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Welsh JV Liquid Nitrogen Facility Opens

TyreGenics’ new £4 million recycling facility in Wales opens today. The facility, which uses liquid nitrogen to freeze shreds of tyres to below –80C before pulverising them into tiny crumbs, is the first facility of its type in northern Europe.

The new plant is said to have a capacity of 80 tonnes per day and will employ approximately 30 people. Tyres & Accessories has travelled to Baglan, near Port Talbot, for the facility’s opening ceremony, and will provide in-depth coverage of the occasion both online and in our August magazine.

25th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop Invests in Next Tread Production Machinery

Next Tread, the commercial vehicle retread business of the Goodyear Dunlop group, has announced an investment in new machinery at its Wolverhampton plant. The investment in nail-hole detection equipment, which will be used on every tyre that enters the Next Tread process, is designed to ensure that Next Tread tyres are only produced using the best quality used truck and bus tyres (casings) available. This new-generation machinery is an integral part of the Next Tread Quality Assurance process and will be used on every tyre before it enters the retreading process.

Next Tread products are warranted for four years and are produced to the highest standards. Only quality casings, such as from Goodyear and Dunlop, are used to ensure the total quality of the product and its performance. The new machinery detects hole damage in the casing that may be invisible to the naked eye.

24th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook to Show New European Made Tyres at IAA

Hankook Tire will showcase its first European-made tyres, low rolling resistance tyres at this year’s 62nd IAA Car Show. In addition to the products offered to car manufacturers, Hankook Tire offers innovative products which are also affordable on an average income. One example here is a new UHP-product, which will – at the fair in Frankfurt – be shown to the public for the first time to be launched in Europe within spring 2008.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to obtain information about the eco-friendly Hankook Optimo K715 from the recently started European production. It has already been tested by the independent German consumer-protection organisation Stiftung Warentest (issue 03/2007), with the overall ranking “good”. According to Stiftung Warentest, the Optimo K715 contains also the lowest amount of harmful ingredients of all 29 tested tyre makes.

19th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Giti Tire Breaks Ground on New Production Facility

Giti Tire has broken ground on a 10 million units-a-year tyre production facility, situated next to an existing Giti tyre production plant in Heifei, Anhui province China. The addition of the latest tyre manufacturing plant, brings the company’s total tyre production capacity to over 53 million units, confirming its position as China’s largest tyre manufacturer. The new plant will feature the latest technology and assist in achieving Giti’s ambitious goals in key markets like Europe, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories.

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

KYB American Exec Gets European Post

(Akron/Tire Review) KYB America’s senior vice president Mike Howarth has been named managing director of KYB Europe, and will be moving to the company’s European headquarters at the end of this month. Howarth joined KYB America as senior vice president almost five years ago. Mike Fiorito, director of sales, was named vice president of KYB America, effective 1 July.

16th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Truck Racing Heads to Dunlop’s Great & British Festival

The Dunlop Great & British Festivals heads to Thruxton for a “larger-than-life” weekend of racing on 21 & 22 July. For a second year, the Dunlop Great & British Festivals will be at Thruxton and the UK’s biggest supported one make series will form the core of the action at the event. Alongside the core ‘Great & British’ Championships of the Dunlop Radical EnDuro, the Dunlop Radical BiDuro and the MINI Challenge, will be the British and International Truck Racing Championships.

16th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Gives Indianapolis the Red Flag

The famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway will not resound to the screeching of Bridgestone Formula One tyres in 2008 following the decision to scrap the event after eight lukewarm years. Bernie Ecclestone’s verdict on the race was announced on July 12, a decision that the speedway’s CEO hopes will be a temporary one.

“It’s my sincere hope that we’ll have the opportunity to bring it back in the not-too-distant future,” said speedway CEO Tony George. “Eight years ago, it was our intent to host this event on an annual basis. While I still hold hope for the future that we’ll be able to bring it back, its tough to have a hiatus like this, and I view it as such. I’m going to continue to work on this to try to bring it back to the best of my ability as soon as possible.”

The US Grand Prix on average attracted around 125,000 spectators, which while respectable in terms of F1 attendance was smaller than any other event held at the speedway. In comparison, attendance at the Indianapolis 500 has been estimated at around 300,000 people. George believes the US Grand Prix could have drawn larger crowds had it been given the opportunity to better establish itself through sponsorship and the media.

13th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Car Registrations up in June

New car registrations in the UK rose slightly during the month of June, with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) recording 222,863 passenger cars registered during the month. This is 1.5 per cent more than the June 2006 figure of 219,497. Europe-wide results varied, with registrations in newer EU member states increasing by double-digit amounts – the greatest increase was recorded in Slovakia, where registrations were 56.1 per cent higher in June 2007 than June 2006, at 32,679 units. Germany, on the other hand, experienced a 7 per cent drop in registrations compared with a year earlier, the result of January’s increase in VAT. Vehicles from the VW Group – Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda – continued to be the biggest sellers in Western Europe, selling 276,498 units and taking 19.3 per cent of total market share.

13th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Metro Tyres to Offer Share to Conti

India’s Metro Tyres is reportedly willing to offer technical collaboration partner Continental a minority stake in its business. According to an article published in the Indian financial daily Hindu Business Line, Metro Tyres group managing director Rummy Chhabra said that a share of the company could be offered to Continental when Metro’s planned IPO – from which the company hopes to raise about Rs 1 billion (£12 million) – takes place in 18 months’ time, or possibly even beforehand.

