Manufacturing Archives - Page 182 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.

Posts

Chicago Pneumatic Buys Japanese Tool Manufacturer

Chicago Pneumatic Vehicle Service Division recently acquired Tokyo based KTS Co. Ltd., a leading Japanese maker of handheld air tools for the vehicle service market. The agreement, which was signed in December 2007, further strengthens the presence of CPVS, and its range of tools and associated products to the automotive aftermarket sector, in Japan and Asia.

KTS’ product range includes Power Magnum branded tools as well as air tools sold under other OEM brands. KTS serves the second largest automobile market in the world, providing Chicago Pneumatic with a brand, sales force and manufacturing arm which will facilitate fast growth in Japan and throughout Asia.

8th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

The Nominations Are In…

Chris Anthony
Editor, Tyrepress.com/Tyres & Accessories

Tyre Industry Publications, Federation House, Station Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2SA, United Kingdom
+44 (0)1782 969860

The content herein is expressly intended for the person(s) addressed, and for business purposes. Any other communication is the sole opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of Tyre Industry Publications Ltd.

8th February 2008/by Chris

Magnum Signs 5-Year Recycling Deal

Recycling and waste management solutions provider Magnum D’Or Resources, Inc. (Magnum) has announced the signing and closing of a five-year contract, valued at US$12.5 million a year, with US supplier of outdoor and landscape products National Sales & Supply (NSS) for rubber nuggets, effective immediately. Magnum, under this new agreement, will sell and supply NSS with rubber nuggets in addition to its current contract for rubber buffings. Magnum will use its patented scrap tyre recycling technology to produce this new product.

7th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Stamford Tyres Releases New Falken Range in India

Stamford Tyres Distributors India Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stamford Tyres, has launched the new Falken ZIEX ZE912 radial across its distribution network in India. Working in partnership with Falken tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Stamford Tyres will market the ZE912 tyre to owners of passenger cars, wagons and mini-vans.

Mr. Wee Kok Wah, president of Stamford Tyres said, “the ZE912 will become the core product of the Falken range that we sell. It sits in the middle between its top ultra-high performance tyres and its entry-level line. The ZE912 is a high-performance tyre with broad market appeal, with sizes that can fit at least 80 per cent of the mid to upper segment passenger cars and MPVs now used on Indian roads. This means if a driver pulls up at one of our dealer outlets, we will have a ZE912 tyre that will be just right for his car.”

7th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CBp Carbon Acquires Global Ownership of Green Carbon Technology

The largest investor in recycled carbon black producer CBp Carbon Industries Inc. (CBp) has added a further US$20 million to its initial investment. This action comes at a time when the company is scaling up its development plans in Europe and setting up operations in North America and the Asia Pacific region. Capacity at the CBp facility in Hungary is to be more than trebled – from 3,000 to 10,000 tonnes, and the company reports that the roll out of a number of new plants, each with a capacity in the vicinity of 30,000 tonnes, is in progress.

7th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Premium tyre manufacturers taking the lead in Russia

International News, News

It is apparent that the Russian tyre market is one of the most vibrant and emerging in Europe. Not only is this market, with a volume of 40 million passenger car tyres (replacement market) among the largest of the world (and soon will even overtake the German tyre market, traditionally Europe’s strongest), the position of market players in the competitive environment that is the Russian tyre market is changing, and new players are taking over from the well-established. While Russian tyre manufacturers are struggling to position themselves and their products in the profitable branded market segments, companies such as Nokian Tyres and Continental, along with Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear continue to dominate the game with their premium and secondary tyre brands (e.g. Gislaved from Continental). These manufacturers are successful in increasing their relevance to the Russian tyre market to a large extent because they benefit from controlled distribution, as the example of Nokian shows.

6th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Investing $6.8 Million to Lower Rolling Resistance

Legislation, environmental concerns and the spiralling cost of fuel is placing an ever-increasing pressure on vehicle and components manufacturers to make their products less polluting and more fuel efficient. Tyre manufacturers are not exempt from this broad-based demand, and to keep ahead of the game Michelin is investing US$6.8 million into a research and development project focusing on further improving vehicle fuel economy by reducing tyre rolling resistance. The funds will support the company’s US based research efforts in South Carolina and include a $1.9 million research contract with Clemson University and its International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The work, says Michelin, will begin immediately and have a three-year duration.

