Valeo UK has been certified as a Top Employer in United Kingdom for the third year in a row by the Top Employers Institute. Top Employers 2016 certification recognises organisations that demonstrate best practices in human resources, particularly in the areas of attracting and developing talent, compensation and benefits, and training and skills development.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has approved Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ facilities in China and the USA. The FAA-14 CFR Part 145 approval means operators of US-registered commercial aircraft are able to fit the company’s products. The company has a global tyre distribution and retreading network, and is opening its first distribution and retreading facility in North America in order to support aircraft operators throughout the Americas.
The Vredestein Traxion+ and Vredestein TraxionXXL tyres gained major recognition during the recent Agritechnica agricultural trade show. Following extensive evaluation by German testing and research institute DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, or German Agricultural Society) in the spring and summer of 2015, it was announced at Agritechnica that both tyres have been designated ‘DLG certified’ products.
UK manufacturer of exhausts, CATs and DPFs Klarius has opted to bring forward its manufacturing conformity certification for 2015. The company explains that this would “provide more solid evidence of its commitment to premium quality products at a standard price.” This includes the the full manufacturing process for its entire emission control product range covering over 10,000 individual parts.
The Michelin tyre factory near Chennai, India has been granted ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949:2009 Quality Management System Certification. The certification was carried out by the Technical Union for the Automobile, Motorcycle and Cycle Industries (UTAC).
The Tyre Recovery Association’s (TRA) Recycling Day, a one-day conference and dinner organised in partnership with the Retread Manufacturers Association, was held at the Ardencote Manor, Warwickshire on Friday, 19 June. Attended by representatives of the tyre and waste recycling industries, the conference included presentations covering the key themes of regulations and enforcement, best practise and innovation, and common causes and issues facing the industry. The unity of the various trade bodies struck a particularly strong note throughout the day, not just through the joint organisation of the event between the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the TRA, but with strong backing given to the event by association directors representing the whole of the UK tyre industry. The Recycling Day also marked an occasion for celebration, as the TRA celebrated its tenth anniversary.
In mid-2013, Lanxess’ Rhein Chemie Additives business unit opened a new facility in the Lipetsk Industrial Park, around 300 miles southeast of Moscow. Although the plant has produced polymer-bound rubber additives for almost two years now, Lanxess states “it was clear” that “lasting commercial success” with tyre and rubber industry customers in Russia wouldn’t be feasible unless the facility achieved the appropriate ISO certification, and therefore it set about obtaining this at the start of last year.
Quality certification by a known, independent organisation adds weight to a product’s credentials, and earlier in the year Aeolus Tyre announced that its new PrecisionACE2 had been awarded the TÜV Tire Test Mark from certification specialist TÜV SÜD. The tyre maker stated at the time that approval of this first product from the ACE2 portfolio would soon be followed by the TÜV certification of a second range, the SteeringACE2. This has now been achieved.
90 more buildings in Japan were constructed with earthquake shock absorption devices that did not meet certification standards. According to The Japan Times, this brings the latest figure brings the total to 145. The report also quotes Toyo as saying four employees may have been involved in falsifying performance data on the quake-absorbing rubber equipment.
Cooper Tire & Rubber says its tyre factory in Texarkana, Arkansas has been certified as a gold level ‘Superior Energy Performance’ (SEP) facility by the US Department of Energy. The plant was recognised for implementing ISO 50001, and Cooper earned gold distinction by meeting the SEP programme’s additional standards, namely achieving a more than ten per cent improvement in energy performance over three years.
The Sumitomo Rubber Group’s first tyre factory in Latin America has been awarded both the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard and the OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Standard. Certification of the Sumitomo Rubber do Brasil Ltda passenger car radial plant in Fazenda Rio Grande, Paraná state took effect on 30 September 2014. The accrediting body for both certifications was Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).
Freight forwarding company Maritime Cargo Services has recently been made an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) in the UK by the European Union. The AEO certificate is an internationally recognised quality mark indicating the security of a company’s role in the international supply chain, with “efficient and compliant” customs controls and procedures.
Autogem is offering a TPMS training courses in order to help specialist get the most out of their equipment investments. With garage supplier Autogem reporting the widespread take up of its i-sensor solution (launched almost one year ago), there are now said to be hundreds of TPMS installations across the country. According to the company, i-sensors are being fitted at single owner operator sites, regional multi sites and also at some of the national chains. Some sites are said to be having “tremendous success” in selling i-sensors with a couple of sites crossing the 25 replacement sensors a month mark.
Omni United reports that its flagship brand, Radar Tires, has been certified as carbon neutral. To achieve carbon neutral status the company worked with UK-headquartered professional services firm Ernst & Young to conduct a twelve-month assessment on Radar Tires’ total greenhouse gas emissions; these were monitored between April 2011 and March 2012. Certification involved an independent assessment of greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with an offset-inclusive emissions reduction programme.
Brembo has been recognised as the first Fiat-Chrysler sustainable supplier of the year. In 2009 the car company from Turin launched specific certification procedures for its supply chain in EMEA area.
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