Alcoa has announced that its Alcoa-Köfém operation located in Szekesfehervar, Hungary was ranked as the “Most Efficient Company” by major business weekly Figyelö of the 200 largest corporations in the country based on ratios of Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to invested capital, a financial indicator. The award is based on 2005 figures.
Alcoa Wheel Products is a finalist in the 2007 Automotive News PACE Award competition. The 13th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award is presented by Microsoft, SAP, Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) and Automotive News.
Infineon Technologies has introduced the SP35 Tyre Pressure Sensor, said to be the first device to incorporate all the major active functions of a wheel-mounted Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) module into a single package. The highly integrated device, which is mounted on a PCB (printed circuit board) with a battery and antenna to form a complete TPMS module, enables automotive industry suppliers to cost-effectively meet the requirements of U.S. safety regulations, and to address the growing worldwide demand for TPMS in new passenger cars and light trucks.
LMI Technologies Inc., the global producer of sensors used in automated systems and controls in a number of industries including the automotive and tyre manufacturing businesses, has adopted a new logo and corporate identity under the name “Sensors That See”.
The organisation has R&D, engineering and manufacturing facilities across the globe, in Canada and the USA, Sweden, Ireland and The Netherlands. It also has dealers in countries such as India and China.
The Rockingham circuit is best-known as the UK’s most modern and only purpose-built motor sport facility and the venue for exciting and action-packed motor racing. However, there is more to Rockingham than competitive motorsports, as the circuit is regularly used for testing, demonstration and driver training programmes. Apart from the original high-speed oval track, the facility boasts multiple in-field race circuit configurations, 4×4 off-road courses, a challenging rally stage and a city driving course.
Alcoa Wheel Products has announced that it will install a new Dura-Bright line at its manufacturing facility in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. The new line will be the third such facility and will provide a significant addition in wheel capacity. Both passenger car and commercial vehicle wheels will be processed through this new line in Hungary. The new facility will begin producing Dura-Bright XBR wheels in 2008.
Newton Aycliffe-based Credential Environmental, a waste and tyre reprocessing specialist, has led a joint venture deal with global gas company BOC Gases and Toronto-based FieldTurf Inc, the world’s leading artificial sports surface manufacturer. The new venture, TyreGenics Ltd, will use a cryogenic process to produce large volumes of tyre ‘crumb’ from millions of waste tyres produced by Britain’s cars and commercial vehicles each year. The process involves freezing rubber using liquid nitrogen and shattering the frozen rubber into minute pieces. The first plant is expected to open in South Wales in spring 2007.
A study by JATO Dynamics of selected factory options taken by new car buyers in Germany and the UK shows the total value of options ordered fell by 13 per cent in 2005 compared with 2003. JATO estimates that the total value of all options bought by drivers in both countries last year was more than 7 billion euros. JATO’s study looked at 10 specific options, including audio and navigation systems, additional airbags, lights and wheels, which were ordered with new cars in Germany and the UK.
Fast-fit network Hi-Q saddled up with Goodyear recently to ensure visitors to this year’s Blenheim International Horse Trials were as safe on four wheels as they were on four legs. Goodyear is the official British Eventing Safety and Innovation Partner and fast-fit expert, Hi-Q supported the partnership by offering vouchers to visitors and participants at the leading equestrian event which took place at the beginning of September 2006.
Automotive supplier Lear Corp. has signed an agreement with Transense Technologies PLC to develop a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that does not require batteries and will comply with US federal regulations. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone Corp. founder Shojiro Ishibashi will be among seven individuals that will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame on Tuesday, 3 October in Dearborn, Michigan. Ishibashi joins Nuccio Bertone, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr., Wayne Huizenga, Arjay Miller and Bruno Sacco in the hall’s class of 2006. Ishibashi is credited with leading Japan’s tyre industry, and created his country’s first locally developed tyres in 1930. He established Bridgestone Tire Co. in 1931, served as its president and chairman until he retired, and remained active in the company until his death in 1976.
In a move that will likely help efforts to avoid the effects of a “Super Complaint” in the automotive service market, Automotive Distributors Limited (ADL) has announced its full support of BSI Product Services’ Kitemark scheme and is actively encouraging garages to embrace the PAS80 standard. More than 180 installers have already applied to Kitemark scheme through ADL.
Although it is a lengthy process, there are currently 30 Kitemark garages, with another 20 achieving the standard imminently. In addition to this, there are currently 500 applications/enquiries being processed. This is a vast improvement on the 11 that held the Kitemark in July.
(Akron/Tire Review – Asiaport) China’s automobile output in 2006 will exceed 7 million cars, making a big leap from 5.7 million cars in 2005, forecasted by Zhang Xiaoyu, the deputy head of China Machinery Industry Federation, and chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China. China’s automobile industry has become an integral part of the national economy after rapidly growing in the first five years of the new century. In 2005, the whole industry generated output value of approximately $151 billion and contributed near $25 billion taxes directly and indirectly, as well as providing 17 million jobs.
(Akron/Tire Review) The fourth annual China International Tire Expo (CITExpo) drew to a close 8 September, and was deemed a “record breaking success.” Held at the Shanghai Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center, the three-day event saw some 200 exhibitors showcase their latest products and technology in a 10,000-square-meter exhibition area.
(Akron/Tire Review) Federal regulators have announced plans to require electronic stability control in all vehicles, a move that advocates call the single greatest vehicle safety improvement since the seat belt. Once all vehicles are equipped with the stability systems, likely by 2012, they could save more than 10,000 lives, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and eliminate more than 500,000 crashes annually, while saving billions of dollars in medical, repair and insurance costs.
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