5th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

PCL ‘Dedicated’ to Sheffield

Pneumatic Components Ltd (PCL) has declared its loyalty to Sheffield by displaying the city’s “mark of origin and quality” on its products. Created by local businesses and organisations, including the Chamber of Commerce, The Made in Sheffield Mark is a symbol of the city’s ongoing commitment to quality and excellence.

The past five years have seen dramatic changes as PCL strengthens its global leadership in tyre inflation equipment and services, and establishes itself as a leading provider of pneumatic products. This has been achieved with the development of a strong range of new products, including the electronic tyre inflation ranges, air tool and air treatment ranges.

4th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

CMA & Double Coin Announce New Brand Image

A new look is being rolled out by CMA, LLC and Double Coin tyres in the US by way of a new logo design and brand positioning. The new image, reports the North American distributor of the Chinese made brand, represents the changing dynamics of the organisations and the products, while the new logos provide the backbone of a new marketing campaign and strategy.

“The new CMA logo will match our business target of a progressive, modern corporation” CMA’s president, Mike Yang, said. “CMA’s business has changed since its formation as an organisation in 1997. This new logo represents our growth and future direction.” Aaron Murphy, vice president of CMA, added: “CMA has been known as a cutting-edge manufacturer and supplier. As we energise our marketing and manufacturing to position ourselves as a Tier 2 supplier, the perception of our image must match.”

4th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

US OTR Tyre Manufacturer Unveils Ambitious Expansion Plans

Manufacturer of OTR tyres for the mining, construction and port handling industries, American Tire Corporation (ATC), has finalised the development plans for its new factory. It intends to place a total investment of US$500 million into the Washington based facility, a 130 acre site housing seven manufacturing plants, two warehouses, a distribution centre and a research and training building.

These ambitious plans were announced on February 3 and are intended to aid in the expansion of the company’s US operations and the development of a more “aggressive” growth strategy in the OTR tyre sector. According to a press release published on the PRWeb website, ATC will “build the most advanced tyre-building machines and vulcanising machines on site.” All related equipment, construction and raw materials will reportedly be procured via tender during the first half of this year. ATC is inviting tyre equipment and raw material manufacturers, along with construction companies, to submit offers before March 31.

4th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Avon Unleashes the Cobra

Industry observers agree that, looking forward to what will happen in 2008, recent developments in the motorcycle market reflect a changing demand in favour of sports touring tyres and modern cruisers. modern cruisers (see opening article for more detailed information on the development of the motorbike sector).

As far as tyres are concerned, this translates into increased call for wider and higher speed rated products. “As a market leader in cruiser cross-ply it is important for us to be up to speed in this segment, Avon motorcyle sales manager, Graham Matcham, told Tyres & Accessories. And that is exactly why Avon used this year’s Motorcycle Trade Expo as the NEC in Birmingham as a platform to launch its new Cobra cruiser tyre.

After having listened long and hard to what their cruiser, custom and touring customers demand from a tyre, Avon came up with a wishlist of tyre characteristics that the company has tried to incorporate in its new Cobra range. The Cobra replaces the popularVenom-R.

Featuring unique snakeskin sidewalls, aggressive tread pattern and low noise emissions, Avon representatives claim the Cobra “silently defeats all roads that stand in its path.” Avon’s development team wanted to improve manoeuvrability at both high and low speeds, dismissing the common belief that wide tyres are unable to corner proficiently. A taxing undertaking for a tyre that can be fitted on some stereotypically cumbersome machines.

In order to achieve their goal, manufacturing techniques first used in Avon’s successful sporty Viper range have been adapted and applied to Cobra. To improve handling in the much wider Cobra sizes, they are formed using A-VBD (Advanced-Variable Density Belt). This construction technology utilises a jointless belt of ultra-strong material. Above the carcass, these strands are wound closely together at the tyre’s centre for increased stability and wear resistance. Towards the tyre’s edges the fibres are then progressively spaced out to allow the tyre to take on a multi-compound effect as the tyre leans.

