Manufacturing Archives - Page 114 of 260 - 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.

Tag Archive for: Manufacturing

RockTron Seals Energy Deal in Malaysia

Fly-ash recycling technology innovator, RockTron International has announced that it has signed an MOU with Malaysia energy provider TNB, following the launch of RockTron Asia in Kuala Lumpur this October. The company is also in discussions with major companies from across Asia regarding the company’s new licensing proposition. Tyre industry interest in RockTron stems from its technology’s ability to manufacture “eco-minerals” from stockpiled coal-fired power station waste (otherwise known as fly ash), which can be used to manufacture tyre rubber filler, or indeed as fillers and extenders in any polymer, rubber and coatings manufacturing and as cementitious substitutes, dramatically cutting costs and CO2 emissions.

8th November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Empowerment Management: T&A talks to New Goodyear Dunlop UK MD

When Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe said it had appointed George Rietbergen as managing director UK and Ireland in March, the announcement meant the Dutchman would become the operation’s third managing director since 2004. During that time significant changes have taken place in the company’s UK and Eire operations including the separation of HiQ in a hard franchised passenger car only retail operation and a Truck Force network; the adoption of multi-brand and multi-company distribution strategy via outsourced third party logistics (namely Norbert Dentressangle) and a significant number and scope of personnel changes. Set against this backdrop you could be forgiven for expecting more upheaval, but as Tyres & Accessories recently found out in an exclusive interview with the new MD, he brings with him a refreshingly up-front Hollandic approach and an understated management style that puts the emphasis on the departmental heads and middle managers rather than “the man at the top.”

4th November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop ‘Fully Committed to…Health and Welfare’

Following the HSE announcement, Goodyear Dunlop issued its own response to the case. According to the statement, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited is fully committed to “conducting operations in an incident-free workplace to safeguard the health and welfare of colleagues, contractors, neighbours and visitors across the country.”

The company accepted the decision of the court and pointed out that it has already put “recommendations and learnings” in place following the HSE inquiry into the incident: “As part of our Global ‘No One Gets Hurt’ policy, we are driving behaviours through all areas of our business to ensure that our excellent safety record is not compromised again. We have learnt from this incident.” stated Martin Smith, Human Resources Director, UK and Ireland.

3rd November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

HSE Fines Goodyear Dunlop After Employee Fractures Skull

Goodyear Dunlop representatives were in court on 1 November after a teenage employee fractured his skull whilst maintaining machinery at the firm’s Wolverhampton compounding and retread manufacturing factility. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that it prosecuted Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd after one of its maintenance team, Karl Illidge, struck his head at the firm's Stafford Road, Bushbury, Wolverhampton site. In July Goodyear Dunlop announced that it been awarded Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001 certification, following an external audited by BSI.

3rd November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Nexen Aiming to Produce 20 million Tyres in Qingdao by 2017

International News

Nexen’s Qingdao, China tyre production plant, which started manufacturing tyres in 2008, will soon enter the black and could be producing as many as 20 million tyres a year by 2017. Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen Tire published the latest details in a recent internal newsletter emailed to staff and customers, where the factory’s management also gave details of Nexen’s plans for the plant.

Based on a site one hour’s drive north of Qingdao Airport in Shandong Province, China, Nexen representatives describe their most modern plant to date (the firm broke ground on a further plant in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea on 24 June 2010) as the company’s “ambitious masterpiece.” With output currently reported to be 6 million truck, bus and car radials a year and bearing in the mind the fact that it already occupies a 530,000 square metre area with further expansion still to come, it is clearly a significant operation.

2nd November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Dealers Visit Taiwan with Federal Incentive Programme

Federal Tyres is rewarding its top-performing dealers with a tour package to Taiwan throughout the second quarter of this year. The tours give winners time to experience local customs and see the country’s best-loved tourist spots. The fully escorted tour features southern Taiwan’s fabulous ocean and mountain views and the picturesque landscapes of Kenting National Park and Kaohsiung City.

2nd November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Total Profits Slightly Down, but Relatively Good NA Quarter for Cooper

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has reported a 3.6 per cent reduction in operating profit, making $67.1 million, though there was a 10 per cent rise in total company sales for the third quarter (ending 30 September) of 2010 in year-on-year comparisons. Net income attributable to Cooper Tire reached $45 million, a decrease of $2 million from the same period in 2009. Net sales were $883 million, an increase of $80 million from the prior year. The Company reported net income of 71 cents per share on a diluted basis.

