Manufacturing Archives - Page 144 of 257 - 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.

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A New Beginning

On 15 May 2009 Apollo Tyre’s purchase of Vredestein Banden was completed with the signing of contracts ratifying a deal estimated to be worth between 175 million and 220 million euros. The new combined company, Apollo Vredestein BV, will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian tyre giant Apollo, with full responsibility for selling all of both company’s tyre brands (Vredestein, Maloya and Apollo) in Europe. Having witnessed Amtel-Vredestein go to the wall earlier this year, observers agree that the company's previous alliance with the now defunct Russian tyre maker turned out – with the benefit of hindsight – to have been a mistake.

Nevertheless Vredestein's re-marriage to an ambitious manufacturer with its own designs on European market access puts the new combined company just outside the top 10 global tyre manufacturers, somewhere around 12 or 13; fulfils Vredestein’s desire to find emerging market production capacity and a route into the related sales markets; and is being hailed as a new beginning for Dutch tyre maker. Tyres & Accessories recently travelled to Apollo Vredestein BV's Enschede headquarters and asked the newly merged company's CEO, Rob Oudshoorn, why it will be second time lucky for the tyre manufacturer.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Trade Panel Recommends Sizeable Tariffs Upon Chinese Tyres

Duties of up to 55 per cent may be imposed upon Chinese tyres imported into the US in an attempt to reduce their effect on local manufacturers. On June 29 the US International Trade Commission ruled 4 to 2 in favour of imposing tariffs upon passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres imported from China for a three-year period. Proposed duties for the first year have been set at 55 per cent of the tyre’s value, while in the second and third years the rate would drop to 45 and 35 per cent respectively. These tariffs would be charged on top of the current rate of duty.

30th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Kirov Plant Enters Bankruptcy Protection

Following the official bankruptcy of Amtel-Vredestein NV in April, and the subsequent sale of Vredestein Banden and its subsidiaries to Apollo Tyres, the Russian holding company’s Kirov manufacturing operation entered voluntary bankruptcy on 22 June. OJSC Amtel-Vredestein entered bankruptcy on 3 June 2009 with subsidiary OJSC Tyre Complex AmtelChernozemje doing the same on 20 May 2009. According a report in the local Kommersant newspaper, the decision was reportedly made after accounts payable mounted up to 982 million rubles (£20 million) in the first quarter 2009 compared with a net asset value of about 840 million rubles (£16.337 million).

Kommersant estimates that the total debt load of Amtel-Vredestein’s Russian units adds up to more than US$450 million. Negotiations with creditors, the largest of which is said to be Sberbank, which is apparently owed US$100 million, are currently underway. However, the newspapers are also speculating about some more ‘creative’ kinds of debt restructuring. Arguably, the most interesting of these sees Kommersant name Pirelli as a foreign investor willing to expand its interests in Russia beyond the tyre production joint venture it signed with Russian Technologies in November 2008. Apparently certain government officials discussed the idea with the leadership of Amtel-Vredestein in late March. However, the newspaper also quotes Sibur Russian-Tyres director, Igor Karavaev as saying he considers it unrealistic that any investors will be able to purchase Amtel’s assets, especially foreign players.

30th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Machinery Focusing on Output Flexibility

Many tyre manufacturers are currently grappling with reduced demand. For this reason, reports Karsten Jung, CM Conti Machinery’s head of Sales and Service, at present an increased focus is being placed upon tyre building equipment that can deliver smaller load sizes. “Many customer budgets are frozen so smaller load sizes are attractive,” Jung comments. “Our answer to the current situation is flexibility and lower output.” For passenger car tyre segment customers, Conti Machinery – a proponent of two-stage technology – offers output flexibility through a combination of its KM F and PU 15 SB tyre building machines.

29th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pelmar Engineering to Coordinate Sale of Dunlop Nigeria Machinery

Pelmar Engineering has announced that it is coordinating the sale of Dunlop Nigeria’s tyre manufacturing plant and machinery. According to the company, the equipment is suitable for car, light van, truck and farm tyre manufacturing for tyres of both radial and cross-ply construction. The machinery was reportedly used in the full production of tyres for OE and replacement market until the end of 2008.

“In 2004 Pelmar sold the equipment to Dunlop Nigeria. It was completely reconditioned prior to installation and running in by the middle of 2005,” said Hagai Peled, senior VP and COO of Pelmar, adding: “The equipment is in excellent condition, hardly operated and offers our customers a rare opportunity to buy high quality equipment with the Pelmar assurance of quality.”

Dunlop Nigeria ended local production in April less than four years after the decision was taken to invest an estimated 6.5 billion naira (£29.4 million) on radialising plant technology. The company, recently renamed DN Tyre & Rubber Plc, now imports its tyres from South Africa.

29th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Meccanica Investing in Large Radial Tyre Solutions

According to Marangoni Meccanica SpA, producer of the Marangoni Tyre Machinery brand, a key company aim is to deliver customised industrial solutions that are quality focused, highly innovative and flexible – and in doing so provide end-users with the best possible solution. The company has been developing production technologies for both new and retreaded tyres since the sixties, and in recent years has invested into developing its proprietary “Alpha R” strip winding equipment.

At present the Italian firm is placing a particular emphasis on the development of innovative equipment and state-of-the-art technological solutions for the manufacturing of large radial tyres, including tailor-made tyre assembly systems serviced by fully automatic Alpha R applicators.

26th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pelmar and Cincinnati Retread Systems Partner in Retreading/Recycling Distribution Deal

Pelmar Engineering Ltd. has teamed up with Cincinnati Retread Systems (CRS) to distribution tyre reteading and recycling machinery on a global scale.
The deal sees Pelmar, a leading supplier of pre-owned, reconditioned and new machinery and engineering solutions for the polymer industry, open up its distribution network of 6 subsidiaries and 10 representatives worldwide to CRS in order for both companies to reach further. CRS specializes in manufacturing Tyre Buffers, Expandable Hubs and Rims, Tyre Mulchers, Pollution Controls and Classifiers. Todd Hunsche, CRS president of the machinery division said: “In today’s global marketplace our presence in strategic locations that are beyond our reach, will now be reached thanks to cooperation with Pelmar’s global access. Pelmar and CRS will promote machinery and engineering services that will result in additional customers for both of us.”

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius’ Cheadle Plant Returns to 5 Day Week

Klarius, the UK-based manufacturer of the TIMAX brand of exhausts and catalytic converters, has returned to a five day week and is reporting increased export sales. The announcement follows investment of over £1.2million in UK manufacturing and R&D over the last 18 months. Klarius was bought from US owners ArvinMeritor LVA in August 2007. After some redundancies last year, the company started employing new staff again in January this year, with the 10 new jobs created said to support growth from increased exports into Europe.

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Tyres Wishes Customers ‘Best of British’

Avon Tyres is celebrating all that is ‘Best of British’ on two and four wheels, with a competition and poster campaign. All you have to do to is log on to www.avon-tyres.co.uk. Bikers can win a trackday at Castle Combe on Avon VP2 tyres, while visitors to the car site can win VIP hospitality tickets to the season finale of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Brands Hatch on 20 September. Runners-up from each competition will be given the chance to win exclusive limited-edition Avon watches.

Cooper Tire Europe (Avon’s parent company) managing director, Julian Baldwin, said: “We are extremely proud of Avon Tyres’ British heritage, both as a manufacturer and a prime mover in the world of motorsport. Two years ago, our parent company’s faith in the quality of our British engineering skills was illustrated by the siting of the firm’s entire European design and technical centre in Melksham.”

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nortenha Puts Retreads to the Test

Portuguese retreader Recauchutagem Nortenha and Kraiburg Austria recently joined forces in a series of spectacular demonstrations, aimed at illustrating the quality of Kraiburg patterns and retreading. The vehicles used included buses and tankers and they were subjected to a series of tests, including overturning while cornering (the vehicles were fitted with stabilising wheels), aquaplaning and skidding. The stringent tests subjected the vehicles and tyres to load impacts and transverse forces which never occur in normal driving.

Customers were invited to the promotional event and the invitation was taken up by representatives from over 40 well-known companies from Portugal’s freight forwarding, passenger transportation and construction industries, keen to explore the products behind the slogan “More miles in full safety!” The aim was to show existing customers and potential new cus¬tomers that retreads most definitely stand comparison with new tyres.

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

A Dream Realised for Cimcorp

Finland’s Cimcorp has long held the desire to develop a tyre factory in which every stage of the operation – from tyre assembly to final shipping – was automated. This idea has formed the core of the company’s so-called “dream factory” concept, and Cimcorp reports that in the past year this dream has become reality.

The company’s path towards a fully automated tyre plant began some time ago, and outside the tyre industry.

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s ATMA Seeking 7.5% Natural Rubber Duty

India’s national budget is due to be delivered on July 6, and the nation’s tyre manufacturers are hoping that a sought after reduction in natural rubber duty will be forthcoming. “As in the past we are looking forward to the correction of the inverted duty structure,” said Rajiv Budhraja, director-general of India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA). “That is the first and foremost demand.”

According to a Reuter’s news brief, the ATMA has requested the government reduce the customs duty on natural rubber to 7.5 per cent; previous news reports indicated the ATMA was seeking a 10 per cent duty. Regardless of the desired rate, the association’s goal is to provide manufacturers some relief from what is seen as an unfair tax structure. While natural rubber currently attracts a customs duty of 20 per cent, the tax on imported finished tyres is only half that.

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Myers Names New EVP, COO

Myers Industries has named David Knowles as its new executive vice president and COO, effective immediately. Knowles will be responsible for all manufacturing and distribution operations, sales, marketing, research and development and supply chain functions.

John Orr, Myers president and CEO, said, “David brings an extensive operating background in the plastic materials and specialty products arena. His leadership success in business development, sales and market share growth, lean manufacturing and organizational development will be an asset as we focus on the growth strategy in our businesses. I look forward to his contributions and to the value he will help create for our shareholders, customers and employees.”

Since 2003, Knowles was president and CEO of Aristech Acrylics LLC, a manufacturer cast acrylic sheet and solid surface product. (Tire Review/Akron)

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Publicises Agri, Forest, Industrial Unit Capabilities

Swedish manufacturer Trelleborg has released information on its Wheel Systems division, specifically publicising its dedicated larger rims Sävsjö facility in southern Sweden. As a supplier of complete agricultural, forestry and industrial wheels, the company deals with the specialised demands of these typically cumbersome tyres.

It is particularly important in this field that the wheels’ components work harmoniously with each other, as Per Valdmaa, managing director of the Sävsjö manufacturing plant states: “The rim plays a crucial role in the operation of the vehicle or equipment it is fitted on, securing and protecting the tyre. It carries the machine’s load and transfers its performance to the ground. The tyre and the rim are interdependent; the two cannot function without each other. If the rim breaks, the rubber of the tyre is destroyed and the machine they are fitted on will stop working.”

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Retreads Deliver 30% Lower Carbon Footprint – Study

An independent study commissioned by the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse has shown that the process required to manufacture and retreaded tyres produces around 30 per cent less carbon emissions that that required to produce a new tyre.

Testing for the study was carried out by carbon footprint specialists Best Foot Forward and involved the use of new and retreaded 17.5-inch light commercial vehicle tyres. According to the results obtained, the manufacture of a new 17.5-inch tyre produces 86.9 kilograms (191.6 pounds) of CO2 emissions compared to 60.5 kilograms (133.4 pounds) CO2 for an equivalent retreaded tyre; a difference of 30.4 per cent.

19th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors