Andy Baron joins SD-International, Toledo range introduced
Shanghai-based contract tyre manufacturer SD-International recently reinforced its European sales team with the appointment of Andy Baron as sales manager (Northern Europe). Both this and the introduction of the company’s new Toledo range took place during October’s Britytrex exhibition in Manchester.
Continue ReadingNew Zealand introduces ‘Energywise’ tyre fuel efficiency standard
On 5 October transport authorities in New Zealand introduced the EnergyWise approval mark to help identify fuel efficient tyres and to help encourage consumers to ask for Energywise-approved tyres. The mark is also designed to give reassurance about the performance of the wet braking performance of tyres.
Continue ReadingAlliance’s Mahansaria named Forbes India’s 2014 NextGen Entrepreneur
The founder and CEO of the Alliance Tire Group has been honoured in Forbes India’s Leadership Awards 2014. Yogesh Mahansaria was one of nine Indian entrepreneurs selected by the publication as being outstanding in a particular field. Forbes India gave Mahansaria the ‘NextGen Entrepreneur’ award for “harnessing the competitive advantages of Indian and Israeli assets, and scaling up a niche B2B business globally by paying close attention to end users across geographies.”
Continue ReadingJCB cutting 150 jobs
JCB has announced plans to cut up to 150 jobs. The job losses have been blamed on a slowdown in orders following unrest in Russia, Ukraine and Syria. According to various local news sources, most of the jobs will be lost at the firms Staffordshire factories in Rocester and Cheadle. JCB will now embark on a 45-day consultation with staff at the beginning of November. Any following job cuts are set to take place in the middle of December. The firm has not ruled out making compulsory redundancies.
Continue ReadingAutopromotec hails ‘remarkable increase in exhibitors’ for 2015 show
The organizers of Autopromotec 2015, the automotive equipment and aftermarket show to be held at the Bologna Trade Fair Center 20–24 May 2015, have reported a “remarkable” increase in exhibitor demand. According to the organizing company Promotec Spa, space in the halls devoted to lifting equipment, tyres and tyre equipment has already sold out, long before the official deadline of 31 October. Promotec also reports that there has been a “very positive” response from the hall devoted to spare parts.
Continue ReadingGuayule tyre performance at least equal to conventional tyres, says Cooper
Cooper Tire & Rubber is now evaluating the first tyres it has built using rubber derived from guayule plants, and says that to-date the wheel, road and track tests suggest tyre performance that is at least equal to tyres manufactured using traditional Hevea-sourced rubber. The tyre maker reported this development to its consortium partners – PanAridus, Arizona State University, Cornell University, and the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS) – at the group’s recent meeting for its third annual meeting and progress report on their US$6.9 million Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) grant, ‘Securing the Future of Natural Rubber—An American Tire and Bioenergy Platform from Guayule.’
Continue ReadingFreescale claims smallest TPMS in world
On 20 October Freescale Semiconductor introduced the FXTH87 tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) family, which the company claims is the smallest integrated TPMS solution available. Weighing in at just 0.3 grams the FXTH87 family is said to be 50 per cent smaller than competing products. Freescale reports that its newest TPMS provides low power consumption combined with the highest level of functional integration in one package, featuring a dual-axis accelerometer architecture, pressure and temperature sensor, integrated MCU, RF transmitter and low frequency receiver.
Continue ReadingNizhnekamskshina produces 2 millionth truck tyre
Russian tyre manufacturer Nizhnekamskshina has is broken through the 2 million all-steel radial truck Tyre barrier at its Nizhnekamsk factory. Nizhnekamskshina commissioned the factory in 2011 after a two-year, $575 million construction project, according to online news reports.
Continue ReadingReports: Maxxis/Cheng Shin planning India factory
Multiple Indian news sources are reporting that Taiwanese tyre maker Cheng Shin/Maxxis is planning to invest in an Indian factory. According to one Business Standard report, group president Dr. Wally Chen called upon Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel on 15 October.
Continue ReadingSami Toljamo becomes Test World MD
Sami Toljamo has been appointed managing director of well-known Finnish test centre Test World effective 3 November 2014. According to the company, Toljamo has strong background in international business and in managing test facilities.
Continue ReadingGermany’s Reifen Ihle Group to be sold in parts
Insolvent German tyre industry company the Reifen Ihle Group will evidently be broken up for sale. According to information from our sister publication Neue Reifenzeitung, despite attempts from insolvency administrator Prof. Dr. Martin Hörmann to sell the four-division group – which includes the Point S operation Reifen Ihle Service, a tyre wholesale operation, retreader R-I-G Technische Produkte and casing dealer R-I-G Karkassen – these efforts have failed to find a buyer.
Continue ReadingChina passenger car vehicle market ‘to continue upward trend’
While some market analysts are pointing to the end of the 20 per cent annual growth “dream” attached to the seemingly perpetually growing Chinese domestic passenger car vehicle market, others point to the continuance of an “upward trend”. A new analysis of the automotive market in China produced by HIS should be counted amongst the optimists and suggests “significant growth opportunity continue in many of the country’s provinces, however, some provinces will start to see growth rates change significantly”. According to IHS Automotive forecasts, passenger vehicle volumes in the country as a whole are expected to rise more than 10 million units by 2026. And thus the detail is not as far apart from the opposing thoughts as it may first seem.
Continue ReadingNorgesdekk AS agrees to buy Hjulius Dekk og Felg AS
Norgesdekk AS agreed to buy 100 per cent of Hjulius Dekk og Felg AS on 17 October 2014. The strategy behind the move is to strengthen Norgesdekk’s position on the Norwegian South Coast in particular but there are also said to be “other synergies”. Following this acquisition Norgesdekk will have seven wholesale warehouses, serving customers selling tyres and wheels of all kinds across Norway. The latest announcement follows the purchase of P. Holth AS at the end of 2012 in a similar move.
Continue ReadingAeolus Tyre is a ‘strategic’ enterprise for China
Even today the number of Chinese tyre makers, and tyre brands, remains exceptionally high. The necessity for consolidation is obvious and something China’s authorities are well aware of. And in the People’s Republic of China, where the state has a closer relationship to the market than in the West, how a firm appears to measure up can be crucial. Tyre makers who fail to meet targets set for them fall by the wayside while those who establish a global presence grow in favour and are viewed as strategically significant enterprises. This state-business relationship also means companies can rely upon government support in one form or another – and this certainly applies in the case of Jiaozuo, Henan Province-based Aeolus Tyre Co., Ltd.
Continue ReadingVipal trains customers in Nova Prata at “UniVipal”
Representatives from five companies attended the training program at Vipal’s head office in Rio Grande do Sul recently. According to the retreading materials supplier the goal was to share the knowledge the firm has acquired over more than 40 years of experience. Vipal, which is the Latin American leader, reports that it developing several such initiatives. These activities, like those fostered by the UniVipal corporate university, are intended to benefit customers around the world. In September, Vipal’s partners from Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia attended a four-day training session at the company’s head office in Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul.
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