BKT Promotes All-Steel Radial OTR Tyres
Balkrishna Tyre (BKT) launched its latest range of OTR radials, which are sub-branded Earthmax at the Intermat show in April. At present they are available in SR 30 pattern E3/L3 tyres in 25-inch rim diameter and are the first Indian produced all steel casing radial tyre for earthmover application. According to the company, the first phase BKT is to extend the product line up to 35-inch diameter tyres in various patterns with multiple compound options. BKT has also increased its existing industrial and construction tyre range, with expansion of its radial industrial tractor tyre segment and launch of AT 621 pattern tyres for Backhoe loaders with special cut resistance compound & lug geometry. BKT boasts a comprehensive range of industrial, construction, material handling and earthmoving tyres from 8’ to 51-inch rim diameters covering wide applications including underground mining tyres and specialized port application tyres. Now having ventured into the Radial OTR BKT representatives believe the company is “all geared up to make in-roads and widening its penetration in servicing this market.
Continue ReadingRecycling Classic Tyres with the Stig
In other Vintage Tyre Supplies news, the Beaulieu based specialist comments that, in the current climate of recycle and reuse, the company is well aware of the need to dispose of worn out classic tyres in a responsible way. VTS reports that its tyres are always collected and processed by an ethical tyre processing company; many tyres reappear as childrens playgrounds, conveyer belts and even new car tyres. Recently however, VTS has been able to use its old worn tyres in a different way, as part of the new World of Top Gear at the National Motor Museum, located just a hop, skip and a jump from Vintage Tyres’ headquarters.
Continue ReadingMore than Just Rubber
No other tyres are submitted to as much stress as those fitted on earthmovers. As a result retreading these tyres requires specific experience and solutions, especially with regards to the development of the most appropriate compounds and tread patterns, says leading tread rubber, machinery and retread manufacturer Marangoni. Earthmover and off-the-road tyres require compounds that have high resistance to mechanical stress and atmospheric agents, so as to guarantee the required working life. In many cases cut resistant compounds are needed, but at the same time the compounds must feature low hysteresis/heat generation (two technologically opposing characteristics when obtained using standard materials and processes). Consequently new reinforcing agents with specific characteristics need to be added.
Continue ReadingVTS Offers Fitment for Classic Citroën H
Mon Dieu, have owners of the unmistakeably French Citroën H van experienced difficulties sourcing their unusual metric sized tyres during the past few years. To remedy this Eiffel Tower sized problem, Vintage Tyre Supplies has been working closely with Dutch manufacturer Vredestein towards the goal of reintroducing an appropriate fitment. The vintage tyre specialist reports that the 17R400 Vredestein Classic is now in stock at £117 + tax and is the only tyre currently available for these important classic vehicles that combines the correct size and load capacity
Continue ReadingAn Uphill Struggle?
Certain tyre industry players have suggested that the green shoots of recovery are already visible in the North American off-road and construction markets (see elsewhere in this feature for more on this) meaning recovery in some markets could begin as soon as this year. However, CECE (European Committee of Site Machinery Manufacturers Associations) figures show that the OE side of the business isn’t really expecting growth to return until 2011. According to the CECE, the machinery market peaked in 2007 with a record year, while 2008 - despite still being worth 30 billion euros across Europe – is characterised as “a crisis year.” Projections for 2009 suggest there will be a drop in orders of around 30 per cent on a European scale compared to the previous - some companies hit lows of 60 per cent in February 2009. Now, you may be thinking that as far as the infrastructure/construction part of the OTR tyre business is concerned, much of the annual market volume is purchased through the replacement market. However, while these figures only relate directly to the original equipment part of the tyre business, the OEM business can also be seen as a barometer of confidence in the industry as a whole. After all, OEM sales are determined by general economic output and construction demand and if there is no construction work taking place, this will affect both OE and replacement tyre sales.
Continue ReadingNew Rhein Chemie Compounding Plant Now Fully Operational
Rhein Chemie reports that the new compounding plant build at its Mannheim-Rheinau site in southwest Germany is now in full operation – an event the Lanxess group subsidiary describes as a milestone in the company’s century-plus history. The facility will produce Rhein Chemie’s Rhenogran product line of pre-dispersed, polymer-bound rubber chemicals that are used to in the manufacture of tyres and other rubber items.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Releases Renewed Environmental Mission Statement
On behalf of its worldwide subsidiaries, Bridgestone Corporation has launched its renewed Bridgestone Group “Environmental Mission Statement”. This document refines and further develops the “Environmental Policy Statement” formally issued in 2002 and is intended to reaffirm Bridgestone’s commitment to environmental stewardship as stated in the Company’s Environmental Philosophy: “To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations.” The renewed Environmental Mission Statement is comprised of two intertwined areas of focus – “Three Areas of Environmental Progress” and “Two Core Strategies for Growth” – that guide the Bridgestone Group’s environmental management activities.
Continue ReadingMichelin PRM Report Examines Key Company Performance Areas
The fourth edition of the Michelin Group’s Michelin Performance and Responsibility (PRM) report is out. Focusing on the 2007-2008 period, this new report is a summary of the progress the company has achieved in its ‘Michelin Performance and Responsibility’ sustainable development approach – an approach designed around the five stages of the tyre’s life: tyre design, raw materials and purchasing, tyre manufacturing, commercialisation of tyres and tyres in use, and end-of-life recovery.
Continue ReadingSumitomo Establishing Falken European Sales Company
News that has already been doing the rounds in the tyre world for several months has now been officially announced – in response to questions from Tyres & Accessories, Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd has confirmed the establishment of a new sales company for the European market. Called Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, the new company will be based in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, Germany (where the manufacturer’s European liaison office is already located) and will take over the Falken and Ohtsu brands in the European replacement tyre market from Goodyear Dunlop as of January 1, 2010.
Continue ReadingPunch sells BBS and Punch Metals
Some four months after Punch International nv, parent company of wheel manufacturer BBS, described automotive industry market conditions as “extremely difficult”, it has announced the sale of its BBS and Punch Metals BBS and Punch Metals businesses, which belong to the company’s Motive group. This significant part of Punch International’s automotive business will be acquired by Creacorp nv, Punch’s main shareholder. Punch will retain ownership of the BBS brand, however the transaction gives rise to a one off non-cash loss of around 48 million euros. In return, Creacorp nv is taking over a number of obligations, such as the rental guarantee for the property used by BBS and Punch Metals (approximately 10 million euros), securities for loan agreements and certain key suppliers (7.5 million euros) and the purchase obligation for the Hayes Lemmerz site in Gainesville, Georgia (5 million euros). A licence fee will also be paid for the use of the BBS brand.
Continue ReadingWilliam Daly Passes Away
B.I.T.S director Bill Daly sadly passed away on Sunday 28 June after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill, an industrious and caring person, spent all of his working life in the tyre industry. His career began some 43 years ago in the local office of Firestone. Through a lot of hard work and determination, he gained successive promotions and progressed to administration manager for Firestone, covering the northern part of the UK. In August 1982 Bill joined B.I.T.S, a member of The County Tyre Group of Companies, and together with Stan Naylor started the first expansion of B.I.T.S in the North at Preston. Through the success of the Preston location and Bill’s dedication, he was made a director of B.I.T.S Group in 1996. He was a valuable and influential member of the team, contributing greatly to the further expansion of B.I.T.S. He will be very dearly missed by his wife Linda and his loss will also be deeply felt by his many colleagues, some of whom have known Bill since he was a teenager.
Continue ReadingAlcoa Appoints Kramer to New Growth Initiatives Position
Alcoa’s Wheel and Transportation Products business president Kevin B. Kramer has been appointed to a newly created position within the company. He will now serve as president, Growth Initiatives, and in this role is responsible for supporting Alcoa’s commercialisation strategies for organic growth, including the commercialisation of research and development initiatives and identifying and developing new applications that respond to market trends and customers’ needs. In addition, he will support the development and execution of global marketing programs for aluminium applications across existing and new market opportunities.
Continue ReadingUS News: ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Begins July 23
Last week, President Obama signed into law the Cash for Clunkers programme, now known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), which is expected to begin later this month. While the CARS Act makes transactions on and after July 1 potentially eligible for credits under the CARS programme, interested dealers and consumers may want to wait until all of the detailed issues that must be addressed in the implementing regulations are resolved and the final rule is issued, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), administrator of the programme. Issuance will occur around July 23. The government has established the CARS.gov Web site to help keep consumers informed on the project. The site features basic FAQs as well as information about what NHSTA is doing to prevent fraud. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingFR380 Tyres Recalled by Bridgestone/Firestone in US
Bridgestone/Firestone has recalled 127,000 Firestone FR380 tyres manufactured between 9 September 2007 and 2 July 2008 in the size P235/75R15. Continued use could lead to vibration and groove cracking. The company will notify buyers and replace the products free of charge, including mounting and balancing. Tire Review adds that the recall will encompass 127,183 tyres manufactured with insufficient tread base gauge, which could lead to tread distortion or separation. The tyres were produced at the Bridgestone de Costa Rica S.A. plant in San Jose, Costa Rica. The US journal reports that Bridgestone Americas said that it was possible that a small number of these tyres from the additional production weeks may have been sold in the Canadian replacement market. The recalled tires carry DOT numbers starting with WBHL 380 3607 through and including WBHL 380 3008.
Continue ReadingForecast Sees 4.5% Jump in Aftermarket Sales
A new channel forecast predicts US aftermarket sales to increase 4.5 per cent in 2010. The study was funded jointly by three major automotive aftermarket trade associations and is included in the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Digital Factbook 2010. Taking the US economy into account with widely fluctuating gasoline prices, reduced miles driven, tightening credit markets and growing unemployment, total US motor vehicle aftermarket sales in 2008 were about even with the previous year rising only 0.2 per cent. As the recession continues to hold down consumer spending, a decline of 1.3 per cent is anticipated for the 2009 calendar year followed by a rebound of 4.5 per cent in 2010, the forecast said. The model was created AAIA, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). (Tire Review/Akron)
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