Europe Archives - Page 123 of 180 - Tyrepress

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New Artificial Turf May Be Unsafe, Officials Claim

(Akron/Tire Review – New Haven Register) Every new expanse of artificial turf contains plastic grass and about 120 tons of finely chopped tyres that may emit a small amount of cancer-causing agents. The layer of rubber “crumbs” makes the surface softer and more forgiving. It also gives off dozens of compounds that have not been studied or assessed for safety in the United States. Despite assurances from the Connecticut Department of Public Health that the chemicals in artificial turf are little cause for concern, environmentalists and a growing number of public officials in the Northeast are questioning the wisdom of building athletic fields containing the equivalent of 26,000 tyres of unknown composition.

Outdoor sports were played on grass and dirt until 1966 and the advent of the enclosed Houston Astrodome, which was too dark inside to grow grass. A Monsanto subsidiary produced ersatz grass that came to be called Astroturf. In 1967, Indiana State built the first stadium with outdoor Astroturf. Astroturf evolved into a product similar to a plastic shag carpet in-filled with granulated rubber.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Reports £831 million Sales in 2006

Kwik-Fit’s 2006 accounts show the company achieved turnover of £830.9 million (up 4.4 per cent) during its full year since being sold to PAI. EBITDA increased to £100 million in 2006, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year. In August 2005 CVC Capital Partners sold Kwik-Fit to PAI for around £800 million, despite reported bidding from a Bridgestone/Mitsubishi partnership.

According to reports, the group traded in line with expectations during the early part of 2007 with growth in sales boosted by new services like MOT testing in the UK and fleet business in continental Europe.

There are also said to be plans to open 50 new outlets across Europe. In addition, the company is expected to upgrade its estate in the UK, France and Holland with significant capital investment.

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Close to US Tyre Plant Decision

(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire Co. is indeed planning to build its first US tyre plant, and hopes to announce its location by the end of this year. Dr. Sae Chul Oh, Kumho’s president, revealed the plans at last week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Company officials said that as many as five locations in Georgia and Alabama are being considered. The South Korean tyremaker is seeking a location that gives it the best access to US auto plants, a skilled labor force, optimum labor costs and ample access for workers and management. The plant will be based on Kumho’s modular Automated Production Unit technology, which it unveiled a few years ago in South Korea.

At the same time, Oh said, the company is also considering a plant for Europe. Oh said that for now only one will be built, and it appears the US is the first choice. A European plant would most likely be located in Eastern Europe.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

High Mileage Not a “Supreme Importance” for Winter Tyres, says Conti

Rating winter tyres according to just one criterion fails to take account of the many demands placed upon them, claim experts working with Continental Tyres. They report, for example, that mileage performance on its own cannot be considered to be of “supreme importance” for a winter tyre. Rather, a high level of grip on both wet and dry roads and in typical winter weather conditions – features that require a softer and therefore faster wearing compound – should be given higher priority.

“What makes a really good winter tyre is having a well-balanced design incorporating a wide range of driving characteristics,” explained Alexander Lührs, press officer at Continental. “And here what counts is not achieving outstanding performance in one or the other discipline, but rather offering a design that is as balanced as possible, so that overall its characteristics meet the highest demands.” Above all, a tyre needs to provide good driving characteristics in typical winter weather conditions, including effective aquaplaning prevention and short braking distances in the wet.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Car Market Still Buoyant, Says Report

The much publicised “credit crunch” which has seen interest rates rise sharply this year has not scared off UK car buyers, says ACF Car Finance. The UK market came in at 419,000 units (+1.3 per cent) in September, which is thought to have been spurred on by the new registration plate which pushed private retail sales up by 1.5 per cent. The UK market performed better than was expected, despite fears of a slowing economy and the increased cost of borrowing money.

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Reports Improved Third Quarter Sales & Net Income

Bridgestone announced its third quarter results on November 1, along with combined results for the first three quarters of the year. These figures revealed a 303.7 billion (£1.28 billion) or 14 per cent increase in net sales for the first nine months of the year, with sales for Q1 to Q3 2007 recorded as 2,466.7 billion yen (£10.36 billion). Operating income increased 32 per cent during the same period, rising to 162.8 billion yen (£683 million), with net income jumping 64 per cent to 82.3 billion yen (£345.6 million).

The company received 1,993 billion yen (£8.37 billion) through the sale of tyres during the first nine months of the year, 16 per cent more than for the same period of 2006. Operating income for Bridgestone’s tyre operation was 123.1 billion yen (£516.9 million), an increase of 44 per cent over 2006. Bridgestone reports that it worked to “maximise sales momentum by introducing appealing new products worldwide, while at the same time improving and expanding strategic production sites around the world in support of those products that have been identified as strategic and important to the company’s future growth.”

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Deldo Announces Further Warehouse Extensions

Belgian wholesaler Deldo, who in September completed an 8,000 square metre extension of its central warehouse in the port city of Antwerp, has announced plans to further extend the facility. In January the company will begin the work of adding a further 10,000 square metres to its warehouse/storage premises, giving the company a total warehouse space of 70,000 square metres.

The company claims its facility to be the largest in Europe and intends in part to use the increased space to further its stock of winter tyres, thereby improving availability. The company reports it is now able to offer neighbouring countries, such as Germany, a 24/48 hour delivery service.

31st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Kraiburg and Vacu-Lug Continue Ongoing Relationship

Kraiburg and Vacu-Lug have reaffirmed their long running partnership with agreement to expand their business relationship. Currently Vacu-Lug, Europe’s largest independent retreader, sources over 70 per cent of its compound requirements from Kraiburg. “Our customers are more than satisfied with the quality of Kraiburg compounds for the hot cure process,” said Vacu-Lug managing director, Tim Hercock. “We are delighted that we will be able to offer this quality level also in the future.”

29th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nordic Pneu Joins Starco Group

On 1 December 2007 Starco NV will officially takeover Nordic Pneu. Nordic Pneu, based in Saint Arnoult en-Yvelines near Paris, is a tyre and wheel wholesaler that primarily sells to the French aftermarket in the agriculture, forestry, industry and passenger car segments. The company has an annual turnover of 12 million euros and has 12 employees. Karl Mjörndal has been both owner and daily manager of Nordic Pneu since 1986. According to a company statement Starco is the fastest growing company in its part of the industry and expects to achieve 125 million euros of turnover in 2007.

Nordic Pneu’s integration into the Starco Group is a natural step in view of the globalisation of the business and the “generational change” of the company, according to the companies. It also fits with Starco’s goal of distributing throughout Europe. For this reason the warehouse at Nordic Pneu has been selected to be one of Starco’s distribution centres on the ‘Hansa-line’. This line is said to symbolise Starco’s aftermarket strategy, which focuses on ensuring fast delivery of tyres and wheels for vehicles within the selected segments anywhere in Europe.

29th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

BFGoodrich Launches Long Way Down Promotion

Long Way Down, starting soon on BBC2, is the latest adventure featuring Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor in which the two intrepid explorers ride their motorcycles from John O’Groats to Cape Town to raise money for numerous charities including UNICEF. The Long Way Down team used BFGoodrich tyres on their Nissan support vehicles during the 15,000-mile hike from Scotland through Europe and Africa. Navigation throughout the journey was aided by Charley and Ewan’s Nokia 6110 Navigators, which they also used for keeping in contact with their support team and UK operations base.

BFGoodrich is now giving drivers the chance to win one of 10 Nokia 6110 Navigators as used by Charley and Ewan to complete their epic adventure earlier this year. Entry forms for this free competition to win a Nokia 6110 Navigator, worth £375, are now available at BFGoodrich tyre dealers in the UK and Ireland.

23rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Tests Show Need for Greater Minimum Tread Depth

(Akron/Tire Review) Consumer Reports magazine has added its voice to the growing international call for a 4/32nds (3.175mm) minimum tread depth level. Tire Review magazine in North America, Tyresafe in the UK and some tyremakers in Europe have pushed for the tyre industry and national and local governments to adopt new minimum tread depth standards to improve driver safety and reduce lost traction accidents and accident-related deaths.

In its November issue, Consumer Reports stated that the well-accepted “penny test” consumers have been taught to use to check tread depth is inadequate.

“It has long been the standard that tyres are worn out when their tread depth reaches 1/16-inch (or 2/32-inch as found on standardised tread-depth gauges),” CR wrote. “The easiest way to measure this, if you didn’t have a gauge, was to hold a penny upside down in the tread. If the top of Lincoln’s head was visible, you needed new tyres.

18th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

JV Formed for Shock Absorber Supply in Europe

ArvinMeritor and TRW Automotive have laid out plans to form a joint venture for the distribution of aftermarket shock absorbers in Europe, with the planned operation covering all light vehicle shock absorbers both companies’ produce for the region. Operation and distribution through the joint venture is planned to commence in January.

TRW’s vice president for aftermarket in Europe and Asia Pacific, François Augnet, said in a statement that “by combining the strengths of ArvinMeritor’s engineering and manufacturing competencies and the Gabriel brand name with TRW’s extensive sales and distribution network, we are confident that we can roll out successful shock absorber programs for the European independent aftermarket.”

17th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

European Associations Launch Right to Repair Campaign

Automotive aftermarket and motorist representatives have today launched the Right to Repair Campaign at Equip’Auto 2007 to safeguard consumer choice and effective competition in the market for vehicle replacement parts, tools and equipment, servicing and repair.

“Vehicles are more and more becoming “computers on wheels”, stated Campaign spokesperson Sylvia Gotzen. “While technological innovations provide better emissions control as well as more safety and comfort, they have made it increasingly challenging to service or repair a vehicle. Fair and full access for independent market operators to technical information, multi-brand diagnostic tools as well as test equipment, replacement parts and training is therefore more than ever crucial to be able to provide European motorists with the quality service and parts they deserve in the aftermarket care of their vehicles”, she explained.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers Becoming More Reliant on SR

Indian tyre manufacturers increasingly must ‘fake it to make it’ – that is, rely upon synthetic rubber in the manufacture of their products. Natural rubber already accounts for about 50 per cent of production costs in India, and since May-June the per kilogram cost of this sought after commodity has increased from Rs 80 (£1.00) to Rs 90.75 (£1.13). Apollo Tyres’ Onkar S. Kanwar believes an increase of this degree has the potential to reduce profits by 3 to 5 per cent; to counter this his company is considering doubling its use of synthetic rubber.

The ratio of natural to synthetic rubber used by Indian tyremakers could therefore feasibly reach the magic figure of 70:30 – the highest ratio technically practicable. Such measures were threatened earlier in 2007, but so far no manufacturer has utilised synthetic rubber to this degree in its products. In Europe the established ratio is 80:20, a proportion seen as not compromising the superior vulcanising qualities of natural rubber.

15th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Acquisition Talks in Russia Abandoned

International News

Following several months of negotiations Bekaert has opted to withdraw from talks with Russian firm ZAO Uralkord regarding a possible takeover. The Russian manufacturer, located in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, produces steel cord products for domestic tyre manufacturers and was viewed as a suitable vehicle through which the Belgian firm could strengthen its position in Russia. As recently as late July Bekaert CEO Bert De Graeve told media that the group was hopeful of closing a deal by the end of the year, adding that about 50 million euros had been offered for the purchase of Uralkord.

Despite this optimism, the deal fell through within three months of De Graeve’s announcement. The reason for this, Bekaert outlined in a statement, is that during “the course of the difficult and protracted negotiations, it became clear that no agreement could be reached with the current shareholders of ZAO Uralkord that would meet Bekaert’s criteria for pursuing its strategy of sustainable profitable growth in Russia.”

15th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors