Manufacturing Archives - Page 202 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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Yokohama to Increase Consumer, OTR Tyre Prices

(Akron/Tire Review) Yokohama Tire Corp. announced that, effective May 1, it will increase prices on consumer tyres up to 7 per cent and OTR tyres from 3 to 5 per cent.

Specific OTR tyres affected by the increase include large bias OTL and OTX and large radial ORL sizes, according to Gary Nash, Yokohama’s director of OTR tyre sales.

“We are doing our best to limit these price increases, but raw material, manufacturing and transportation costs continue to escalate,” said Dan King, director of sales for consumer products.

In-line adjustments will be announced at a later date, the tyremaker added.

3rd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Year Round Performance from Avon

Taking into account today’s unpredictable weather, the ever-rising performance of bikes and motorcyclists wishing to use their machines in a far more diverse manner than ever, Avon started with a blank canvas for its new sports-touring tyre, the Storm-ST. And by implementing new manufacturing and development processes at their factory in Melksham, Avon built on the qualities cherished by users of their Azaro-ST whilst making improvements in other areas. The result is a tyre that allows a rider to get the most from their machine in all seasons and conditions.

Avon believes that it is not necessary to use two compounds to produce a tyre that is hard in the centre and softer at the edges. Instead the company uses what they call Advanced-Variable Belt Density (A-VBD) construction features – Aramid fibres that are wound round the tyre densely in the centre section and then progressively spaced out as it reaches the edges.

3rd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone workers back on the job

Workers at Bridgestone Australia’s Salisbury factory in South Australia returned to work on Monday (April 2) after a three-day lockout without pay. However, while they may be back at work, their pay dispute is no closer to being resolved and further industrial action has been planned for the coming weeks.

Colin Fenney from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union told Australian media that the lockout has only strengthened the workers’ resolve. “They’re a bit angry at the moment actually because, like I say, the company’s locked them out,” he said, adding that the employees had become ‘stronger’ and ‘more united’ through the experience.

2nd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Sees Demand for Two-Piece Tyre

(Akron/Tire Review – Topeka Capital-Journal) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. continues to see demand for its innovative two-piece tyre used in the mining industry, the company said Thursday.

The company added “incremental capacity to produce two-piece tread belts last week in Topeka,” the company said in a statement.

Introduced in 2003, Goodyear’s Two-Piece Assembly gives customers flexibility in operating trucks in various conditions. The tread belts may be replaced to give the customer a different type of tread to operate in a mine.

The increased production will provide additional treadbelts for the Two-Piece Assembly used in off-the-road (OTR) tyre applications, particularly in the mining and construction industry.

2nd April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

MWS Enters ‘Seller’s Market’ in Europe

During 2006 Manchester-based MWS Distribution, which supplies the CV market through aftermarket and OEM divisions, launched into Europe with both its established steel range and new Xlite forged alloy products. Reckoning on the current demand for CV wheels trailing behind the rest of the market’s ability to supply, arising from Euro4 demand for new vehicles, managing director John Ellis has is forecasting an increase in sales from Europe up towards 2 million this year. This sales breakthrough came from marketing support with DTI’s Passport to Export, and recruitment since 2005 of French, German and Spanish speakers to the company’s sales staff.

Launching Xlite at last year’s Hanover IAA exhibition, MWS claims it has found OEMs seeking alternative sources for forged alloy wheels. First among these is France’s trailer manufacturer Benalu, which will be trialling Xlite on their new Siderale 78 trailer at Solutrans in Lyon (April 2007).

30th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Elite Direct.Com Limited – Providing a Better Customer Experience

Elite has gone out of its to make the purchasing of wheels a pleasant experience. At its conveniently located 20,000 sq. ft premises on the A1306 near Rainham and Dagenham in Essex, the company not only has a large and well-appointed showroom open to the public, but also a waiting area complete with a café serving hot food and drinks – so waiting for a new set of wheels need not be a tedious event. And while the customer enjoys some refreshment their vehicle is seen to in one of Elite’s 19 fully operational service bays.

The large and modern facility Elite operates today is far removed from the company’s humble beginnings, when partners Steve Eldridge and Sean Soyka opened for business in 1987, operating out of a cramped former car showroom in Hornchurch, just a couple of miles from the company’s present position. Today the company specialises in wheels and tyres for passenger cars, 4×4 vehicles and light commercials, but also stocks exhausts, shock absorbers, suspension kits, and brakes amongst other items.

30th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Appointment for Rockwell Automation’s Tyre Initiative

Industrial automation control and information solutions specialist Rockwell Automation has named John Genovesi vice president of its automotive, tyre and rubber industry initiative. In his new role, Genovesi will lead the company’s global sales efforts directed at helping tyremakers, as well as those in the automotive, component and rubber manufacturing industries, compete on a global basis.

Regarding his new role, Genovesi commented: “With the automotive, tyre and rubber industries facing some of the most challenging market conditions ever, partnering with a knowledgeable automation supplier has become increasingly important. With years of successful automotive, tyre and rubber industry experience, Rockwell Automation has helped many of today’s leading manufacturers optimize production processes, improve uptime and identify new opportunities for operational efficiency. I look forward to helping manufacturers grow their businesses in this evolving industry.”

30th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Australia Locks Workers Out

In a continuation of the industrial action that has hampered operations at Bridgestone Australia since the start of March, on the evening of March 27 the tyremaker locked around 450 workers out of its Adelaide plant and suspended production for three days. The affected staff are mainly those working in a production or maintenance capacity at the plant.

Bridgestone claims its action was a necessary response to three weeks of union agitation, including strikes, overtime bans, and work stoppages. “This is about survival of the plant in a tough automotive manufacturing environment,” stated a Bridgestone spokeswoman.

Earlier in the day union representatives had met with plant management to discuss the dispute over pay rises, however the two parties failed to reach any agreement.

28th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Totrax – a “One Stop” Solution

With more than 25 years experience in the business, Totrax Ltd are well established as providers of wheel manufacturing technology based on quality single, 2 piece and multi-piece rims from some of the worlds leading manufacturers. From their facilities in the port town of Boston, Lincolnshire, Totrax offer their customers a custom wheel manufacturing service from concept through to manufacturing, from small development quantities through to high volume precision engineered batch production.

27th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Stamford Sport Wheels: Swift Growth in Asia

Stamford Sport Wheels (SSW) is gaining popularity as a provider of quality aluminium wheels courtesy of its TÜV certified manufacturing complex near the Thai capital Bangkok. A division of Stamford Tyres, SSW was established in 1995 and today produces more than 30,000 wheels each month, with 80 per cent of these destined for export markets.

SSW describe their facility in Thailand as ‘state-of-the-art’, and all equipment in use is fully automated and computerised, with each level of production closely monitored and controlled. All wheels are cast using the tilting gravity casting technique, complete with automatic robotic feeding which results in less air turbulence during the pouring process. This results in ensure stronger and more durable wheels with reduced porosity and fewer pinholes.

26th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maha Manufactures New Double Scissor Lift

The second phase of Maha‘s factory extension for vehicle lift production will start manufacturing a new double scissor lift in April. The facility uses the latest assembly techniques to make high quality lifts at an affordable price. The new double scissor lift can be above ground, or flush fitted, with options for all work shop requirements. This double scissor lift now completes the new range of lifts manufactured by Maha, for Maha, in its state of the art production facility.

Gus Gregory, managing director of MAHA UK Limited, says: ”This is an exciting addition to the comprehensive range of MAHA products. The new production area is for double scissor lifts and ensures that MAHA is always a leader in lift technology.”

26th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Sells Engineered Products Division

After much speculation about the fate of Goodyear’s Engineered Products Division and reports of strong interest from Germany’s Continental AG, news that the division is to be acquired by global private equity firm The Carlyle Group have come as a surprise to many. The company announced the signing of an agreement with Goodyear on March 23 and stated they would pay the tyremaker US$1.475 billion in cash for the Engineered Products Division. This sale price translates to a surprisingly high 9.3x 2006 EBITDA of $158 million, and is considerably higher than the conservative sale price of $750 million recently estimated by Deutsche Bank. The transaction is subject to the usual closing conditions, such as regulatory approvals and finalising a labour agreement with the United Steelworkers union.

The Engineered Products Division employs about 6,500 people worldwide at 32 manufacturing facilities, and annually generates approximately $1.5 billion in sales. Following the sale the division’s headquarters will remain in Akron, Ohio and current management, including president and CEO Timothy R. Toppen, will continue to lead the business.

26th March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Workers “Locked Out” in Australia

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) reports that employees at Bridgestone Australia’s factory in Salisbury, South Australia have been locked out from working their weekend shifts. The union says the 70 maintenance staff scheduled to work will not be able to resume their jobs until the following Monday, March 26.

According to AMWU spokesman Colin Fenney, Bridgestone Australia has not given workers a reason for the lockout. “I think it’s part of the action to try and break up the solidarity between the people down there but all that it is doing is like the other day, when they actually let scabs in to go and do their work,” he said, adding that the company’s action was like “putting fuel in the fire.’

The lockout comes in the wake of strike action at the Salisbury plant. The union is still holding out for double the 6 per cent over three years pay increase the company is offering.

23rd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear India to Pay Dividend

Goodyear India has stated that a meeting of the company’s board of directors will be held on March 25 to review the annual financial results for the year ended December. 31, 2006, and it is reported that the board will recommend the payment of a dividend.

The company operates two manufacturing facilities in India, one of which, the Ballabhgarh plant near Delhi, has recently been the subject of a £4.7 million expansion program aimed at doubling farm tyre production to 700 units a day. The close proximity of the Ballabhgarh plant to the factories of three main tractor manufacturers – Eicher, Escorts and Punjab Tractors – was instrumental in the decision to expand the Goodyear facility.

As of March 21 Goodyear India shares were trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange at Rs 143.65 (£1.68), down Rs 0.55 or 0.38 per cent.

21st March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Superior Industries Report Q4 and Annual Results

Superior Industries International, one of the world’s largest suppliers of OE aluminium wheels, announced on March 21 the company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and the 2006 year.

For the three months to December 31, 2006, revenue increased 3.0 per cent to US$212,169,000 compared with $205,901,000 for the fourth quarter of 2005. Results during the quarter were, however, affected – to the tune of $3,256,000 – by start-up costs for the company’s new facility in Mexico, and restructuring expenses placed a further $964,000 strain on the quarter’s figure. Superior’s share of profits from its joint venture aluminium wheel manufacturing operation in Hungary were almost double that of a year earlier, at $2,198,000.

Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006, taking the above factors into account, came to $4,827,000, or $0.18 per diluted share. In the fourth quarter of 2005 the company recorded a loss of $19,943,000, or $0.75 per diluted share.

21st March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors