Manufacturing Archives - Page 197 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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Punch International Acquires Wheel Manufacturer BBS

Belgium’s Punch International NV, the diversified industrial holding company headquartered in Sint-Martens-Latem, announced on June 29 that it has taken over BBS, the German developer and producer of lightweight wheels for premium segment sports and passenger cars. BBS is currently listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges but was declared bankrupt in May 2007, however the company is now expected to make a positive contribution to the Punch group’s net profit as soon as it the acquisition is finalised.

Punch will take over all the bankrupt company’s assets as of 1 August 2007, subject to the transaction’s approval by the antitrust authority. The acquired assets will include those of BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG and BBS Motorsport & Engineering GmbH, the brand name BBS and the activities of the company’s plants in Schiltach and Herbolzheim, Germany. The transaction also comprises the takeover of all the shares of the American sales subsidiary BBS of America, Inc and the redemption of all lease contracts in progress. BBS has an extensive portfolio of technology patents, which is also included in the takeover. Funds for the acquisition are drawn from a combination of the proceeds of the private placement dated 7 June 2007 and a bank loan. The activities taken over will continue under the name BBS International GmbH and become integrated in the Punch Motive division of the Punch group.

29th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Makes Senior Management Changes

Bridgestone Corporation announced on June 27 that its board of directors has given approval to a number of proposed changes to board members and corporate officers. The changes to board member position and responsibilities, effective as of June 29, are as follows:

– Masaharu Oku: Oku’s new position is that of vice president and senior officer, and he will continue in the role of member of the board responsible for production technology. Mr. Oku will discontinue his present position as director of the Raw Material Manufacturing Engineering Development Division.

27th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Moving With The Times

With each passing year another crop of cars once merely thought of as old suddenly begin to be viewed in a different light. The things they were previously despised for – their age, outmoded styling and passé technology – become the very qualities that make them desirable. And thus, with no apparent logic, yesterday’s tat becomes today’s classic.

This is great news for vintage tyre specialists such as North Hants Tyres and Wheels, and ensures that the vintage tyre sector, although a niche market, remains one that is healthy. The team at North Hants, a family run company with close to 60 years in the business, has enjoyed steady growth in recent years – so much so that the past decade has seen the need for first an enlargement of the company’s premises and then a move to a new and bigger building. With the 6,000 sq ft warehouse in Fleet, Hampshire no longer sufficient to house the company’s ever expanding range, North Hants moved in 2005 to a whopping 25,000 sq ft premises in neighbouring Aldershot.

27th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

OEM Wheel Maker Names New President

Asahi Tec, manufacturer or OEM aluminium wheels and other automotive parts and systems, has appointed a new president and co-CEO. Hideo Ishii takes on these roles, as well as that of director and representative executive officer, following the company’s general shareholders meeting on June 28.

Mr. Ishii will be responsible for Asahi Tec’s Metal Forming Group and Diversified Business Group, and will act as co-CEO alongside Timothy D. Leuliette, who also serves as co-chairman of the company with Shoichiro Irimajiri. Mr. Irimajiri had been serving as president, co-CEO and representative executive officer, and is resigning from these posts to focus on the role of director and co-chairman of the company.

“Asahi Tec’s goal is to create a strong, globally competitive company that understands and supports global markets, cultures and customers to deliver leading-edge products worldwide,” said Irimajiri. “In his role as president and co-CEO, Hideo Ishii will play a key role in developing and executing the initiatives and strategies that will help realise that goal.”

26th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Watts Polymers Sold to Berwin Group

Watts Industrial Polymers Ltd has been sold to Berwin Group Ltd. According to Berwin, the acquisition, combined with the existing Berwin Group business, further consolidates Berwin’s position as the UK’s largest rubber custom compounder and broadens its coverage in business segments and markets not previously covered by Berwin.

This transaction will allow Watts of Lydney Group Ltd to concentrate on developing its two main business areas: Watts Industrial Tyres Plc a leading global provider of industrial tyres and service to the materials handling market, and Watts Truck Centre Ltd a regional truck and van dealership operating in Gloucester, Hereford, Worcester and Yate.

Manufacturing of the Watts compound range will remain at its Lydney site and Berwin is confident the acquisition will enable the Lydney site to continue its growth and further expand its global presence.

26th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Crash Prompts US Distributor to Recall Hangzhou Zhongce Tyres

A US tyre importer and distributor has asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for help in recalling almost half a million Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company produced light truck tyres and filed an $80 million claim, following a death and injury lawsuit. Hangzhou Zhongce disputed the claims. “Our tyres are qualified to be sold in the US,”’ Xu Youming, a manager in charge of legal affairs told Bloomberg, adding: “We’ve been exporting tyres for more than 10 years. We know what we are producing and selling.”

Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) appealed to NHTSA for aid in recalling an estimated 450,000 light truck tyres sold under the Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS brand names after the company allegedly learned that the manufacturer had left a critical component out of the tyre.

Affected tyres include some Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS-branded light truck products. Affected sizes include: LT235/75R-15, LT225/75R-16, LT235/85R-16, LT245/75R-16, LT265/75R-16, LT3X10.5-15.

26th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Denso to Expand Canadian Manufacturing Facility

(Akron/Tire Review) Denso Manufacturing Canada Inc., based in Guelph, Ontario, plans to expand its 112,442 square-foot facility by approximately 215,200 square feet. The new investment will total $63.7 million, and will create approximately 300 new jobs by 2010.

Due to the expansion, the subsidiary’s capital was increased by $24.5 million in May.

Denso Manufacturing Canada will produce radiators, condensers and electric fans and will integrate these products into engine cooling modules. The company will also continue producing air conditioning units.

25th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg Inaugurates New Plant in Dej, Romania

Trelleborg Automotive has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Dej, Romania. The increased production capacity from this is intended for Trelleborg’s existing customers Audi, Dacia, Ford, Peugeot and Renault in order to provide local supply to their Romanian and Eastern European plants.

“We have a strong global platform that will be further reinforced by this plant,” says Trelleborg President and CEO Peter Nilsson. “It is important to be close to the companies we supply to fulfill just-in-time requirements. This facility continues our commitment to the developing automotive sector in Eastern Europe.”

22nd June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Age Shall Not Weary Them…

With depreciation, traffic jams and high fuel costs an established part of life and the threat of a “user pays” road system hanging over our heads it is perhaps little surprise that many people take a wistful glance at yesteryear, to the days when a jaunt in the jalopy was considered an exciting day out and a motorist’s hand signal did not involve extending the middle finger. But for some fond memories just aren’t enough, and thanks to them vehicles from what the bygone age of motoring remain on our roads.

But it is not always easy to keep them there. With each passing year the pool of vintage spare parts dwindles and performing repairs on these relics is in most cases way beyond the scope of many mechanics. But at least vintage car owners don’t have to worry about tyres – there are a number of companies dedicated to supplying owners with authentic period rubber for their vehicles, and the largest of these companies is the UK’s own Vintage Tyre Supplies.

22nd June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Turmoil Passed, CTNA Focus Shifts to Brand, Rebuilding Dealer Trust

(Akron/Tire Review) Plant closings, union battles, multiple management changes, low fill rates, irate dealers, shifting directions…the last five years have been difficult for Continental Tire North America. But, the past is the past. Since the appointment of Continental AG CFO Alan Hippe as president and CEO of CTNA in May 2005, CTNA officials point out, progress has been made. Even while it was sorting out its North American tyre production issues, Andreas Gerstenberger, who joined CTNA in September 2003, was leading a virtual transformation of the company’s marketing and sales group. It was not, as he himself admits, a smooth road, and it wasn’t until 2005 that many key issues were settled.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

With Right Business Approach, Selling Nitrogen Can Pump Up Profits

(Akron/Tire Review) For the past five or so years, suppliers of nitrogen-inflation equipment have made serious claims. Compared to moisture- and dirt-laden compressed air, nitrogen – a dry, inert gas – runs cooler, does not permeate through rubber as quickly and does not cause rust to develop on steel cords, expensive wheels or tyre pressure monitoring sensors. The result is better fuel economy, more consistent inflation pressure, longer tyre life and increased safety, advocates say. Those are big claims, so it’s only natural for tyre dealers, commercial fleets and consumers to be sceptical. As the old saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Real results are what count.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

USW/Titan Chinese Manufacturers of ‘Dumping’ OTR Tyres

The United Steelworkers (USW) has joined Titan Tire Corp. as a co-petitioner in a trade case petition filed yesterday with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, accusing Chinese companies of dumping and subsidizing OTR tyres. The USW and Titan Tire seek to have the government impose duties to off-set these allegedly unfair Chinese imports. According to the petition, Chinese imports have increased from 11.2 million tyres worth $166.35 million in 2004 to nearly 15 million tyres worth $374.25 million in 2006. China is the single largest source of imports of OTR tyres, accounting for more than 83 percent of total imports by volume in 2006, the statement added

Chinese imports are significantly underselling U.S. produced OTR tyres. Based on a comparison of Chinese and U.S. prices in the petition, the differential averaged 29 per cent. A second comparison shows underselling margins ranging from two to 30 per cent.

20th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

ExxonMobil to Open New Facility for Specialty Tyre Compounds

ExxonMobil Chemical Company has announced it will begin construction of a facility to manufacture new specialty elastomer compounds that can improve the durability of tyres, make them lighter weight by using less raw material and “significantly reduce fuel consumption.” Start-up of the plant is expected in early 2008 to satisfy demand for the products that combine the flexibility and elasticity of rubber with the low air permeability of plastic.

The plant will manufacture a dynamically vulcanized alloy (DVA) of proprietary Exxpro specialty elastomers and nylon. This new Exxpro-based alloy can be blown into films and used as the air barrier inner liner of tyres. ExxonMobil Chemical expects to commercialize the technology in late 2007. Exxpro marks the first major technology advancement to tire inner liner raw materials since ExxonMobil started producing halobutyl products in 1961.

20th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Interview – Roy Armes

(Akron/Tire Review) Roy V. Armes was named president and CEO of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. last December, following the August resignation of Tom Dattilo. A 31-year veteran of Whirlpool Corp., Armes held several senior-level posts in various departments at the appliance manufacturer, including engineering, project management and purchasing. He also had positions in Mexico and China and was responsible for establishing overseas manufacturing operations and joint ventures.

Most notably, Armes oversaw the integration of Maytag into the Whirlpool fold and, over the years, gained a strong background in manufacturing and technology, engineering, international business, consumer products and distribution channel management.

19th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal de Mexico Opens 2 New Locations

Solideal’s Mexican wing has opened its third location, a branch in Monterrey, Mexico on 23 April 2007. Adding to the existing branches in Mexico City and Guadalajara, this new 1000 square metre facility is dedicated to serving construction equipment, forklift, and tyre dealers. A month later on 31 May, Solideal opened a distribution centre in Hermosillo.

Richard Le Borgne, General Manager of Solideal de Mexico stated: “Our decision to open these locations [in Monterrey and Hermosillo] was taken in order to allow us to be closer to our market. Our sales people will not only attend the Monterrey market, but all the market in the states of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas. Our goal was to reduce to a minimum the lead time for products delivered to this part of the country and reduce customers’ final costs”.

18th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors