MERTC joins CEN working group
Machinery manufacturer Mesnac reports that its Mesnac European Research and Technical Centre (MERTC) recently “achieved a significant milestone” by becoming a member of the European Committee for Standardization’s (CEN) Tyre Curing Presses working group. According to the company, this membership not only “highlights the fruitful partnership between the Chinese and Slovak teams” at MERTC but also positions the Slovakia-based operation as “a contributor to the standard-setting process.”
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Global Automotive Investments Holding acquires Italy’s Tagliabue Gomme
Global Automotive Investments Holding BV is taking another step in expanding its international activities by acquiring Italian tyre distributor Tagliabue Gomme Gross Srl. The parties have come to an agreement for a takeover of the shares and expect the acquisition to be completed by mid-February 2024 at the latest.
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TireHub opens Regional Distribution Center
TireHub, the Bridgestone- and Goodyear-owned wholesaler that distributes both companies’ passenger and light truck tyres to retailers across the USA, reports achieving a ”major milestone” with the opening of its first Regional Distribution Center. The 360,000 square foot facility is located just outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania and services logistics centres in the northeast region. TireHub says customers here will benefit from market-specific products and accelerated delivery times.
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Nexen Tire brings virtual reality into design process
Nexen Tire lays claim to being the first Korean tyre maker to utilise virtual reality (VR) in the product development process. To strengthen its digital design process capabilities, the tyre maker has developed a VR design simulation system at the Nexen Central Research Institute in Seoul. It says this VR design review system allows users to “appreciate the scale of real tyres in a virtual space.”
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Spain says Hola to Nokian Tyres Intuitu
The gradual rollout of the Nokian Tyres Intuitu smart tyre solution for agricultural and contracting applications continues with the extension of availability to a third market. In addition to Finland and France, Nokian Tyres Intuitu is now marketed in Spain.
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International growth plans for ZC Rubber’s tyre retail network
Leading local portal Aftermarket China has published its annual ‘Top 100 Chains in China’s Automotive Aftermarket’ ranking, and three tyre retail operations appear on the list in 2023. ZR Rubber is one of the trio and appears pleased with the result; commenting on its network’s performance, the tyre maker states an ambition to go global with ZC Auto Space.
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Pirelli – German plant important for OE business
Goodyear and Michelin are pruning their operations in Germany in the face of rising energy costs and increased competition from budget brands, and the local rubber industry association didn’t paint a rosy picture of the tyre-making future when it met in November, but one manufacturer has expressed commitment to its German manufacturing site. Pirelli says it has “no plans” to end production at its Breuberg plant.
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Turkey-based investor acquires wheel maker BBS
An investor has been found for insolvent wheel manufacturer BBS Automotive GmbH. The insolvency administrator handling the case reports that a firm called ISHManagementServices GmbH is planning to extensively invest in the Schiltach, Germany-based business. ISH is backed by İş Global Teknik İnşaat A.S., a family-owned holding group from Turkey.
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Vulkan Group acquires Euromaster’s remaining business in Denmark
After plans to sell its entire network in Demark to NDI Group fell through earlier this year, Euromaster Group sold nine of its branches to Super Dæk Service. Under a separate agreement, the Michelin-owned company is transferring its remaining activities and employees to Vulkan Group ApS. It expects to finalise the deal on 1 January 2024.
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Caterpillar Supplier Excellence Award for Michelin
Michelin North America is the proud recipient of a Caterpillar Supplier Excellence Award 2023. The tyre maker was one of five companies honoured in the Construction Industries category, and Michelin comments that the award demonstrates its “excellence in meeting customer commitments.”
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German prosecutors investigate Continental subsidiary
Instead of rectifying quality issues affecting hoses produced at the ContiTech plant in Korbach, Germany, someone allegedly chose to address the problem by systematically manipulating test results. Continental uncovered this potential fraud during an internal investigation, and authorities are now on the case.
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Strong demand for Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels – Groundbreaking for Hungary plant expansion
On Tuesday, Alcoa Wheels Europe broke ground on a plant expansion in Hungary that will meet growing demand for Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels. The start of work at the Howmet-Köfém LLC site follows the recent celebration of Alcoa’s 75th anniversary.
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Falken hosts ‘employee empowerment’ workshops supporting campaign to end gender-based violence
Falken Tyre Europe is participating in the United Nations’ ‘Orange the World’ campaign calling for an end to gender-based violence. The company is publicising the 16-day period marking the campaign in Germany, which began on 25 November, the UNs official Orange Day, via its Falken social media channels and in internal communications.
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Enso commits to fully decarbonized tyres by 2030, challenges tyre industry to phase-out fossil fuels
In the midst of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, UAE, Enso called on COP28 leaders to phase out fossil fuels, and for a complete decarbonization of the global tyre industry. During Transport Day at COP28, Enso said it will phase out fossil fuels in the industry by decarbonizing its entire supply chain by 2030 – a figure the company claims is “two decades ahead of mainstream tyre manufacturers”. Enso also suggested the tyre industry is not addressing…problems [such as particulate emissions and microplastics] quickly enough.
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Tesla Cybertruck spare tyres made by Goodyear
Tesla’s Cybertruck is back in the headlines. Elon Musk’s decision to repeat the now infamous Cybertruck armoured glass demonstration paired with the Cybertruck’s infinitely more impressive drag race win against a Porsche 911 – while towing a 911 – has ensured that much. But which tyres are carrying all that load and handling all that torque? Back in 2019, we broke the news that Goodyear was supplying tyres for the Tesla Cybertruck, but is that still the case and if so, which factory is supplying some of the highest of high-torque-high-load tyres?
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