Michelin’s fitment for Honda Pan-European
Michelin has introduced another version of its Pilot Road sports-touring tyre for fitment to Honda’s ST1300 Pan-European. The new 170/60 ZR 17 (72W) Pilot Road ‘A’ extends the coverage of the range, which already includes sports bikes, sports tourers and big trail bikes. A reinforced casing has been added to the latest version to offer improved stability and handling when matched with the 120/70 ZR 18 (59W) Pilot Road front
Continue ReadingDoublestar Blames Conti for JV Collapse
A proposed Chinese joint venture between Qingdao Doublestar and Continental AG fell apart because of a dispute over who would take the majority stake in the partnership, according to a Bloomberg report. The Chinese company has since said it is in talks with other overseas companies for a venture in which it wants a majority stake, the Chinese company said in a Shenzhen exchange statement today. The statement did not name the prospective partners.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Accepts Blame for Slow Ferrari Start
Bridgestone has taken the blame for Ferraris poor start to the Formula 1 season. Bridgestone Motorsport’s technical director Hirohide Hamashima told the daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday that there was no doubt tyres were to blame. “Even if the entire package is important, in this race the responsibility for such a negative result is undoubtedly down to our tyres,” said Mr Hamashima. Seven teams in Formula 1 use Michelin tyres, including Renault who have won both races so far this season. “The fact that (Fernando) Alonso and (Jarno) Trulli lapped a couple of seconds faster than us is certainly not explainable by different fuel loads. Obviously we have had long discussions with Ferrari to create tyres of a new generation and we are counting on having found some that will allow us quickly to be competitive again,” said the Bridgestone chief.
Continue ReadingCV and AT Show Registration
The CV and Automotive Trade Show guides and fast track passes are arriving this week for pre-registered visitors, reports the SMMT. The show organisers are encouraging those who wish to register to do so by 30 March and visitors will get a free show guide and fast-track entry pass. “Register this week, online,” says Bob Sockl of Crystal Communications, which markets the show on behalf of the SMMT and CV Show partnership. “But if you can’t, don’t worry, youll still be most welcome and will still get to see Europe’s biggest and most successful automotive, CV and road transport show.”
Continue ReadingOpinion: How Good Are Retreaded Tyres, Really?
(Akron/Tire Review) With advances in technology, materials and manufacturing, today’s radial truck and bus tires provide more performance, reliability and safety than ever before. Truck and bus tyre manufacturers design their tyres for multiple lives, meaning the tyres are designed to be retreaded. And every day, millions of retreaded truck and bus tyres are performing flawlessly all over the world in all types of weather and on all kinds of roads.
Continue ReadingMichelin Introduces New OTR Tyre
(Akron/Tire Review) Michelin North America’s (MNA) earthmover group has introduced a new OTR tyre and expanded the size offerings of its X-Haul radial tyre. The new X-Super Terrain AD tyre, available in size 23.5R25, was unveiled at the ConExpo show in Las Vegas. According to MNA, the new tyre is designed for use by articulated dump trucks, scrapers and loaders. Its deep tread and durable compound is said to extend tyre life, and its “rugged” shoulder and sidewall design provide protection from road hazards, the company said. Traction is enhanced by an “aggressive and self-cleaning tread design.” The Michelin X-Super Terrain AD tyre is an E4 radial tyre that reportedly reduces vibration and aids fuel economy through low rolling resistance.
Continue ReadingCooper Strike Update
(Texarkana/Tire Review) Roughly 1,000 people turned out for a union-organised rally supporting the 1,600 workers that went on strike nearly a week ago at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s Texarkana, Arkansas plant. David Boone, union president, said the union’s executive committee received a 95 per cent backing in a vote granting the authority to call a strike.
