OTR tyres Archives - Page 72 of 103 - Tyrepress

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Plenty of Room for Large Retreads

Just months ago, the earthmover tyre market faced production shortages so severe that manufacturers and vehicle operators alike were glad to fit any tyre they could find. Things are different now. At the end of February Tyres & Accessories met with OTR Tyres (OTR) production manager, Wayne Cornell, and asked how retreads are competing now the earthmover tyre market has switched from shortage to surplus.

The earthmover tyre shortage was great news for low cost tyre importers and retread manufacturers alike and those quick enough to react experienced significant sales increases. Now however, as the world’s media has reminded us all ad nauseam, the global financial crises has brought a recession in its wake that is affecting all areas of business. Construction was the first to feel the effect of the downturn in demand that has ensued, and at the time of going to a certain multinational mining company is negotiating with the Chinese government for investment. This in turn shows just how much the recession has slowed the growth – and therefore tyre needs – of key consumers. With OEMs and major end users requiring fewer tyres than before, tyre supply is much less of a problem. There are still some shortages giant tyres and some loader tyres, according to industry sources, but it’s a world apart from the situation 12 months ago.

2nd March 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

From Shearography to Pressure Testing

During the last decade Germany’s SDS has contribute to tyre quality via its Interferometric Tire Tester (ITT) range. The product line extends from applications for motorcycle, race, car, truck, bus and aircraft tyres through to special applications for OTR tyres with an outer diameter of up to 4.2 metres. But what exactly takes place during the SDS sheography process?

The ITT series’ state of the art technology employs “Speckle Shearing” through the use of a single or multiple closed measuring set-up that contains an interferometer with CCD camera and multiple laser diodes with integrated optics.

26th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Lays off 67 as US Off Road Tyre Demand Drops

The ripple effect from the downturn in North America’s construction industry is being felt by Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). In response to a decline in demand for construction equipment, BATO is decreasing production of its small and medium off road tyres, and as of March 1 will lay off 67 hourly workers at its Bloomington, Illinois facility.

According to Bridgestone, production must be reduced in order to better align this inventory with demand. “The dramatic downturn in the economy continues to plague every industry, including ours,” said Shawn Rasey, president, Off the Road Tire, U.S. & Canada, Commercial Tire Sales division, BATO.

17th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres to Receive OTR Investment Loan from BEML

In 2007 Apollo Tyres entered into an agreement to supply OTR tyres to Indian mining equipment manufacturer BEML, and on February 13 the tyre maker announced it will receive a Rs 1 billion (£14.45 million) loan from the state-owned enterprise to cover the costs of a new facility that will meet anticipated BEML demand. The first phase of Apollo’s new OTR tyre facility in Gujarat, being built at a total cost of Rs 1.2 billion (£17.34 million), will be dedicated to output for the equipment manufacturer. Further investments to boost the production of radial OTR tyres will also be made over the next three years, Apollo announced.

While the first batch of tyres from the new facility has already been shipped to BEML, the factory is expected to commence continuous production in March.

16th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Rösler Software Prevents Over or Under-Vulcanisation

Temperature and time are both crucial factors for the vulcanisation of rubber during both the mould and pre-cure retreading processes. For this reason, in October 2008 Germany’s Rösler Group founded an R&D department to work on developing specific software for accurately determining these two factors during vulcanisation. Rösler reports that its software has helped improve the quality and consistency of the products made by its two major retreading brands, Rodos and Schelkmann.

The mould cure process used by Rodos in the retreading of OTR tyres takes several hours to complete, and it is particularly important to precisely determine the curing time in connection with the curing temperature, as any unnecessary prolongation of the time will result in the rubber becoming over-vulcanised.

12th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Cut Production at North American Plants

In a move to reduce inventory at some of its facilities, Michelin North America is reducing production of selected product lines. The company has described these cuts, which will affect five North American plants, as coming “in response to the unprecedented deterioration in market conditions.”

“Market demand is down tremendously,” said Michelin spokeswoman Lynn Mann. “Consumers are being very careful in their purchases. They’re driving fewer miles. As fewer goods are shipped, commercial truckers are driving fewer miles.”

