SmarTire Systems Inc. (OTCBB: SMTR) announced that it has completed the development of a new receiver allowing for the manufacturing of its tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for commercial vehicles to commence in July 2004.
Bridgestone Corporation announced that it has begun supplying Potenza RE050 runflat tires to BMW for factory installation on 6 Series models sold in Japan.
Continental Temic’s ISAD system is being seen as the key to lower fuel consumption and less CO2 emissions. ISAD stands for Integrated Starter Alternator Damper, and following the debut of this technology in a General Motors light truck in 2003, the system is to be fitted to another US-built vehicle later this year.
At the Asian Aerospace show in Singapore, Goodyear has announced that it is to supply its Flight Radial aviation tyres for the A320 aircraft in Qantas’s new, low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways. Donald Roulett, global marketing manager for Goodyear aviation tyres, said that the move from bias ply tyres to radials made sense for cost-conscious airlines as radials deliver more landings per tread and provide more load-carrying capacity, helping to reduce costs. In addition, radials weigh up to one fifth less than bias ply tyres and provide lower rolling resistance, and thus better fuel consumption. The Jetstar fleet consists of 23 Airbus A320 aircraft and the agreement lasts for five years.
Greenpeace is calling on the New South Wales Government to reject a proposal by Blue Circle Cement to use alternative fuels such as tyres and oils in its New Berrima plant. The cement company says the fuels will benefit the environment by reducing land-fill and emissions. However, Greenpeace spokesman Jason Collins says Blue Circle’s own environmental study has shown the dioxin emission levels will triple.
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAYZ) announced that its Commercial Highway Division received a multi-product agreement with Hyundai Translead. Hayes Lemmerz will supply all standard wheel-end components for all of Hyundai Translead’s dry freight vans, refrigerated trailers, chassis and converter dollies for the agreement term. The agreement includes CentruMount(R) steel wheels, and Cast Hub and Drums and Centrifuse(R) Drums. This announcement continues to support the Commercial Highway Division’s goal of providing high quality, lightweight wheel-end systems to the truck and trailer industry, improving fuel economy and increasing revenue producing payload.
J.K. Tyre, which so far had been focussing on car tyres, is banking on truck and bus radial tyres to propel growth. The JK Group is India’s leading manufacturer of four wheeler tyres. But now it wants to create a market for radial tyres for trucks and buses. Radials are 25 per cent more expensive, but offer 10 per cent higher fuel efficiency and last longer than normal bias tyres. JK is offering fleet operators a money back guarantee. A. K. Bajoria, president of J. K. Tyre said, “There’s a huge opportunity. The sky is the limit. People have to be educated about the fuel efficiency and durability of radials.”
Tyre disposal is an issue that affects everyone, not just those in the tyre business but every individual everywhere. If we don’t find a solution to tyre disposal we will have an enduring and ongoing waste tyre problem. The use of tyres as fuel in cement kilns is becoming an increasingly important option, although this route to disposal has been resisted by some local communities.
Sapphire was established with support from Lafarge and Michelin as a sustainable route of tyre supply to Lafarge, and as a ready route for the tyre industry to dispose of tyres in advance of producer responsibility. Jamie Randall, MD, says, “We do work closely with Michelin but we are keen to be seen as a an industry wide used waste tyre disposal route open to everyone.”
“The only reason tyres have a value, or rather a use, is because of the millions that Lafarge has invested in plant and equipment. If people have a dream of the gate fee disappearing then they are mistaken. Without the gate fee the operation loses much of its value and Lafarge would not be using tyres.
“We have to recognise that the funds to secure this high class disposal route are available: one way or the other every tyre changed from our cars attracts a charge at the retailer or elsewhere for its ultimate disposal.”
“It is important that the tyre industry keeps in mind that Lafarge is not in the business of processing tyres, it is in the business of making money, which it does through the manufacture of cement. In the meantime, technology and economics, if we allow the gate fee, mean that tyre use has become an important element of Lafarge’s, and others’, cement manufacturing process. That may not always be the case.”
Lafarge and Sapphire will argue that their investment requires a gate fee to ensure its ongoing profitability. The tyre sector will look at the fiscal benefits of using tyres as opposed to fossil fuels and argue that a lower gate fee at least could be accommodated. Ultimately Lafarge has the option of using tyres or other fuels. If it becomes more economical to burn sewage, for instance, then what happens to the tyres Lafarge would no longer require?
Austrian journalist and ‘fuel economy record man’ Gerhard Plattner succeeded in crossing 20 European countries in a VW Lupo 3L TDI, with a fuel budget of less than 100 Euros. Plattner relied on Bridgestone Ecopia low-rolling-resistance tyres that are fitted as standard on the Lupo. Their fuel-saving capabilities helped him to achieve a record average consumption of a mere 2.78 litres/100 km. The attempt began on 3 November 2003 in Oslo, Norway, and ended 4,683 kilometres and four days later in The Hague, The Netherlands. Running at an average speed of 80.76 km/h, the Austrian managed to complete the trip having spent only 90.94 Euro from the budgeted 100.
In California, car tyres fitted as OE have to conform to federal fuel economy standards. However, the state argues that this should also apply to replacement tyres and has passed a law requiring the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop efficiency standards, measured by rolling resistance. These standards will be in place by July 2007 and take effect a year later. Individual tyres will not have to be labelled, but retail stores will have to display efficiency lists.
Industry analysts expect the German automotive sector to recover in the final quarter of this year, having a beneficial impact on tyre suppliers. The high performance tyre market is showing growth of over 20 per cent and the winter tyre market will see double-digit growth. These factors, combined with more favourable raw material prices, should mean an overall growth of seven per cent in the European tyre market, the analysts predict.
Tyre production at the Dunlop Zimbabwe factory at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, stopped for a week recently, due to a chronic shortage of coal. The plant uses around 50 tonnes of coal a day, sourced from Zimbabwe’s Wankie Colliery Company, which is itself suffering from a shortage of diesel. Production resumed when Dunlop bought coal from middlemen, but its poor quality led to machinery breakdowns. Dunlop Zimbabwe closed for almost a month earlier this year because of problems arising from price controls on tyres, re-opening only after being allowed to increase prices by 20 per cent.
In India, Goodyear has launched a range of tubeless radial tyres, designed specifically for Indian road conditions. The tyres will fit Indian vehicles such as the Maruti 800, Santro, Ikon and Honda City and the aim is to improve fuel efficiency and safety.
Beru AG is to supply Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles and trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull with tyre pressure monitoring systems from this summer. The monitors will be used on the new Actros, which are supplied with super singles, making the truck 300 kg lighter and reducing fuel consumption. A high-pressure support tube inside the tyre acts as back-up. Beru’s TSS Tire Safety System transmits data on pressure and temperature to the in-cab display every 60 seconds.
Goodyear, in co-operation with Siemens VDO Automotive has launched the first commercially available battery-less tyre-based pressure monitoring system. The new Tyre IQ system relays specific tyre information to drivers, and provides appropriate warnings when improper inflation is detected.
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