New courses now operational at Yokohama’s Asian proving ground
Expansion work on Yokohama Rubber’s ‘TireTestCenter of Asia’ is complete. The company reported on 16 December that a ceremony marking the conclusion of related construction was held at the site on 9 October. The expansion adds four new test courses – a 2.5-kilometre dry-test course and a 1.5-kilometre wet-test course for handling tests, a skid pad and a corner hydroplaning test road. Yokohama says the proving ground expansion enables it to conduct complete tests of its tyres’ handling and vibration performance.
Continue ReadingMichelin recalling 1.3 million tyres in US
Michelin North America will soon begin recalling around 1.3 million light commercial vehicle tyres. The tyre maker says the recall of certain Michelin LTX M/S fitments was decided upon as due to the increasing number of tread loss and/or rapid air loss incidents reports it has received. The recall is expected to begin on 6 January 2014.
Continue ReadingEnjoy offers trio of Rotalla winter patterns
Contract tyre manufacturer, Enjoy Tyre is promoting its Rotalla range and a trio of winter tyre patterns in particular. The S100 M+S, S110 and S210 have all been produced as so-called “skid proof winter tyres”. All three patterns reportedly offer a thin multi-curve tread incorporating significantly deeper grooves in order to maximise performance in both standard and difficult winter road conditions.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg sponsors Canadian Cowboys’ Association finals 2013 with OK Tire
Trelleborg and OK Tire sponsored the 50th Anniversary Canadian Cowboys’ Association Finals in November that was held at the Brandt Center, Regina, Saskatchewan in the US.
Continue ReadingMichelin inaugurates 8th earthmover tyre plant – just 17 months after groundbreaking
As reported yesterday, Michelin North America has held an event to mark the opening of its newest manufacturing facility, just 17 months after breaking ground at the site. Test production has already begun at the plant and the first commercially available tyres will be manufactured next month. Michelin says 80 per cent of the large earthmover tyres produced in the Anderson County plant will be exported to mining operations around the world.
Continue ReadingMichelin unveiling first tyre at new OTR plant
Today Michelin North America will present the first earthmover tyre produced at its new Starr OTR tyre factory in South Carolina, USA. The tyre maker is holding an invitation-only event to unveil the 13 foot (4 metre) tall, 5.5 ton tyre at the new factory, which is located adjacent to Michelin’s existing rubber processing plant.
Continue ReadingIndia’s govt needs to study road accident causes, says Michelin manager
As part of the SIMCOMVEC - SAEINDIA International Mobility Conference & Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress that took place in Chennai, India between 4 and 7 December, the vice-president of norms and regulations at Michelin Tyres Pvt Ltd, Randall Clark, presented a paper titled “Improving Safety on Indian Roads, Technology & Policy changes required.” Clark also spoke to local media and called for India’s government to conduct accidentology studies.
Continue ReadingGM, Fiat Chrysler honour Giti Tire as supplier
Giti Tire shares that in recent months it has received awards from two major OEM customers. At a ceremony held in China in late September, Chinese PCR and TBR plant Giti Tire (Fujian) Co Ltd was presented with a Fiat Chrysler 2012 APAC Perfect Quality Award, and the company’s first and largest Chinese operation, Giti Radial Tire (Anhui) Co Ltd, received a GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award.
Continue ReadingConti to double Otrokovice TBR capacity, widen export programme
The Continental truck and bus tyre factory in Otrokovice, Czech Republic will be significantly expanded, the tyre maker announced today. A total of €165 million will be invested over a period of five years to ultimately double truck and bus radial production capacity at plant to close on 1.5 million units per annum. More than 300 new jobs will be created throughout all production areas, and the enlarged plant will service the American and Russian markets in addition to the areas it currently supplies.
Continue ReadingTereos joins BioButterfly, signs agreement with Michelin
The world’s fourth-largest sugar producer, Tereos, has joined the French BioButterfly project to develop and roll out a process for producing bio-butadiene. The company has signed a partnership agreement with Michelin that focuses on the industrial transformation of agricultural raw materials; this partnership aims to strengthen the upstream phase of the BioButterfly project.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Australia Leukaemia Foundation Village officially opens
In late November, a Bridgestone Australia-sponsored AU$9.5 million (£5.3 million) patient accommodation village designed to support regional blood cancer patients and their families was officially opened in Adelaide’s north-east. The Bridgestone Australia Leukaemia Foundation Village offers free specialised accommodation and support services to patients and their families, mostly those from regional areas who often have to spend months away from home while undergoing treatment.
Continue ReadingBridgestone named Hungary’s investor of the month
Hungary’s Ministry of National Economy has designated Bridgestone’s passenger car tyre factory in Tatabanya its “investor of the month” as part of its “Award for Successful Companies” programme. The accolade, one of three given under the programme, is given to corporations whose activities contribute significantly to the Hungarian economy and export growth, increase local employment and who have invested at least €5 million within the region in recent months. Bridgestone was acknowledged for the expansion it is now implementing at its Tatabanya plant.
Continue ReadingVredestein and Carlsson extend cooperation
Vredestein and German tuner Carlsson have agree to extend their cooperation agreement for a further three years following the signing of a new contract on 3 December. This partnership is part of Vredestein’s Premium Styling concept and has already resulted in unique Mercedes-Benz models styled by Carlsson. In the coming years, the cooperation will move up a gear, focusing on the development of models such as the new Mercedes-Benz S, E and ML. Vredestein is the strategic tyre partner supplying its range of premium designer tyres to Carlsson within the partnership.
Continue ReadingMan shows off nasal inflation skill
Many forward-thinking garages now offer nitrogen tyre inflation as an additional service to customers, but it’s safe to say that the inflation performed by Nie Yongbing would draw bigger crowds. The 63-year old from China’s SichuanProvince is able to inflate car tyre inner tubes using his nostril. During a demonstration held on 6 December, Nie inflated four inner tubes using this unique method in just 20 minutes.
Continue ReadingGroundbreaking for Toyo expansion in US
Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing, Inc. (TNA) has broken ground on a 700,000 square foot (65,000m²) addition to its 2 million square foot (186,000 m²) tyre manufacturing facility in White, Georgia. The plant’s warehousing capacity will also be expanded by 323,000 square feet (30,000m²); Toyo says it needs a larger warehouse area to accommodate increasing demand for Toyo and Nitto brand passenger car and light truck tyres. Parent company Toyo Tire & Rubber is investing US$371 million in the TNA expansion over the next four years.
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