2nd November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Rising Costs Force MAI to Raise MAXAM Tyre Prices

MAI Group recently raised its tyre prices by three per cent and Ian Thomas, head of Sales & Marketing at the company, warned that customers should brace themselves for a further price increase in December, of up to 10 per cent, as raw material costs continue to rocket. He said: "Over the last few months, we have absorbed the raw material price rises, but it has now reached the stage where we are reluctantly having to pass on some of the latest increases to customers."

29th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

TAFF Awards Tyre and Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year – Apaseal

Apaseal won the Tyre & Aftermarket Supplier award, with the award said to represent the acknowledgement of Apaseal’s commitment to continuous improvement, quality of product and service. In order to achieve this feat the company had to outperform well known names Auto 4, Harvie Tyres, Pro-Align and Rema Tip Top Automotive UK. One possible reason why voters opted to support Apaseal is because the firm continues to play a leading role in the development of British Standards’ guidelines on repairs, and have been active with the introduction of what are seen as the norms today including – says the company – fitting valves, enhancing wheel balancing techniques and consistently providing the distributors with opportunities to achieve additional revenue and provide better tyre and wheel maintenance for the customer.

29th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Begins $13 Million Virginia Plant Expansion

Yokohama Tire Corp. is investing $13 million in expanding operations at its Salem, Virginia manufacturing plant, reports Tire Review. The project will include new tiremaking machinery, upgrading and modifying existing machines and an increase in high-performance and light truck tyre manufacturing flexibility. The expansion, which will result in a 10-12 per cent increase in production capacity, is slated for completion by August 2011, the company said.

28th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Predict Michelin Will Invest in Chinese Tyre Production

Referring to Michelin’s recent surprise decision to raise 1.2 billion euros of fresh capital, financial analysts at Morgan Stanley have predicted that the company is planning to expand its Chinese tyre manufacturing base, making this operation “a crucial BRIC[k]in Michelin’s future.”

When Michelin announced its plans to raise fresh capital on 28 September the tyre maker did any indications of what it planned to do with the money. This led analysts to suggest that “China will be a major focus for Michelin.” They believe Michelin is looking for “a swift increase in Chinese capacity” from their current level of around 2-3 per cent of output.

26th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

TVS-Owned Sun Tyre & Wheel Buys Watts Lanka Factory

Sun Tyre & Wheel Systems, part of the $6 billion TVS Group of India, has completed the acquisition of Watts Lanka Private Limited, the firm’s solid industrial tyres manufacturing company in Colombo, Sri Lanka. No details of how much was paid for the company or of the extent of the new owner’s expansion plans have been released.

Announcing the news Sun Tyre & Wheel Systems said it is “dedicated to serving the world’s material handling industry with a wide range of tyre and wheel solutions covering most applications and operating environments.” Watts Lanka Private Limited (which will be renamed shortly) was a joint venture between Watts Tyres Limited of the UK and KVK Invest JSC of Bulgaria, principal shareholder in Balkancar Zarya PLC. One insider told Tyres & Accessories that, as the sale relates to a purchase prior to Watts’ recent buyout, this had been considered as an option for some time.

25th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

US Yokohama Tyre Prices Rise

Yokohama has announced that it will raise its North American passenger and light truck tyre prices by 8 per cent on 1 December. The increasing raw materials, manufacturing and logistics costs are cited as the reasons behind the price hike.

25th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre Production Increases 29%

The period between April and August this year yielded a 29 per cent increase in domestic tyre production in India on the back of a sharp rise in automobile sales, according to a report published by Business Standard. This rise is made even more impressive when one considers the spiralling natural rubber prices in the same time-frame. The report states that the major tyre manufacturers produced 47.1 million tyres in April-August 2010, as opposed to 36.7 million in the same period of 2009.

22nd October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan-USW Contracts at 3 US Plants Under Discussion

Titan Tire and the United Steelworkers Union are to negotiate a new contract covering Titan’s three US tyre plants, reports Tire Review. Union representatives from Titan plants in Bryan, Ohio; Freeport, Illinois; and Des Moines, Iowa, are in Merrillville, Indiana, where the talks will be held. The USW contract with Titan that expires on 19 November lasted four and a half years.

21st October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors