EWI Receives $4 million Order for Reverse Tyre Polymerisation Machine
Ellsin Environmental Ltd has ordered prototype reverse polymerisation technology from Environmental Waste International Inc’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary, EWI Rubber Inc. Under a signed Prototype Agreement EWIR will build a TR900 system for $4.175 million, about 80 per cent of the $5.25 million total project cost. Based on EWIs patented reverse polymerisation process, the system is designed to break down at least 900 tyres a day and recover carbon black, oil and steel, while producing its own power from the off-gases. As part of the agreement, EWIR will grant Ellsin all available territorial rights for the TR technology in Canada and the United States, subject to future performance requirements.
Continue ReadingTire Group International Opens Santiago, Chile Office
Tire Group International (TGI) has opened a new sales office in Santiago, Chile in a continuation of its marketing and distribution expansion strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The new office will be led by Gonzalo Miño Fourines who joins TGI with over 25 years experience in the tyre and automotive industries. Miño’s CV includes work with General Motors Chile SA, DIASA SA and Neumaticos de Chile SA. “TGI has been very successful in implementing its marketing strategy in targeted countries throughout Latin American and the Caribbean. With Gonzalo’s broad tyre industry experiences, we fully expect to continue leveraging our successes in order to further expand our presence throughout the region. Gonzalo brings a unique skill-set within sales and marketing where we feel he’ll deliver immediate benefits as he promotes our brands and the wide array of solutions and services TGI offers”, said Orlando Delgado, Tire Group International’s Senior Vice President of Business Development.
Continue ReadingReports: Lenders Set to Oppose Continental/Schaeffler Combination
Banks responsible for as much as half of Continental AG’s 11 billion euros ($15.5 billion) of debt are reportedly going to oppose the company’s proposed combination with 90 per cent shareholder Schaeffler Group. Citing “people familiar with the situation,” Bloomberg reported that the banks are concerned about the levels of debt necessary for the two companies to re-merge. According to the report, the banks are trying to half the move by blocking changes to a loan agreement first reached in 2007. The two companies have combined debts of around 24 billion euros. Neither Continental, Schaeffler nor the banks involved have yet commented. However, for all the banks fears and apparent threats to de-rail what is expected to become a reverse takeover, with less than 100 days before the German general election, government support for the move (and the thousands of jobs that depend on it) have the potential to make the re-merger work. Continental executives are expected to officially reveal their plans at the end of July.
Continue Reading“There Will Be No Split”: Mosley Claims F1 Agreement Reached
Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, has claimed that the disagreement between Formula One’s administrative body and FOTA – an association of teams most notably including Ferrari – is over. Eight of the ten F1 teams had threatened to form a breakaway series in 2010 if rules restricting their budgets had been introduced. It seems that Mosley has been forced to back down from his argument that F1 teams would have to reduce spending significantly next year; now, he told journalists at a press conference today (24 June, 2009), “There will be one F1 championship but the objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 90s within two years.”
Continue ReadingSnap-on Training Centre Gains Rubber Association Approval
In news out of Germany, Snap-on Equipment has become the first garage equipment manufacturer to have its training centre courses authorised by the country’s rubber industry association, the wdk (Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie). The company’s European Competence Centre of Snap-on Equipment, located near Frankfurt am Main, has been authorised to conduct training courses related to the mounting and demounting of UHP and run-flat tyres in line with wdk requirements. A prerequisite for wdk authorisation, notes Snap-on, was professional training rooms and workshops equipped with at least two wdk-certified turntable and roller-type tyre changers. The European Competence Centre is equipped with several certified tyre changers of these types; tyre/wheel assemblies, tyres and training materials are also available.
Continue ReadingRMA, Discount Tire Score TV Hit
The RMA closed out the USAs National Tire Safety Week 2009 by landing a slot on the Fox network’s “Fox & Friends” morning show. NASCAR driver David Ragan, who is sponsored by Discount Tire, was interviewed on the program to discuss proper tyre care. RMA worked with Discount Tire to schedule the interview as part of RMAs media outreach to support NTSW. To see the interview, go to the “Fox & Friends” site – www.foxnews.com/foxfriends – and scroll down to the News You Can Use section. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingLanxess Gearing Up for World Rubber Day
One hundred years ago, the chemist Fritz Hofmann invented the first ever synthetic rubber. After beavering away with his assistant Carl Coutelle and a research team in their employer’s laboratory in Elberfeld, western Germany, Hofmann produced the flexible substance methyl-isoprene, and in doing so laid the cornerstone for the development of a viable alternative to natural rubber. To honour this invention, Lanxess has established “World Rubber Day”, an occasion that will be celebrated for the first time on September 12, 2009.
