Pirelli Tire North America introduced its 2010 specification P Zero Racing Slick at Daytona International Speedway during December tire tests in preparation for January’s Rolex 24 event. The two-day test on December 8 and 9 gave teams and drivers the opportunity to test the new HAOF (highly aromatic oil-free) racing slicks – Grand-Am’s first foray into what Pirelli calls ‘green Performance’.
Following the closure of a share swap agreement between Slovak Republic based CBp Carbon Industries, Inc and US company Carbon Green Inc. (formerly known as Neema Inc.), both companies will effectively hold an ownership stake in CBp Carbon subsidiary Greenwood Commerce Ltd, who now holds the worldwide exclusive ownership rights to a proprietary technology that allegedly enables the by-products of tyre pyrolysis to be converted into recovered steel, a diesel equivalent oil that can be employed to generate green electricity in many countries, a nano-particle compound said to be a tyre industry-tested and accepted competitive substitute for commercial carbon black, and a clean-burning gas Greenwood will use to power its processing plants.
Interstate has announced that it has released its new eco-conscious tyre, the ECO Tour Plus. The tyre, as its name suggests, is particularly concerned with addressing ecological issues, such as lowering CO2 emissions through decreased rolling resistance. The company states that the tyre includes the development of materials technology called I-ECO combined with a new non-directional tread design. I-ECO, Interstate continues, produces a lower rolling resistance coefficient by reducing energy loss in the top compound during rotation. The new non-directional tread design features a connected block and a thin rib with strategically placed noise reducing ovals, which aims to enhance contact pressure and wet braking performance. All tyres are produced with the Interstate Clean-Oil.
During a meeting of Australia’s Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) on November 5, Australia’s state environment ministers agreed upon a new national policy on waste and resource management. This National Waste Policy sets the agenda for waste and resource recovery in Australia over the next decade, and as part of it the tyre industry will develop a scheme to increase waste tyre recycling in Australia.
Yokohama Tire Corporation's (YTC) eco-friendly dB Super E-specT tyre, which is made of 80 per cent non-petrol products, scored well in a recent low rolling resistance test conducted by US retailer Tire Rack. "The Tire Rack test shows that the dB Super E-spec, which introduces new technology in tyre materials and design, is noticeably better on all-around performance," said Mark Chung, YTC director, corporate strategy and planning. "Compared to standard tyres on a Prius, both the fuel efficiency and handling are improved, and compared with other conventional tyres that offer enhanced fuel efficiency, the dB Super E-Spec excels in driving performance.”
It’s been used as a reinforcement material in tyres for more than four decades, and now Kevlar has been tweaked to give it extra oomph. DuPont has introduced what it calls its DuPont Kevlar Advanced Performance (Kevlar AP) range of fibres – products that, despite a lighter weight, offer 15 per cent more strength than standard Kevlar fibres. The first cab off the rank in the new line-up is Kevlar K29 AP.
Cheshire based company BTR Limited has been ordered to pay £10,000 in fines and costs for its involvement in the illegal export of waste tyres to Vietnam. The case, taken by the Environment Agency, is the first ever taken under new regulations controlling the import and export of waste to the UK.
According to Bloomberg, Titan International Inc.’s bid to break into the oversized tyre market has hit a roadblock after tyres installed on trucks hauling Canadian oil sands lasted just 1 per cent as long as expected. In a telephone interview with the news service, Titan CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr said the company has halted production of the four metre tyres used on dump trucks in order to install pressure-monitoring devices. A number of tyres failed after 100 hours of work on the 400-ton trucks used to haul oil-soaked sand for Royal Dutch Shell Plc and other energy companies in Alberta, a far cry from the minimum expected lifespan of 10,000 hours, he said.
Come October, Goodyear Tire & Rubber will have a new general counsel following the announcement of incumbent C. Thomas Harvie’s imepnding retirement. Mr. Harvie will retire on October 31 following more than 14 years in the position; Goodyear’s Board of Directors have elected David L. Bialosky, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of TRW Automotive Holdings as his successor. Bialosky will join Goodyear in late September.
