Manufacturing Archives - Page 104 of 258 - Tyrepress

Whether its raw materials, machinery, research and development or the latest manufacturing trends, this tag provides up-to-the-minute insights into the upstream part of the tyre industry.

Posts

Yokohama HPT talks four new UK wheels from TSW

The UK distributor for TSW replacement alloy wheels Yokohama HPT has announced that it has added four new styles to its 2011 UK range of wheels. Two of these wheels use TSW’s “Rotary Forging” manufacturing process to create wheels of higher strength than previous models but with lower weight. The technique involves introducing the molten metal to the mould under pressure, as the mould rotates at high speed. Because of the flow of metal, says Yokohama, the resulting wheel has higher inherent strength than a cast wheel while it can also be made with lower weight, assisting vehicles’ acceleration. Also, it helps to reduce the unsprung weight of the car, which in turn leads to more responsive suspension and hence, improved handling characteristics.

6th April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama lifts US market OTR tyre prices

Prices for all OTR tyres sold by Yokohama Tire Corporation in the US will increase by up to ten per cent on May 1. The tyre maker states that, in addition to this increase, other in-line adjustments will be announced at a later date. Announcing the scheduled increase, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s vice-president of OTR sales, Gary Nash, reassured consumers that the revised pricing was not due to the recent earthquake in Japan: “It’s from the escalating costs of raw materials, such as natural rubber,” he said, adding that additional factors necessitating the increase are the rising costs in transportation and manufacturing. “We do our best to integrate our operational efficiencies, technology and environmental procedures to produce the best OTR tyres at competitive prices. The increasing costs, unfortunately, must be reflected in our product pricing.”

6th April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Price rises are affecting auto parts too

After months and months of price increases from tyre manufacturers, owing to the fact that demand for raw materials such as natural rubber has gone through the roof, it is now clear that the same pressures are affecting those purchase automotive parts too. Asking the question, what is driving current price increases? Dave Cheetham, exhaust maker Klarius Group’s chief financial officer, has warned that further price rises are inevitable in the aftermarket auto parts supply chain as well.

5th April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Sale of Goodyear Latin America agri tyre business completed

The sale of Goodyear’s Latin America agricultural tyre business to Titan Tire was completed on April 1. Goodyear reports completing the sale for approximately US$99 million, subject to post-closing conditions and adjustments. The transaction includes the company’s Sao Paulo manufacturing plant, property, equipment and inventories and a licensing agreement that will allow Titan to sell Goodyear-brand agricultural tyres in Latin America and North America.

4th April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandvulc exports have tripled since 2009

Over the last two years Bandvulc has seen a consistent demand for its commercial retreads within Europe and especially Germany, but lately the pace of export growth has increased significantly. Not only have sales through existing partners increased by over 50 per cent in some countries, but new customers are reported to have been won – and in additional territories too. Key developments include distribution arrangements with agents as far away from South West England as Greece and Poland.

1st April 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper expresses ‘surprise’ at off-take reports

Following the publication of an interview with representatives of China’s Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber tyre manufacturing business, Cooper Tire & Rubber Europe has expressed “surprise” at one particular reported detail. In an email to Tyres & Accessories the company’s marketing and communications manager, Sarah McRoberts contested any suggestion that the company “was claiming to make tyres for Cooper.”

31st March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcar Wheelwright combatting “40% collapse” in UK market with Calibre range

Alcar Wheelwright managing director Kevin Greer has reported a notable area of success in a UK wheel market battling hard against a medium-term slump, which looks set to continue in many segments. The wheel aftermarket is described by the Kent based importer as “difficult and depressed”, but the company is playing up the success of its recently expanded Calibre range, which it says has seen a significant level of interest from both the UK and increasingly mainland Europe. Alcar says the retro styles: Eclipse, Vice, Bomb and especially Vintage fill a gap in a European “look market” it describes as “hungry”.

31st March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Westlake responds to ETRMA report with re-tests of its own

Since ETRMA made its research public, most of the named tyre manufacturers have remained silent, however representatives of the largest Chinese-based tyre manufacturer named by the survey responded by writing to ETRMA asking for more information about the testing methodology. Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber, which is responsible for manufacturing the Westlake brand, is asking for access to the tested tyres for tracing purposes, re-testing the tyres at an independent test centre in the UK and has subsequently taken legal action in Germany.

Speaking at a press conference in London on 23 March, technical consultants working on behalf of Hangzhou Zhongce-owned brand Westlake explained that they have hired ETRMA-accredited test centre Rubber Consultants (formerly known as TARRC) in a bid to demonstrate compliance with Reach legislation. Hertford-based Rubber Consultants announced that it had been acknowledged by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) as a certified independent testing body on 22 March. One of the first jobs Rubber Consultants carried out for the ETRMA in this capacity was to independently verify the initial findings of the association’s tests into compliance of the Reach regulation regarding PAH oils.

30th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Will European agencies take clean oil enforcement action?

The jury is still out – so to speak – on whether or not there will be any action taken as result of the recent ETRMA findings relating to clean oil compliance in tyres. The official body responsible for enforcement of the Reach rules in the UK, the Environment Agency (EA) was one of the first to go on the record in response to the ETRMA’s findings. In a statement entitled “ETRMA press release – our view” the EA summed up its position.

“We have received information from…ETRMA about possible breaches of REACH restriction 50 concerning PAHs in extender oils and tyres. This information was released by the ETRMA in a press release [on] 1 March 2011…” EA said in the statement dated 7 March.

30th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

IRSG predicts decade of strong tyre demand

The secretary general of the influential International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has predicted strong global demand for tyres through to the end of the decade. Speaking at the opening of Tyrexpo Asia 2011 in Singapore on 29 March 2011 Dr Stephen Evans said:

“Our forecasts point to a sustained growth and strong demand for new vehicles and tyres through to the end of the decade. Much of the extra demand will originate from China and to a lesser extend India, but from an overall perspective the years through to 2020 will be a period of opportunity for tyre makers and the replacement and service sectors.”

29th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone South Africa lockout a “declaration of war,” says union

A lockout is reported to have begun at two Bridgestone factories in South Africa on March 22. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) states the lockout at the Brits and Port Elizabeth plants was instigated “in response to wage increases achieved by workers in September 2010” – and the union refers to the lockout as “a declaration of war.”

25th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Italmatic: A long-established full portfolio manufacturer

With a history going back 45 years and more than 7,500 machines in operation around the world, the Italmatic Group is today one of the leading retreading equipment and accessory providers. These days the Milan based machinery manufacturer offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, from passenger car tyres up to and including complete production facilities, for use in the retreading of various types of tyres. “We are probably the only or at least one of a handful of companies able to deliver everything from accessories for bicycle tyres through to facilities for the retreading of 63-inch OTR tyres,” Italmatic vice-president Massimo Ghitturi comments to Tyres & Accessories. Italmatic can also offer its customers turnkey retreading facilities, from the preparation of a layout to installation and startup technical support.

25th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo, Sumitomo restart production in earthquake affected areas

More than a week after the Japan earthquake caused widespread power outages and disruption to manufacturing in parts of the main island of Honshu, Toyo Tires and Sumitomo Rubber have recommenced production at factories located in affected areas.

24th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone a GM ‘Supplier of the Year’

Every year for the almost two decades General Motors has acknowledged its best global automotive suppliers at its Supplier of the Year awards. These awards recognise superior performance in four key areas, namely innovative quality, superior quality, outstanding launch support and competitive total enterprise cost. On twelve prior occasions Bridgestone Corporation has been bestowed an award, and at the 19th annual awards ceremony on March 10 thirteen proved to be a lucky number for the tyre maker – Takashi Urano, vice president and senior officer of Bridgestone Corporation, accepted the tyre maker’s thirteenth award on behalf of the company.

24th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Hangzhou Zhongce confirms Thai factory reports

International News, News

Leading Chinese tyre manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber has confirmed that it is planning to build a tyre factory in the vicinity of Bangkok, Thailand. Speaking to Tyres & Accessories, the executive responsible for the company’s Westlake brand Mr Ge, confirmed that the company had signed a contract with the Thai government to purchase land in the Bangkok development zone.

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors