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Kumho opens new R&D headquarters

On 2 September, Kumho Tire opened a new research and development centre near the South Korean capital Seoul. Located in Yongin City and built over the course of five years, the centre covers a 34,873 square metre land area with a total floorspace of 22,823 square metres. This space is shared by a research building and testing facility. Approximately 600 researchers from Korea and abroad will be employed at the site and work with supercomputers, physical testing equipment, chemical and instrumental analysis equipment, performance research equipment and more to develop new products.

9th September 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin names new UK MD

Wayne Culbertson has been appointed managing director of Michelin Tyre Plc, replacing Eric Le Corre who has taken up the Paris-based position of head of public affairs.

5th August 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear provides ‘blimp’ update

During the past week, Goodyear marked what it calls an “important milestone in the company’s plans to replace its current fleet of blimps.” Workers installed a new envelope over the aluminium and carbon fibre framework of the first of its new-design airships. Although they will still most likely be referred to as blimps, the new craft are semi-rigid airships and are being supplied by Germany’s ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik. Personnel from Zeppelin, along with a Goodyear team, are building the airship at Goodyear’s hangar in Suffield, Ohio.

15th July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Honda plots F1 return from new Milton Keynes base

Following confirmation of a return to Formula One for the 2015 season in May, Honda has announced that it will base its European racing operation in Milton Keynes. Honda says the new facility will be the European frontline operation for its F1 participation, a joint project with McLaren to supply the power unit, including the engine and energy recovery system. It will rebuild and maintain power units developed at the Honda R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, while its trackside support operations from this new European office.

12th July 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Giti Tire appoints former Michelin director as German head

Giti Tire has appointed former Michelin director, Rainer Harter as general manager D-A-CH with lead responsibility for German, Austrian and Swiss markets. He is tasked with developing passenger car business following the manufacturer’s structured retail approach across its GT Radial, Primewell and Runway brands, along with building truck and bus business in the mid-range segment with a focus on creating added-value services for fleets.

24th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

GT Radial R&D investments supporting higher performance products

Established as a leading Chinese tyre brand, GT Radial continues to develop higher performance products through an increasing emphasis on R&D investment, and, in the UK specifically, with its brand experience days for dealers hosted by the company’s European Testing Centre at Mira. Tyres & Accessories’ visit, where the performance of TBR and off-road 4×4 products were demonstrated by the company’s test drivers alongside the highest performing PCR models that are the focus of this article. When T&A spoke with ETC head Eddie Young, who is involved with GT Radial manufacturer Giti Tire’s R&D operations around the world, he played up the growing strength of the brand in this area, which now has close to 300 full-time R&D personnel. The strategy of hiring ex-pats from premium brands has led to an experienced, multinational knowledge base, which is allowing GT Radial to pursue cross-segment original equipment goals in Europe, where it “is already competing for PCR” deals, according to Young.

19th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian publishes CSR report

Nokian Tyres has published its first Corporate Sustainability Report to have been drawn up according to GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) guidelines; the report describes the goals, plans, actions, and results of the group’s sustainability programme during 2012. Added perspective has been introduced by describing Nokian Tyres’ activities from the past few years.

14th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Exide files for bankruptcy

On 10 June, Exide Technologies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. This is the second time it has done so since the Millennium; in April 2002 the stored electrical solutions company also submitted a Chapter 11 application in the District of Delaware. Exide says it took this step to “facilitate the financial and operational restructuring necessary to strengthen its balance sheet and its business to position the company for future success.” It also says it intends to “become more aggressive in reducing costs, taking actions with respect to underperforming business segments and focusing on the most attractive areas for future growth.” Only the company’s operations in the United States are affected by the filing, and Exide Technologies confirms that it plans to “operate globally without interruption during the reorganisation.”

11th June 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop may end tyre manufacturing at Fort Dunlop in 2014

Despite an illustrious history dating back to 1917, 30 May could mark the end of an era for Dunlop as officials confirmed that its motorsports tyre manufacturing operation will have to find a new home away from the historic Fort Dunlop site from 2014 if their new landlord doesn't lease it back to them again. According to the landlord, Canmoor, the site has been sold to neighbouring Jaguar Land Rover. Therefore it looks likely that Dunlop Aircraft Tyres (a completely separate company from Goodyear Dunlop) will be the only tyre manufacturing operation remaining in Birmingham after the end of the current lease. Dunlop's annual motorsport tyre output is currently believed to be around 200,000 units. 180 manufacturing staff are employed there along with roughly 120 tyre testing, sales and marketing personnel.

31st May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Q&A with Gary Nash, president of Yokohama Tire Mexico

Yokohama Tire Corporation’s (YTC) new Yokohama Tire Mexico (YTMX) subsidiary officially began importing consumer, commercial and off-the-road (OTR) tyres in Mexico on 1 May. Incorporated in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico, according to the company, YTMX is squarely positioned to give YTC long-term strategic advantages. With this in mind YTMX’s president, Gary Nash, answered questions about what those advantages are, the long-term vision for the company and the positive impact dealers can expect.

31st May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

"Greater Efficiency" – How Siemens can support tyre industry vulcanisation

Vulcanisation is known to be bottleneck in tyre production that can significantly influence a factory’s output. Siemens specialises in the field of automation and as such it aims to provide the tyre industry with “greater efficiency” in this particular area. The company displayed its product range at February’s Tire Technology Expo in Cologne, Germany, and Tyres & Accessories spoke with Stefan Morgenstern, senior business development manager for the company’s Industry Automation division, about the ways Siemens can enhance efficiency in the tyre manufacturing process.

13th May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo supporting BAMA race series

Toyo Tires has announced its support of the British Army Motorsport Association (BAMA) through the supply of discount tyres to Army racers throughout the season. Toyo will also provide prizes for successful competitors and set-up advice.

13th May 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper breaks ground on Kunshan R&D centre

On 12 April, Cooper Kunshan Tire broke ground on its new Asia-Pacific Technology Center in China. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by Chuck Yurkovich, Cooper’s vice-president of Global Research and Development, Allen Tsaur (Cao Kechang), vice-president and general manager, Cooper Asia Operations, along with regional and government representatives.

17th April 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Huw Lewis signs Michelin Certified Centre 2013 agreement

Huw Lewis Tyres, a family run tyre dealer with three sites in and around Aberystwyth, became the first independent tyre dealer to sign a long term contract with Michelin in March. The agreement follows a partnership begun in the second half of 2012 with ATS Euromaster, for whose fleet customers Huw Lewis Tyres provides local services. From the acquisition of the former ATS Euromaster Aberystwyth site in 2009, the tyre retailer has since expanded to three sites with Lampeter and Machynlleth run by Lewis’s two sons – all this merely seven years after Huw started his business.

4th April 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Noji named new Yokohama North America boss

Yokohama Rubber has announced three personnel changes that will take effect on 1 May.

Hikomitsu Noji has been appointed CEO of the tyre maker’s US operation, Yokohama Tire Corporation, and CEO of Yokohama Corporation of North America. Noji retains the title of president and representative director of parent company Yokohama Rubber. Noji is expected to travel to the United States regularly in his new role but will remain based at Yokohama Rubber’s headquarters in Tokyo.

3rd April 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors