Vredestein and Carlsson Announce Cooperation
Details of a cooperative partnership between Vredestein and vehicle manufacturer Carlsson were announced on January 11. Upon announcing the commencement of the collaboration, Vredestein Germany managing director Michael Lutz stated “in Carlsson we now have a strong partner in the field of premium styling. Carlsson is one of the best car tuning manufacturers anywhere in the world. Above all, the Carlsson name stands for elegant and exceptional design, high-torque engines and innovative German quality engineering for Mercedes cars.”
Continue ReadingFirst Michelin EV Prototype Tyre Unveiled
According to Michelin, a special power train requires a special tyre. And it claims to have embraced this philosophy when designing its first concept tyre for electric vehicles. Known as the EV, the Michelin concept tyre is intended to provide a range of benefits that include increasing the vehicle’s range between charges or reducing battery size to optimise use of interior space. At the same time, the tyre is said to enhance driving safety and deliver superior longevity. Furthermore, says Michelin, the prototype tyre offers a quiet ride that is ideally suited to a relatively noise-free power source.
Continue ReadingSnow and Ice “Good News” for Goodyear
This winter has brought the severest conditions experienced for some years, and this has been bad news for many UK motorists – but good news for Goodyear. The tyre maker reports its use of the snow and ice as a springboard to educate motorists on the importance of road and tyre safety. While gaining media interest in tyres is usually a challenge, Goodyear says that, with driving and safety at the top of the agenda, it has been provided with a “good opportunity”.
Continue ReadingLaser System Offers Cost-Effective Tyre Mould Cleaning
German company cleanLASER has developed a new system for cleaning tyre moulds utilising a combination of handheld and automated laser tools. The system’s design consists of two laser optic tools that utilise laser light to clean the moulds. One tool is manually operated, while the second is automated. The system includes a beam-switch to enable the operator to select either a handheld cleaning tool for optimal versatility or a robotically mounted optic for repetitive high-speed treatments.
Continue ReadingNew Swedish Rules Outlined in Conti Winter Guide
A further addition to the Continental Tyre 2009/2010 Winter Tyre Guide has been made to cover new Swedish regulations affecting foreign registered vehicles entering the country from December 2009 onwards. The new rules stipulate that foreign cars and light commercial vehicles entering the country must be equipped with winter tyres with a tread depth of at least three millimetres between December 1 and March 31, whilst wintry road conditions prevail.
Continue ReadingTransense Contributes to F1 KERS Success
For the past eighteen months Transense has worked closely with McLaren Electronic Systems developing, manufacturing and deploying its Torque sensor as part of a KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that was used with success during this season’s Formula One championship. As far as Transense is concerned, the most significant aspect of this project has been the technical performance validation and commercial application of both the SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) sensor and the company’s patented Reader Electronics equipment within the demanding operating environment of an F1 car – a procedure involving the wireless measurement of torque on a shaft rotating at up to 18,000 rpm.
Continue ReadingMaxxis Launches ‘2-in1’ Calendar for 2010
Following the popularity of this year’s Maxxis calendar, which depicted the company’s tyres in a series of sport action shots, for 2010 Maxxis is taking what will no doubt prove to be a popular approach – the new calendar lets the recipient choose between ‘For All Seasons’, showing seasonal scenes/products, and the much-appreciated Maxxis Babes.
Continue ReadingI-Spy: The Michelin Books are Back
Those of you whose childhood memories stretch back to the 1950s or 60s will most likely remember the popular Michelin I-Spy books. During their heyday the I-Spy series had a cult following, with more than 1.5million children becoming members of the I-Spy ‘tribe’. They’ve been absent from bookshop shelves since 2002, yet those with fond memories of the books – and those yet to savour their delights – are in for a treat. Michelin has announced the return of the I-Spy range in time for Christmas.
Continue ReadingMomentive Launches Silplus High Consistency Elastomer Platform
Automotive industry application is one of a number of uses Momentive Performance Materials states its new Silplus silicone elastomer is suited to. This global heat cured rubber (high consistency elastomer) platform is based on a uniform production process and raw material inputs, and will be produced primarily in Leverkusen, Germany, Shanghai, China and Ohta, Japan. The manufacturer states that all production sites will use a mix process, resulting in higher quality elastomers with good physical properties and a lower level of volatility.
Continue ReadingUK Company Offering Tyre Scrubbing Technology
In motorsport, the scrubbing of tyres – running the tyres for a couple of laps and leaving them to cool and cure – is a fairly common practice used to improve dynamic performance, grip, tyre life and lap times. UK firm Tyre Technology Ltd. already supplies machinery that can replicate this process to motorsport teams. For the first time, however, the company is making its Black Frequency system available for rental to any interested party.
Continue ReadingM+S Marked Summer Tyres a Risk to Winter Driving, Warns Conti
Although the volume of cold weather tyres sold in the UK hints at a sun-kissed climate far out of kilter with reality, in other European countries the winter tyre market is big business and swapping over to winter rubber a seasonal duty for all motorists. For this reason, Continental has expressed dismay at the presence of numerous so-called winter tyres on the market; although these bear the much trusted M+S mark, the German manufacturer reports the tyres in question are “not or only slightly suitable for winter”. According to Conti, these M+S marked tyres are really all-season or summer tyres “produced cheaply in the Far East”, and therefore consumers should check carefully whether a tyre really is a winter tyre before making a purchase.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Floats the Z-HYDRO
Following the success enjoyed by its previous Alfa MiTo M430 and the Fiat 5.0.0. project cars, Marangoni has developed the ‘Z-HYDRO’, a new tuned vehicle for 2010. As before, the project has been handled by Florence, Italy based tuner TRC Italia, and completed in what Marangoni describes as an “astonishingly short time”, considering the recent market launch of the Nissan 370Z R34, the vehicle the Z-HYDRO is based upon.
Continue ReadingVredestein Grows Flotation Trac Range
Vredestein’s states that its recently introduced Flotation Trac implement radial is well suited to work on arable land, grassland and for transportation. This all-round range has now expanded through the addition of a fifth size.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg to Invest in Brazil Automotive Seals Plant
As part of its long-term strategy of investing in markets offering favourable growth potential, Trelleborg has announced plans to further strengthen its presence in Brazil. On November 16 the company inaugurated a new facility near São Paulo, where the manufacture of high-performance seals for such items as aircraft and passenger cars, as well as for industrial applications, will take place. The plant is part of the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions business area and will initially employ about 100 staff.
Continue ReadingPirelli Ups Prices in Africa, Middle East
Pirelli reports that growing raw materials and energy costs are the reason for announcing a 10 per cent price increase for all car, motorcycle and truck product lines in its Middle Eastern and African markets. The price increase will being to take effect in the various markets in mid November 2009.
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