Manufacturing Archives - Page 253 of 258 - 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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Agreement Between Ford/Goodyear To Speed Tires to Consumers

Ford and Goodyear made arrangements to allow Ford customers to obtain Ford-approved replacements for Firestone Wilderness AT tires at no charge to the customer. In addition, the tire manufacturer is making arrangements to ensure adequate availability of Goodyear tires at Ford and Mercury dealerships through its own network of independent tire dealers and Goodyear company-owned stores. Goodyear has increased tire production significantly at seven North American manufacturing plants to make tires available for use in the replacement program.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Moroccan Tyre Manufacturer In Insolvency Proceedings

Moroccan tyre manufacturer General Tire has begun insolvency proceedings, following the collapse of a restructuring plan. The company, in which Continental AG has a 34.2 per cent stake, has a deficit of 61.9 million Dirhams (6.07 m Euro) – up 14 per cent on last year’s figure. General Tire has invested 400 million Dirhams (39.25 m Euro) since 1995 but the domestic market is suffering from illegally-imported used tyres, which, it is estimated, now account for 60 per cent of the market.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese JV Company “Will Make Warrior And Michelin” Tyres

The joint venture has been confirmed between Michelin and the Shanghai Tyre & Rubber Co. to make radial tyres, steel cord and compounds. The new company will be called Shanghai Michelin Warrior Tire Co. and the JV is worth US$200 million. Michelin has a 70 per cent stake and STRC 30 per cent. Reports from China say that the company will continue to produce Warrior brand tyres and, at some time in the future, Michelin group products.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

New Production Director For Goodyear

Goodyear’s Wolverhampton plant gets a new production director. Hugh Thompson brings 30 years’ experience in the rubber and plastics industry to the operation. Thompson was the vice president of manufacturing for Dunlop Tyres in North America. He replaces Serge Lussier, who has moved to Brussels to take up the post of director of manufacturing, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Multiple Causes Of Accidents Cited By Bridgestone/Firestone

Bridgestone/Firestone has issued the results of its four month investigation into the accidents in the USA involving certain Firestone tyres. A number of causes were identified, including unspecified manufacturing problems at Decatur, tyre design in the shoulder area, driver abuse (travelling too fast and at the wrong pressure) and the weight of the Ford Explorer vehicle, particularly an alleged uneven weight distribution on the back axle. Ford denies that the margin for error between the load capacity of the tyres and the weight of a fully-laden Explorer is too slim.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Rubber Manufacturers Association Cuts Tyre Forecast

Underlining the news from Goodyear, the US trade group the Rubber Manufacturers Association has cut its forecast of tyre shipments for 2001 from 316 million tyres to 303 million. Last year’s figure was a record 321 million tyres. July tyre shipments to car manufacturers were 5 per cent down on the same month last year, while commercial market shipments fell by 32 per cent. The RMA predicts shipments of 304.4 million tyres next year and 317 million in 2003.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooperation Of Continental Teves with Iranian Brake Manufacturer

Continental Teves (Frankfurt), part of the Continental Automotive Systems Group, has signed a licence agreement with Toklan Toos, the largest brake manufacturer in the Middle East. The company will produce and sell Electronic Brake Systems (ABS) in Iran.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Motor Manufacturers Step Back From Firestone

General Motors, which currently uses Firestone tyres as OE equipment on some 14 different models will be changing some cars and trucks to other Bridgestone brands this summer. Nissan will be dropping Firestone from its US Altima saloon when it relaunches in September. Both manufacturers stressed that the tyres they use were not connected with the Ford/Firestone recall troubles. However, GM’s Terry Rhadigan says,” We want our customers to have peace of mind.”

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Aircraft Tyre Production Resumes At Goodyear Sao Paulo Factory

Increased demand in Latin America has prompted Goodyear to resume production of aircraft tyres at its factory in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Manufacture of these tyres began in 1943 and was stopped in 1992. The biggest customer is Brazilian aeroplane maker Embraer; the fourth largest in the world, and which is currently constructing a new factory in Brazil. 30 per cent of the Sao Paulo aircraft tyres will be for the Brazilian market, with the remaining 70 per cent exported to North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. Goodyear claims to be the world leader in aircraft tyre manufacturing.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Merger Of Wheel Manufacturers

The two German wheel manufacturers Intra (one of the biggest oe supplier to Opel) and Dezent (active only in the aftermarket) have announced a merger at the IAA show in Frankfurt next month. They will create an aftermarket company called IDE (brands Intra, Dezent, Exip) and an oe company Intra Automotive. The two companies have almost 300 employees.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Talking Together – Stahlgruber’s “7th Round Table Reifentechnik”

At the end of April the seventh round-table conference concerning tyres and tyre technology organised by the Tip Top Stahlgruber company took place in Munich. This year’s 91 participants came from many, varied backgrounds: There were tyre dealers, retreaders, material suppliers, representatives of associations (ADAC, BRV, DEKRA, TUV etc.), scientists and representatives of the vehicle and tyre manufacturing industries. Some of the highlights of the event included Hans-Jürgen Drechsler, deputy managing director of the BRV (Association of Tyre Traders and Non-Industrial Vulcanisers), speaking about development trends in the German retreading industry, which is characterised by a fall in sales, specially in the passenger car tyre segment, and a consolidation process among the companies in that sector. Furthermore Drechsler gave an overview about the actual status of ECE regulations 108 and 109 and their transformation into national laws. Other topics concerned the efforts in reducing tyre-surface-noise, the wrong tyre pressure as one of the main causes for serious accidents and last but not least the presentation of various non destructive methods of tyre examination. Due to the fact that the organiser of the meeting shortened the list of speakers, there was much more time left for intensive discussions; something which was appreciated by the conference delegates.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheels Division Of ArvinMeritor Honored

ArvinMeritor Wheels Division announced at its plant expansion ceremony in San Luis Potosi (Mexico) that it was named General Motors Supplier of the Year for its superior performance in quality, service, technology and price. The award was given during ceremonies Saturday, April 28 at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. This marks the 9th consecutive year the division has been honored with this prestigious award.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

A Change For The Better – Cooper-Avon Tyres

In 1997, Avon Tyres, a British-owned rubber goods and tyre manufacturer for over 120 years, was taken over by the American manufacturer Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. The subsequent three years or so have been among the most eventful in Avon’s long history; fears that the British company (annual turnover in excess of 100 million Pounds) would be absorbed by its new parent (annual turnover approaching $4 billion) proved to be groundless. This came as a relief to locals, as Avon was (and still is) the town of Melksham’s largest employer and plays an important part in community life. On the contrary, Cooper has invested heavily in its first manufacturing base outside the USA and Avon has reorganised, rethought its product offering and, in an uncertain economic climate, prospered. Our article examines how the company has changed and examines its prospects for the future. Managing Director Ron Shield and Marketing Director Julian Baldwin outline the events since the takeover and the way that the Cooper-Avon relationship has developed.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Despite Increase In Turnover, Vredestein In The Red For H1 2001

The Dutch group achieved a slight increase in turnover but reported a loss of 2.9 million Euro compared with a loss of 1.9 million Euro, in the 1st half of last year. As far as the tyre manufacturing in Enschede is concerned, figures remained more or less unchanged. Vredestein is depending very much on the winter-tyre-season in Germany as well as in Switzerland and Austria.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Retreaders Form Marketing And Communications Group

Members of the Retread Manufacturers Association have formed a group called the Marketing & Communications Committee, intended to promote the environmental benefits of retreading. UK car retread production has fallen from 7.2 million tyres in 1995 to an estimated 1.5 million this year. Truck tyre retreads have remained steady, at around the one million level over this period.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors