Toyo Forms New Chinese Subsidiary
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co has announced that it has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Guangzhou, southern China.
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.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co has announced that it has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Guangzhou, southern China.
These are exciting times for Hankook Tyre UK, as the company prepares to relocate its headquarters into a new warehouse and office complex, designed and built to the company’s own specifications. In terms of distance, the move is negligible – just half a mile or so down the road in Daventry, Northants – but in terms of what it means to the company, the significance is enormous.
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Tyres have been made from rubber for more than 100 years, using the same fundamental manufacturing processes. However American tyre corporation, Amerityre, claims to have invented a polyurethane material that will replace rubber and revolutionise the entire tyre manufacturing industry, within the next 15 years.
This proposed polyurethane elastomer tyre production is essentially a unique process. Revolutionary it may be, but what does it mean for the tyre manufacturing industry?
The new polyurethane elastomer material can be used in the manufacture of tyres and automated manufacturing equipment. The significance of the new material is placed on the cost efficiency of the manufacturing process. According to Amerityre, manufacturing tyres from polyurethane is considerably more efficient than manufacturing tyres from rubber.
It may be new to the market, but the company has big objectives for its new technology. The company claims that polyurethane will ultimately replace rubber in tyres. It also predicts that the transition from rubber to polyurethane tyres will occur quickly, because of the amount of benefits it provides. It estimates that this conversion will begin in the next 12 months, and will be complete in the next 12 to 15 years. And on top of this, its prototype tyre, ‘ARCUS,’ awaits its launch into the market and its opportunity to silence critics. Whichever way you look at it, these are high aims for a product the industry knows little about.
The company was originally formed in 1995 as the American Tire Corporation. Its initial business objective was to take advantage of, and develop, existing urethane formulations. At first the company used these formulations to produce Flatfree bicycle tyres from polyurethane foam. In 1999 the company changed its name to Amerityre Corporation. Located in Nevada, it occupies a 49,200 square foot site. And has now developed two distinct proprietary chemical systems for tyres: a polyurethane elastomer and a closed-cell polyurethane foam.
Although western European bus manufacturing is still the driving force in the global bus business, China is now ahead on volume according to the latest news published by Truck & Bus Builder Reports Limited. Analysts believe that the Chinese manufacturing pace has quickened because they are now using European standards for bus building and operation.
The report also claims that in India, the two leading domestic bus makers, Tata and Ashok Leyland, are involved in a Government-led transport programme, which “could transform the whole of the Indian sub-continent in terms of public transport.” The report details production and registration data for the main bus building countries and carries market forecast figures for the next five years.
Amtel Holdings Holland has announced a 64 per cent increase in profits as part of its consolidated results for the 2003 financial year.
Alcatel and Pirelli announced today that they have completed the transaction regarding their respective submarine telecommunication businesses, after having received approval of Italian Antitrust Authorities.
Van den Ban has upgraded the summer tyres from its Flamingo programme by replacing the 2000 Sport and 2001 Performance patterns with three new alternatives, CD1000, CD2000 and CD3000.
The company has made a further move towards establishing greater manufacturing links with Europe, as once again a European manufacturer has produced the new tread designs. Van Den Ban explains that its latest move in adopting a new manufacturing supplier has been “established to create the initial foundation for further improved, high quality tyres offering impressive technological benefits.”
Together its VDB 2010 pattern, which is produced in Japan, and the now complete Flamingo range represent what the company describes as “a popular stable of modern tyres which offers something for all sectors of the market.” VDB can now offer a range that caters for severe winter conditions right through to the highly competitive high performance sector.
A-Z Formen and Maschinenbau GmbH Germany has sold its Rubber Extruder Division and the related IPR and know-how to VMI – AZ Extrusion GmbH Germany, a newly founded company which is part of the VMI Group. All staff have been transferred to the new company.
VMI is a supplier of tyre manufacturing and rubber compound handling machinery. Plants operating in Europe, North America and East Asia will now produce the systems. Following the acquisition the VMI Group is now in a position to supply products, process know-how and service to rubber extrusion and retread customers worldwide.
The new company’s production facility and headquarters will be based in Runding Germany, whilst its sales offices will remain in Munich and Akron USA at their existing addresses. Business contacts within both locations will remain the same, however Mr Florian Fischer, currently manager of the Machine Division of A-Z will now become the new general manager. Mr Auke Dalstra, currently VP and CFO of the VMI Group will assist him.
A-Z Formen and Maschinenbau GmbH, has been supplying molds and mold closing systems for the tyre industry, special machinery for tyre mold production and components for the aerospace and other industries for over 40 years and will now fully concentrate on this sector of its business.
In July UK car production dipped 3.8 per cent or 5500 units, but remains 1.1 per cent up over the course of the year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). At the same time new car registrations fell 4.6 per cent. Meanwhile diesel registrations equalled their highest ever-level occupying 32.5 per cent of the total market.
The Delphi Corporation is one of the world’s leading technology companies, with substantial business in the automotive and transportation industries as well as other high-technology sectors, such as telecommunications and computers. Its world headquarters are at Troy, Michigan and the corporation has regional headquarters in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. The global workforce numbers 188,000 and Delphi operates 53 customer service centres and 32 technical centres, has 167 manufacturing facilities and 42 joint ventures. Sales in 2002 were $27.4 billion (£14.8 billion)
By any standards, Delphi is a big company, so it is not surprising that its involvement in the battery business is on a large scale, with manufacturing carried out at eleven factories worldwide and a product range that covers 98 per cent of the vehicle parc. Delphi is active in both the aftermarket and in original equipment sales, where it supplies many leading manufacturers in Europe, the USA and Japan – a recent success was the winning of a contract to supply batteries worth $22 million for the Renault Megane II, Scenic II and Clio.
In Europe, battery production is at a factory in Sarreguemines, France. The plant was built in 1980 and covers 35,000 square metres on 18 hectares of land. It is certified QS 9000 and VDA (quality), OHSAS 18001 (safety) and ISO 14001 and EMAS II (environment) and production this year will top 5.4 million batteries. Worldwide, Delphi produces more than 30 million batteries.
Goodyear Dunlop Europe has been selected to supply replacement tyres for Volvo’s European truck tyre business through its chain of close to 1,000 truck dealers and workshops. According to Henry Johnson, managing director of Goodyear Dunlop’s European truck tyre business, Volvo customers will have the option to benefit from the one-stop shopping approach.
In a continuation of its recent wage dispute, Michelin has started negotiating a new wage agreement. The deal, which also discusses medical benefits, concerns four plants and 5,000 members of the company’s North American workforce.
Although Michelin North America Inc. and the United Steelworkers of America have been under self-imposed deadline pressure to come to terms with the negotiations on a new contract agreement, both parties remained at the table when the fixed date for a conclusion passed by.
Hayes Lemmerz International has formed an aluminum wheel joint venture in Manisa, Turkey. The new company, Jantas Aliminyum Jant Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (Jantas Aluminum Wheels), will predominantly serve the Turkish market, but will also deal with other European markets. Production is scheduled to begin at the end of 2005 and it is estimated that it will produce up to 1.5 million wheels annually.
Three companies are involved in the business venture; 40 per cent will be owned by Hayes Lemmerz, 35 per cent by Cromodora Wheels and 25 per cent by Inci Holding A.S. Financial. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The leadership of American automotive manufacturing workers, United Steelworkers of America (USWA) have given Michelin North America Incorporated until Wednesday to negotiate a new labour contract.
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