Dunlop India re-opening Sahagunj factory
It’s now almost three years since a lockout at Dunlop India Ltd’s Sahagunj factory led to its mothballing, but it appears that the plant may soon be up and running again. Responding to an article in The Hindu newspaper that suggested production is set to recommence, Dunlop India sent a statement to the BSE confirming that “yes initiatives by West Bengal labour minister Mr. Moloy Ghatak have helped us to arrive (at) the decision of re-opening Dunlop’s Sahagunj Factory in West Bengal shortly.
Continue Reading![Kinforest offers BC label and up to 100 sizes in run-flat](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/IMG_2703.jpg)
Kinforest offers BC label and up to 100 sizes in run-flat
Kinforest Tyre Co. Ltd. – a Chinese company whose brand portfolio (led by Kinforest) is imported in the UK by various wholesalers including Micheldever – were promoting the performance of their products during the Citexpo show in Shanghai.
Continue Reading![Crown Tyre launches Evermax brand](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/IMG_2694.jpg)
Crown Tyre launches Evermax brand
As well as raising the profile of its brands in general, Crown Tyre launched its new Evermax brand at Citexpo. According to company representatives, the parent brand Crown Tyre is offering “several new products under its existing Gremax brand, but is also introducing the Evermax name as well.
Continue Reading![Membat’s CC-rated tyre offering experiencing sales growth in Europe and beyond](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/IMG_2686.jpg)
Membat’s CC-rated tyre offering experiencing sales growth in Europe and beyond
Spanish-based Membat exhibited at Citexpo for the third time this year. The company, which has been in business 10 years now, established its Membat private brand five years back. Demonstrating its private brand pedigree, the company owns the brand name, the moulds and has registered its patterns, which the firm is proud to say are designed in Spain. Production of Membat tyres began in 2012 and so these tyres are therefore entering the third year of manufacturing now.
Continue Reading![Altenzo: 245/25 R22 launch at Citexpo is a ‘world first’](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Altenzo-COMFORTER.jpg)
Altenzo: 245/25 R22 launch at Citexpo is a ‘world first’
The Altenzo tyre brand, which is owned by Chinese alloy wheel maker PDW Group, used Citexpo 2014 as the platform for a world-first addition to its UHP range. The show saw the long-awaited release of the Altenzo Sports Comforter in 245/25 R22, which according to the company makes the firm the first in the world to make this size available for mass production.
Continue ReadingHämmerling launches ‘Athos Service Network’
European tyre wholesaler Hämmerling - The Tyre Company GmbH, distributor of the Athos private brand, has introduced its new ‘Athos Service Network’ at the IAA show in Hanover, Germany. The company says the concept centres on a 24-hour service for commercial vehicle rental fleets, transport companies and manufacturers in 24 European countries. Hämmerling aims to attract customers by offering a one-stop service at an attractive price. Tyre changes and breakdown service will be handled, as far as possible, by affiliated European Athos dealers. If no dealer is available or located in the vicinity, an established service organisation will step in.
Continue Reading![Bridgestone begins producing guayule-sourced natural rubber](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/bridgestone-guayule.jpg)
Bridgestone begins producing guayule-sourced natural rubber
The ribbon was cut on Bridgestone Americas’ brand new Biorubber Process Research Center on the morning of 22 September, and with the official opening of this Mesa, Arizona-based 10 acre (4 hectare) research and innovation centre, the company moves a further step forward in its efforts to extract natural rubber from guayule.
Continue Reading![SRI meets 50% less rolling resistance goal with latest Enasave tyre](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/enasave.jpg)
SRI meets 50% less rolling resistance goal with latest Enasave tyre
This month, Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has launched a new flagship product for its Enasave series of fuel efficient tyres, albeit only in the Japanese market. The Dunlop-brand Enasave Next has been introduced in size 195/65R15 91H and has achieved the coveted ‘AAA-a’ rank under the Japanese tyre label, the highest rating possible for rolling resistance and wet grip. SRI says the new tyre has 50 per cent lower rolling resistance than the standard Japanese replacement market Dunlop tyre in 2008, the year it set out to achieve this goal.
