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.
Reports from the Farnborough International Airshow indicate Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has an eye on setting up overseas manufacturing operations. Speaking at the show, company chairman Ian Edmondson said that Dunlop Aircraft Tyres may establish a factory in China in five years time, when the tyre maker has “no room to expand in our existing location.
You may have already heard that the Pagani Zonda R recently set the fastest lap time for a production car around Germany’s Nürburgring, but some news sources overlooked the modest hero of the day. As the Zonda R thundered around the Nordschleife circuit in Nürburgring, covering the 20.83 kilometres in 6 minutes 47 seconds – a second quicker than the previous record set last August – the Italian supercar benefitted from its P Zero Slick tyres, fitted in size 265/645-19TL for the front and 325/705-20TL at the rear.
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The first shipment of original equipment tyres left Apollo Tyres’ new factory in the city of Chennai. A batch of 500 Acelere passenger car tyres were despatched to Hyundai Motor India Limited on July 20. To mark the occasion, the Indian National flag and the Apollo flag were formally hoisted at the entrance of the Plant by Apollo’s chief of projects and unit head.
On Friday 15 July 2010 Florida-based mining tyre design company Tire Engineering and Distribution L.L.C. gained a $26 million verdict against Shandong LingLong Rubber Co. Ltd. and Al Dobowi Tyre Co. L.L.C. for allegedly conspiring with a former employee (Sam Vance) to steal proprietary designs for underground mining tyres. The default verdict was issued when Vance failed to appear before the court. The news is the latest in a line of related claims and follows an Appeal Court decision to overturn an earlier $59 million award verdict earlier this year. In the latest case T&A understands that despite the jury verdict being given, the case has not yet reached the judgement stage, where the amount and even the ruling as a whole can be modified by a judge. Furthermore, due to the complex nature of the case, the defendants are expected to appeal if they are finally found against.
The Sibur Group has sold tyres through its Sibur-Russian Tyres subsidiary for the past eight years, but now it has also turned its attention to other vehicle components. In late June the group’s “Plastic JSC” operation signed a letter of intent with the Sollers group, a Russian manufacturer that produces Fiat, Isuzu and SsanYong vehicles under licence. The focus of the letter is to indentify the main direction future cooperation between these two parties could take in respect to the production and supply of automotive components.
The Schaeffler Group – the German company best known to us for its dealings with Continental – has given news of its plans to carry out further expansion in Asia, an area in which it says localisation is opening up additional opportunities for growth. Investments totalling 300 million euros will be made in this region, including the construction of two factories in China to supplement the existing manufacturing facilities there which are operating at full capacity, and one factory in India. Construction of the new factories is to be completed by 2012. Research and development capacities in Japan and India will be expanded as part of the investment, and production capacity at the company’s eleven existing manufacturing locations (in China, India, Korea and Vietnam) will also be increased.
On July 16 Brian Anderson took over the positon of director of financial planning and analysis at Cooper Tire & Rubber, replacing Craig Durliat, who recently became director of credit for the North American Tire Organization. In his new role, Anderson will coordinate and consolidate global business plans and create the North American Tire Operations' financial plans. He will also partner with marketing and pricing to ensure strong customer relationships, and will oversee commercial analysis, working closely with sourcing, purchasing and manufacturing in all regions.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that Yokohama Tire Philippines Inc. (YTPI), the company’s production and sales location for passenger car tyres in the Philippines, achieved what the company calls "complete zero emissions" in June 2010. Yokohama Rubber confirmed the achievement by conducting on-site investigations of all contractors commissioned to dispose of waste from the plant (based on the disposal flowchart of each contractor), confirming achievement of "complete zero emissions." By Yokohama’s reckoning, "complete zero emissions" means no waste is subject to direct landfill disposal.
YTPI began efforts towards "zero emissions" – which internally translates as landfill disposal of less than 1 per cent of total waste – in 2006. Starting by recycling paper waste from offices, the company conducted Recycle Collection Events of recyclable resources that grew to include PET bottles, plastic containers and used cans, separated and collected by each department or manufacturing process.
Following its buyout of Quinton Hazell in February this year, Klarius has opened the doors on its new 2,000 square meter Emission Control Distribution Centre located in Unna, Germany.
The dedicated Klarius exhaust and catalytic Converter distribution centre is fully integrated with the substantial Quinton Hazell Germany facility already on the site. The new warehouse will initially stock over 6,500 types of exhausts, over 1,000 types of catalytic converter and well over 3,000 separate mounting and ancillary components.
We have no way of knowing what kind of weather winter has in store for us, yet should we again experience prolonged snow and ice conditions, Maxxis brings reassuring news – the tyre maker reports that its winter range has proved its reliability throughout Europe where, in many countries, motorists are required by law to switch to cold weather tyres at a specified time. Available in a raft of popular sizes, Maxxis says its winter tyres are “engineered to cope with extreme temperatures and slippery surfaces and feature an advanced, specially formulated soft tread compound which disperses water and snow to deliver improved grip.”
Guangdong Greatoo Molds Inc is organising an international customer conference, which is set to run between 26 August and 2 September 2010. Senior technical consultant RNK Krishnan told Tyres & Accessories that the firm is inviting all its “vip customers from many countries for this event.” According to Krishnan, it is for the first time any mould company has organised such a event for its customers and the hopes is it will strengthen working relationships as Greatoo plans to focus on international customers all the more in future.
China-based Sihong Benteng Rubber Products Co, Ltd has announced plans to launch two new solid tyres. The firm reports that it has developed the new products, which come in 40×15-24 (385/65-24) and 445/65-24 sizes for boom lift applications. Last month the firm told Tyres & Accessories that it now has the capacity to produce 5000 off-the-road tyres/year. Situated five hours from Shanghai airport and 2 hours from Nanjing airport by car, the company reports that it is “mainly engaged in manufacturing various specifications [of] engineering tracks, agricultural tracks, OTR and bicycle tyres.”
Belarusian media reports that tyre maker Belshina has signed a contract with VMI Holland for the supply of equipment to be used in the construction of giant tyres. Some 33.5 million euros has apparently already been invested for the production of mining tyres, and the company is intends to produce 21.00R35, 27.00R35, 33.00R51, 36.00R57 tyres for CIS and international customers.
Goodyear Dunlop reports achieving a milestone within its health and safety management. The company has been externally audited by BSI and can officially confirm it has achieved certification to OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001 – one of the key Health and Safety Management Systems in the industry.
The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) and its wholesale arm, the Tyre Wholesalers Group (TWG) have warned that "substantial" price rises are imminent. The core raw material price increase reasons for the shortage are nothing new, but the fact that a number of tyre manufacturers closed factories in recent years means there is now insufficient capacity to make up the shortfalls. In addition the fact that last winter was particularly severe across much of northern Europe led to unprecedented demand for winter tyres. With this year's winter selling season due to begin shortly, manufacturers are replenishing stocks of winter tyres in preparation.
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