Metro plans to increase their presence in Europe and Continental’s assistance has been invaluable to this end. Mr Chhabra said Continental was willing to help Metro enter its home European market as both companies’ products complement each other. “While we address the budget segment, Continental plays in the premium end of the market. Hence our products do not overlap each other.” The Indian tyremaker has already opened an office and warehouse in Barcelona, from where it will market its Ortem brand tyres and tubes to European markets. Mr. Chhabra said the company expects European sales to contribute up to £10 million to its total revenue during the first year.

13th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maha Reports ‘Surge’ In Demand for New MOT/ATL Test Equipment

New Maha MOT/ATL test equipment is proving to be popular with workshops, according to company representatives. And the increased demand for the MOT/ATL test equipment from Maha has reportedly resulted in an extra shift at the factory in Germany to satisfy the demand for the new products throughout Europe. The demand has also had a negative effect on normal delivery times, but Maha reassures customers that this will be back to normal soon. Gus Gregory, managing director from Maha said:, “The demand for the products is proving to be beyond all expectations which is a testament to the quality of Maha’s products.”

11th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Energy Saver OE for New Peugeot

When the all-new Peugeot 308 begins to arrive at dealerships it will most likely be wearing tyres from Michelin’s new Energy Saver range. Energy Saver tyres will be fitted to versions of the Peugeot 308 1.6 HDi 66 & 80 kW (90 & 110 hp) sold in Europe and equipped with 15 or 16-inch wheels. The French tyremaker has for some time worked with Peugeot in developing innovations for the new model, a partnership Michelin believes has made a significant contribution to the car’s energy balance.

The Energy Saver, according to tests conducted this year by TÜV SÜD Automotive on 195/65R15 size tyres, has a rolling resistance of 20 per cent, reducing the amount of energy required for traction. As the test results bear out, the Michelin tyre thus delivers above market average fuel efficiency. Results showed savings of almost 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined cycle driving, providing for CO2 emission reductions of close to 4 grams per kilometre. Over the average life of a vehicle this represents about one tonne of CO2 not released into the atmosphere – Michelin claim this is the same amount absorbed by 40 trees in a year.

10th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Ranked Highly in PwC Shareholder Return Report

Michelin has been listed as the automotive supplier offering the highest shareholder value, according to the latest PricewaterhouseCoopers shareholder value rankings. These figures, for the year ending April 2007, show the French tyremaker brining a return of 68.3 per cent over the year and 158.9 per cent over three years. No other tyre manufacturers ranked in the PwC-Automotive News Europe top ten.

In 2006 Continental AG was ranked as the European parts supplier offering the highest shareholder return over a three-year period, with a return of 529 per cent recorded for the German tyremaker. The company was also ranked highest for return over a one year period in 2005.

27th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

OEM Wheel Maker Names New President

Asahi Tec, manufacturer or OEM aluminium wheels and other automotive parts and systems, has appointed a new president and co-CEO. Hideo Ishii takes on these roles, as well as that of director and representative executive officer, following the company’s general shareholders meeting on June 28.

Mr. Ishii will be responsible for Asahi Tec’s Metal Forming Group and Diversified Business Group, and will act as co-CEO alongside Timothy D. Leuliette, who also serves as co-chairman of the company with Shoichiro Irimajiri. Mr. Irimajiri had been serving as president, co-CEO and representative executive officer, and is resigning from these posts to focus on the role of director and co-chairman of the company.

“Asahi Tec’s goal is to create a strong, globally competitive company that understands and supports global markets, cultures and customers to deliver leading-edge products worldwide,” said Irimajiri. “In his role as president and co-CEO, Hideo Ishii will play a key role in developing and executing the initiatives and strategies that will help realise that goal.”

26th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Names Appointments for New Business Units

As of 1st July Dr. Andreas Esser (48), who has headed Continental’s global Original Equipment Car Tires business for many years, will be responsible for the company’s newly-created business units Replacement Business Car Tires and Replacement Business Truck Tires Asia, based in Shanghai. At the same time Nikolai Setzer will take over as head of Continental’s Original Equipment Car Tires business. Dr. Esser previously held this position for over six years, whilst Nikolai Setzer was responsible for the OE Car Tires business in North and South America.

Creating the two new business units enables Continental to consolidate its growing activities in the car, MPV/light van and commercial vehicle tyre replacement business on Asia’s booming market, and Continental believes this move demonstrates the company’s interest in this continent. In his new position Dr. Esser will report directly to Manfred Wennemer, chairman of the board at Continental AG and head of the Car Tire division, as well as to Dr. Hans-Joachim Nikolin, who is a member of the board and is also responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Tire division. Dr. Esser headed the Original Equipment Car Tires business unit for over six years and under his leadership Continental became number one in Europe for OE sales and number three in North America.

25th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook’s New European Plant Up and Running

June 26 is to be a red-letter day in the history of Hankook in Europe, as this is the day the company has chosen to officially commence production at its new £340 million facility in Dunaujvaros, Hungary. The 54-hectare site south of the capital Budapest has been set up to manufacture UHP tyres for the European market, and when full production is reached in 2010 a total of 10 million tyres will be produced each year.

The new facility in Hungary will be instrumental in Hankook’s plans to increase its European market share to 8 per cent by 2010. At present 35 per cent of the company’s global export revenues are generated in Europe, Hankook’s largest export market.

25th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors