Manufacturing Archives - Page 188 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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Phillips Carbon Black to Expand Capacity

India’s RPG Enterprises is looking to boost capacities at its Phillips Carbon Black (PCBL) subsidiary. The Economic Times in India reports the company is establishing a 75,000 tonnes per annum greenfield carbon black manufacturing unit in the west Indian state of Gujarat, along with a 16 megawatt power plant. It also intends to increase capacity at its facility in the state of Kerala by 50,000 tonnes per annum to 85,000 tonnes.

RPG Enterprises vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka told the Indian financial daily “the move is expected to catapult PCBL globally to the sixth rank in terms of the manufacturing capacity over the next two years from ninth now.” The total outlay for the proposed projects, at both greenfield and established sites, is estimated to be Rs 5,500,000,000 (£67.3 million) and will be funded by a mix of debt, equity and internal accruals, Mr. Goenka added. The greenfield facility alone will require an investment of Rs 3,500,000,000 (£42.8 million).

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amerityre Polyurethane Tyre Passes FMVSS Requirements

(Akron/Tire Review) Amerityre Corp. claims its airless Arcus run-flat tyre has completed and passed all required FMVSS 139 tyre safety testing. The tyre is made of specially mixed polyurethane, and is produced using an injection molding system. “Successful completion of FMVSS 139 testing on our Arcus passenger car tyre design has been a high priority for our company,” said Dr. Gary Benninger, Amerityre president and CEO. “With the final endurance-phase testing successfully completed, we are now in a position to begin substantive discussions with companies that have expressed an interest in licensing our technology and to provide them with sample tyres.”

According to Benninger, Amerityre will now focus on completing development of the manufacturing equipment required to produce the tyre in commercial volumes.

13th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Technology – What’s Next?

(Douglasdale, South Africa/SA Treads) People often ask me what drew me to the tyre business. Why, the dynamism, creativity and sophistication of the industry, I promptly reply. At that, I’m usually met by blank stares and looks of incredulity, as if the notion of designing and making a tyre is akin to watching grass grow. But they can be forgiven for their misplaced scepticism as they’re likely unaware of the research, development and design genius that takes place long before a tyre leaves the production line. Modern tyre technology is not only sophisticated, it’s setting new, previously inconceivable benchmarks. So where is tyre technology headed and what will the tyre of the future look like? We ask those in the know.

When it comes to strategic focus and future developments, every global tyre maker has its own agenda, but our investigations revealed a number of common buzz words around this issue, primarily, interactive, green and fuel-efficient. Evidently, these are the main trends driving tyre technology today.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Celebrates Double Milestone in Canada

Michelin’s Waterville facility in Canada has in November produced its 25th millionth tyre, a double milestone for a factory also celebrating its 25th year of manufacturing tyres for the commercial truck and earthmover market. Tyre number 25,000,000 was an XDA5 long haul drive tyre.

“I’m always saying that we like to do things ‘big’ here at the Waterville plant, so we’re very happy to celebrate two ‘big’ achievements at once,” said plant manager Grant Ferguson. “Our employees certainly have a lot to be proud of because they have worked hard and as a result we’ve enjoyed many significant accomplishments over the years. But, to produce our 25th millionth tyre in our 25th year is very unique indeed and twice the reason to be proud.”

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein’s Voronezh Plant in Compliance

Amtel-Vredestein has reported that, contrary to the information given out by Russia’s Interfax news agency that the net assets of OJSC Tyre Complex Amtel-Chernozemye are less than its charter capital, OJSC Amtel-Vredestein confirms that its Voronezh manufacturing facility is in complete compliance with current Russian tax legislation, including the “Law about joint-stock companies”. As of 1 October 2007, and in accordance with reports submitted to the federal tax service department in the Voronezh region, OJSC Tyre Complex Amtel-Chernozemye’s net assets are 366 million roubles (£7.16 million) and its charter capital is 355 million roubles (£6.94 million).

