Manufacturing Archives - Page 190 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 Produces 100 Millionth Tyre in Bridgewater, Canada

The Michelin North America plant in Bridgewater, Canada has turned out its 100 millionth tyre. The production of this milestone item, a LTX A/T2 truck tyre, was marked by staff and management at the facility in Nova Scotia, and plant manager Dana LeBlanc referred to it as “an important event for everyone here at Michelin in Bridgewater.”

“Since 1973 the Bridgewater facility has been a leading example throughout Michelin of producing quality tyres,” said LeBlanc. “Achieving this production milestone again demonstrates how Michelin in Bridgewater is dedicated to being a leader in the manufacturing sector in Nova Scotia.”

The Bridgewater facility’s 100 millionth tyre follows expansion plans announced in July to modernise and increase production capacity, as well as an expansion announced in August 2006 for the steel cord products operation at the facility.

18th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo to Build Hospital Near Tyre Factory Site

Apollo Tyres has plans to build a specialty hospital close to the site of its soon to be relocated Premier Tyres manufacturing facility. The Rs 6 billion (£74.8 million) hospital project will be operational by the time relocation of the tyre plant in Kalamassery, Kerala is complete in April 2009, and is expected to substantially boost medical tourism in the region. The company also plans to build a traditional “Ayurveda” healthcare clinic and residential home for the elderly on six acres of land adjacent to the Kalamassery factory site. This proposal is currently being considered by India’s State Industries Department.

17th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

JV Formed for Shock Absorber Supply in Europe

ArvinMeritor and TRW Automotive have laid out plans to form a joint venture for the distribution of aftermarket shock absorbers in Europe, with the planned operation covering all light vehicle shock absorbers both companies’ produce for the region. Operation and distribution through the joint venture is planned to commence in January.

TRW’s vice president for aftermarket in Europe and Asia Pacific, François Augnet, said in a statement that “by combining the strengths of ArvinMeritor’s engineering and manufacturing competencies and the Gabriel brand name with TRW’s extensive sales and distribution network, we are confident that we can roll out successful shock absorber programs for the European independent aftermarket.”

17th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Tubeless Radials the Hot Ticket in India

(Akron/Tire Review – Hindustan Times) The flurry of new car launches in India is bringing in a quiet revolution: tubeless radial tyres have become standard fitment. Most of India’s tyremakers including MRF, JK Tyres and Ceat have started manufacturing tubeless radial tyres.

It is a quiet change on behalf of carmakers, says Tom Thomas, chief of manufacturing and technical for Ceat Tyres. Previously, most carmakers stuck to regulation tyres with tubes. These are cheaper, but they are also prone to punctures and excessive wear and tear. “Tubeless tyres give better long-term value for money for a buyer, and it is easy to repair too,” said a Mumbai-based sales manager for Tata Motors who declined to be named. “Tubeless radials can carry on with a nail in them for many kilometers, and you will probably notice the flat tyre at home, rather than on the road,” added Thomas.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Plant Manager for Goodyear in Fayetteville

Goodyear has appointed a new plant manager at its Fayetteville, North Carolina. Timothy Frosell began in his job in early October and takes control at a time when major investment plans for modernising that facility are underway.

Since joining Goodyear in 1984 Frosell has worked at a number of the company’s US sites, and has previously served as plant manager Kingman, Arizona, Buffalo, New York and Social Circle, Georgia. Frosell replaces Gary Cushman, who is taking on the position of strategic manufacturing engineering manager at Goodyear’s headquarters in Akron, Ohio.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Extends NdPBR Production to Meet UHP Tyre Demand

Lanxess reports that its facility in Orange, Texas began production of neodymium polybutadiene (NdPBR) in September. The decision to commence production of these chemicals was apparently made in response to increased demand for NdPBR and SSBR in high-performance tyre applications.

Timothy Rae, NAFTA region head of marketing for the Lanxess Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR) business unit, comments: “The additional production also enhances our capability to meet the US demand for domestic cobalt polybutadiene (CoPBR) with complementary NdPBR grades. This is an important step to fulfilling our strategy as a reliable supplier of high-performance PBR products from multiple locations worldwide.”

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Steel Cord Plant Share Included in ArcelorMittal Purchase

The acquisition of steel cord manufacturer Rongshen Chengshan Steel Cord by ArcelorMittal, announced on October 15, includes the 25 per cent stake in the Chinese company held by a wholly owned local subsidiary of Cooper Tire & Rubber. Cooper has disclosed it received US$7.4 million for its quarter share, which the manufacturer parted with in order to place a greater focus upon its core tyremaking business.

Cooper Tire’s acquisition of 51 per cent of Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Passenger Tire Company, Ltd., and Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company, Ltd., was completed in early 2006 and included a 25 per cent ownership position in the steel cord factory, which is located adjacent to the tyre manufacturing facility in Rongcheng City, Shandong Province.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Signs Tyre Sector Research Agreement

On October 15 Pirelli and the Politecnico di Torino, an institute specialising in engineering and related disciplines, signed a five-year framework agreement for joint research in the tyre sector. The agreement will see the Politecnico’s research infrastructure utilised and will have the aim of further developing manufacturing processes and products derived from Pirelli technology.

In the realm of processes, in particular, the research team will work on the future generation of MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System), the robotised manufacturing system patented by Pirelli, and of the CCM (Continuous Compound Mixing) method that allows for a continuous production of mixes. On the products front, Pirelli and Politecnico di Torino will focus on development of the Cyber Tyre, an “intelligent” tyre able to “dialogue” with the vehicle, thereby permitting greater road safety.

16th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Zeppelin Acquires Chronos Richardson’s MPS Division

Zeppelin Silos & Systems GmbH (Friedrichshafen) has acquired Chronos Richardson’s Materials Processing Systems (MPS) division located in Nottingham, UK establishing a new subsidiary in the city. With the consent of the Antitrust Commission Zeppelin’s acquisition of the “Conveying, Dosing and Weighing and Control Technology” product portfolios from the British manufacturer Chronos Richardson has been completed.

According to the company’s the complementary skills of Zeppelin & Chronos will be beneficial for the future development of the important tyre and rubber manufacturing segment. The control technologies, for which Chronos set recognised technical standards, are expected to complete Zeppelin’s product portfolio and the company says the new enterprise will also become a trend-setter for research and development in various industrial sectors in the future. (The world’s largest test centre for the handling of bulk solids including two purpose built research plants (one for pellets and one for powder) is located at the Zeppelin facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany).

11th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Schrader Wins TPMS Contract with with Mahindra and Mahindra

Antrim-based Schrader Electronics, has announced details of a major new order for its tyre pressure monitoring systems from one of India’s largest vehicle manufacturers, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. The order includes the supply of Schrader’s new snap-in valve sensor to vehicles exported to the North American market, starting in January 2009 and running through to the end of 2011. The new business has led Schrader Electronics of Carrickfergus to open its seventh production line next month.

Mahindra & Mahindra is in the business of manufacturing and marketing utility vehicles and light commercial vehicles, including three-wheelers. It is the market leader in utility vehicles in India and currently accounts for about half of India’s market for utility vehicles. The group exports its products to several countries in Europe, Africa, South America, South Asia and the Middle East.

10th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Aircraft to Expand With New Retreading Facility in China

Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) and Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (TAECO) to establish a tyre retreading facility in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, China. It is intended that a joint venture will be formed with Dunlop Aircraft Tyres as the majority partner and the new facility to be operational in early 2009.

The new follows AAC Capital Partners’ (formerly the private equity business of ABN Amro) acquisition of 74.6 per cent of Dunlop Aircraft Tyres in May this year. The most recent announcement shows that predictions that the expansion in China would come to fruition 12 – 18 months after the sale are right on track. However, at the time of the sale of 74.6 per cent of Dunlop Aircraft Tyres in May, there were also suggestions of expansion in the US. No mention of the progress of these plans has yet been made.

9th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Premier Tyres to Relocate Kalamassery plant

Premier Tyres has decided to relocate its tyre manufacturing unit at Kalamassery to another location in Kerala, according to local news sources. The move is expected to allow the company to increase its production capacity, through additional staff and new machinery. The company will reportedly also consider various options for development of the present site at Kalamassery. Premier Tyres, Ltd. manufactures products including bus and industrial tyres, tubes and conveyor belting. The company, formerly known as PTL Enterprises, Ltd., was founded in 1959 and is based in Kochi, India.

9th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

SweetskinZ Adds Colour to the UK Tyre Market

A manufacturer that cannot be accused of making “black circles” is releasing its tyres in the UK. The US company SweetskinZ – who on its website asks the poignant question “when’s the last time a tyre design made you feel freaking pumped?” – has been manufacturing colourful glow in the dark bicycle tyres since 1999, but until now cyclists looking for something a little different could only cast an envious eye at their counterparts across the Atlantic.

A number of styles will be launched here before the end of the year, including the SweetskinZ urban, mountain, and BMX models. The colour on the tyres apparently does wear off in areas where contact with the road is made, however SweetskinZ points out that the colour of the underlying rubber has been chosen to “compliment the original tyre design.”

8th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Acquisition of Oliver Rubber Completed

Michelin North America announced on October 5 the completion of its acquisition of the Oliver Rubber Company from Cooper Tire & Rubber. Oliver, which produces tread rubber and retreading equipment, will now operate as a subsidiary of Michelin North America, Inc.

The US Federal Trade Commission granted an early termination of the standard waiting period for the transaction allowing the acquisition, which included a cash purchase price of US$69 million, to proceed.

This latest acquisition complements Michelin’s tread manufacturing capacity and extends, via the Oliver dealer network, the commercial reach of Michelin’s services throughout North America’s growing retreading market. In 2005 Michelin announced a major expansion of its tread manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia and, earlier this year, the opening of a new tread manufacturing facility in Querétaro, Mexico.

8th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Mannino Leaves PTNA

After 25 years of service with Pirelli Tyre S.p.A., Guy Mannino, President of Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA) has decided to leave the company to pursue other professional interests. Mannino began his career in 1982 and embarked on series of international management assignments with the Pirelli Power Transmission Division. In 1993, he joined the Tire Division and held management positions in Italy, Venezuela and the United States.

Hugh Pace, Chairman & CEO PTNA will assume leadership for all business and commercial operations in addition to his current executive role.

Under Mannino’s leadership, PTNA relocated its corporate headquarters to Rome, Georgia, built a state-of-the-art MIRS manufacturing facility, and expanded its national distribution network.

Pirelli Tire North America extended its gratitude to Mannino for his many contributions to the company and wishes him and his family personal and professional success.

8th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors