Manufacturing Archives - Page 254 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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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

Cooper Tire Announces Intent to Buy Hercules Retreading Assets

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. announced the intention, as of June 30, 2001, to purchase certain manufacturing assets used in Hercules’ retread operation and will soon begin to supply retread products to customers formerly served by Hercules. This purchase will significantly increase sales in the Oliver Retreading Systems and Products unit, which is a part of Cooper’s new commercial division. Also included in this sale are certain assets of the Cedco equipment division, which will benefit Oliver’s Salisbury equipment operation. The final price is subject to certain valuations at closing but will not exceed $8.5 million.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Westminster Eyes On Tyre Manufacturing

On Thursday the 18th January , in response to a question from Mr. Peter Pike MP for Burnley, the Minister for Trade, Mr Richard Caborn announced that the Government was to “commission a competitive study to examine the entire rubber industry, and especially the tyre sector”. Peter Pike MP quoted cuts in tyre production in the UK (Michelin, Goodyear, Dunlop, Continental) and advised the Minister that there was concern in his constituency, Burnley, home of a Michelin plant, for the future of the Tyre industry in the UK. The Minister responded with figures showing overall tyre production standing at £1 billion, and exports at £800 million, and some 8,000 people still employed directly in the tyre manufacturing industry. He added that with electronics playing an increasing part in production we (the government) wanted to ensure the country was at the leading edge of technology, and quoted Pirelli’s new robotics line as evidence the UK Tyre industry has a future. Sir Sydney Chapman MP for Chipping Barnet asked whether, given the sharp decline of the Euro against Sterling should the government not have eased the tax and regulatory burden on the industry? The Minister’s response was that the government’s policies had been welcomed by the industry; that three of the five major tyre manufacturers were operational in the UK and that they were “looking to the government to give a lead on a foresight programme to develop new technology for those industries”. He added that the standing of the Euro had had little or no effect on the global re-organisation of the tyre manufacturers. In a follow-on question, Barry Sheerman MP for Huddersfield asked if the Minister thought that if a multinational closed down a UK operation, that the UK consumer should be encouraged to be discriminatory about the products he or she buys, to favour UK industries. In response the Minister stated that he did not think this to be an acceptable way forward, that “the way forward was to expand the global economy in a managed way that will produce a good result for the consumer”.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Korean Tyre Manufacturer Helps American Victims Of Terrorism

Tyre importer, Hankook Tire America has joined Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone in donating funds to assist the victims of the terrorist attacks on the 11th September. 100,000 dollars are being donated to the American Red Cross.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre Industry Threatened By Imports

The Indian tyre manufacturing industry may be under threat from cheap imports from China. The lifting of trade restrictions with China has already created trading problems for many of India’s smaller industries. Presently imports from China form only 2.87% of India’s imports, but the arrival of cheap, mass produced products from China has indicated the lack of preparedness of Indian industry to meet the new competition. Tyre manufacturing has been highlighted as a potential victim as businesses move from manufacturing to importing.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

New President And CEO Appointed By Hayes Lemmerz

Hayes Lemmerz Int. appointed Curtis J. Clawson as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. In connection with Clawson’s appointment, Ranko “Ron” Cucuz, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will remain as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Most recently, Clawson was President and Chief Operating Officer of American National Can Group, a $2.5 billion NYSE traded manufacturing company, which was acquired by Rexam PLC.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

French Car Manufacturers Do Well In France

International News, News

Despite a slight fall in new car registrations in France during April, the market so far this year has risen 6% compared to 1999. French manufacturers have done exceptionally well, with Renault sales up 6% and Peugeot up 12%. Not so happy in April were Fiat (down 28%) and Ford (down 25%).

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Lead Balance Weights To Be Banned?

A European committee has agreed on the final text of the End Of Life Vehicle Directive (ELV). One paragraph bans the use of lead in wheel balance weights, including coated weights, on new vehicles after 1st July 2003. It is unclear whether any ban would apply to the aftermarket. The ELV text has to be submitted to the European Parliament and then to the Council for final vote and adoption.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors