Groundbreaking held for Federal Tyres’ newest factory
At a ceremony attended by local government officials, senior management and international customers, last month Federal Tyres formally broke ground on its third tyre plant in Taiwan. The new facility is being erected on a 14,000 square metre site in the Taoyuan Industrial Park, and the NT$8.1 billion (£166.7 million) investment will be completed in two phases between 2014 and 2020; once the plant is fully operational, it will create 836 jobs and produce an estimated maximum of six million tyres a year.
Tyre innovations yield SRI ‘Top 100 Global Innovator’ recognition
Upon releasing its 2014 Top 100 Global Innovators list on 6 November, Thomson Reuters commented that its top 100 most innovative companies achieved nearly double the 6.85 per cent annual revenue growth rate of S&P 500 firms while increasing their research and development budgets by an average of 17 per cent year-on-year. One familiar tyre industry name on this list of worthies was Sumitomo Rubber Industries; the company views its inclusion on this year’s list as “further evidence of the great acclaim that we have earned for these and other innovative research and development efforts.” This is the second Top 100 appearance for Sumitomo Rubber Industries in the four years the list has been published – Thomson Reuters also chose to include the company in 2011.
South African commission evaluating Apollo restructuring plan
As reported on 17 September, Apollo Tyres’ South African subsidiary, Apollo Tyres Africa Proprietary Limited – the residual operation remaining after the sale of the main business to Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2013 – voluntarily initiated Business Rescue Proceedings on 15 September 2014 as per the provisions of the South Africa Companies Act. In its second quarter notes, The company has now submitted a Business Rescue Plan to the South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
Goodyear is the largest producer of military tyres in the US, but its connection with the country’s armed forces goes beyond tyre supply. G.I. Jobs magazine – a publication that aims to simply the transition from the military to a successful civilian career – has again named Goodyear Tire & Rubber a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer. This designation recognises the company’s efforts to hire and support veteran employees.
Opti-Tread tyre audit system for light vehicles released
Oxfordshire-based Translogik, a trading division of Transense Technologies plc, has announced the extension of its Opti-Tread tyre audit system to the passenger car and light commercial vehicle segments. The company’s US partner, Squarerigger, has launched the new Opti-Tread portable car tyre audit system, and is utilising Snap-On Equipment, a subsidiary of Snap-on Incorporated, as its first major distributor. Snap-on is marketing Opti-Tread through its John Bean brand.
Currently, electric car batteries are expensive and don’t give enough range per charge for drivers. However, the new battery which has been developed by US scientists, could triple the driving range of an electric vehicle, and have a much lower cost. Dr Qichao Hu, who developed the device with his former professor, Donald Sadoway, a […]
More than 60 per cent of vehicles driving on Cyprus are doing so with the wrong tyre pressures, according to a study produced by non-governmental organisation (NGO) “Reaction Youth for the Prevention”. Looking specifically at trucks, the situation is even worse with 90 per cent running on the wrong pressures.
Malaysian tyre market to grow 9% (CAGR) in next five years
The Malaysian tyre market is forecast to grow 9.15 per cent (compound annual growth rate – CAGR) in terms of value in the period between 2014 and 2019. That’s the view of the recently released TechSci Research report, “Malaysia Tyre Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019”. According to the report, some of the key factors driving the market include increase in volume sales of automobiles, expansion in vehicle fleet size, introduction of favorable government policies and rise in foreign investments within the automotive industry in Malaysia.
Apollo announces final Manchester United football challenge
The third and final skill test in the ‘Apollo Challenge’ has begun. Together with Manchester United F.C., tyre maker Apollo Tyres is encouraging football aficionados to demonstrate just how on target their shooting is with the Apollo Accuracy Challenge. This particular challenge sees Manchester United midfielder Ashley Young demonstrate the importance of accuracy, a quality Apollo Tyres argues is the most important skill for any footballer.
New Zeppelins gain US approval as parts for second Goodyear airship arrive
The Federal Aviation Administration in the United States has given its blessing to the Zeppelin series selected by Goodyear to replace its blimp fleet. The FAA approval of the LZ N07-101 series follows certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency in Europe in August. The LZ N07-101 replaces the LZ N07-100 series, and in 2011 Goodyear ordered the first three airships from the new series. Goodyear Zeppelin number one. The first of these has been named Wingfoot One and undertook its maiden flight on 17 March. Parts for the second Goodyear Zeppelin have already started arriving at Goodyear’s airship hangar in Wingfoot Lake, and assembly is scheduled to commence in January 2015. It will take to the air at the start of the 2016 season.
Pirelli recognized for ‘Climate Disclosure Leadership’
Pirelli has been recognized in the “Climate Disclosure Leadership Index Italy 2014” (CDLI), which evaluates the completeness of a company’s strategy against climate change and the transparency of its communication to stakeholders. Pirelli scored 99/100.
The result was announced 5 November in Milan during the presentation of the CDP Italy 100 Climate Change Report 2014, prepared by SDA-Bocconi with the support of IMQ, and focused on the ways in which the 100 biggest listed Italian companies face and manage climate change.
Yokohama is Macau Grand Prix tyre supplier for 32nd consecutive year
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is once again supply its Advan racing tyres to the Macau Grand Prix to be held in Macau, China from 13 to 16 November. The 61st Macau Grand Prix marks Yokohama’s 32nd year as exclusive tyre supplier for the Formula 3 race. The Macau Grand Prix event also includes the […]
Massa Pneus acquisition expands Continental’s French tyre retail network
In its third quarter financial report, Continental shares that as of 27 June this year, its French retail business Continental Holding France SAS acquired 100 per cent of the shares in both MPI SAS and Reparation Pneumatiques Du Sud Est (Répneu) SAS. The group of companies has close to 1,000 employees working at its 114 sites. With this purchase, the network of outlets Continental operates in the French market grew to more than 400 sites.
Official openings held at Yokohama’s plant in India
In February 2014, Yokohama India Private Limited reported the inauguration of its new factory in Bahadurgarh, with the Chief Minister of India’s Haryana State, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda, doing the honours. However it seems two official openings are better than one, and Yokohama Rubber shares today that an official opening ceremony was held at the plant on 1 November. And a further ceremony – the second or third, depending on who you ask – was held the following day for tyre dealers from around India.
An all-new tyre brand from Hankook Tire was unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas yesterday. This new range from the Korean tyre maker will be sold under the Laufenn name, and although its initial launch is restricted to ten markets in North America, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region, Hankook describes Laufenn as a “global tyre brand” and says it will be introduced in Europe and other regions “in the coming years,” although a European launch in 2015 looks highly unlikely.
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