Continue ReadingMichelin Plant Aims to Beat
Michelin’s Vitoria factory has set itself the challenge of beating its own record and making 11.5 million car and giant excavator tyres, Spanish news sources have reported. All four Michelin’s Vitoria business units, giant tyres, car tyres, cable and rubber, registered growth in 2004, thanks to a 12 per cent upturn in the world tyre market. During the year, more than 10.8 million car tyres left the Vitoria plant for car manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Ford, Seat, Renault, Opel, Peugeot and Citröen, who accounted for 30 per cent of the units produced. The other 70 per cent went to the spares market, to workshops, garages and inspection centres.
Continue ReadingColumbus McKinnon Launches New Shredder
Columbus McKinnon has introduced a new Single-Speed Shredder, designed to process whole passenger car tyres to 2 inch (50mm) or 1 inch (25mm) chips. This latest shredder is capable of processing whole passenger car tyres at the rate of 100 tyres or 10 tonnes per hour. According to the company, the Holman Patent knife design has been redesigned to reduce knife costs. Knives in the new shredder can be re-sharpened allowing operators to receive three uses before disposing of them. Columbus McKinnon Corporation recently announced the sale of first single-speed tyre shredder to Lakin Tire West in California and subsequent sale to Lintire in the Netherlands. Since those were completed the company claims to have sold a further two systems.
Continue ReadingMichelin Apollo To Make Passenger Radials?
Michelin Apollo is eyeing the possibility of producing passenger car tyres, perhaps even tyres for Indias large two-wheeler market, Asian news sources have reported. The news comes as the company prepares to enter the Indian truck and bus tyre market with radial products. According to Herve Dub, chief executive, there are no definite plans for car tyre production but he concedes that plenty of market assessment is underway. Currently the company imports Michelin brand tyres into the market, although it is aiming to begin producing within India by the end of 2005. Capacity at the company’s $85 milllion joint venture is expected to hit 350,000 tyres per annum by the end of the decade.
Continue ReadingSibur Outsources Manufacturing to Marketing Wing
Sibur has announced that it will outsource its tyre manufacturing business to its marketing department, Russian newspaper, Kommersant, has reported. By this Autumn, the stocks of the four Sibur controlled tyre works will be transferred to Sibur Russian Tyres (SRT). At the moment SRT works exclusively in a sales and marketing role. Sibur is reported to have explained that the tyre business will be split off into a seperate structure because the company needs outside investment for development.
Continue ReadingBRMA Industry Event
The date for this year’s BRMA Rubber Industry Dinner has been released. It will again be held at the Hanover International Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire on 14 October. This year’s event will have a ‘Vegas’ feel, which will include live cabaret, a raffle, dancing, and casino tables. The BRMA warn that there are only a limited number of events available for sponsorship this year and encourage companies to come forward and support the event.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres Gains Buy Rating
The Hindu Business Line newspaper has given Apollo Tyres its ‘buy’ rating. Though the performance of the Indian tyre companies have not been overly impressive in recent quarters, the situation is likely to improve, the report added, suggesting that Budget proposals along with the price hikes effected in the past would have a positive impact on tyre companies’ earnings.
Continue ReadingMRF Plans to Protect Profits
(India/Rubber Asia) The profits of MRF, one of India’s largest tyre makers, are continuing to come under pressure. With raw material costs showing no signs of easing, the company is resisting attempts to pass cost pressures onto consumers. Chairman and MD, K M Mammen summed up the situation when he admitted that the company was searching for areas where is could rein costs in to “protect our profits.”
Continue Reading“Ceat-Kelani JV Has Had Exceptional Success”
(India/Rubber Asia) When the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed in December 1998, informed opinion may have considered it experimental. In Sri Lanka, the questions raised were: “Will Indian goods flood the Sri Lanka market?” and “Does Sri Lanka have the resources to penetrate the vast Indian market?” The FTA became operational in March 2000, and trade across the Palk Strait has expanded significantly since then. When the Sri Lankan and Indian Prime Ministers met in June 2002, they decided to widen the scope of cooperation under the FTA which dealt with trade and tariffs, to include services, technology and investment, thus moving the two economies towards greater integration and propelling them forward to a Comprehensive Econonomic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
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