Yokohama Tire Corporation has effectively re-invented the tyre. This bold statement, made in a company press release, refers to the US market launch of Yokohama’s dB Super E-spec passenger car tyre, winner of a Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award at the Last November’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The new tyre, which Yokohama refers to as “the world’s first orange oil-infused passenger tyre,” is composed of 80 per cent non-petroleum based materials. These are, specifically, a mixture of sustainable orange oil and natural rubber.
Ellsin Environmental Ltd has ordered prototype reverse polymerisation technology from Environmental Waste International Inc’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary, EWI Rubber Inc. Under a signed Prototype Agreement EWIR will build a TR900 system for $4.175 million, about 80 per cent of the $5.25 million total project cost. Based on EWI’s patented reverse polymerisation process, the system is designed to break down at least 900 tyres a day and recover carbon black, oil and steel, while producing its own power from the off-gases. As part of the agreement, EWIR will grant Ellsin all available territorial rights for the TR technology in Canada and the United States, subject to future performance requirements.
Tyre shop equipment and consumables specialists, Sunborne Solutions recently introduced “liquid gloves” to the garage and tyre bay business. Imagine the normal latex gloves used for messy oil changes and air conditioning services, only this time in a bottle. According to Sunborne, the new product “will replace most of the uses Latex gloves were designed for with a plus.”
Liquid Gloves have been used in the home and the health service for a few years now. When first introduced into the UK they were designed for domestic and medical use and the product is still being used for medical purposes by people that suffer with eczema, dry skin, calluses etc. Now, however, according to the company, Liquid Gloves is now ready for heavy industry use by mechanics, tyre fitters, aviation maintenance and ancillary medical support staff.
The patented Easy 3D wheel aligner from Beissbarth is the first of its kind and, says the company, offers workshops a completely new 3D wheel alignment method, comprising highly accurate cameras and an integrated reference system to ensure reliable results. Classic features of the Easy 3D include easy use, reliable technology that is robust and easily mobile – suitable for use with any lifting platform or wheel alignment pit.
Using the Easy 3D, one workshop technician needs roughly seven minutes to carry out precise wheel alignment on a car. This represents a time saving of 50 per cent compared with conventional devices. Accuracy is ensured by the use of two high-precision cameras per wheel. The sensors can be positioned wherever convenient in the workshop without time-consuming calibration. The Easy 3D wheel aligner is suitable for aligning all types of cars, through to light transporters and commercial vehicles. The standard indicators enable vehicles with a wheelbase of up to 340 centimetres to be aligned. With the larger rear indicators available as optional equipment, vehicles with a wheelbase of up to 430 centimetres can be aligned.
Hankook is stepping up its rally activities with plans to contest five rounds of the IRC this year ahead of a full championship assault in 2010. Hankook has joined forces with MSD to run the Opel Corsa OPC Super 2000 on five rounds of the IRC starting with Belgium Ypres Rally in June before tackling rounds in the Czech Republic, Spain, San Remo and Scotland.
Driving the Opel Corsa will be 33 year old Alex Bengue who has already tested the car with Hankook tyres. Bengue will also be supported this year by French oil company Yacco which has been a long term supporter of Bengue in France and at WRC level.
Norbar Torque Tools in Banbury has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade for its contribution to UK manufacturing exports. The family-owned business proudly claims to be the world’s top specialist manufacturer of torque tools and this year celebrates 67 successful years. The award highlights a success story in a sector that has generally experienced decline.
Norbar equipment is used in diverse industries including manufacturing, sub-sea, aerospace, energy, mining, and oil & gas. In the past six years the Company has almost doubled overseas earnings from its worldwide markets and now exports more than 73 per cent of its output. Norbar has distributors in over 60 countries as well as nine of its own sales and service branches around the world.
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