Continue ReadingMichelin acquires land for potential growth in Canada
Michelin is a step closer to future-proofing its Waterville factory site in Canada now that its bid to purchase adjacent land has been approved. It is understood that Michelin Canada will purchase 21 hectares, about half of an area currently used as an airport, and will set this extra land aside for the time being. It is hoped the land will come in handy should Michelin seek a location to host major expansion plans in future.
Continue ReadingDriveRight offers AAIA standard API services
DriveRight has had vehicle data with OE tyre and wheel application data, based on the AAIA (Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association) US industry standard, available for some time in flat files. However, this is said to have made it hard for small to medium-sized companies to implement the data into their systems. With DriveRight’s AAIA API webservices, this information can now be easily implemented directly into customer websites. This provides a system which is capable of allowing searches to be performed for a vehicle based on the AAIA standard. The search can be by year, manufacturer, model, body type and finally sub-models. This returns the OE tyre and wheel application or the relevant wheel and tyre products.
Continue Reading![Hankook to supply MAN with OE tyres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MAN-bigToutside-1.jpg)
Hankook to supply MAN with OE tyres
Hankook has announced that it will be supplying Original Equipment (OE) tyres to leading truck manufacturer MAN in future. According to the Korean-based manufacturer, the deal includes various models of heavy-duty trucks. The deal begins in the first quarter 2015 and sees Hankook supply its e-cube MAX, SmartFlex and SmartWork tyres to MAN facilities in Germany, Austria and Poland.
Continue ReadingMichigan state confirms pavilion at Automechanika Shanghai
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), which is a US state-funded economic development corporation that encourages the continued growth of the state’s auto industry, has booked a pavilion at Automechanika Shanghai. According to the show’s organisers, the Michigan government is keen to use Messe Frankfurt’s enormous industry resources to help foster its auto industry development as the show is an irreplaceable platform for the Michigans auto parts companies, which have the worlds leading advanced automotive parts research and development and manufacturing standards to showcase different areas of products and services at the show. It is also interesting to note in light of the ongoing tyre import trade dispute between the US and China.
Continue Reading![Smit: Cut rubber trees to manage price](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Award-1.jpg)
Smit: Cut rubber trees to manage price
Dr Hidde P Smit, former secretary general of International Rubber Study Group (IRSD) and rubber market analyst, has suggested tree-felling and reduced tapping in order slow falling rubber prices. Delivering the key-note address at the sixth edition of India Rubber Summit & Dinner 2014 organised by Rubber Asia in Kochi, India on 21 September 2014, he predicted that the low price regime could continue for the rest of the decade and even beyond. He said any intensive rubber planting done now could lead to a glut in natural rubber (NR) market after six years, bringing the prices down further. He added that world NR consumption is expected to touch 18.6 million tonnes by 2025, while NR supply may exceed demand at 19.3 million tonnes by 2025 and 20.2 million tonnes by 2030. However Indian market representatives disagreed, pointing to the Indian example and suggesting the rising supply deficit could be bridged only by boosting production.
Continue Reading![Just Tyres MD completes latest leg of Ugandan journey](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ian-Grant-bus-2.jpg)
Just Tyres MD completes latest leg of Ugandan journey
The managing director of UK tyre retailer Just Tyres has completed the latest leg of a long distance journey to Uganda. Ian Grant, has raised £20,000 for the Kampala Children’s Centre over the last 12 months, which has paved the way for a comprehensive education programme that trains adults how to teach youngsters basic numeracy and literacy skills.
Continue ReadingSmall-scale Cooper Tire recall begins
Some 388 Cooper Wild Country Radial XTX Sport tyres are being recalled in the US. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notice states that the recall affects certain size 265/65R18 tyres that were manufactured between 1 June 2014 and 28 June 2014 (weeks 2214-2514). The affected tyres may experience cracking or broken ply cords in the lower sidewall on the white sidewall side, which may lead to a sudden loss of pressure.
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