Continue ReadingMiles Driven Increases for the First Time in More Than a Year
According to the Federal Highway Administration, US miles driven increased for the first time in 16 months. Total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in April of this year was 249.5 billion, compared to 248.1 billion miles for April 2008, representing a 0.6 per cent increase. In addition, FHA has reported that all regions of the country saw either higher or the same VMT as last year. The report did find that cumulative VMT for the fist four months of 2009 is 1.1 per cent lower than it was for the same four months last year. The June edition of the Traffic Volume Trends report can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/tvtw/09aprtvt/09aprtvt.pdf. (Tire Review/Akron/Aftermarketnews.com)
Continue ReadingBridgestone Safety Campaign Gets Underway in India
With an annual road toll hovering at around 100,000 deaths – one of the highest in the world – Bridgestone’s launch of its global ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign in India is perhaps timely. The campaign, first launched in 2005 and now operating with the backing of FIA member clubs in more than 60 countries, will hopefully help Indian motorists identify the main causes of serious or fatal crashes – and implement simple safety measures before heading off.
Continue ReadingWheel Finish on Accuride Products
Accuride Corp. has broadened the availability of its enhanced finish for aluminum wheels. The process results in a semi-polished appearance on unpolished wheels, and is now available across the company’s aluminum wheel product line, excluding small diameter trailer wheels. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingGajah Tunggal’s Rating Downgraded
In mid-June analysts at Standard & Poors cut PT Gajah Tunggal’s long-term credit rating from “CCC+” to “CC” due to a negative outlook. An explanatory statement expressed doubts over the Indonesian manufacturer’s ability in the near future to meet its outstanding debts within the agreed upon timeframe.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Claims NASCAR Tyre Wear Problems Resolved
The 2008 NASCAR season was not a good one for Goodyear. The US stock car series was plagued by excessive tyre wear, leading to the ‘competition caution’ flag frequently seeing light of day. The manufacturer now believes it has ironed out all of last year’s problems. When we left Indianapolis last year, there was one thing we were very clear about and that was that we were going to get it right, said Greg Stucker, director of Race Tire Sales at Goodyear. I want everybody to be just as clear today that were very confident we have done exactly that.
Continue ReadingInterstate Launches Van Tyre Line
Interstate Tire & Rubber Co added a commercial van line to its range. The Interstate Van IVT-1 tyre is designed for the new generation vans, combining high mileage with driving comfort. According to the company, the tyre’s wide tread design increases load-capacity through its spiral carbon belt and improves grip on wet roads. The ISST low noise technology reduces noise levels and increases a durable performance for intensive commercial use, consistent wear and resistance to aquaplaning make this tyre an excellent choice. The Interstate Van IVT-1 is available in sizes 195/70R15C and 205/65R16C. Another seven sizes in 8-ply will be available soon. The complete programme of Interstate Tires will be on show during the Equip Auto in Paris at October 13-18, 2009.
Continue ReadingAvon Tyres Wishes Customers ‘Best of British’
Avon Tyres is celebrating all that is ‘Best of British’ on two and four wheels, with a competition and poster campaign. All you have to do to is log on to www.avon-tyres.co.uk. Bikers can win a trackday at Castle Combe on Avon VP2 tyres, while visitors to the car site can win VIP hospitality tickets to the season finale of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Brands Hatch on 20 September. Runners-up from each competition will be given the chance to win exclusive limited-edition Avon watches. Cooper Tire Europe (Avon’s parent company) managing director, Julian Baldwin, said: “We are extremely proud of Avon Tyres’ British heritage, both as a manufacturer and a prime mover in the world of motorsport. Two years ago, our parent company’s faith in the quality of our British engineering skills was illustrated by the siting of the firm’s entire European design and technical centre in Melksham.”
Continue ReadingNortenha Puts Retreads to the Test
Portuguese retreader Recauchutagem Nortenha and Kraiburg Austria recently joined forces in a series of spectacular demonstrations, aimed at illustrating the quality of Kraiburg patterns and retreading. The vehicles used included buses and tankers and they were subjected to a series of tests, including overturning while cornering (the vehicles were fitted with stabilising wheels), aquaplaning and skidding. The stringent tests subjected the vehicles and tyres to load impacts and transverse forces which never occur in normal driving. Customers were invited to the promotional event and the invitation was taken up by representatives from over 40 well-known companies from Portugals freight forwarding, passenger transportation and construction industries, keen to explore the products behind the slogan More miles in full safety! The aim was to show existing customers and potential new cus¬tomers that retreads most definitely stand comparison with new tyres.
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