Yokohama’s Forever Forest programme continued last week with the planting of some 2,500 seedlings at Yokohama Tire Corporation’s Salem factory on 11 April. The latest action means that a total of 6,800 seedlings have been planted at the site as part of the Forever Forest scheme, which aims to plant more than 500,000 trees worldwide by 2017.
German suspension manufacturer, Bilstein has announced that it will make its OEM-quality air suspension modules available to the independent aftermarket with immediate effect. The latest application, the B4 air suspension module, is a direct replacement for all C350 models of the Jaguar XJ. The company says the decision was made in response to the increasing market popularity of air springs.
Even the most optimistic Tyrepress.com reader may raise an eyebrow at Dunlop India’s claim of being near to reopening its Sahaganj factory within the coming week. This is, after all, the plant inspected by West Bengal’s labour minister Purnendu Bose last July – a visit that prompted him to comment that “for more than ten months, the boiler of the factory remains non-functional. Workers are sitting idle. The bricks of the plant quarters are being stolen away, the machineries are being smuggled out.” Nevertheless, on 3 April the company told the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court of its reopening plans in order to stave off the court-appointed provisional liquidator.
According to Jürgen Gareis, plant manager at alloy wheel manufacturer Borbert’s Thuringia factory in Germany and managing director of Borbert Thüringen GmbH, the company’s cast aluminium wheel plants in Hallenberg-Hesborn and Medebach, both in Germany’s Sauerland region, combine to make up Europe’s largest wheel production complex. Company boss and (with a 76 per cent share) majority shareholder Peter Wilhelm Borbet points out the factories may not qualify for this distinction as they are not under the same roof. But whatever way you look at it, the figures are impressive: In 2012 the major OEM wheel supplier projects an output of four million units from these plants.
Exhaust manufacturer Milltek Sport has released a new turbo back exhaust system for all models of the 1.4 TSi Skoda Fabia vRS. Manufactured in the UK, the system is hand-finished from aerospace grade, non-magnetic T304 stainless steel, making it lighter than the factory system.
BKT reports it has produced its first test batches of solid tyres at the company’s new Bhuj factory in India’s Gujarat state, and commercial production of tubes manufactured there has already commenced.
Italian brake manufacturer Tarox has launched its carbon ceramic ultra-high performance braking range. The new discs draw on the company’s motorsport experience, which extends to Formula One. The company says the new parts are marketed as aftermarket replacements for vehicles factory fitted with carbon ceramic discs and as specialist motorsport fitments alongside Tarox callipers. The range launched with 23 fitments, covering outside diameters from 283mm to 420mm and featuring a wide range of thicknesses from 26mm to 40mm. The range starts at £2210+VAT per disc.
Almost three months to the day after the announcement of a lockout at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay factory in the US state of Ohio, agreement on a new labour agreement has been reached by the tyre maker and the United Steelworkers union. On 27 February Cooper announced that USW Local 207L has ratified a five-year agreement that covers some 1,050 union members at the Findlay plant. Union members voted 627 to 321 in favour of the agreement.
Dunlop India’s management plans to restructure its Ambattur, Chennai plant, currently closed after labour disputes and a worsening financial situation, under its Falcon Tyres associate company. The truck and bus tyre plant reopened in October 2009 after similar issues had forced it to halt production.
Dunlop India has announced the suspension of operations at its Ambattur, Chennai facility because of unrest in its workforce. The decision was taken after workers “practically resorted to illegal strike”, and management staff failed to report to work, fearing for their safety, according to local news sources. Dunlop India’s management say that despite a 2009 agreement with the Dunlop Factory Employees’ Union to bring down production cost to the minimum level at the plant, the union had manipulated attendance and payroll, causing the plant to incur heavy losses. While the plant is closed workers will not be paid, concludes the company.
Indian off-road tyre specialist BKT appears on track to reach its market share goal ahead of schedule. In a statement released on 17 February, company vice-chairman and managing director Arvind Poddar announced that due to current growth the tyre maker’s aim of becoming a global leader in off-highway tyre solutions with a ten per cent market share should be reached in 2014 rather than 2015.
Continental has released further information about its new Conti.e.Contact range of tyres for electric and hybrid vehicles. The tyres are being produced in Continental’s passenger car tyre factory in Korbach, Germany and the manufacturer has received its first original equipment deal – Renault has appointed Continental sole tyre supplier for its Twizy.
The lockout at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay plant in the US state of Ohio has been in effect for almost three months now. And while the tyre maker is keeping quiet about how or even if it plans to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with the United Steelworkers union, the situation is being kept in the public eye by the union. On 15 February the USW announced a joint project with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM). Called “From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for Justice”, the project involves locked out workers from Findlay and a BCTGM represented factory embarking on a road trip from Fargo, North Dakota (where the aforementioned factory is located) to Findlay. The USW says the road trip’s aim is to “focus attention on the most recent wave of greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers and their unions.”
Ground breaking for Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ first tyre factory in Central and South America recently took place in Fazenda Rio Grande City, Brazil. A ceremony was held on 27 January to mark the commencement of work on the new plant, which is scheduled to start operation in October 2013. Around R$560 million (£206.8 million) is being invested in first-stage construction work at the plant. By the time this initial stage project is operating at full steam at the end of 2016 the Fazenda Rio Grande City plant will produce 15,000 passenger car radials per day (2,200 tons per month).
The Bandvulc Group recently held its annual BTC Key Service Partner Conference at its head office in Ivybridge, Devon, some four years since it was last been used as the venue. According to the company, the event was very well attended with the key partners travelling from all areas of the UK to attend the two day programme.
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