Ricardo and Quanchai to collaborate on new diesel engine development
Ricardo has signed an agreement with Anhui Quanchai Engine Co., Ltd. (Quanchai) – one of China’s largest diesel engine makers – to support the development of a new generation common rail diesel engine platform for commercial applications.
Continue ReadingRockwell helping Chinese tyremaker automate US plant
CEOs and experts from China’s leading companies gathered in Shanghai and Beijing to explore how smart manufacturing will deliver value to the manufacturing industry and support government initiatives including China Manufacturing 2025. Hosted by Rockwell Automation “The Connected Enterprise CEO Forum” was led by Rockwell Automation’s new president and CEO, Blake Moret. However the interesting point from a tyre industry perspective is that the firm revealed that it is helping any unnamed Chinese tyremaker construct a factory in the US.
Continue ReadingDynastat launches new range of UK manufactured brake lathes
Dynastat, a UK provider of vehicle brake disc lathes, has launched a new range of UK manufactured brake lathes via its updated website dynastat.org. At the Automechanika show in Frankfurt (13-17 Sept 2017) they firm will debut its new Indy420 brake lathe range. This range is made in the UK, with 90 per cent being made in Gloucestershire
Continue ReadingSpeedline Truck supports local hero in Hungary
The fifth race in this years season of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship was held from August 26 - 28 at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest. The Speedline Truck Team was on hand with its regional trading partners to cheer on local hero Norbert Kiss, but, sadly, he did not emerge victorious.
Continue ReadingHarjeev Kandhari: Tyre quality gap is closing and sales methods are changing
In a recent op-ed Harjeev Kandhari, CEO of tyre company Zenises, reflected on possible changes in the way tyres are sold in the future. Kandhari’s first point is that the quality gap between brands that are long-established in the market (the so-called ‘legacy’ brands) and more recent introductions, such as Zenises’ own Z-Tyre, is shrinking fast. There has traditionally been a large difference in price between legacy and the newer tyres, but Kandhari believes that the small differences in performance and technology mean that this gap is no longer appropriate.
Continue ReadingGoodyear investing US$162 million in Thai aircraft tyre plant
Goodyear (Thailand) Plc is set to invest 5.63 billion baht (US$162 million) over the next 10 years adding radial aircraft tyre production technology to its Pathum Thani province-based factory in order to meet growing demand in the Asia Pacific region. The first phase of the three-phase expansion is targeted to begin operations by 2018.
Continue ReadingYokohama investing in US R&D centre, doubling staff
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is to establish a tyre research & development centre in North Carolina, with R&D activities scheduled to start this September initially in the greater Charlotte area. The company presently conducts R&D on tyres for the North American market in several US states and in Japan, but aims to consolidate the majority of these R&D activities at the new centre. With the consolidation, Yokohama also plans to double the current size of its North American R&D staff.
Continue ReadingChinese truck tyres face import duties of 40%
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made truck and bus tyres imported into the USA. In a preliminary determination, DOC anti-dumping duties of between 20.87 per cent to 22.57 per cent would be applied to products. These duties are in addition to countervailing duties recommend for the same products in June. As a result, total import tariffs of around 40 per cent are expected.
Continue ReadingAEZ wheels the finishing touch for new VW Tiguan
The VW Tiguan made its debut in 2007 and has since racked up more than 2.8 million sales in 170 countries. In Germany, the Tiguan is regarded as one of VW’s four main ‘pillars’, along with the Polo, Golf and Passat. In order to continue this success story, VW has launched a revamped version of the Tiguan this year.
Continue ReadingAutomechanika: Johnson Controls presents the new role for the battery
At Automechanika 2016, which will be held from 13 to 17 September in Frankfurt, Johnson Controls will provide detailed information on service solutions and on the complete range of VARTA products. Along with a deep insight in the developments of the automotive industry visitors will get a better understanding of the new role of the battery and the opportunities for the independent aftermarket at stand E10 in hall 4.1.
Continue ReadingContinental strengthening ADAS business in Asia
According to Continental, Asia remains the number one growth market for the automotive industry – and the numbers are impressive: Over 50 per cent of all vehicles produced worldwide come from Asian car manufacturers and approximately 30 per cent of all vehicles manufactured worldwide come from Japanese automakers. Ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japanese vehicle manufacturers are also amongst the automotive companies that are pushing the development of innovations in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving.
Continue ReadingApollo Vredestein sponsors Borussia Monchengladbach for next two seasons
Apollo Vredestein GmbH has signed a brand-new sponsorship agreement with Borussia Monchengladbach. The new sponsorship agreement covers the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons and is designed to further enhance global recognition of the Apollo tyre brand. As one of the most popular and successful clubs in German football, Borussia Monchengladbach is very well-known internationally too and its matches are often broadcast live on television around the world.
Continue ReadingMichelin wins unanimous verdict in US$80 million rollover case
A Florida jury has ruled unanimously in favour of Michelin North America, Inc., in a high-profile product liability case that included claims filed by three plaintiffs who were involved in a 2009 rollover accident. The crash resulted in catastrophic brain injuries to two minor passengers, ages 14 and 16, and injuries to an adult. In their closing arguments, the plaintiffs lawyers asked the jury to award the victims more than $80 million in damages.
Continue ReadingSentury and Huagao cooperate on first graphene tyre
On 3 August 2016 Sentury Tire and Huagao Graphene Technology Corporation hosted a ceremony marking the two firm’s cooperation on their first (and possibly the first) graphene high performance car tyre. Qingdao information technology department vice director Wang Jian, deputy mayor of Qingdao Sun Mingming, China grapheme industry alliance secretary Li Yichun, chairman of Sentury Qin Long and Sentury president Lanny represented Sentury by attending the signing ceremony.
Continue ReadingOrion to close French carbon black factory by end of 2016
On 18 August Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.’s French subsidiary, Orion Engineered Carbons SAS, reached an agreement with the Works Council and labour union at its Ambes, France facility on a comprehensive social plan. Following this agreement, the French subsidiary will “proceed to implement the restructuring and down staffing of that facility with cessation of production at the site expected by the end of 2016”.
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