No names have been mentioned, but Starco says some of the largest OEM trailer manufacturers have selected and approved its new Starco 5Jx13 alloy wheel for their products – predominantly on horse boxes and boat trailers. Starco developed its alloy wheel range in close cooperation with these OEM customers in order to develop an end product that satisfies each firm’s personal taste and style.
Magna Tyres Group reports its confirmation as a key strategic partner to Terex Port Solutions following the latter’s conclusion of a six-month test trial of the Magna MB300 tyre on its GHMK 6407B harbour crane in Ghent. The MB300 will now be fitted in size 14.00-24 as original equipment on three Terex Gottwald harbour crane models – the GHMK Model 6, Model 7 and Model 8. This trio, Magna points out, are the most widely used Terex Gottwald crane models in the world.
Netherlands-headquartered off-road tyre company Magna Tyres has appointed Latvian wholesaler SIA Latakko its exclusive distributor in the Baltic States region. The two companies had previously enjoyed what Magna calls a “steady and fruitful business cooperation” over a period of several years, and based on this positive experience both companies agreed an exclusive dealership in order to boost the sales of Magna mobile crane tyres, earthmover tyres and port handling tyres in the Baltic region, particularly in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Chinese tyre firm Techking has announced it is released an 11R22.5 Super DM tyre designed for mixed road service. According to the company, the groove width has been increased and as a result stones will be much more easily pushed out. Furthermore, broader tread and thicker under-groove rubber have been added in order to ensure the “good performance on rough terrain” as well as prolonging mileage.
Eldan Recycling A/S has supplied its Steel Cleaning System to French company RBSI. RBSI has been using the system to clean steel from its existing tyre granulation line since January. According to the company, the Eldan Steel Cleaning System is designed to process up to 2.4 tonnes steel wire per hour with a minimum required purity of 96 per cent (free of rubber and textile).
Bridgestone’s subsidiary on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, PT Bridgestone Sumatra Rubber Estate, will enter into trading contracts with local rubber farmers; it is said these contracts will promote cooperation between the farmers and Bridgestone Sumatra Rubber Estate.
In a test reminiscent of a stunt pulled by Top Gear’s original Stig, but fortunately with a different end result, double Superbike World Champion and four-time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi tested the braking qualities of Pirelli’s new Angel GT motorcycle tyre on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Triangle Tyre reports that between 24 July and 1 August an eleven-person company delegation, led by Triangle president and chairman Ding Yuhua, visited several regions of Russia on a fact-finding mission. Topics of focus during the visit were issues regarding investment and related policy, Russia’s tyre market and vehicle manufacturers. Triangle says the group was warmly welcomed by government departments and officials.
On 27 July Metzeler chose London as the host city for an ‘opening ceremony’ of its own, the global debut of its Feelgreen tyre. The new range, which from 2014 onwards will be supplied as original equipment on BMW’s electric C evolution scooter (120/70 R15 on the front and 160/60 R15 on the rear), is designed with an emphasis on minimising rolling resistance.
At the end of May, Kumho Tire China and the Qingdao University of Science and Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement. According to the university, under the new agreement the two entities will increase their joint work in a number of areas. Graduate students will be trained at a Kumho-established research and development centre, which is described as being a world class facility, and both parties will cooperate on developing tyre industry solutions, such as the development of environmentally-friendly materials.
According to US news website Macon.com, Kumho Tire still intends to go ahead with its plant in Bibb County, Georgia. The site reported on 22 December that a Kumho delegation told local officials that the tyre maker remains committed to building the plant. “It is their expressed intent to build that plant and to build it here,” commented Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority attorney Kevin Brown at a recent meeting. “It’s costing them money not having that plant here. They need this in the United States.”
Marangoni and Continental have ended their ContiTread partnership – at least in the Americas. In a joint statement, Continental Tire the Americas and Marangoni Tread North America explained that Marangoni will no longer manufacture ContiTread products for markets in the Americas, a move that will give both companies the scope to pursue their own growth goals within the region. The decision does not apply to cooperation between Continental and Marangoni in other global regions, the statement added.
At its meeting on August 10, the Supervisory Board of German specialty chemicals supplier Lanxess renewed Dr. Axel C. Heitmann’s tenure as chairman of the Board of Management for a further five years. This extension will take effect on July 1, 2004. Heitmann has held the position since September 2004.
Ningbo, China-based petrochemical manufacturer Keyuan Petrochemicals reports entering into an agreement with the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company to jointly develop commercial applications for Solution Polymerisation Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR). The formal agreement was signed on June 28 and under its terms researchers from both companies will work together on SSBR projects over the coming few years. Both firms will share the rights to products and technologies developed from this cooperation. Keyuan Petrochemicals states that any successfully developed SSBR will be manufactured within the Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) facility it is currently building. This Ningbo, Zhejiang Province plant is expected to be complete at the end of 2011.
A request for continued listing on the Nasdaq submitted by nano-precipitated calcium carbonate manufacturer ShengdaTech, Inc. has been turned down. According to the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel determination, the Nasdaq trading of shares in the China-based company was suspended as of the opening of business on June 10, pending the formal delisting of the company's securities from the exchange. As a result the ShengdaTech’s common stock commenced trading on the over-the-counter market at the opening of trading on June 10, 2011. ShengdaTech says it intends to appeal the Panel's determination to the Nasdaq Listing and Hearing Review Council.
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