European Springs expands with 1 million euro investment in UK operations
European Springs & Pressings, supported by parent company Lesjofors, has invested 1 million euros in a new spring coiling machine, the first of its kind in the UK.
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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Tamworth motorsport, high performance brakes firm secures £3m finance
A Tamworth based manufacturer of high-performance brake components for the motorsport and performance vehicle market has secured a £3 million finance package from HSBC UK to fund new state-of-the-art machinery to boost production. Alcon has used the funding to purchase five Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines as well as a noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) dynamometer.
TRM: Automation is next step for retreading business
TRM says bringing automation into the tyre retreading is the next step towards fast-forward the retreading to a higher level.
EVO Corse takes over Arcasting racing line
EVO Corse and Arcasting, two Treviso, Italy-based companies specializing in the manufacturing and sale of alloy wheels, have signed a technical and commercial agreement for the production and management of the race line of Arcasting wheels. The agreement is effective 1 January 2019.
Cooper Tire and Sailun announce Vietnam TBR tyre joint venture
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is to form a joint venture with Sailun Vietnam Co, Ltd to build a 2 million capacity truck and bus radial manufacturing plant. Subject to closing and government approvals, the facility will be located near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at the site of Sailun Vietnam’s existing operations, which early in 2018 signed an offtake agreement to produce Roadmaster, Dean and Starfire brand tyres for Cooper. The new announcement represents the latest move in a series of cooperative moves between the two firms – Sailun Jinyu invested in joining Cooper in its GRT JV in September.
Toyo investing US$138 million in US plant expansion
Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. is set to create more than 150 jobs when it invests over US$138 million in its manufacturing operation in Cartersville, Georgia. According to an official announcement, new jobs will include positions in production, support and administration.
Dmack to take ‘full control’ of tyre production in Marangoni Rovereto deal
Global motorsport tyre brand Dmack has announced that it will “open its own tyre manufacturing facility” in Italy, following a deal to use part of Marangoni’s Rovereto plant in northern Italy. The Carlisle-based brand said it would be “capable of producing up to 250,000 tyres per year” at Rovereto, with the “flexibility to tailor short production runs for very specific applications and to meet demands for control tyre championships.” The company adds that it wants to transfer its technical capability into racing by producing world-class products for the circuit racing and track markets. Most famous for supplying tyres to the FIA World Rally Championship since 2011, Dmack tyres were previously produced by Chinese manufacturer, Shandong Yongtai, which recently went into administration, before shifting to Cooper Tires’ UK factory in Melksham, which itself is set to reduce production by a half when it halts production of road-going light vehicle tyres next year.
Schaeffler to reorganise UK business
The global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler, which employs over 92,000 people worldwide, proposes to reorganise its UK business activities as part of its excellence programme “Agenda 4 plus One”. This programme includes a global footprint initiative that is examining the strategic and economic competitiveness and long-term sustainability of all Schaeffler locations worldwide. As part of this initiative the Executive Board has decided to reorganise its activities in the UK.
Dundee closure ‘supports Michelin’s intent to accelerate cost savings’ – analyst report
An analyst report published by Jefferies International Limited has stated that the closure of Michelin’s Dundee plant “supports [the company’s] intent to accelerate cost savings during 2019-20.” Presenting its nine-month 2018 results in October, Michelin warned that demand had deflated in the car and truck markets and it was revising down its guidance; subsequently Michelin shares fell to a seven-year low.
Michelin closing Dundee tyre factory
Two months after the tyre manufacturer began a restructuring programme at its factory in Dundee, Michelin is set to close the plant at the cost of about 850 jobs. Michelin, which has run the Dundee site since 1971, says it plans to leave the city by 2020.
Kordsa wins Platin Global 100 award
Kordsa has been named as one of the Global 100 enterprises. According to a study conducted by Platin magazine in association with IPSOS. Platin also gave Kordsa the Industry 4.0 award in the textile category.
Eastman experts to discuss sulphur dispersion in high severity service heavy tyres
Sulphur dispersion and formulation insights for high-severity service in heavy tyres will be the focus of work shared by two Eastman Tire Additives scientists at the KHK 13th Fall Rubber Colloquium in Hannover, Germany 6-8 November, 2018. The technical presentation by Dr. Dominica Wong will explore why the tensile dispersion test provides valuable insights into sulphur dispersion and how this approach guided the development of innovations such as Eastman Crystex Cure Pro insoluble sulphur. A poster by Dr. Leandro Forciniti will examine how polymers and other additives influence formulations for high-severity service in heavy tyres, including Eastman Impera performance resins.
EU makes final truck tyre anti-dumping duties decision, retains fixed rates for manufacturers
The European Union has made its conclusive statement on the introduction of anti-dumping tariffs on truck and bus tyres and retreads manufactured in China. As previously announced, the EU will impose fixed rate anti-dumping duties on the products, with the final regulation 2018/1579 implemented from 23 October. This ends speculation that percentage rates could be applied. In fact, the EU has revised tariff levels up, almost across the board.
Cooper announces plan to end light vehicle tyre production at Melksham
Cooper Tire Europe is to enter a 10 month consultation period to decide the future of light vehicle tyre production at its Melksham, Wiltshire facility. News sources suggest that light vehicle tyre production currently in Melksham would be shifted to its factory in Serbia, pending the outcome of the consultation. The company states that the proposed change is a result of the “cost-competitive, globalised environment.” It adds that the Melksham facility “in its present form is not competitive within the Cooper global manufacturing network or the tyre industry at large.” It is Cooper Tire Europe’s highest cost production facility, and the company adds that it considers expanding or updating the facility to meet its light vehicle tyre needs to be “not economically feasible.”
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres marks two years without a RIDDOR accident
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres (DAT) reports the world’s only specialist producer of aircraft tyres has achieved two years of continuous operation at its Birmingham, UK, plant without a reportable accident.
“This is a fantastic result and one which we believe to be unique in the current UK tyre industry and amongst the best for this region” claimed Gordon Roper, Chief Executive Officer.
