government Archives - Page 38 of 77 - Tyrepress

Posts

SMMT: February Van Registrations Climb, Trucks Stay Low

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says February saw an increase in the number of new van registrations in the UK; up 26.1 per cent on the same month in 2009 to 8,978, raising the 2010 year-to-date total to 20,524 – 8.8 per cent up on January-February last year. However, truck sales continued their downward trajectory, totalling 1,370 in February, over a third down on the same month in 2009 (-36.6 per cent). Sales were also sluggish in January, leaving new truck registrations in 2010 43.7 per cent down from the same stage in 2009. In total, truck and van sales combined were 11.5 per cent up for February year-on-year, but 2.5 per cent down in year to date figures.

4th March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Drafts New Size into Military Range

If you’re planning to invade a neighbouring land or simply wish to traverse unsealed surfaces, then Goodyear has the tyre for you: the manufacturer is extending its range of truck tyres for military and off-road applications with the introduction of a size 365/85R20 fitment for its Offroad ORD (Off Road Drive) range. The tyre was developed in cooperation with OEMs and has already been homologated by specialist trailer manufacturer Broshuis; other approval processes are also underway.

2nd March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Canadian Province Makes Winter Tyres on School Buses Mandatory

Two years after a school-owned van travelling without winter tyres fitted on all wheels collided with a truck in the snow, the New Brunswick government in Canada has made the fitment of these cold weather tyres upon its fleet of multi-function activity buses mandatory. Seven members of the Bathurst High School boys basketball team died in the January 2008 collision, and in the absence of official tests being conducted by the province into the safety of summer tyres in winter, the parents of three of the boys had arranged to have the tyre configurations currently used on activity buses in the province's schools privately tested in Michigan. The tests were scheduled to take place on February 24, the day after New Brunswick announced its new tyre rule.

24th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Denman Tire Weighs Up Closure Option

Financially troubled US producer of specialty tyres, Denman Tire Corporation, has indicated it may shut down its operations if alternative arrangements cannot be made. In a company statement, Denman restructuring advisor Richard Szekelyi said “the company has reached the difficult decision to begin reducing operations while we continue our efforts to secure financing and/or find a buyer. If these efforts are unsuccessful, there will be no other alternative but to close all of the operations.”

24th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Scrappage Scheme Enters Exit Phase

24 February sees the popular UK government/OEM scrappage scheme enter its final phase. Car manufacturers have now been allocated shares of about 50,000 potential further orders based on brand popularity by the Department for Business, to help ensure a smooth closing of the scheme. In a statement business secretary Peter Mandelson reminded would-be car buyers to take advantage of the scheme before it closes.

The scrappage scheme will end when the budget for runs out or at midnight on Wednesday 31 March 2010, whichever is the sooner. According to the Department for Business, the government scrappage scheme will not be extended. But that won’t stop a number of manufacturers offering good deals to customers outside of the “official” scheme.

24th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin’s Stoke Remix Plant Gets £3.9 million in Funding

Michelin Tyre PLC’s Stoke-on-Trent Remix retreading manufacturing site has accepted £3.9 million towards modernisation from the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The company plans to use this money to upgrade its facilities in order to be able to retread its latest generation Michelin Durable Technologies truck and bus tyres. According to company representatives this development takes the company “a step closer to securing £20 million worth of investment over a five-year period”, safeguarding the long-term future of the Stoke industrial site. The company is now said to be working with the Department for Business Innovation and the regional Government agencies “to develop and sustain the manufacturing skills base in the North Staffordshire region.”

23rd February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Workers Say Denman Tire Out of Money: Report

Local media are reporting that USW workers at Denman Tire Corporation’s lone plant in Leavittsburg, Ohio have been told that the troubled tyre-maker is out of money and its banks are not extending credit. 200 union workers met late last week for an explanation of why they were sent home earlier this month and instructed to not return until further notice.

22nd February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Anti-Dumping Body Recommends Hefty TBR Duty

The Press Trust of India writes that the country’s government is “likely” to implement an anti-dumping duty on bus and truck radials imported from China and Thailand. The Commerce Ministry’s Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD), it reports, has recommended a US$90 duty per tyre.

22nd February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Nicastro Promoted to Senior Bridgestone Americas Role

Following the announced retirement of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) chairman, CEO and president Mark Emkes, company vice president, general counsel, chief compliance officer and secretary Gary Garfield stepped up to the plate to take on the positions of CEO and president. Filling Garfield’s shoes in his former roles is Chris Nicastro, who is currently general counsel, Bridgestone Americas Latin American Operations, and corporate compliance officer, BSAM. Nicastro’s appointment in this new portfolio of positions takes effect March 1, 2010, and will involve him taking over responsibility for overseeing the company’s legal and compliance functions.

17th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Vehicle Makers Looking for Home Grown Supply Chain

The majority of volume car manufacturers with UK plants are showing strong interest in sourcing more locally-built components. That’s the view of the latest independent research commissioned by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which highlights the tactical advantages of UK component sourcing including: benefiting from a favourable exchange rate; minimising the vulnerabilities and logistical costs associated with an extended supply chain; and the UK’s flexible labour force and positive industrial relations as reasons for looking for supply options within the UK.

The report recognised the significant opportunities arising from the transition to a low carbon economy, but also identified some conventional technologies that manufacturers would like to source more of in the UK. This list included what are described as “basic automotive components” such as: alloy wheels, alternators and starter motors, brake components, castings and forgings, fasteners, nuts and bolts, plastic mouldings in general, large stampings, sheet steel and aluminium, transmission components and wring harnesses. So called high technology areas included: electronic control units (ECUs) in general, satellite navigation systems, advanced air conditioning and safety systems especially airbags.

9th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

India Slaps Duty Upon Imported Carbon Black

The Press Trust of India reports the country’s government has imposed anti-dumping duties upon imported carbon black used by the rubber industry in an attempt to protect the domestic industry against from cheap shipments from China, Australia, Thailand and Russia. The import duties range from US$0.084 to $0.423 per kilogram, India’s Central Board of Customs and Excise (CBEC) said in a statement.

4th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

RockTron Wins Rushlight Award

Recycling technology company RockTron beat internationally renowned entrants to win Rushlight’s fossil fuels award on 28 January. The award was reportedly presented in recognition of the company’ s “spectacular leap forward in Fly Ash Recycling.” This technology, says RockTron, has the potential to help cut man-made CO2 emissions by up to 2 per cent whilst reducing the need for fossil fuel usage. The Award recognises technological advancement or innovation that has made a significant contribution to the reduction in environmental impact of fossil fuel usage.

29th January 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

India Introduces Duties on Chinese Tyre Machinery

In the interest of protecting its domestic industry, India’s government has implemented a 10 per cent anti-dumping duty upon tyre manufacturing machinery imported from China. The country’s Finance Ministry reports that this duty will be imposed upon the landed value of all Chinese produced tyre vulcanisers and rubber processing units.

26th January 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Obama Publishes Tyre Wear Data

A year after the Obama administration issued a Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government (21 January 2009), the White House has begun publishing complete datasets from a range of government departments including its Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) database.

According to the data.gov website, “NHTSA has rated more than 4,200 lines of tyres, including most used on passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and light pickup trucks…UTQGS allows consumers to compare tyre tread wear, traction performance and temperature resistance.”

25th January 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Technology Strategy Board Awards £1m to Battery Development Consortium

Nearly £1 million of funding has been awarded by the Technology Strategy Board, a government established public body, to a consortium led by advanced battery manufacturer Axeon. The partners, who will match the funding, state they are developing new battery chemistries that will deliver high energy densities, thus making them ideal for use in plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs). The £2 million project aims to accelerate the introduction of next-generation batteries that offer higher energy density combined with lower cost. It will, says Axeon, take advanced battery chemistry out of the research laboratory and into a real-world prototype PHEV application and help to consolidate the UK’s position as a strategic centre for battery development.

22nd January 2010/by Tyrepress Editors