5th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BKT Bringing New OTR, Forestry Ranges to Tyrexpo Asia

BKT is the flagship business of India’s Siyaram Poddar Group, an organisation with a turnover in excess of US$ 550 million. In the 2007/08 financial year BKT itself enjoyed sales of more than $250 million, and the company has set itself an impressive goal – “Our vision is to obtain global leadership in off highway tyre solutions,” Arvind Poddar – vice chairman and managing director, Siyaram Poddar Group, told Tyres & Accessories.

5th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Shandong Linglong Aiming to Increase Sales 17.5% in 2009

Sales wise, last year was a good one for Shandong Linglong. The Chinese manufacturer of car, truck agricultural and OTR tyres reported for the first time ever sales in excess of RMB 10 billion. The company’s 2008 sales, which reached a total of RMB 10.2 billion, (£1.03 billion) in the words of general manager Mr. Feng Wang, “not only exceeded our expectations but also hit a new historical high.”

2nd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Closing Mixing Plant

The Richmond, Virginia, Times-Dispatch reported that Goodyear will close its rubber mixing plant in Radford, Va. The plant mixes rubber stock for Goodyear factories, the report said. Goodyear laid off 31 workers at the plant in December; the remaining 18 employees will be cut when the plant is closed on 30 January. The mixing plant had been owned and operated by Brad Ragan Inc. before Goodyear bought it.

Separately, news reports said that Goodyear was instituting one-week partial shutdowns at its Topeka, Kansas, truck and OTR tire plant. The shutdowns, Goodyear said, will come in February and March. (Tire Review/Akron)

28th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

OTR Tyres Orders ‘Pneu’ Data Capture System

OTR Tyres a leading international earthmover tyre specialist has integrated an RFID-based data capture system into their tyre management system – TotalTyreLogic. According to the company, this is the world’s first commercially available, fully electronic, inspection and tyre management system.

The data capture system has been developed in partnership with Derbyshire based Pneu-Logic and is reportedly the first part of a multi-phase technology programme planned between OTR and Pneu-Logic. It involves using a handheld device to electronically capture and transmit tyre pressure and tread depth and wirelessly input it into OTR’s TyreLogic tyre management system.

23rd January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Dunlop UK Combines Farm/OTR and Truck Divisions

Goodyear Dunlop UK has announced the combination of its Farm and OTR department with its Truck department. As part of this change, Andy Morris, who was previously the director of Farm and OTR, will take on the new role of commercial sales manager. Morris is a 33-year Goodyear Dunlop veteran, and the company notes that he led the Farm department into a profitable position, crafting a skilled and specialised sales team.

14th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Europa Tyres Becomes UK OTR Brand Distributor

Europa Tyres has announced that as of 1 January, 2009 that it has become the UK’s (except NI) Official Master Distributor for the OTR brand of tyres.

OTR was set up in 1987 by Fred Taylor in Rome Georgia, where it began to manufacture and distribute wheels and tyres to the Southeast of America. In 1995, the organisation set up another new company called Blackstone, which specialised in the aerial lift industry. Since then, it has expanded with nine new facilities opening worldwide. The manufacturer hopes to become fully world integrated over the next few years, with a programme of investment continuing.

12th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Zeus Releases Tri-Lingual Brochure Range

OTR and industrial tyre filling and puncture proofing solutions supplier Zeus has published a range of information brochures that offer a helpful introduction to the fundamental technologies employed in its products and their application and benefits. The brochures are initially available in English, French and German.

8th January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

OTR Tyres Integrates Data Capture System

OTR Tyres is hoping to offer customers a chance to preserve the scarce supply of earthmover tyres by including a new tyre data capture system into its tyre management system, TotalTyreLogic. The company says that the new addition makes it the world’s first commercially available, fully electronic, inspection and tyre management system.

3rd December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bigwheel OTR Reports 57-inch Retread Breakthrough

Big Wheel OTR (BWOTR) is laying claim to being the world’s first retreader to successfully pre-cure retread 4000R57-sized OTR tyres. “We take great pride in the appearance and quality of our pre-cured retread, because it speaks of the expert skill and infinite care we take in ensuring that these liners perform as promised”, declared managing director Albert Ngok.

BWOTR’s successful retreading of 4000R57-sized OTR tyre reflects the company’s determination to provide solutions to large OTR tyre shortage. To gauge the tyres performance, BWOTR enlisted the help of its Australian distributor, Earthmover Tyres International (Earthmover).

26th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors