Manufacturing Archives - Page 151 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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Michelin Development Loans Creating 160 New Jobs in Canada

Since the Michelin Development programme in Canada’s Greater Waterloo Region was launched two years ago, the scheme has created around 700 potential new jobs and lent close to CA$3 million to local entrepreneurs. On March 4 the organisation announced five new loans.

“Michelin Development in the Greater Waterloo Region is proud to be a significant factor in the creation of 700 potential new jobs for people in the region,” said John Tully, director of Michelin Development (Canada) Inc. in the Greater Waterloo Region. “The loans that we have provided help fund the vision and drive of the eighteen companies and entrepreneurs that have received them.”

6th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho to Finalise Tyre Choice for Macon, USA Plant by June

Kumho says it will make a decision by June on the type of tyres its planned facility in Macon, USA will produce. The plant was originally due to enter production this year before Kumho announced a 12-month delay last December, the revised completion time attributed to market factors. The South Korean manufacturer says the delay was necessary in order to respond to such factors.

6th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Superior Industries Reports $26.1 Million 2008 Loss

Wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International has reported a net loss of US$20.1 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008. This result is compares with a net income of $4.7 million for the fourth quarter of the previous financial year. For the 2008 full year, net loss was $26.1 million, compared to net income of $9.3 million in 2007.

“Our results included a number of non-recurring items related to asset impairments for the two announced plant closures, other workforce reductions, as well as an inventory write-down to recognize lower aluminium rates,” said company chairman, CEO and president Steven Borick. “In aggregate, these special adjustments totalled $23.3 million for the full year 2008. The workforce reductions and plant closings were severe measures, but steps that we believe were necessary in order to right-size our capacity and position the company to operate more efficiently. Perhaps most important, our actions will serve to protect our balance sheet and cash, allowing us to weather this unprecedented business cycle. Despite the economic challenges, we maintained a positive cash flow in 2008.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lockout at Apollo Outsourced Factory Resolved

Late in the evening of March 4, union and management representatives met in an attempt to parry a continuation of the deadlock over negotiations at PTL Enterprises’ Kalamassery, India tyre manufacturing unit, a plant outsourced to Apollo Tyres. According to Apollo, the meeting resulted in an agreement that the unit would re-enter production on March 6.

As agreed in the previous meeting, held on February 24, the unions remain committed to sorting out 10 of 12 issues at hand within a month of reopening the plant. The two pending issues, those of moving out the mixing process and machinery and increasing the capacity from the current 86 to 98 tonnes per day, have not yet been fully resolved.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sapphire Merges With Glacier

Sapphire Energy Recovery – now fully-owned by Lafarge Cement UK following a buy-out of joint venture shares from Michelin Tyre plc – has restructured in what it describes as “an aim to operate closer to the sources of waste and further improve customer service.” The business has completed a merger with sister Lafarge resource recovery company Glacier, which was dedicated to sourcing alternative raw materials and fuels for the cement business. The Glacier name will go, and the new company will operate across the waste spectrum with one management team.

Headed by General Manager Jamie Randall, the new-look Sapphire Energy Recovery will continue to serve the tyre recovery market, and even has plans for growth despite the current downturn. Thanks to recent new contracts, it expects to process well over 18 million tyres in 2009; a significant increase on previous years’ averages of 16 million.

5th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Polish Tyre Storage Specialist Expanding in Export Markets

Arcom was founded in 1996 and is run by its two partners; Artur Wilk and Robert Zieba. There are 80 staff in all and Arcom is situated in the town of Rzezawa, 45 kilometres east of Cracow. The company manufactures welded metal structures, mainly for the automotive industry. The core products are pallets, racks and carts for consumers from the tyre-manufacturing industry: tyre manufacturers, wholesale stores, warehouses and workshops. These products are used for storing all kinds of tyres, from small tyres for fork lift trucks, quads, scooters and bikes, through tyres for passenger cars, off-road vehicles, delivery vans, lorries, agricultural and industrial tyres, to large-sized tyres, weighing even several hundred kgs.

For 10 years, Arcom has increased its output and market share and, in 2008, growth in excess of 20 per cent was recorded, despite the fact that production was being carried out in a plant with outdated machinery. Today, Arcom is undoubtedly a leader in tyre pallet manufacturing in Poland and is one of the top three manufacturers of these products in Europe. Exports form a major part of Arcom’s business – over 95 per cent of products are sold abroad, with customers in more than 30 countries on four continents.

4th March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre Exports Decrease 12% Between April & December

A marked decline in vehicle sales worldwide together with tighter import restrictions in some countries is being blamed for a 12 per cent decrease in tyre exports from India in the last three quarters. According to India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), Indian tyre companies exported 2.346 million tyres between April and December 2008, compared with 2.668 million during the same period of 2007. This drop in exports occurred despite a devaluation of the rupee against the US dollar and numerous other major currencies.

3rd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

VMI Awarded Innovation Gong for Tyre Builder

Dutch tyre building machinery manufacturer, VMI has been presented with the award for Innovation and Excellence in tyre manufacturing for its new MAXX Tyre Building Machine at the Tire Technology Expo in Hamburg, Germany. An international jury said the major reason for its decision was the breakthrough in fully automatic tyre building.

The MAXX is newly developed machine able to produce high quality passenger car green tyres with a bead size of 14”- 24” with increased productivity: the building process is fully hands-off, with the loading of the beads and the unloading of the green tyre done automatically. The design includes moving drums and a fixed transfer position to allow for a more precise process, flexibility and speed. Laser measuring devices and digital cameras automatically control and record the positioning of components and quality of splices.

