After the fast, abrasive Thruxton surface, the British Superbike series moves to Oulton Park where the more flowing nature of the circuit and make-up of the asphalt means softer Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres may well be effective.
Yokohama Rubber has signed up as control tyre supplier to European championship the ADAC GT Masters, which got underway for this season on Saturday. For dry conditions, Yokohama will supply its orange oil-containing Advan A005, and its Advan A006 for the wet.
BioSyn Resources LLC reports that it has entered the European market with the its ultraclean multi-functional military jet fuel. According to the company, BioSyn completed the first exports in February. The first customer is Somerset-based Tyre Renewals Ltd. Tyre Renewals reportedly plans to fuel its diesel engines operating in enclosed environments with the jet fuel. This specifically refers to engines driving oil pumps that operate inside buildings. The BioSyn is said to have been selected as it is “devoid of hard-to-burn components” and “does not produce nauseating fumes.”
Indonesia's government plans to invest US$5.6 billion consolidating 15 state-owned businesses into a large single rubber and palm oil company. The Jakarta Globe reports that the 15 businesses, which last year generated combined sales of some $4.5 billion, will be consolidated under parent company PT Perkebunan Nusantara III. The planned Indonesian merger echoes the plantation merger that occurred in Malaysia in 2008, when the government there combined three state-owned planters to form Sime Darby.
The first nine months of Japan’s 2011 financial year have been described by Toyo Tire & Rubber as being a “severe” business environment. During the nine month period between 1 April and 31 December 2011, the company experienced a 19.4 per cent year-on-year decrease in net income despite rising sales. Net sales increased 6.7 per cent during the timeframe in question, to 241.7 billion yen (£2.0 billion), while operating income and ordinary income rose 10.4 per cent and 11.9 per cent respectively, to 11.59 billion yen (£95.8 million) and 8.99 billion yen (£74.3 million). Despite stronger sales, net income sank by 985 million yen to 4.11 billion yen (£33.9 million) during the first three quarters.
Yokohama’s BluEarth S34BZ eco tyre has been chosen as original equipment for the 2012 Toyota Prius V. The new crossover, which is known as the Prius + in Europe, is available to US and Canadian purchasers fitted with the BluEarth tyre in size P205/60R16 91V.
Yokohama Tire Corporation’s sponsorship contract with three high-profile American football teams has been renewed for a further year. The 2011 season is now getting underway and the tyre maker is back as sponsor to the National Football League’s (NFL) Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. To kick off its return for the new season, Yokohama is holding a “Home Team Pride” programme between September 26 and November 6. During this time consumers can receive a free official replica Cowboys, Broncos or Raven jersey with the purchase of four Yokohama tyres from participating local dealers.
As part of its service provision that to farm tyre customers, Goodyear has put together some top tips for storing your harvester for the winter. Phil Stanton, Goodyear’s Farm Manager said: “It is important for farmers to store their harvesters in a good, sheltered place for the winter. Ensuring that a harvester remains lubricated and internally dry can mean there is less time wasted in the new year and a smaller risk of problems developing through the cold season.”
Michelin Americas Truck Tires (MATT) is getting aggressive – the company is releasing two new tyres for on/off road applications, including what it calls “Michelin’s most aggressive drive axle tyre for extreme operating conditions, such as logging, oil fields and mining.” This tyre, the XDY-EX2, is complemented by the Michelin X Works XDY commercial truck tyre, a product designed for exceptional traction and wear in on/off road applications.
The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of German chemical company Evonik’s carbon black business under the EU Merger Regulation. This approval under the EU Merger Regulation means that the business’ purchase by US based firm Rhône Capital and Jersey’s Triton is not considered one that will significantly alter the structure of the carbon black market or significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA); the Commission reached this decision as neither firm has any existing ownership interests in any business that manufactures or sells carbon black.
Canadian firm Environmental Waste International Inc. has completed testing of its TR900 Pilot Plant. This first trial of the company’s latest tyre recycling machine involved the processing of 20 tyres. EWS says the trial “fully met” its expectations and demonstrated the technical viability of a production scaled TR900 system.
The Indian Oil Corporation has entered a joint-venture agreement with Taiwan’s TSRC Corporation and Japan’s Corporation to set up a synthetic rubber factory in India. According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, the three companies will hold respective 50, 30 and 20 per cent stakes in a joint-venture factory that is planned to produce 200,000 tonnes of synthetic rubber a year for the tyre industry.
Bridgestone Australia has announced a price rise of all its products in the country by an average of five per cent from 1 August. Explaining the price hike, group chairman and managing director Nobuyuki Mieno said: “The current costs of raw materials such as natural rubber, oil derived materials and others are maintaining their recent historic high levels.”
Matthias Schönberg, who has served as chief executive officer of Continental Tire the Americas since October 2006, is soon to leave the company’s American operation to assume management of the ContiTech Fluid Technology business unit on July 1. Schönberg will take over this Germany-based position from incumbent Hannes Friederichsen, who as of October 1 will take on management of the Air Spring Systems business unit; current manager Dr. Thomas Johannsen, who is credited for transforming the Air Spring Systems business unit from an air spring manufacturer located in Hanover, Germany into an international supplier of air spring systems with plants in six countries, has announced his impeding retirement. Mr. Schönberg's replacement has yet to be named.
The third running of the Michelin Green X Challenge gets underway in North America on March 19, and the tyre maker says the season opener at the Sebring circuit in Florida will offer “a glimpse into the future of technology and innovation that become more relevant every day.” The US based Green X Challenge recognises the Prototype and GT category cars that prove “cleanest, fastest, most efficient” in the “race within the race” at every American Le Mans Series event. Similar competitions are now also part of every Asian and European Le Mans Series event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.
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