Stowmarket specialist tyre supplier Fieldens has entered the world of stadium-bothering pop music once again, five years after supplying a series of large Bead Cheetah storage cylinders to a Rolling Stones tour. This time Fieldens helped Take That stage their extravagant tour centrepiece; a 60’ robot named OM.
Accuride Corporation has negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement with the unions representing 215 workers at the company’s aluminium wheel manufacturing facility in the US state of Pennsylvania. The existing agreement representatives with the International Union, United Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America was set to expire at midnight September 3, 2010. The new agreement for the Erie plant is effective September 4, 2010, through September 3, 2014.
Aluminium wheel specialist Alcoa has announces that following new lightweight wheels with unified rim flange design will be available from September/October. The unified rim flange enables both adhesive and clip-on balancing weights. The latest details follow the news that Alcoa and SAF-Holland have developed flangeless trailer wheel.
On 12 May the European Commission (EC) imposed a 20.6 per cent duty on aluminium road wheels imported from China. The ruling, which is lower than the 30 per cent some sources predicted, is designed to put the brakes on the decline in European produced aluminium wheel sales. It comes in the form of a “preliminary measure” just over half way through the anti-dumping investigation that began at the behest of EUWA (European Wheel Manufacturers Association) in May 2009. The preliminary measure lasts for the six months necessary for the commission to make its final ruling in November at which point the 12 May ruling leaves the option open for commission to the 20.6 per cent import duty for an extra five years.
While everyone has been focusing on the US-initiated anti-dumping tariffs against Chinese-made passenger car tyres, another anti-dumping investigation has escaped widespread coverage. On 13 August 2009 the European commission began an investigation into dumping allegations made against Chinese wheelmakers who allegedly sold products into the European markets beneath cost price. At the time 60 Chinese wheelmakers received notification of the impending investigation and most reportedly began cooperating straight away. Nevertheless, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce, the investigation is likely to cost Chinese wheel exporters an estimated US$390 million. There is still a chance that no tariffs will be implemented, but if they are they will apply across both the OE and replacement sectors and are predicted to be lie somewhere around the 30 per cent mark.
The European Commission’s investigation, which began just a day after the Chinese companies involved were informed of the allegations, followed a complaint made by the Association of European Wheel Manufacturers’ (EUWA) in June 2009. At the time the journal of the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union said the investigation was initiated “having determined that there is sufficient evidence to justify the…proceeding.” However, China's Ministry of Commerce denied the charges saying: “It raises the cost of repairs for customers, affects the recovery of the European auto sector from the global financial crisis, and hurts the interests of both China and Europe.” Either way, with Chinese produced wheels representing a significant proportion of replacement market products on offer, any kind of trade barriers that are implemented are likely to have a similarly significant effect on the shape of the market.
Sportservice Lorinser has developed a reputation for its Mercedes Benz turning accessories, and the German firm has presented its latest aluminium wheel for the three-pointed star marque. Lorinser says the new wheel, called the RS9, has been designed to meet the stylistic and technical requirements of the current Mercedes model range. The wheel is available in a ‘polished silver’ finish for in 18 to 21-inch sizes.
PCL has sold its MK3 tyre inflator to tyre outlets, garages and petrol forecourts around the world. The company has now further developed this popular product and released the MK4, a high-pressure model for truck tyre inflation. Visually, the MK4 bears more than a passing resemblance to its smaller-numbered brother, yet in situations that call for pressure to be applied, the new inflator comes into its own – according to PCL, the MK4 can deliver up to 174 psi (12 bar) as opposed to the 138 psi (9.6 bar) the MK3 has at its disposal.
If you want to make your car stand out from the crowd – particularly at night, then a new product from the USA could be right up your street. MotionLite (patent pending) is an innovative, high-quality, wheel illumination system that does what no other product can; it lights up a vehicle's wheels from the outside. Said by the makers to be easy to install, the electric system includes strobe and morph functions and is remote control operated, allowing users to switch between seven colours while in motion. MotionLite does not attach to or affect the look of a car's wheels.
Aluminium wheel maker Superior Industries International posted a narrower year-on-year loss in the third quarter due to cost cuts and increased production volumes. In the quarter ending September 30 the company reported a loss of US$12.7 million, or 48 cents a share, compared with a loss of $14.2 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier. Quarterly sales of $111.4 million represented a decline of 32 per cent on the same quarter of 2008.
If you want to make your car stand out from the crowd – particularly at night, then a new product from the USA could be right up your street.
MotionLite (patent pending) is an innovative, high-quality, wheel illumination system that does what no other product can; it lights up a vehicle's wheels from the outside.
Said by the makers to be easy to install, the electric system includes strobe and morph functions and is remote control operated, allowing users to switch between seven colours while in motion. MotionLite does not attach to or affect the look of a car's wheels.
Makita continues to expand its comprehensive range of power tools featuring Lithium-ion battery cell technology. The latest tools to be added to the established 50+ range are a lightweight 14.4v impact wrench and two straight cut metal shears.
A certain Italophilic member of the Tyres & Accessories staff likes nothing better than to see Fiat’s smallest current creation in full flow, so the Abarth version was undoubtedly a big hit with him.
On 14 August, the European Commission began an investigation into the alleged ‘dumping’ of Chinese-made aluminium wheels into the European market. The investigation followed Association of European Wheel Manufacturers’ (EUWA) June complaint that the practice has been taking place. “Having determined that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission hereby initiates an investigation,” Reuters quoted the journal of the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union as saying. China's Ministry of Commerce denied the charges saying: “It raises the cost of repairs for customers, affects the recovery of the European auto sector from the global financial crisis, and hurts the interests of both China and Europe'” in a statement on the Ministry's website.
The Press Association reports that a second attempt to break a century-old world land speed record for steam-powered vehicles is being made by a British team.
Kidderminster-based parts distributor Universal Automotive provides its customers a range of well-known OE quality branded products and parts under its own VECO brand name. In the brakes category this branded range of pads, shoes, discs and drums is complemented by the globally repected Brembo name, for whom Universal Automotive acts as UK logistics partner. Through this arrangement the company is able to supply the complete Brembo programme of top-of-the-range aftermarket discs and drums, including the Brembo Max performance range.
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