Marangoni Prepared and Ready for Business in China
There is no doubting that the Shanghai representative office opened by Marangoni in the summer of 2007 has developed since its initial establishment. Talking with Tyres & Accessories at the sidelines of Tyrexpo Asia in Singapore, where the Marangoni Group was also exhibiting, office manager Marcello Gambarini stated that the Italian retreading and tyre business already has a seven-strong sales team operating in China and the 30-plus year tyre industry veteran added that Marangoni has now reached “the end of its preparation phase.” This means that Marangoni in China is ready to supply its tread material and retreading products to the industry. Rather than being used in Marangoni-owned factories these products will be used by partners, Gambarini disclosed, also noting that the company’s premium Ringtread products and top of the line machinery do not at present feature on the Chinese market product list; there isn’t as yet a great demand for these items within the country’s growing retreading industry.
Continue ReadingKumho Features Strongly in Irish Rally’s Winners Circle
The Kumho-shod Skoda Fabia WRC driven by Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner secured victory the 14-stage Larsen Circuit of Ireland Rally by over three-quarters of a minute. Donnelly, who also took top honours at the Galway International Rally in January, Donnelly, is already being tipped to win his fifth Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Kumho notes that other drivers using its tyres during the April 11-12 event ended high up the ladder, including the fifth-placed Subaru Impreza WRC of Darren Gass/Diarmuid Falvey and the eighth-placed (second in Group N) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 of Rory Byrne/Jeremy Patterson. These last two drivers bear an additional connection to the Korean manufacturer – Byrne is a director of Kumho’s Northern Ireland distributor, Modern Tyre Service, and Patterson is an account manager there.
Continue ReadingJaguar Keeps it British with Latest OE Deal
Dunlop UK has confirmed that Jaguar has indeed decided to keep things British in the choice of tyres for its new XFR and XKR models. Continuing a decades-old tradition of fitment to both on-road and race vehicles, including the winners of seven Le Mans titles, the two new Jaguars will be fitted with Dunlop’s SP Sport Maxx tyres, a product the Birmingham based manufacturer says will provide outstanding performance and give the driver the ultimate driving experience. The XFR and XKR are the latest addition to the Jaguar line-up and feature a 375kW/510 hp supercharged engine and acceleration of 4.8 seconds from 0-60 mph. This latest OE agreement will see every new XFR and XKR fitted with Dunlop tyres.
Continue ReadingDEKRA Test Centre to Compare Premium Brand Tyres
With worldwide automotive manufacturers feeling simultaneous and significant economic and ecological pressures, remaining at the cutting edge in terms of research and development is vital for the premium brands to create the sense of worth necessary to continue selling tyres at the upper end of the pricing sheet. As a significant factor in achieving this goal, the Michelin Group earmarks 600 million Euros for research and development annually. For part of its testing this year, the French manufacturer is outsourcing to the DEKRA Test Centre, based in Narbonne, France. The 2009 tests will compare Michelin’s Energy Saver in size 195/65R15 91H, the Primacy HP (225/55R16 95W) and the Primacy Alpin PA3 (205/55R16 91H) with examples from the ranges of the premium brand manufacturers Bridgestone (B250, Turanza ER300, LM25), Continental (PremiumContact 2, WinterContact TS830), Dunlop (SP Sport Fast Response, SP Winter Sport 3D), Goodyear (Excellence, Ultra Grip 7+) and Pirelli (P6 Cinturato, P7). Results from the tests will be provided by DEKRA in May for the performance and high performance sizes and in September for the cold weather head-to-head, so readers are advised to check forthcoming issues and on Tyrepress.com for the results.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Gets Volkswagen OE in North America
This month Hankook Tire began supplying Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and New Beetle cars manufactured at Volkswagens Puebla, Mexico plant and destined for North America with Optimo H725A tyres. Hankook already has fitments on Volkswagen cars in other global markets, but this development represents a significant increase in VW fitments on Volkswagens to be sold in Canada and the US, where the Jetta is the highest selling VW model vehicle. “We are extremely excited to supply the Optimo for Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and New Beetle exports to the U.S. and Canadian markets. By leveraging our Kontrol Technology in the development of UHP products, Hankook Tire is able to tailor its products to current environmental sustainability standards, and this in turn allows Hankook Tire to deliver quality products to our consumers,” said Seung Hwa Suh, CEO, Hankook Tire, adding: “After working closely with Volkswagen as an OE supplier in other world markets, we have created excellent relationships, and we look forward to earning even more fitments on VW vehicles to be sold in the US and Canada.”
Continue ReadingThe Sky’s the Limit
Kings Road Tyres, in conjunction with Michelin, has helped a team of British explorers carry out an unlikely journey from London to Timbuktu – not by plane or train, but by flying car. The Parajet Skycar is a road legal version of an off road buggy that can be set up to either drive wheels when on the road or power a rear mounted propeller when it takes to the skies. In flight a large fabric wing gives the Skycar lift whilst the propeller provides the necessary forward thrust. The Parajet Skycar set off from London at the end of January and travelled down through France and Spain before flying the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco in North Africa. From Morocco the team travelled through the disputed lands of Western Sahara, into Mauritania and across the Sahara to Timbuktu in Mali.
Continue ReadingGovernment to Offer Electric Car Subsidies
Business secretary Peter Mandelson and transport secretary Geoff Hoon have given details of the governments vision to promote ultra low carbon transport – in other words electric cars - over the next five years. This involves a headline subsidy for consumers worth £2000 - £5000 towards buying their first electric and plug-in hybrid cars when they hit the showrooms. The consumer incentives will be introduced in 2011 to coincide with when the government expects electric and plug in hybrid cars to enter the mass market. To be eligible cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.
Continue ReadingMPs Back Scrappage Scheme
A cross party group of 25 MPs has written to Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson, asking for immediate action to support the vehicle component industry, including a car scrappage scheme like the systems that have been successfully running in Germany and France. According to the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the component industry employs some 100,000 people who now face a bleak future because of the economic downturn. However, the group of MPs suggest that targeted measures could help turn the situation around. The highest profile suggestion is for an “appropriately structured scrappage scheme” subsidising the replacement of old cars in favour of newer more environmentally friendly models. However, the MPs all back support for car finance to stimulate the demand side; improving access to credit and liquidity; and sharing the burden of continuing to employ staff between employees, employers and the government.
Continue ReadingKenda China Plant Aims for PSR, Company Adds OE
Kenda Rubber Industries’ recently opened tyre plant in China will serve as a stepping stone to growing the company’s presence in that country, officials said. The first phase of the new plant in Teinjin, China, at $23 million, is set to produce bicycle and motorcycle tyres and tubes. Later phases, though, will add production of some five million radial passenger tires per year, Kenda said. Kenda has also been aggressively pursuing OE positions, and recently landed slots with Iranian car maker Saita Group. Kenda will supply some 200,000 radial tyres per year for Saita’s Pride line. Kenda claims it has also gained OE business with an unnamed Chinese automaker. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Offering a SMART Solution to Dents and Scratches
A good set of tyres can perhaps minimise the risk of accumulating dents, scratched bumpers or scuffed alloy wheels, but most motorists are unable to avoid ‘battle damage’ entirely. To take care of these inevitable dings and scratches, Kwik-Fit Fleet is expanding its one-stop shop service portfolio through the launch of a SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology) service. At present this facility is being trialled at six Kwik-Fit locations – and the company believes it is the first time a fast-fit company has moved into offering SMART repairs.
Continue ReadingAlliance Expands Product Range with New Flotation Tyres
Agricultural tyre specialist Alliance has complemented its range of radial flotation tyres with a number of new sizes. The manufacturer has a long tradition in the development and manufacture of flotation tyres for agricultural use; in 1998 the Israeli-Indian company became the world’s first manufacturer to produce this type of radial. Now the manufacturer is launching further new developments that broaden the range of suitable applications to include use on slurrey tankers and dumpers.
Continue ReadingVin Diesel Takes General Tire for a Ride
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are making a tyre screeching return to the big screen – and General Tire has been selected as the official rubber the pair will be burning. The US based Continental Tire North America brand has partnered with Universal Pictures to become the official tyre of the latest instalment in the “Fast & Furious” film series. The new film sees Diesel and Walker once again join Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster to, in General Tire’s own words, “blast muscle, tuner and exotic cars across Los Angeles and floor through the Mexican desert.”
Continue ReadingMichelin Luxembourg Plans 5-Year Euro Bond
Michelin Luxembourg has announced plans to sell a five-year euro benchmark bond with a total value of around 750 million euros, the IFR has reported. IFR said on Wednesday. Yield guidance is approximately 9 per cent, said IFR Markets, a Thomson Reuters online news and market analysis service. Calyon, Royal Bank of Scotland and SG CIB are joint lead managers on the deal, IFR added.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Chooses not to Appeal Cartel Fine
On January 28, Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ) and its UK subsidiary, Bridgestone Industrial Ltd. received notice from the European Commission regarding a 58.5 million euro fine for the company’s alleged participation in an international marine hose cartel. BSJ reported on April 16 that, after careful consideration, it has decided the most appropriate action for it to take is to bring the course of proceedings to an end and focus upon the “reinforcement of its compliance system and promotion of preventive measures.” Therefore, BSJ confirms it will pay the imposed fine rather than appeal the decision.
Continue ReadingSafety First a Goodway to Go
In Tyres & Accessories’ September 2008 Retreading Special, Goodway Rubber Industries, the Malaysian retreading compound and materials supplier, spoke at great length about its continuing mission for safety within the workplace and its concern for the wellbeing of its staff, culminating in its Nilai factory’s attainment of OHSAS 18001 certification. In the time since then, this attention to safety has been reflected in the company’s products, specifically with reference to its Supercool-branded flagship retreading material, which has been given the new tagline, “Engineered For Safety”. Despite the current economic turmoil, Goodway says that its trademark brand registered growth last year, stemming from well-positioned branding efforts and aggressive marketing strategies. Indeed, the company is optimistic that the financial woes could represent it – and retreaders in general – with a significant opportunity.
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