Chinese tyre manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company Limited (ZC Rubber) believes it is the world’s fourth largest producer of truck and bus tyres with a projected output of over 12 million radial tyres in 2013, while the company’s brand Westlake claims a “market-leading position in China”.
Michelin has launched an optimum tyre pressure calculator for tractors, harvesters, sprayers and trailers, which is available at www.michelin-agricultural-tyres.co.uk. Michelin reports that it has developed the tool to help farm machinery operators get the maximum performance out of their tyres.
MAHLE Aftermarket is planning a UK roadshow this month to support the recent launch of a range of Behr air conditioning service units.
The Petrol Retailers' Association (PRA), representing the UK’s independent forecourt retailers, has warned that fuel prices are set to rise as conflict in the Middle East continues. The ongoing geo-political tensions have prompted speculation by traders which has in turn forced the price of Brent Crude oil to a six month high of US$115.65/barrel.
Continental says its tyre management procedures are helping one Northern Ireland transport and logistics business to achieve significant savings. Surefreight, one of the leading logistics companies operating between Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe, turned to Continental for support last year, resulting in its annual spend on tyres falling by £59,000 when compared with 2011.
Autosport 2013 generated an estimated £1.07 billion worth of new business within the motorsport and performance engineering industries. According to the show’s organisers what they call Europe’s largest dedicated motorsport trade show was this year also the most valuable.
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Steek cord supplier Bekaert has revealed details of its succession plans for boths its chairman and CEO. Baron Buysse, chairman of the board of directors of Bekaert, will retire in May 2014 after 14 years in the chair of the company’s board.
Bert De Graeve, CEO of Bekaert since 2006, will become chairman of the board in succession of Baron Buysse as of May 2014.
Bridgestone Europe has launched a new website focused on the Firestone agricultural tyre range. The site is aimed at end-users, agricultural dealers and tyre professionals, and Bridgestone says it has been created “with user experience firmly in mind.” The www.firestone.eu/agri/ site is available in 18 European languages and is compatible with tablets and smartphones.
At the end of July Chinese tyre manufacturer Shandong Linglong opened a European tyre testing office at the IDIADA facility in Tarragona, Spain.
At the opening ceremony general manager, Feng Baochun, deputy general manager of marketing, welcomed visitors on behalf of chairman Wang Feng and spoke of the company’s desire to take its products to the next level. Following the ceremony Linglong Tire Europe demonstrated texts designed to assess its radials’ rolling resistance, fuel consumption, noise (there is a semi-anechoic chamber on-site) and other characteristics.
The Lotus Festival will be staged at Brands Hatch later this month, and following its signing of an exclusive three-year deal with the Lotus on Track Racing Drivers’ Club (LoTRDC) last year Avon Tyres will supply its track-oriented, road legal ZZR to a host of Lotus competitors. As part of the deal Avon is supplying ZZRs to competitors across its burgeoning race championships, including the Lotus Elise Trophy and Lotus Cup Europe, as well as the Lotus Cup UK.
Previewing the coming German round of the FIA World Rally Championship, tyre supplier Dmack has revealed the ways in which it views the all-asphalt event as another tough challenge. The first full asphalt event of the season attracts fans from across Europe, Dmack is looking forward to testing its tyres on Germany’s demanding special stages as it aims to follow WRC2 victory at Rally Finland. Dick Cormack, Dmack motorsport director, said: “We are hoping to follow the success in Finland on gravel with another solid result on asphalt.
When Maine Industrial Tire was integrated into Trelleborg Wheel Systems following its acquisition late last year, its Brawler brand was taken on by the Swedish manufacturer. It has now announced the addition and planned global roll out of a range of Brawler brand large OTR solid tyres.
July turned out to be gloriously warm and dry, yet some European farmers may still find themselves harvesting in the wet – especially in Northern Europe where the harvest is traditionally later. Whilst a few days of dry and windy weather can render the crop itself harvestable, the soil below remains wet and whereas the small combines of yesteryear could usually operate on wet terrain, modern, heavier machinery often becomes bogged down in the mud, reducing efficiency and causing potentially expensive delays in what could be a short window of opportunity for the year’s harvest.
The first production road car to be developed by Volvo’s Polestar Racing team went on sale in June 2013; Volvo chose the Australian market for a pilot launch of its four wheel drive S60 Polestar, and future introduction in other markets depends on how it is received in Australia. The Swedish manufacturer selected Bridgestone’s Potenza as original equipment, and the tyre will be fitted to the S60 Polestar in size 235/40 R19 96Y.
Dunlop has announced a new cooperation with the Red Bull-sponsored FMX4Ever freestyle motocross team, for whom the manufacturer will provide advanced off-road motorcycle tyres for the team. FMX, or Freestyle Motocross, focuses on aerial manoeuvres – or jumps and stunts – known as tricks. Dunlop’s hard terrain Geomax MX71, which will be provided to FMX4Ever, have directional front and rear patterns, optimising performance under braking and acceleration – exactly what is needed on ramps and on jump receptions. The FMX4Ever team will use the Geomax MX71 90/100-21 as front tyre and the MX71 110/90-19 at the rear.
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