OJSC Amtel-Vredestein is one of the largest investors in the Voronezh region and reports that it has successfully cooperated with its administration for many years. Loss reporting during a long-term investment period is a common Western business-practice. The “Long-term result of our investments are high-quality export-oriented products, based on high-technology, ecologically-friendly Russian facilities. In addition to the obvious advantages to the manufacturer in the form of higher competitiveness and profitability, our investments will also benefit the local economy by creating a higher tax base, additional employment and improvements to the social and economic level of the region,” said Petr Zolotarev, OJSC Amtel-Vredestein general director and Amtel-Vredestein N.V. CEO.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Releases 9-Month Figures, Considering Tyre Buyback

At the Board of Directors’ meeting at Pirelli & C. SpA on November 9 a mandate was given by the chairman to “begin contacts with speed” to evaluate the possible repurchase of the 38.9 per cent share in Pirelli Tyre currently owned by a consortium of banks, the company reported in a press release. This is the share sold by Pirelli in July 2006 to the bank-controlled company, Speed, for 740 million euros, and the repurchase would be a move towards the company’s new focus upon core businesses following the 3.3 billion euro cash sale of its Olimpia unit.

Nine-month results for the company as of September 30 were also released, and Pirelli claims these reflect the positive performance of its tyre and real estate businesses, which in the first nine months of the year were said to have “continued in the direction of further international expansion.” In the January – September period net profits returned to the black and were recorded as 243.3 million euros, a marked contrast to last year’s nine-month loss of 1.41 billion euros, which occurred largely due to the effect of the writedown of the stake in Olimpia. Group sales for the period were 5.23 billion euros, 44.4 per cent higher than last year’s 3.62 billion euros. Excluding DGAG, nine-month sales were 3.95 billion euros. EBIT, including income from equity participations, rose by 13.4 per cent net of extraordinary components, including the capital gain from the sale of 38.9 per cent of Pirelli Tyre, which characterised the previous period.

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Brembo North America Acquires Hayes Lemmerz Division

Hayes Lemmerz International has released further details on the sale of the company’s Automotive Brake Components division. The purchaser has been named as Brembo North America, Inc., a subsidiary of Italy’s Brembo S.p.A. The debt-free transaction sees US$58 million worth of shares change hands, and under the agreement announced on November 9, Brembo North America has acquired all of the stock of two Hayes Lemmerz subsidiary companies that own the brake manufacturing operations in Homer, Michigan and Apodaca, Mexico and certain assets used in connection with the division’s sales, marketing and engineering group located in Hayes Lemmerz’ headquarters in Michigan, USA.

The facilities in Homer and Apodaca manufacture brake rotors and drums for the North American passenger car and light truck markets. The division in total employs approximately 250 people, including 64 technical associates, and in 2006 earned annual sales of approximately $ 120 million.

“We have built a strong business with a solid reputation for quality products, delivery and performance,” said Daniel Sandberg, president of Hayes Lemmerz’ Automotive Components Group. “Combining this business with an international, technically dynamic brake company like Brembo will better position the combined company to grow and compete in the global market. Our brake teams in Homer, Apodaca and Northville look forward to leveraging our shared commitment to superior customer service, product innovation and technology.”

12th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Supply Manac Trailers in North America

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) has been chosen as the standard tyre supplier for the Manac and CPS brand trailers produced by Canada’s Manac Inc. The Quebec based company operates four trailer manufacturing plants in North America, and builds an extensive line of customised trailer designs for a variety of service applications.

“At Manac, our quality standards are uncompromising, and we expect the same from our business partners,” said Charles Dutil, president and CEO of Manac. “Bridgestone is essential to our commitment to provide our customers with best-in-class value and service.”

9th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ceat Outsourcing up 25% in Q3

Outsourcing is becoming an ever-larger focus for Ceat, India’s fourth-largest tyre manufacturer. Following the announcement of the company’s July-September results chief financial officer K J Roa reported that, of the 44,000 tonnes of tyres sold during the quarter, up to 10,000 tonnes were sourced from contract manufacturers, including overseas based companies. Compared with the corresponding quarter of 2006, outsourcing grew by 25 per cent whilst overall volumes increased by just 7 per cent year-on-year.

In addition to tyres imported under an agreement signed with Pirelli, Ceat has outsourced production for a number of low-margin items such as tubes, slabs, and tyres for two and three wheeled vehicles. Due to production restraints the manufacturer also currently imports a number of PCR and TBR tyres. In future, said Rao, China will take on an important role as an outsourcing location for the Indian company. Currently a number of products are undergoing testing, and over the next two months volumes from China could rise.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Workers Blame Manufacturing Solvent for Hankook Factory Deaths

Korea’s Ministry of Labour is investigating the relationship between the working environment at two of Hankook’s factories and the sudden deaths of 14 plant employees over a 17-month period. The deaths in question occurred between May 2006 and October 2007, and co-workers of the deceased employees, all workers at the company’s South Korean factories in Daejeon and Geumsan, North Chungcheong Province, claim the deaths can be linked to a toxic chemical solvent used during the manufacturing process – a claim Hankook reports it has examined but as yet remains unverified.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni System a ‘Reliable Alternative’ to Delocalisation

After working for over half a century in the tyre sector, the Marangoni group claims the distinction of being one of only a few players in the global tyre industry to be fully active across the spectrum of tyre industry sectors; from the production of new tyres to industrial-scale retreading, from the design to the development of machinery for the production of tyres, from the manufacturing of retreading systems to the distribution of the finished product to end users. These activities, currently carried out by a staff of over 1,800 in 10 production branches in Italy, Germany, North America and Brazil, led in 2006 to a consolidated turnover of 339.8 million euros, a 10 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Warns Against Pirated Reproductions

Only a week after the US Tire Industry Association announced at the SEMA show in Las Vegas its “policy resolution” regarding look alike tyres, Continental has released its own statement on the issue of counterfeit products. The company wishes to extend an emphatic warning against the use of counterfeit Continental products, and has singled out Asia as the predominant site for the production of such items.

“Pirated reproductions do not have the same material and processing quality as genuine products, and can quickly become a safety risk,” emphasises Manfred Wennemer, Continental AG executive board chairman. In light of this, the company declares it is taking “decisive and comprehensive action” against product piracy, and has already had several major successes in its pursuit of Conti counterfeiters. For example, sales of truck tyres produced in China with illegally-copied Continental treads were stopped in Germany, and in Taiwan claims for damages have been asserted against a dealer.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New PCL Brand Image Reflects Global Growth

Pneumatics Components Ltd. (PCL) is undergoing a brand makeover to reflect the company’s recent development and strategy for the future. The past five years have seen numerous changes for the company as PCL has strengthened its strong global position in tyre inflation equipment and services and established itself as a leading provider of pneumatic products, a position achieved through the development of a range of new products, including the company’s electronic tyre inflation ranges and its air tool and air treatment ranges. The ever-more comprehensive PCL product portfolio has been backed up by the expansion of international businesses, with the company opening offices in Malaysia, the USA and India, plus the revamping of global distribution and support services.

The company’s new logo, packaging and website will be integrated into the business over the coming months. PCL are confident that the new look, with its new clean, corporate design, will mirror PCL’s reputation as a professional, innovative and dynamic company with a sound manufacturing base, and reflect the company’s continuing investment as the tyre inflation and pneumatics expert. The PCL corporate brand will utilised on all pneumatics and tyre inflation products in all markets.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Officially Opens New Manufacturing Facility

November 7 marks the official grand opening of the first tyre manufacturing facility outside of Japan to utilise Bridgestone’s “BIRD” technology. National, state and regional officials from the Republic of Mexico will join representatives from Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire and Bridgestone Neumáticos de Monterrey (BSMR) at the company’s new plant in Monterrey, in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, to commemorate the occasion.

With a production capacity of about 8,000 tyres a day, the Monterrey plant has generated more than US$200 million in investment to date. As previously mentioned, the facility employs Bridgestone’s new BIRD tyre production system, which stands for “Bridgestone Innovative and Rational Development.” According to Bridgestone, BIRD is the world’s first production system for tyres that completely automates all stages of tyre manufacturing, from the initial processing of materials to final inspection of the finished product. Additionally, the manufacturer reports that the BIRD system allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs because of its capacity to make several different types and sizes of tyre simultaneously.

7th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Appoints Quality VP

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Carl R. Montalbine to the newly created position of vice president of Global Quality and Operational Excellence, reporting directly to Cooper President and CEO Roy V. Armes.
“One of Cooper’s competitive advantages is its continuing emphasis on quality,” Armes said. “Carl’s background and experience in the areas of six sigma, lean strategy deployment, black belt and green belt training and other focus areas of operational excellence will help us continue manufacturing tires that exceed customers’ expectations.”

6th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors