Russia a growing part of Pirelli’s business?
For Pirelli, Russia is “still a developing market”, and as we found out a week or so after Tyres & Accessories interviewed global marketing vice-president Matteo Battaini at the recent Geneva Motor Show, Rosneft’s purchase of 13 per cent of Pirelli’s shares means Russia is also still a developing part of Pirelli’s ongoing business strategy.
Continue ReadingKurt Danielson appointed to lead Bridgestone’s US & Canada commercial tyre operations
Ask Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) who its new president of US & Canada Commercial Tire Sales is, and the answer you’ll receive will be Kurt. As in former president of Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, Kurt Danielson. In addition to this promotion, Danielson has also assumed the position of senior vice-president at Bridgestone Americas.
Continue ReadingJiangXi Black Cat inaugurates a further carbon black plant
Last September, German chemical company Lehmann & Voss and its ‘Luvomaxx’ business unit signed an exclusive sales agreement with China’s Jiangxi Black Cat Carbon Black, giving it exclusive distribution rights in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Luvomaxx business unit head Karl-Heinz Teschke recently returned from China, and has reported on the entry into service of JiangXi Black Cat’s eight carbon black facility.
Continue ReadingSingex: Tyrexpo Africa 2014 ended on a high
Tyrexpo Africa 2014’s organisers Singex are describing the show as a success, saying “it lived up to its reputation once again as the major tyre event of the year on the African continent”. According to the company, the show - held from 4 to 6 March at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa - showcased “the widest selection of new brands of leading South African and international manufacturers” and featured 134 exhibitors and welcomed about 1,200 visitors from 17 African and international countries.
Continue ReadingFlow structure simulation offers hope of quieter, more aerodynamic tyres
Researchers from Yokohama Rubber report making progress in a project that may lead to lower external tyre noise and improved tyre aerodynamics. The Yokohama contingent is working together with a team of researchers at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), which is a part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The team, led by Professor Kozo Fujii, has successfully conducted the worlds first simulation of near real-scale flow structures (turbulence) around a tyre rolling on a road surface and the acoustic waves, or noise, generated from these structures. Yokohama Rubber expresses confidence that the ability to simulate a flow structure that enables precise measurement of acoustic waves opens up potential for new technological breakthroughs, and the company says it will therefore continue to support further research in these areas.
Continue ReadingIndian market launch for Conti truck radials
Continental has begun producing and distributing radial truck tyres in the Indian market ahead of the product range’s official launch there on 1 April. The tyre maker says its initial truck radial capacity in India is 220,000 tyres a year; these will be distributed to a dealer network that contains more than 1,400 outlets in over 70 cities across the country. The first products to be launched include the HSR2 steer tyre and HDR2 drive tyre for freight carrying vehicles and the HSX2 and HDX2 coach tyres.
Continue ReadingFirst flight for Goodyear’s new generation ‘Blimp’
Despite being built by ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and having a semi-rigid construction, Goodyear is steadfastly referring to its newest airship a blimp – but whatever you call it, the new craft has taken to the skies. The new ‘blimp’ undertook its maiden flight on 17 March, the US flag proudly flying from the German-registered airship’s tail. Aided by a tail wind, the as-yet unnamed craft exceeded 80 miles per hour.
Continue ReadingMatching stocks and customers a Vimexa strength
Gaining a foothold in a new market or securing the best deal on stock is easier said than done. It’s difficult for wholesalers, manufacturers or dealers to be experts in every aspect of the tyre business, and this means that companies often miss out on opportunities simply because they don’t know about them. In such instances you can either accept this limitation – or you can look for someone who can help. This year a new Netherlands-based company, Vimexa Automotive BV, entered the business of helping companies within the tyre, wheel and battery industries find what they want or need. Other automotive products, such as TPMS – a product of growing significance in Europe – may also be introduced into the portfolio. Tyres & Accessories recently met with company founder Rutger Veerman to discover more.
Continue ReadingAirport closure to facilitate Michelin expansion in Canada
Additional space to expand Michelin’s Waterville truck and OTR tyre plant in Canada has been found – at the town’s civilian airport. According to Tire Review, on 10 March councillors in Nova Scotia’s King County voted to close Waterville Municipal Airport on 30 September and make the airport land available for purchase by the province or Michelin. While the tyre maker has not confirmed any expansion, it is understood that the layout of the plant and its equipment is such that expanding onto the land currently occupied by the airport is the only option open to Michelin at the Waterville site.
Continue ReadingGiant OTR tyre production begins at Bridgestone’s US plant
Although construction work at Bridgestone Americas’ new Aiken County plant in South Carolina is still ongoing, Tire Review reports that the production of 9-foot OTR tyres has already begun there. The tyre maker is building a 1.5 million-square-foot (approximately 140,000 square metre) facility to produce OTR tyres for quarry and construction machine applications. Bridgestone says equipment to produce larger 12-foot tyres should be ready by 2015.
Continue ReadingAlcoa doubles Hungary truck wheel production
Alcoa, the global leader in forged aluminium wheel technology, has announced plan to invest US$13 million expanding its wheel manufacturing plant in Europe. According to the company, this means doubling production of its increasing popular lightweight, durable, low-maintenance aluminium truck wheels. Work is expected to be completed by early 2015
Continue ReadingRosneft buys 13 per cent of Pirelli
Russian oil major, Rosneft has bought into Pirelli, taking control of 50 per cent of the holding group controlling Pirelli and a 13 per cent share of the tyre maker itself. The purchase makes the Russian group the largest single shareholder in Pirelli. The deal is being characterised as a solidification of the company’s partnership with Rosneft in Russia, which is seen as a access route to the emerging market for the tyremaker. However, Pirelli’s share price had fallen 2.24 per cent in response to the news (correct at time of publication).
Continue ReadingMitas celebrates 10 years of Continental agricultural tyre production
Mitas is celebrating a decade of manufacturing Continental agricultural tyres under licence. Following the signing of the the licence agreement in 2004, Mitas has produced more than 300,000 tonnes of Continental tyres. Currently, Mitas offers more than 200 variations of agricultural Continental tyres. Mitas recently extended its Trademark License Agreement with Continental Tyres through to 2019.
Continue Reading‘Pneu Expo’ tyre show postponed
The organiser of French tyre show Pneu Expo has announced it will not take place as planned on 9 and 10 April 2014. In a statement, Editions VB shared that this decision was taken due to a lack of exhibitor sign-ups received by the application cutoff date on 28 February.
Continue ReadingMinister anticipates Nexen will build tyre plant in Poland
Earlier this month, Nexen Tire responded to speculation that it had selected the Czech Republic as the site for its new European tyre factory by stating that these were merely false rumours. Now it seems Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Janusz Piechociński has indicated his country is top contender. On 14 March, the Warsaw Business Journal published a comment Piechociński reportedly recently made: “Soon there will one of Europe’s largest tyre factories in Lower Silesia.”
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