With a fang mark and coiling indentation appearance, Cobra’s snake-like tread pattern looks commanding. But this aggressive pattern is not just for show. Developed by Avon, Force Following Grooves (FFG) follow the exact direction of forces that are transferred through the tyre. These channels in the tyre’s surface significantly reduce irregular and advanced wear on bikes that carry heavy loads. Each Cobra rear tyre also features the distinctive snake’s head logo on the sidewall.

Stormy weather?

According to Avon motorcyle sales manager, Graham Matcham, 2007 was a very good year, with strong sales performance and the launch of new product, timed to coincide with the development of the sports touring segment. The strategy obviously worked and even competing manufacturers are now describing Avon as “the fastest growing brand in the sports touring segment.” And with the UK sports touring motorbike tyre segment now acounting for upwards of 35 per cent of the market (the largest single segment), this is a good place to be.

Last year Avon aimed to kick to kick up a storm, with the introduction of the its Storm ST touring tyre. But how did it all go, did Avon achieve its objectives? In short yes.

According to European sales figures, Storm sales grew 8 per cent across Europe during 2007. This alone was obviously a successful result, but it is fair to say that UK Storm sales performance blew away the European average, growing 12 per cent last year, 50 per cent ahead of the wider European result.

Avon describes the Storm-ST is its first tyre to include new ‘Reactive Footprint’ (RF) technology. RF technology marries Avon’s unique variable belt density (VBD) carcass with Lifetime Profile Engineering (LPE) and is designed to produce a footprint which changes size and shape, depending on the bike’s lean angle. Avon reports that the result is a contact patch that grows as the bike leans, giving more grip in corners whilst minimising wear rates when travelling in a straight line.

1st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear UK Partners with Casing Operations

Goodyear Dunlop UK has appointed two strategic partners for the collection of casings within the UK. The news comes as a direct result of the ongoing Complete Casings Control project which has the primary objective ensuring the company has a casings operation that is aligned to the needs of both external and internal customers whilst being “efficient, transparent and robust.” Goodyear describes the move as being part of the evolution of a “World Class Casings Operation.”

1st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Spend £150 Million on Additional Romanian Plant

Pirelli has plans to invest as much as £150 million during the course of this year to build a second factory at its Slatina tyre manufacturing site in Romania. According to Romania’s Ziarul Financiar newspaper, who quoted Enrico Malerba, chief executive of Pirelli’s Romania unit, work on the factory will commence in the summer. The completed facility will have an annual production capacity of 4 to 5 million tyres and will provide around 1,400 new jobs.

1st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Dispute Torn MRF Factory Given Week to Re-Open

The government in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu may assume control of the MRF Ltd tyre manufacturing plant in Tiruvottiyur, near Chennai, if the company does not promptly re-open it. The facility has been closed since last December, following industrial disputes in which MRF accused its employees of “indiscipline and being unable to meet productivity norms.”

“The MRF management should find a solution to the labour problem in its units within a week’s time,” electricity minister Arcot N. Veerasamy told the Tamil Nadu state legislative assembly on January 30. He said that the Tamil Nadu chief minister, M. Karunanidhi, would intervene to find an amicable solution, adding that “if no solution was found even then, the government would take over the unit.”

31st January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Deal Signed – Kumho Coming to America

In ceremonies yesterday, Kumho Tire Co. formally signed an agreement to build a US$225 million tyre manufacturing facility on a 127-acre site in Sofkee Industrial Park in Macon, Georgia. Attending the signing ceremony were Sae Chul Oh, Kumho’s CEO and president; Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue; Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development; Macon Mayor Robert Reichert; and Charlie Bishop, chairman of the Bibb County Board of Commissioners.

The first phase of the greenfield plant, said Kumho, will cost $165 million with an annual production capacity of 2.1 million passenger and light truck/SUV tyres, destined for both OE and replacement markets in North America. The second phase will cost $60 million and will raise annual capacity to 3.1 million tyres. The 5.5 million-square-foot plant will feature Kumho’s automated APU manufacturing system, and will eventually employ 450 people.

31st January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors