement also gives Continental official sponsor and partner designation and names Continental Tire as the official tyre partner of all 22 MLS clubs.
Continue ReadingTGI celebrates 25 years of tyre wholesaling
It’s a silver jubilee year for Tire Group International. The US-based tyre wholesaler was set up by Antonio Gonzalez and Agustin Herran in 1992; TGI says the co-founders set out with a vision to build long term relationships though dedicated people and quality tyres. “Over the course of the last 25 years, TGI made that vision a reality and has developed one of the most diverse and far reaching distribution networks in the wholesale tyre business,” comments the wholesaler.
Continue ReadingAiming for the top 10: Sailun developing five-year plan to climb global rankings
At the beginning of November Sailun Jinyu International (SJI) appointed Gareth Passmore as its president for Europe. He replaced Martin West, who has been appointed global president of the SJI Speciality Tire Group. Passmore, who started on 1 December 2016, is now responsible for all operations throughout Europe across all of the Sailun Jinyu Group brand portfolio – Sailun, Jinyu, Black Lion and Rovelo. Passmore brings with him over 25 years of tyre industry experience, including time with Continental, Apollo (in South Africa) and latterly with Sumitomo Rubber Industries where he headed up the Falken brand’s European export operations. During a recent brand and winter tyre product demonstration event in Sweden, Tyres & Accessories caught up with Passmore and at the same time we were introduced to Sailun’s ambitious goal of becoming a top 10 tyre manufacturer in the years to come.
Continue ReadingCamso increases tyre prices by 8%
Camso has announced a price increase averaging 8 per cent for all of its materials handling and construction tyres. The price increases, which come into effect on 1 April, will affect all aftermarket customers globally, but will vary depending on product line and regions. Camso attributes the increase to rising costs of raw materials.
Continue ReadingApollo to introduce European truck tyre range at the CV Show
Apollo Tyres will make its CV Show debut with a stand at the event at Birmingham’s NEC in April. At the same time the company plans to introduce its range of European market-orientated truck tyres as well as its strategy for engaging with the whole of the commercial vehicle sector. Several weeks ahead of the CV Show, Tyres & Accessories met up with Benoit Rivallant who is Apollo Tyres group head, global product management - commercial vehicle and off-highway tyre, to find out more.
Continue ReadingExxonMobil begins Shanghai centre construction
ExxonMobil has started construction on a multi-million dollar expansion of its Shanghai technology centre in China. The expansion is expected to be complete in early 2018 and will include a new R&D facility.
Continue ReadingUniversity of Minnesota scientists develop natural synthetic rubber
On 8 February a team of researchers, led by the University of Minnesota, announced that they have invented a new technology to produce automobile tyres from trees and grasses. According to reports, the University of Minnesota’s Office for Technology Commercialization, has applied for a patent on the renewable rubber technology and plans to license the technology to companies interested in commercializing it.
Continue ReadingChinese officials welcome US duty decision
Following the US International Trade Commission (ITC)’s decision not to place import tariffs on China truck tyres, Chinese officials have welcomed the news. The ITC determination was made on 22 February 2017 on the basis that tyres from China “did not materially injure or threaten to damage the US industry”, and that no anti-dumping or countervailing duties would be imposed on those products.
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