Agricultural
‘Tis almost harvest time, and CGS Tyres UK has a few words of wisdom for the nation’s farmers. The distributor of the Continental and Mitas ranges points out that spending just a few minutes carefully checking the tyres on agricultural equipment before harvest could save farmers significant time, stress and expense at this critical time of the year.
GKN, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of agricultural and off highway wheels, has chosen Kirkby Tyres as its UK partner for the OE and replacement markets in the UK and Ireland. Kirkby thus takes responsibility for distributing the company’s line-up, which ranges from 12 to 26-inch fitments. GKN is well known as a supplier to major OEM’s including JCB and many other leading trailer and implement manufacturers worldwide.
In addition to producing agricultural tyres in China, Swedish manufacturer Trelleborg is engaged in a number of automotive and other sectors. The company counts China as one of its most important individual geographic markets, with net sales there amounting to nearly SEK 1 billion (£97 million) in 2010. Trelleborg operates six wholly-owned production plants in China; the company has now expanded its presence there through the opening of a research and development centre in Shanghai that specialises in offering state-of-the-art technology primarily for noise and vibration-damping brake solutions for passenger vehicles.
On August 1, Yves Kerstens, who is currently a member of Bridgestone Europe’s Board of Directors and vice-president of Supply Chain and IT, will take up the position of managing director of the company’s Commercial Products Business Unit. In this newly-created role, Kerstens will be responsible for truck & bus, off-the-road and agricultural tyres, for both the original equipment and replacement markets. As such, his position covers all of Bridgestone Europe’s markets and divisions.
Michelin has launched its new SprayBib agricultural tyre into the UK and Irish tyre market at Cereals 2011, which runs today and tomorrow. The tyre was debuted in the USA at SIMA in February; it is the first row-crop sprayer tyre to feature the brand’s Ultraflex technologies, which allow tyres to operate at lower pressures, helping to increase contact patches, in addition to increasing traction, comfort and road speeds.
Earlier in the year Goodyear introduced its Optitrac H+ harvester tyre into the UK; those wishing to see this new product for themselves can do so at the Cereals show in Lincolnshire, where it will be displayed for the first time on June 15 and 16. The Optitrac H+ is currently available in three sizes in the UK (IF 800/75R32 CFO, IF 800/70R32 CFO and IF 900/60R32 CFO); the tyres were designed in line with a four-year 2009 ETRTO experimental standard which allows a load bonus of up to 55 per cent for cyclic field operations without the need to increase the inflation pressure.
Farmers and contractors are specifying flotation tyres on increasing numbers of new-build agricultural trailers and Lincolnshire-based trailer manufacturer Bailey Trailers says it has responded to this market demand with the single largest order for Michelin’s CargoXbib tyres ever placed in the UK. A total of 1,100 CargoXbib tyres are being delivered to its Sleaford factory in 2011, a figure that nearly doubles the 600 supplied last year. Michelin explains the specialist tyres and wheels offer increased ground protection and lower rolling resistance compared with remould truck tyres.
Two planned investments will increase Bridgestone’s presence in Costa Rica: The local subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO), Bridgestone de Costa Rica, has announced the company’s new Financial Shared Services Center for the Latin American Region is to be located in the Central American country. Bridgestone also confirmed it will invest US$70 million in its La Ribera de Belen tyre factory in Heredia province over the next five years.
Terry Bowden, a partner in Tedburn St Mary-based Bowden Farms, says adjusting tyre pressures between jobs has become a thing of the past since specifying Michelin’s very high flexion tyres as original equipment on his latest New Holland T7050. He says he selected Michelin XeoBibs for their significantly larger footprint and after a string of tyre failures on a previous machine. The T7050 is used primarily for top work and operates with a 4m power harrow/drill combination with front mounted hopper across the 1,200-acre farm.
Austrian Christian Lanz drove a New Holland tractor mounted with Continental AC85 tyres to victory at the 58th world competition in conventional ploughing held in Sweden on 13 to 14 May at Lindevad Manor near Skänninge in Swedish Östergötland. 58 competitors from 29 countries took part in a show of patience, skill and advanced technology to create the perfectly spaced furrow. Czech-based CGS Tyres has produced and developed Continental agricultural tyres under licence since 2004.
On May 1 Heuver Tyrewholesale celebrated 45 years in the business. Mans Heuver established his regional tyre business in the Netherlands as a ‘one-man band’ in 1966 and the company has grown to employ 230 people. For the last two decades Heuver has operating internationally and in recent months has placed greater emphasis on the UK market, yet the wholesaler says it has by no means reached the limits of its ambitions. In this 45th anniversary year, Heuver says it still has a host of plans for the Netherlands and international markets.
Keen-eyed motorists may have already spotted the first examples of a sight set to become much more familiar; ATS Euromaster has launched a new livery for its 1,000-vehicle mobile service fleet. The company decided upon a new colour scheme – including more prominent chevron safety markings – in order to enhance safety while raising brand awareness and highlighting the company’s expertise.
Following 44 years with Michelin, UK and Ireland product marketing and technical manager Peter Debenham has announced his retirement. Taking over the position is Laurent Mozziconacci; the 38-year old from Michelin’s hometown of Clermont Ferrand in France is new to the UK operation but brings 17 years’ experience at Michelin with him as he crosses the Channel. He previously spent eight years working for the agricultural division in France, most recently in the same role he is taking over in the UK. Prior to specialising in agricultural tyres Mozziconacci spent eight years as an account manager for Michelin's truck product line – initially covering the Nice region of southern France, before spending four years in Grenoble at the foot of the French Alps.
Trelleborg tyres is exclusively equipping all the tractors and combines present at the European launch of the new Deutz-Fahr Agrotron TTV 410/420/430 between 4 and 8 April. Same Deutz-Fahr reportedly picked Trelleborg as its partner in the launch because of its specialist knowledge of the agricultural sector, its capacity to ensure highly professional technical assistance in the field, and for the premium quality and performance of its product and solutions.
The sale of Goodyear’s Latin America agricultural tyre business to Titan Tire was completed on April 1. Goodyear reports completing the sale for approximately US$99 million, subject to post-closing conditions and adjustments. The transaction includes the company’s Sao Paulo manufacturing plant, property, equipment and inventories and a licensing agreement that will allow Titan to sell Goodyear-brand agricultural tyres in Latin America and North America.
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