VMI reports that the first VMI MAXX is already in production in Finland.

3rd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Plenty of Room for Large Retreads

Just months ago, the earthmover tyre market faced production shortages so severe that manufacturers and vehicle operators alike were glad to fit any tyre they could find. Things are different now. At the end of February Tyres & Accessories met with OTR Tyres (OTR) production manager, Wayne Cornell, and asked how retreads are competing now the earthmover tyre market has switched from shortage to surplus.

The earthmover tyre shortage was great news for low cost tyre importers and retread manufacturers alike and those quick enough to react experienced significant sales increases. Now however, as the world’s media has reminded us all ad nauseam, the global financial crises has brought a recession in its wake that is affecting all areas of business. Construction was the first to feel the effect of the downturn in demand that has ensued, and at the time of going to a certain multinational mining company is negotiating with the Chinese government for investment. This in turn shows just how much the recession has slowed the growth – and therefore tyre needs – of key consumers. With OEMs and major end users requiring fewer tyres than before, tyre supply is much less of a problem. There are still some shortages giant tyres and some loader tyres, according to industry sources, but it’s a world apart from the situation 12 months ago.

2nd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni to Restructure “Tyre Retreading” Business Area

“Our company, like other companies that operate in the tyre sector, is not, and has not been, an island in itself.“ With these words, Brenno Benaglia explains the reach of the current economic recession and its consequences, which are shaping up to be structural rather than cyclical. Despite a clear cut in truck and passenger car retread production and sales figures, the sales & marketing director for Marangoni’s Tyre Retreading business area points out that the Italian company is sticking to the growth and expansion strategy it presented two years ago.

27th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to End Tyre Production at Manresa, Spain Plant

Pirelli Tyre is reportedly ending tyre manufacturing at the company’s Manresa, Spain factory on 31 December 2009. According to a Reuter’s report, the company told union officials it hoped to branch into “other activities,” however further details are not expected until April. According to the report 550 workers employees in Manresa may lose their jobs. Headcount at the plant is said to have fallen from 750 after car demand fell in Spain. The concept of establishing a logistics centre for tyre distribution is reportedly being floated as a factory alternative.

According to the Pirelli website, the Manresa factory (located in the Catalonia region of Spain) opened in 1924 and covers 211,000 square metres. Production at the plant totals 41,900 tonnes of UHP passenger and SUV tyres a year. Total employees were numbered at 1009.

26th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers Pass On Excise Duty Cut

A number of Indian manufacturers have lowered domestic market prices following a lowering of the excise duty charged upon tyres. The Indian government announced on February 24 it would reduce the excise on a range of consumer products from ten per cent to eight per cent in order to stimulate demand and boost the economy.

Apollo Tyres is passing on the benefit of the lower excise duty as of February 25, 2009 on all its replacement market commercial radial and cross ply tyres. “We should all support this proactive move by the government, which will boost the manufacturing as well as other sectors,” said Onkar S Kanwar, Apollo Tyres Ltd chairman and managing director. “We, on our part, will be passing on this reduction to our customers.”

25th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Tyre Manufacturers Cut Gate Prices

A number of Chinese tyre factories have lowered their gate prices in response to the recent easing of raw material costs. Aeolus Tyres, for example, is apparently the first tyre maker to openly do so, and says it is aiming to send a clear signal that as a “runner-up among major tyre brands,” it is taking the lead in terms of pricing. However, as is the case with most Chinese tyre purchases, the fact that transactions are calculated in US dollars means pound prices are in fact higher than they were 12 months ago. Industry sources have also linked the Triangle and Infinity brands with factory gate price cuts that are also negated by the weak pound. While the euro has been fairing better against the dollar, a similar effect is understood to place taking place on the continent.

Speaking on behalf of Aeolus Tyres in Europe, Heuver Tyrewholesale’s Bertus Heuver commented: “Aeolus is one of China’s largest tyre manufacturers. Identifying trends and developing tyres in response to those trends is their core business. This is partly the basis of their success in Europe and why this runner-up has quickly become a reliable and attractive alternative to name brands… Aeolus sold more than 250,000 new tyres in Europe in 2008. We aim to conquer a market share in the most important segments in Europe of at least 3 per cent in the standard sizes…We expect that many business owners will consider Aeolus when making their decisions due to its combination of favourable prices, selection and quality.”

25th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Turkish Tyre Factories Pause Production

Two of the largest tyre manufacturing plants in Turkey paused production for a week following reduced OE demand. The Brisa (Bridgestone/Sabanci) plant which produces Lassa branded tyres initiated a week-long production break in order to “realign production” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories. Turkish Pirelli Tyres Corporation also halted production at its factory in the north-western province of Kocaeli, according to the Hurriyet newspaper. Around 2,200 workers are employed at the two plants, 1,072 of which work for Brisa and will remain on the pay roll, Turkish Tyre-Labor Union representative Huseyin Cakar told Hurriyet.

24th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Serbia’s Trayal Resumes Production

According to the Beta News Agency, production at one of the three tyre factories belonging to Serbian manufacturer Trayal Corporation will recommence during the week of February 23 to 27, following a three-month pause. The company’s Dedina passenger car tyre factory is the first to resume activity since work stopped at the Trayal plants in mid-November 2008. To begin with, the factory will produce 4,200 tyres per day, significantly lower than the target of 10,000 passenger car tyres per day (by the end of 2009) set when investment into capacity expansion was announced in February 2008.

24th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors