Cheap imports of scrap zinc-based balancing weights are poor quality and contain dangerous levels of heavy metals, such as cadmium. Premium weight manufacturers told Tyres & Accessories that preliminary research shows such imports may contain 50 times the level of cadmium currently allowed in the products.
The Marangoni Group is one of the sponsors of Mittomacchina, a major exhibition dedicated to the history of car design, which is being held at Mart, the modern and contemporary art museum of Trento and Rovereto, until May 1st 2007.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition on 2 December, Mario Marangoni, president – Marangoni Group, said: “For over 50 years our Group has believed in tyres and has educated its people and developed new technologies to be able to handle every aspect and every phase of a tyre’s life cycle.”
Combine a handful of the world’s best sports cars, a dozen leading tuners and a stretch of test circuit, and you have a recipe for breaking records, as was discovered recently at the Nardo test circuit in Southern Italy.
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Five international synthetic rubber producers received fines totalling 519 million euros (£350 million, $682 million) from the European Commission after the group said they had fixed prices. The penalty is said to be the second largest fine of its kind in history. Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Eni SpA, Dow Chemical Co., Unipetrol AS and Trade-Stomil were fined by the EC. Bayer AG was found guilty but was not fined because it blew the whistle on the others, according to the EC. The EC said the group fixed pricing and shared customer information on buyers of butadiene rubber and emulsion styrene butadiene rubber – used widely in tyre production – between 1996 and 2002. Italy’s Eni got the largest fine at £185 million ($357.6 million), and Shell was hit for £108 million ($211 million).
Financial analysts questioned whether the news would lead to a significant drop in synthetic rubber prices following the recent collapse of natural rubber. If so this could add to a “significant raw materials bonanza coming up in 2007 for tyre manufacturers,” according to Deustche Bank analysts.
Bridgestone was honoured with the Qualitas Award at the Fiat Suppliers’ Convention 2006. In a ceremony at the Lingotto location in Turin, Bridgestone was cited for its constant pro-activity and support in the development of tyres for Fiat Group car models. The convention is an annual event at which Fiat informs suppliers of current status and future programmes, as well as acknowledging partners who have distinguished themselves through high-quality performance during the previous year.
Teco Srl is a leading manufacturer of hand truck tyre changers, electronic wheel balancers and pneumatic platform lifts. Based in Correggio, Italy, Teco is a relatively young company, but is already well-known in its field. The company began life in 1985, albeit under a different name, and at that time specialised in the production of components for automotive equipment. However the company’s management had other ambitions. They wanted to introduce a new line of machinery to trade, a line that was completely designed and manufactured in-house.
Founded 70 years ago, the Pneuservice Group is one of the largest tyre import/export distributors in Italy. Pneuservice deals with everything from scooter to earthmover tyres, trading over 2 million tyres each year. The company currently has 150 employees, eight depots and over 260 franchisees spread out across Italy.
Up till now Reedijk Banden Import B. V. (RBI) has generally been known as a Netherlands-based tyre wholesaler that is particularly active within its home market and some trade in Germany, Belgium and France. However since the beginning of 2006 the company has embarked on a controlled expansion programme which has seen RBI evolve into more of an international company with new sales projects being introduced around Europe and most recently in the UK.
Elyo Italia recently purchased an LM6000-PD aeroderivative gas turbine generator and 12-year contractual service agreement (CSA) from GE Energy’s aeroderivative business for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant located within the Michelin tyre manufacturing facility in Cuneo, Italy.
Continental will hire a further 1500 people in Romania in the next three years. Thomas Sattelberger, Continental board member for human resources told local newspapers that the company plans to double production at its ContiTech unit in Timisoara and increase staff at its research centre in Sibiu to 300 employees, from almost 200 at present. Continental also announced plans to expand the Timisoara-based Continental Automotive Products plant, with its production capacity set to rise to 16 million tyres per year by 2008, from current levels of 12 million. Following the recruitment drive Continental, said to be the largest German investor in the local car parts industry, will have a total of 5,000 employees in Romania by 2010, compared with 3,500 at the moment.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has launched the TM900 High Power (710 75R42), the tallest tyre on record according to the manufacturer. The new pneumatic tyre will be on-show during international exhibitions, starting with EIMA, which is going to be held in Italy – Bologna, from 15 – 19 November. Co-designed with leading tractor manufacturers, the TM900HP 710/75R42, Trelleborg says the new tyre has been specifically developed to fit tractors with up to 300 horsepower or which require high load capacity.
Pirelli & C. SpA, the parent company of the tyre manufacturer, reported a loss in its third quarter after writing down the value of its investment in Telecom Italia SpA, Italy’s largest phone company. The net loss, excluding some items, was 1.6 billion euros ($2 billion), compared with net income of 105.8 million euros ($135 million) a year earlier.
Aufeer Design has signed a strategic alliance with Matador Automotive corporation. The agreement was strengthened by Matador Automotive’s acquisition of one third of the Aufeers’s privately held shares. Matador, one of the Slovakia’s biggest corporations, says that is has the primary objective if supporting Aufeer Design activities‘ growth and expansion in Czech, Slovak and international automotive markets, including those involving more than 30 joint-venture companies which it currently owns in the automotive segment.
There has not been any seismic shifts in the market since the UN-ECE regulations 108 and 109 were made mandatory in Europe on 13 September 2006. Many retreaders were already working according to these new regulations voluntary. Now, four week after the regulations came into effect, the Italian Tyre Retreaders Association AIRP has discussed ways of dealing with the black sheep in the Italien retreading industry and whether legel steps should be taken. There are currently 66 truck and passenger car tyre retreading plants in Italy which are operated by AIRP members.
Llandrindod Wells-based Craig Middleton produced a polished performance to take third place on the final round of the MSA National Gravel Rally Championship. More importantly, on the Bulldog Rally Middleton has done enough to secure his first major championship title alongside his three National Junior titles.
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