A £1.5 million government grant is winging its way to Dunlop Aircraft tyres. The grant was awarded by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board and the funds will aid the Birmingham-based company in its development and testing of tougher, lighter aircraft tyres.
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Europe’s largest regional airline Flybe has selected Birmingham manufacturer Dunlop Aircraft Tyres to supply its expanding fleet of Embraer jets. Dunlop has been awarded an exclusive five-year deal to supply new and retreaded nose and mainwheel tyres for Flybe’s fleet of Embraer 175 aircraft and radial nosewheel tyres for the carrier’s Embraer 195s. The deal continues a long-standing relationship with the airline, while Dunlop is currently present on many other Embraer aircraft.
As the Paris Air Show 2013 gets under way, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has announced that it will supply original equipment tyres to the Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft. The first A400M is due to be delivered to the French Air Force, and the tyres fitted feature new foreign object damage (FOD) resistance tyre technology that has been developed by Dunlop Aircraft Tyres. This sidewall technology for cross-ply tyres increases their suitability for operations from semi and unprepared airstrips, and the materials used lend added protection to the tread area.
Michelin Aircraft Tire has introduced a mobile application for aircraft mechanics, private pilots, airlines, military operators and others who have an interest in or use for aircraft tyres. The app will draw upon Michelin’s expertise in this field and aims to serve and educate customers on how to better maintain their Michelin tyres, to maximise tyre performance and minimise costs.
Italian firm Italmatic has been engaged in the manufacture of tyre retreading machinery since 1967. Today, the company operates two factories; its Cassina de’ Pecchi plant, just outside the city of Milan, produces inspection machines, buffers, builders, extruders, buffing blades, wheels, while the Capannori facility near Lucca specalises in autoclaves, presses and moulds. Italmatic says it is the only company capable of supplying machinery for the retreading of any kind of tyre and for any requirement from A to Z, through the supply of complete turnkey plants.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ joint venture facility in Jinjiang, China has secured a three-year deal to support China Eastern Airlines’ fleet of ten Embraer 145LI regional jets with new and retreaded tyres. The agreement will see the Shanghai-based airline receive new tyres made at Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ factory in Birmingham; these will be distributed from and retreaded at the manufacturer’s joint venture company, Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres.
These days, two major trends within the European retreading sector are making the use of shearography systems increasingly necessary. First, casings are becoming harder to source due to weakness in the new tyre market and the growth in new tyre manufacturers’ involvement in retreading; they strive to retain ‘their’ casings within their own systems. Second, the focus on quality amongst medium-sized retreaders is becoming ever more important – both customers and the business’s competitive environment demand this. In an interview with Tyres & Accessories, market leader Steinbichler challenges those retreaders who continue to believe they can’t afford investments of 100,000 euros or higher: “For each of our customers, an investment in shearography has been crowned with economic success.”
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has appointed Mike Askew as chief executive officer. He joins the firm from APPH Group, a company that designs and manufactures hydraulic systems and landing gears for commercial and military aircraft. Askew had been managing director at APPH for almost three years and before that he held senior positions at Doncasters and GKN Westland Helicopters.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres is to benefit from BAE Systems’ £1.9 billion deal to sell Hawk training jets to Saudi Arabia. According to the company, 22 Hawks will be built in Lancashire and supplied with tyres made by Dunlop Aircraft Tyres in Birmingham. The company, the world’s only specialist aircraft tyre manufacturer and retreader, already provides tyres for the 45 Hawks already in service with the Royal Saudi Air Force. Each aircraft uses three tyres – two on the main gear and one on the nose gear – and once the Saudis take delivery of the new aircraft the country will be the world’s second largest operator of the type after the UK.
Michelin reports having achieved Group net sales of 5.304 billion euros in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 5.1 per cent on the same quarter last year. This growth was propelled by a 23.8 per cent rise in net sales in the company’s specialty businesses; sales of earthmover, agricultural, two-wheel and aircraft tyres, along with Michelin Travel Partner and Michelin Lifestyle, amounted to 940 million euros during the quarter. A more modest 2.9 per cent growth in net sales to 2.760 billion was witnessed in Michelin’s passenger car and light truck tyres division, while truck tyre division sales decreased 0.1 per cent year-on-year to 1.604 billion euros.
The Duke of York visited Michelin in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday (8 March 2012) where he met young apprentices and employees, was given a tour of the factory and offices at the company’s Campbell Road site and unveiled a plaque.
During the visit, His Royal Highness was given a presentation by Michelin UK managing director Eric Le Corre and met employees and local dignitaries before embarking on a tour of the Michelin Remix production facility with factory manager Sean Parry.
Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has reported that it is building on its success in the Americas by offering its entire range of narrow and wide bodied aircraft tyres to operators throughout the region.
A scientist at Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has been recognised for his work in developing a new tread compound that could increase the tyre life and reduce operating costs for airlines. James O’Callaghan, 26, from Erdington received the Sue Panteny Award from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. While developing the new compound, O’Callaghan studied one-day a week for a polymer technology degree at Staffordshire University, which, after three years, he passed with first class honours last summer.
Desser Tire & Rubber Co., Inc. has been awarded a contract by General Atomics Aeronautical for warehousing and “in time” supply of aircraft tyres and tubes used in OEM Production and the US Military. The two year agreement valued at over $1 million per year encompasses supply of Desser OEM branded products as well as Dunlop and Goodyear aircraft tyres.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber has warned aviation customers around the world that shortages of its cross-ply aircraft tyres may occur as of February or March 2012. This potential supply issue has arisen due to the severe flooding that has affected Thailand since October and disabled Goodyear’s main aviation tyre manufacturing facility in Bangkok. In order to ensure the best possible supply to its customers Goodyear says it will, in addition to increasing production at its aircraft tyre plants in the US and the Netherlands, obtain aircraft tyres from other manufacturers.
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