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.
Bridgestone Americas recently announced that Tim Walsh, who previously served as Bridgestone Americas corporate controller, has been named chief information officer for the company. Walsh will be responsible for overall leadership of Bridgestone’s IT function, including making enhancements to the company’s IT organisation and overseeing strategy and implementation to ensure efficient delivery of IT services.
Something virtually all the tyre manufacturers currently using RFID (Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Mesnac) have in common is a connection with UK-based sensor firm Transense Technologies plc. Following the announcement that this provider of sensor systems is supplying the tyre probes being used in Michelin's recently launched “communicating tyres” fitted to buses running during the London 2012 Olympics, it is worth taking a closer look at is both companies’ desire to see the wider market adopt this technology.
In something of a coup for the UK, Michelin chose London as the venue for the global launch of its latest RFID/TPMS truck tyre technology on 19 June. The UK truck tyre business, which has previously been referred to as something of a model for other mature European markets, was selected because it is an area where the French tyre manufacturer is dominant in the truck and especially bus segments. This fact also provided Michelin with a clear opportunity to implement its technology on a large fleet and thereby also demonstrate the performance of its technology to fleets and the market as a whole. Tyres & Accessories visited West Ham Bus Garage in East London to attend the launch of technology and see it in action.
Toyo Tire & Rubber reports it will make changes to its business structure as of 1 January 2013. On that date, the development, manufacture and sales of railway vehicle parts, OA equipment parts, industrial, construction and waterproof materials products will be consolidated into the Toyo Chemical/Industrial Products Sales Corporation. This consolidation will take place in order to optimise management resources in the company’s Diver-Tech business segment, Toyo says. The company, whose name will change on 1 January to “Toyo Chemical Products/Industrial Co., Ltd”, will be operated as a new company which will oversee this integrated business in the Toyo Group.
Korea’s longest-established tyre maker, Nexen Tire, recently opened its latest factory, a highly automated plant that will help the tyre maker reach its goal of almost tripling output by the end of the decade. The Changnyeong plant entered production in April and this year it will turn out some three million passenger car, 4×4 and light commercial vehicle tyres. This figure will then rise significantly over the next few years, reaching 21 million – 60,000 tyres a day – by 2018. By that date, Nexen says it will have invested a total of 1,200 billion won (£650 million) in the plant.
Solideal USA Inc has reportedly bought the assets of of Florida Inc effective from 1 June. Details of the terms of the sale have not been disclosed. The business was sold by the heirs of Silas Otha Kines Jr who died earlier in 2012.
Charles D. Foran Jr. (Dave) has been appointed as the new president of USON, the automated leak detection equipment maker. Dave Foran brings more than 35 years of experience leading diverse organizations. “I am extremely pleased with the opportunity to help USON, the market leader in leak detection instruments, go to the next level. USON will soon celebrate 50 years in business and my goal is to enable USON to leverage the power of the Internet to set a whole new standard in how USON reaches out to the marketplace and to our customers,” he commented.
Earlier this month, Goodyear Tire & Rubber announced it now holds 100 per cent ownership of its Nippon Giant Tire (NGT) subsidiary in Tatsuno, Japan. The tyre maker has been the majority shareholder in NGT since 1985 and purchased the shares owned by its joint venture partners, Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation, for an undisclosed amount. Goodyear now plans to invest US$250 million to upgrade and expand NGT’s tyre manufacturing facility in order to increase its global supply of OTR tyres for key customers.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has earmarked a further US$74 million for capacity expansion at its Des Moines, Iowa agricultural tyre plant. This latest investment at the tyre maker’s main North American agricultural tyre facility follows a $77 million investment announced in March 2010; Bridgestone says the two projects confirm its “commitment to maintaining its leadership position in the agricultural tyre industry” and will help the plant meet growing demand for tyres that provide better traction and an increased footprint.
UK automotive manufacturers have set their sights on breaking all-time manufacturing records by the end of 2015. The confidence is fuelled by multi-billion pound investments committed to the country over the past 18 months that will see production expanded, new models introduced and thousands more people employed.
June 6th marked a milestone for the BMW Group's UK engine plant at Hams Hall, near Birmingham, with the production of the factory's three millionth engine.
The power unit – a 1.6 four-cylinder petrol engine – will be despatched to the MINI plant at Oxford, destined for a car to be built for the emerging Indian market. MINI made its debut in the premium small car segment in India earlier this year marking MINIs 100th export market where three exclusive outlets are being established.
The leadership feud between Pirelli’s two top managers, Marco Tronchetti Provera (64) and Francesco Gori (60), described within the company as a “redefinition of the organisation model”, is a first-class déjà vu experience for many observers of globally active corporations.
Infinity Tyres describes its INF 050 as a tyre that combines performance with a great respect for the environment. This particular tyre, which is available in up to 20 different sizes, kicks off by being completely free of aromatic oils and thus is fully compliant with REACH legislation. Furthermore, Infinity says the INF 050 benefits from its Eco-Friendly Fuel Efficient (EFFE) manufacturing process.
According to Michelin commercial director Malcolm Scovell, 17-inch and larger passenger car tyre fitments – the sizes considered high performance – now account for approximately 25 per cent of the UK market. And despite a nine per cent decline in the overall passenger tyre market in 2011, this particular segment grew some 17 per cent. New high performance sizes are regularly added to what is becoming a market rich in individual fitments.
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Bridgestone recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Bari plant in Italy. The tyre maker held an open day for employees and more than 700 attendees, and festivities were attended by local management and Ryutaro Ishii, senior vice-president Manufacturing Bridgestone Europe. During the event, Bridgestone presented awards to long-serving employees and also celebrated 2.5 million work hours with “zero accidents” at the plant.
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