Rubber Prices to Rise with Rising Chinese Vehicle Sales in 2010
A report on Bloomberg.com suggests that rubber prices will climb by up to 19 per cent by the end of 2010, as demand for vehicles in China witnesses continued growth.
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Phase 2 of Yokohama’s ‘Forever Forest’ Completed in Thailand
International NewsSome 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.
Bridgestone Motorsport Announces F1 Tyre Specifications
NewsFormula One tyre supplier Bridgestone has announced the final compound allocations for the remaining four rounds of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. The company says Brazil it is making a return to the allocation philosophy of leaving a rubber stiffness gap between allocated tyres for the Grands Prix at Suzuka, Japan and Interlagos, Brazil. Consecutive compounds will be used at Singapore and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Yokohama to Begin Russian Tyre Production in 2011
NewsPlans for Yokohama Rubber to set up a manufacturing presence in Russia took a further step forward on August 21 with the announcement that it has signed an agreement with Japan’s Itochu Corporation to establish a company manufacturing and selling tyres in Russia. Called YOKOHAMA R.P.Z. L.L.C, the new company is capitalised at 3.76 billion roubles (approximately £71.86 million), in which investment ratio is 80 per cent for Yokohama Rubber and 20 per cent for Itochu.
NGK Spark Plugs Has New President
NewsNGK Spark Plugs (USA) Inc. has promoted Hideyuki Koiso to president and CEO. Koiso previously served as executive vice president, and is a 31-year veteran of NGK Spark Plugs Co. He also served as vice president in the U.S. from 1997 to 2006. He replaces Shinichi Odo, who is returning to Japan to become director […]
Hankook Team Farnbacher Ready for Le Mans Series at the Nürburgring
MotorsportHankook Team Farnbacher drivers Pierre Kaffer – this year’s class winner at the Le Mans 24 Hours – and Allan Simonsen in the GT2 class will be on the starting line for the 1000 kilometre race of the Le Mans Series, which is to be held at the Nürburgring on August 23. The Team will be driving a Ferrari F430 GT fitted with Hankook Ventus racing tyres.
Avon’s Cobra Tyres Give World Championship Winner Extra Bite
NewsBike builder Dave Cook has seen his Avon shod ‘Rambler’ crowned as this year’s World Champion machine. The 2009 AMD World Championship Of Bike Building took place recently in Sturgis, South Dakota, and it was Cook’s amazing machine – fitted with Avon’s Cobra tyres – which took top honours. Cook’s creation beat 82 other motorcycles to take top honours.
Work on Conti China Vehicle Parts Factory Underway
NewsContinental is building a new manufacturing facility for its Automotive, Chassis & Safety and Powertrain divisions in China. The 74,000 square metre plant is located in Shanghai’s Jiading Industrial Zone, site of its new Continental Asia Headquarters and dedicated Engineering Center. Production at the new facility will mainly be dedicated to supplying vehicle manufacturers in China, Japan, Korea and Europe, with the first deliveries expected to take place in the middle of next year.
Cooper Supports “Rambling Rat” Child Poverty Aid Tour
NewsCooper Tire is supporting a charity expedition travelling across the world to highlight the plight of children living in poverty. Dubbed the “Rambling Rat”, Tim Dennis has travelled all the way across Europe, Asia and North America in a Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with Cooper’s rugged Discoverer STT tyres, which have successfully taken him some 44,000 miles across the harshest terrains on Earth.
Yokohama Rubber Sales and Earnings Down
Career TracksYokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., first quarter sales are down 22.7 per cent compared with the same period in the previous financial year. Yokohama's sales totalled 95.2 billion yen in the three months to 30 June 2009. The company's Tire Group sales slumped amid weak demand in Japan and in North America, western Europe, and “most other overseas markets,” according to the company. Although Yokohama posted tyre sales gains in the Russian and Chinese markets.
Mazda Models Get Toyo Tyres as OE
Product NewsToyo Tire & Rubber has won OE fitment for its tyres on the new Mazda Axela, which is also known as the Mazda 3 outside of Japan. The Toyo J48 in size 205/55R16 91V and Proxes R32 in size 205/50R17 89W will be placed on the car in Japan and Europe. The North American version will get the all-season Toyo A20 in size P205/55R16 89H and the all-season Toyo A18 in size P205/50R17 88V. (Tire Review/Akron)
Schaeffler Mechatronics Head Awarded for Innovations
Product NewsA cause for celebration within the Schaeffler Group came on July 8 when the company’s head of Mechatronics, Bernd Gombert, was awarded the Federal Republic of Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit with Ribbon. Gombert earned this impressive sounding award for being, as the Bavarian State Ministry of Sciences, Research and the Arts, Martin, Zeil noted, amongst the “recognised top performers of our country and [is] among those who set a standard in terms of enthusiasm, motivation and cooperativeness.”
Autopromotec Review: FASEP Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Product NewsFASEP has been one of Autopromotec’s most loyal supporters, having participated in the show every time since its first back in 1981. At what the company considers to be the largest garage equipment exhibition, FASEP went to the show with a number of new products designed to help customers increase and develop their business, despite current general economy conditions, by investing in technological improvements and showing that this can be achieved with reasonably priced quality products. During the show, the company also celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner, at which distributors from all over the world – from Japan to Australia, from Egypt to Sweden, says FASEP – gathered and enjoyed the party in a very friendly atmosphere.
New US BMWs Get Bridgestone Duelers
Product NewsBridgestone Dueler HP Sport Run-Flat tyres have gained OE fitment on the new BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M.
The Bridgestone Plant in Tosu, Japan will be supplying the tyres for the 2009 BMW X5 M and X6 M produced in BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant. Both vehicles will carry the tyres in sizes 275/40R20 106Y EL (front) and 315/35R20 110Y ERL (rear). (Tire Review/Akron)
Bridgestone to Supply Dueler to US BMW Models
Product NewsBridgestone tyres are now available on every BMW series sold in the US following the decision to offer the brand as an original fitment on the BMX X5 M and BMW X6 M. Both vehicles will receive the Dueler HP Sport run-flat, in size 275/40R20 106Y XL for the front axle and 315/35R20 110Y XL for the rear.
“The ultimate in performance, premium technology and a passion for excellence make the Bridgestone brand and BMW a winning combination,” said Mike Martini, president, Original Equipment, US & Canada Consumer Tire Sales Division, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. “The Dueler HP Sport plays to win. Selecting the Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport run-flat for this high profile vehicle is a clear victory for the brand and for the driving enthusiast. Now, with the new BMW M Automobile fitment, every class of vehicle manufactured by BMW is riding on a Bridgestone-brand tire and the majority of those are our run-flat tyres.”
