The handling qualities of the latest Nissan 370Z have received a tweak from suspension specialist Eibach. The company’s new Pro-Kit spring upgrade lowers the car by up to 40mm, giving it what Eibach calls a more “aggressive” stance and allowing the factory alloys to better fill the wheel arches. However the kit is not all show and no go, notes Eibach; the 370Z’s new, lower centre of gravity endows it with sharper steering responses and far less body roll.
Following the importation of 500 million naira (£2.1 million) worth of raw materials, Dunlop Nigeria looks set to re-open its Ikeja facility, which ceased production in April. A report in Nigeria’s Business Day newspaper indicates that the paperwork needed to clear the imported materials through customers is currently being dealt with by the country’s minister of state for commerce and industry, Humphrey Enemakwu Abah, who is apparently enthusiastic about the prospects of local manufacture recommencing.
Cobra has released a full complement of suspension upgrade products for the new Mini Cooper and Cooper S intended to, as the company explains, remove the compromises of the standard suspension set-up and boost steering precision and driver feedback. The lowered springs, says Cobra, work in harmony with the factory damper units to lower the car by approximately 35mm at the front and 30mm at the rear. This improved centre of gravity reduces body roll and improves turn-in. Thanks to the spring’s unique properties, compliance is retained almost at factory levels. Appearances however are not, and Cobra notes the Mini takes on a far more aggressive stance and its wheels really fill the arches. The kit comes with a five-year warranty on fit and finish and prices start at £140 including VAT.
Workers at the Serbian Trayal tyre factory have gone on strike over unpaid wages. Production is said to be at a standstill. According to the Sofia News Agency, 700 of the 2100 total work force have gathered at the factory gate, near where the managers’ offices are, and demanded immediate payment. The local union leader stated that this is their last chance to accomplish anything before the busy winter season takes hold.
Another recent release from Scorpion is the latest system for the VW Scirocco Tdi. The Midlands based manufacturer chose to produce this particular Scirocco system first due to the strong sales enjoyed by the diesel version of the Volkswagen coupe.
In preparation for the closure of its Opelika, Alabama factory at the end of October, Michelin North America's BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing has announced the layoffs of approximately 350 production employees, effective October 2. According to Lynn Mann, MNA director of external communications, the layoffs are part of the company’s “rampdown activities”.
The website RusBusinessNews reports that Sibur-Russian Tyres will end the manufacture of non-military products at its Ekaterinburg Urals Tyre Plant Ltd. factory, resulting in the redundancy of two-thirds of its workforce. Demand for the cross-ply tyres produced by the factory is steadily falling, and despite considering investing in modernisation, Sibur-Russia opted not to do so has the equipment and construction work involved would have taken more than a decade to repay. The only product made by the Urals Tyre Plant still in demand is a roller for tanks.
Workers at the Nokian Tyres factory in the company’s Finnish hometown are scheduled to stage a one-day walkout on September 23. According to Petri Sorvali, chief shop steward at the factory, the walkout will be held in protest against the company's restructuring programme.
In South Korea, shares in Hankook Tire gained 1.84 per cent after the tyre manufacturer announced that it would invest 230 million euros ($334.9 million) by 2011 to expand its factory in Hungary.
Infinity is now openly promoting both its light and heavy ranges as retreadable products after Bandag issued the following official certification: “In conjunction with Bandag and its distributors, Infinity truck tyres have received some very good reports for the quality of the casings which have recently been retreaded.” According to retreading systems and material supplier and franchiser, Infinity casings have “reasonable integrity” and “the quality of the casing is good”. As a result the Bandag certification says: “Infinity casings are fully suitable for retreading through Bandag dealers.” All Infinity truck tyres are manufactured to international standards under strong operational quality control systems and all Infinity Truck radial tyres bear “E” and “s” markings,” the statement explained.
Bridgestone Corp. is reportedly going to increase production at its Pithampur, Indore Madhya Pradesh factory by 40 per cent. WheelsUnplugged.com reported that Bridgestone has invested 2.59 billion rupees (£32.32 million; 37 million; US$53.48 million) in the project, which will create an additional 300 jobs. Bridgestone India started its operations in 1996, by March 1998, it had set up its manufacturing facility in Kheda, Madhya Pradesh.
Kumho Europe representatives have quashed rumours that the South Korean tyre manufacturer is negotiating with Bridgestone over the sale of its new Vietnam factory. Wi Yun, Kumho Europe’s marketing manager, told Tyres & Accessories the suggestions published by Jaccar Investment are “a completely wrong statement.” Dismissing the report as “rumours” Wi added: “There have never been any negotiations nor discussion concerning this matter.”
Some 5,000 trees have been planted at the Yokohama Rubber tyre factory in Thailand as part of the company’s tree planting programme. The second phase of the plant’s "Yokohama Forever Forest" project – the first phase two planting conducted at a Yokohama facility outside of Japan – took place on August 12. Around 1,100 employees, family members, local residents and other volunteers planted 26 varieties of tree under the supervision of Sirin Kawlaierd, tree planting expert employed by the Thai Imperial Household Agency and Akira Miyawaki, an expert in physiognomy and Professor Emeritus of Yokohama National University.
Tyre recovery and recycling specialists Murfitts industries has suffered a fire at its Littleport, Cambridgeshire site. Managing director Barry Stocker told Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com that it is too early to say how much damage has been done, but he did confirm that there is both structural and stock loss. Nevertheless, the company is continuing to take in tyres at other sites. According to local firefighers, a diesel fuel tank and gas cylinders exploded during the fire and 50 firefighters tackled flames from 200 tonnes of tyre shred on fire at the site. Local news reports suggest two buildings next to the tyre factory have been destroyed by the fire.
India’s RPG Enterprises is considering generating power from waste rubber at its Ceat Tyres factory. According to the company’s vice president of corporate finance, BL Chandak, electricity so generated at the Ceat plant would be solely used for the facility’s own consumption.
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