Williamson joins IAAF
The first of April saw the arrival of Wendy Williamson at the IAAF’s offices in Birmingham to take up her position as chief executive (designate). Wendy takes over from Brian Spratt, who is retiring at the end of June.
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Falken adds run-flats to Ziex ZE914 Ecorun line
This summer, run-flat fitments will join Falken Tyres’ Ziex ZE914 Ecorun range. Falken says the run-flat version retains the standard variant’s rolling resistance and wet weather characteristics and is additionally able to run for at least 80 kilometres or 50 miles at 80km/h with zero air pressure. the first fitments to be released will be 225/50RF17 94W and 225/45RF17 91W sizes suitable for the BMW 1, 3 and 5 Series.
New in-car first aid kit standard published
BSI has published guidance for use at the scene of motor accidents.According to the business standards company, this new standard (BS 8599-2 Motor vehicle first aid kits – Part 2: Specification for the contents of motor vehicle first aid kits) will bring existing UK regulations on first aid kits up to date.
Valentino Rossi partners with Bridgestone in ‘Club46’ competition
A total of six pan-European competitions will be held and 46 winners will receive a range of prizes, including Bridgestone and VR46 co-branded merchandise. As well as meeting Rossi, the top prize offers two fans the chance to go behind the scenes in the MotoGP paddock.
HGV charges ‘level playing field’, says DfT
As of today, HGVs of 12 tonnes and more will pay a charge to use UK roads. The introduction of the new HGV levy has been introduced a year ahead of schedule and is paired with a reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty. The Department for Transport says the VED reduction means that nine out of ten UK registered HGVs will pay no more under the new system than they did before 1 April 2014. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin describes the implementation of a user-pays system that also covers foreign hauliers, who previously were not charged for road use in Britain, as a step that will “provide a massive boost for the UK haulage industry.”
Hankook OE on BMW 4-Series
The recently-launched 4-Series Coupé has become the sixth BMW Group model to be fitted with Hankook tyres. The 4-Series will be factory equipped with Hankook’s high-end Ventus S1 evo² in size 225/50 R 17 W.
Full Zeetex tyre range launched for EMEA dealers in Thailand
Following on from their European launch in February, the new series of Zeetex brand passenger car, 4×4 and light commercial tyres have been presented to 40 Africa, Middle East and ASEAN dealers. The six new models offer better road-handling and traction while delivering longer mileages, according to Zeetex distributor ZafcoTrading, and were unveiled on 20 […]
Lose weight with Alcoa – world’s lightest heavy-duty truck wheel unveiled
At this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show, Alcoa has rolled out what it claims is the world’s lightest heavy-duty truck wheel. The new 40-pound (18.1 kilogramme) wheel is 47 per cent lighter than steel wheels of the same size and five pounds (2.3 kilogrammes) lighter than Alcoa’s previous lightest heavy-duty truck wheel. This weight was able to be shed in the Ultra ONE through the use of a new, patent-pending alloy, MagnaForce. Alcoa says this is on average 17 per cent stronger than is 6061 alloy, the industry standard. The Ultra ONE is available in size 22.5×8.25 inches for heavy-duty, commercial transportation, and is being readied in all OEM customer data books.
Second Apollo R&D centre opens
Apollo Tyres has inaugurated the second of its two global R&D centres. According to Indian publication The Hindu, the tyre maker opened the centre at its Chennai facility today. The centre will focus on the development of commercial vehicle tyres.
Bridgestone highlights congruence between winter sports, product with ski sponsorship
As the first athlete took to the slopes on 23 October 2013 to begin the 2013/14 season of the FIS Audi Ski World Cup, tyre manufacturer Bridgestone began its third season of support for the winter sport tournament. The manufacturer says the event offers international coverage, while also displaying characteristics congruent with its winter tyres: safety, control, grip and balance.
Stamford Sport Wheels’ exclusive European wheel design
Thailand-based Stamford Sport Wheels (SSW) launched a new ‘euro technik’ alloy wheel line in 2013, which is exclusively manufactured for use in Europe. According to the company, SSW will be taking “a very active role at next month’s Reifen 2014” in Essen, Germany where the company will be displaying its euro technik range prominently on the Stamford Tyres stand.
CAM Online Tyre Catalogue breaks 100,000 article mark
Over 100,000 articles across 205 brands are now under management in CAM’s Online Tyre Catalogue (OTC), facilitating the entry of many overseas manufacturers and importers into the UK. According to the company, the common tyre platform is helping companies outside Europe find agents and distribution outlets as a result.
Minister anticipates Nexen will build tyre plant in Poland
Earlier this month, Nexen Tire responded to speculation that it had selected the Czech Republic as the site for its new European tyre factory by stating that these were merely false rumours. Now it seems Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Janusz Piechociński has indicated his country is top contender. On 14 March, the Warsaw Business Journal published a comment Piechociński reportedly recently made: “Soon there will one of Europe’s largest tyre factories in Lower Silesia.”
Nokian gives winter market overview
In its Annual Report for 2013, which was released today, Nokian Tyres estimates that approximately 111 million winter passenger car and van tyres were sold last year in its main regions of activity. This includes 69 million winter tyres sold in Europe (excluding the Nordic countries) out of a total of 230 million passenger car and van tyres sold in the region.
Hankook gains European funds for second Hungarian plant
The European Commission has authorised €57.9 million of regional investment aid for Hankook Tire Hungary Manufacturing and Trading Ltd. This will be used to erect a second greenfield facility alongside Hankook’s plant in Rácalmás, which entered production in 2007. The new consumer tyre facility will produce ultra-high performance tyres, sealant and run-flat tyres, and these products will be sold globally.
