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.
SmarTire Systems Inc. has announced that Van Hool NV has selected SmarTire to supply its tyre pressure and temperature monitoring systems (TPMS) on its buses and coaches. Van Hool is Europe’s largest independent bus manufacturer. The company exports 85 per cent of its buses and coaches, 60 per cent of them to Europe and an average of 600 coaches a year to the US.
For the second year running, Bridgestone Poland has won the ‘Best investor in Poland’ award from Poland’s Rzeczpospolita newspaper, the country’s respected business and political daily. The award was received by Mr Hiroyoshi Takigawa, President of Bridgestone Poland Sp z o.o., from the Polish ministers of Finance and State Treasury at a ceremony on 25 April 2006.
Rzeczpospolita is renowned in Poland for its annual ranking and review of the country’s top 500 companies, including both locally-owned firms and subsidiaries of foreign companies. At the same time, a jury appointed by the newspaper makes awards to outstanding companies across several categories.
Brazilian motor vehicle production is on a roll, with both output and export figures reportedly at all time highs in May 2006, according to the Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Association, Antavea. The exact figures have not yet been published but they must be higher than April’s 182,481 passenger car registrations to break the record production figures. In 2005 the Brazilian vehicle manufacturing industry produced 2,009,494 cars, 365,648 light commercial vehicles 153,158 commercial trucks and buses.
With the implementation of the tyre landfill ban rapidly approaching and following the publication of ETRMA’s (European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturer’s Association) first comprehensive report on end-of-life tyre management, Tyres & Accessories takes a look at the findings and reports on the development of the UK’s free market system, publishing the most recent pan-European data on this segment.
While the ETRMA (in its former guise as BLIC) has made European end-of-life tyre (ELT) figures available for some time, this year is the first time the newly re-formed association has given such a detailed overview of the EU15 and enlarged European tyre recovery and recycling business.
Bridgestone Europe has announced that work has started on in its Tatabanya, Hungary high-performance passenger and light truck tyre plant. Construction of the about 190 million euro complex is being financed and managed by Bridgestone Hungary Manufacturing Ltd – a newly-formed subsidiary of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA – with completion due at the end of 2007. Production is scheduled to reach more than 8,000 tyres a day by 2009. The company expects to employ more than 200 people by 2009.
Hankook Tire is stepping up efforts to defend its position in the Chinese tyre market by investing in a new local R&D centre, extending production facilities and expanding its sales network. The company announced detailed plans for China its Jiaxing plant on 29 May.
Hankook Tire recently completed the expansion of its production facilities in Jiaxing, enhancing annual capacity to 2.5 million units. As the main production base for the company in China, the Jiaxing plant will undergo further expansion work in the latter half of this year. Once completed by the end of 2006, Hankook Tire will secure total production capacity of 28 million units per year from its Jiaxing and Jiangsu plants in China.
Think you’re up to scratch with your tyre history? Here’s your chance to prove it. Tyres & Accessories wanted to share its cheery anniversary mood with our loyal readers and so has teamed up with Blaupunkt to give away two of the satellite navigation manufacturer’s latest Travel Pilot Lucca portable satnav units. So if you want to get your hands on one of these two gizmos, then answer the six simple questions (one question for each decade Tyres & Acccessories has been in print) in the subscribers area. For more details on the Travelpilot Lucca search “Lucca” in the quickfinder at www.tyrepress.com.
Competition entries must be received before the closing date of 31 July.
Following detailed analysis of sales trends for the top selling DJ Wheels range, Sherbrook international has found that seemingly size really is important. Explained CEO Peter Whitehouse, “Until recently the most popular wheel size was 15 inch, but increasingly drivers are requesting the ‘Big Wheels’ look and are demanding a 17 inch option. We have responded by ensuring that all nine stunning 2006 DJ Wheels designs are available in the larger size, delivering real choice combined with attention-getting looks.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Marangoni Tread North American (MTNA) says it has made training a priority for 2006 and beyond, launching its Ringmaster Training Program this year for MTNA retreaders. In the two sessions already held, Ringtread retreader production and sales staff traveled to MTNA’s Nashville headquarters for seminars and hands-on training.
Members of the Tanzanian Parliamentary Committee for Investment have called on the government to transfer ownership of the Muheza Rubber Plantation in Tanga Region to General Tyre factory in Arusha to raise rubber production and create more job opportunities.
The MPs made the recommendation after visiting the factory and discussing how best to increase the supply of raw materials from within the country (as opposed to Malaysian sources), particularly from the rubber plantation in Muheza, the local Sunday Observer reported.
Falcon Tyres Ltd has recorded a 300 per cent increase in net profit since it was bought by the Indian Ruia group. Falcon Tyres registered a net profit of 36.3 million rupees compared with 9.2 million in 2004 – 2005. Total company turnover stood at 2.55 billion rupees against 2.19 billion the same time last year. The company announced 25 per cent dividend for its shareholders, which was 2.50 rupees per share, the highest in its history.
Richard Page, managing director of Hankook Tyre UK has been elected as ITMA’s new association president with immediate effect. The decision was made at this year’s Association AGM held on 12 April. Richard takes over from Steve Tidmarsh MD of Kumho UK who completed a two-year term of office.
Although Hankook is a long-standing ITMA member this is the first time the company has held the Association Presidency. In his acceptance statement Page welcomed closer cooperation with the BTMA and the newly formed TIF:
During the Essen show Bandag representatives announced that Reifen Wondraschek had become one of its members. Company representatives said they “greatly appreciate the knowledge and expertise built up by Reifen Wondraschek since its foundation back in 1935.” The company specialises in the distribution and retreading of tyres across the Austrian market. The company’s highly trained personnel operate from five service stations.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG expects its U.S. operations to continue losing money at least through this year, according to an interview by Euro magazine with Alan Hippe, Continental’s CFO and president of Continental Tire North America (CTNA).
Pirelli is a primary sponsor of a new exhibition running from May 19 through June 10 at the Milk Gallery in New York City, highlighting the design, fashion and high technology products of Milan. Appropriately, Milan is the headquarters of the Pirelli Group.
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