Product Development
TMD Friction given its Mintex brand a facelift including a global roll out of new brand identity, packaging and advertising.
According to the company, the strapline ‘Braking With Tradition’ plays on words to reflect the company’s commitment to safer braking whilst alluding to a programme of continuous product development that safely stops the cars of millions of families across the world.
Chinese tyre firm Techking has announced it is released an 11R22.5 Super DM tyre designed for mixed road service. According to the company, the groove width has been increased and as a result stones will be much more easily pushed out. Furthermore, broader tread and thicker under-groove rubber have been added in order to ensure the “good performance on rough terrain” as well as prolonging mileage.
ADAC Nordrhein has announced the scheduling of a Qualifying Race for the 24h Nürburgring on 5-6 April 2014. Walter Hornung, race director of the ADAC Zurich 24h Race and head of motorsports at ADAC Nordrhein, explained that the idea was to offer teams an “optimum testing opportunity… without the pressure of a championship.”
More manufacturers are selecting Yokohama’s flagship environmental BluEarth tyres for their model ranges, according to the company. Manufacturers such as Toyota, Lexus and Honda have all chosen the products as original equipment on some of the most recent additions to the range of hybrid and environmentally-friendly vehicles.
It has been a good year for Maxxis’ parent company Cheng Shin Rubber, according Maxxis International UK managing director Derek McMartin. The fact that headcount is up more than 10 per cent to 30,000 and that the company has announced in the last year or so that it is investing in three new factories (Xiamen, Chongqing and Taiwan). The Taiwan project is said to have achieved phase one output of 27,000 tyres a day already, which will rise to 100,000 tyres a day a full capacity (phase four).
One size fits all is a poor solution when it comes to clothing, and it’s also an unacceptable compromise for tyres. What’s good for one market may gain a lukewarm reception in the next. For this reason Giti Tire, like other tyre majors, designs and manufactures market-specific products. This commitment to delivering tyres tailored to regional conditions and preferences was given a significant boost this year with the establishment of new research and development centres in the US and Germany. Towards the end of October, Tyres & Accessories visited Giti Tire’s new European Research and Development Centre just north of Hannover to find out more about the new facility and the people who’ll lead it.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is preparing to present what it claims will be the largest agricultural tyre on the market in terms of footprint and tread width. The giant IF900/65R46 TM1000 High Power tyre will be available to view on the stand at Agritechnica between 10 and 16 November 2013 in Hannover, Germany.
Continental will pursue the principle of making commercial vehicle tyres go further for customers with its synergetic TBR retreading facility named the ContiLifeCycle Plant. Announced in 2012 and due to open in Hannover-Stöcken later in 2013, the 10 million euro-plus plant is set to become the world’s first plant to integrate rubber recycling with hot and cold retreading, and will create more than 100 new jobs at Conti’s headquarters. Tyrepress got in touch with Christian Saas, Conti’s director Retread Business Commercial Vehicle Tires, to get the latest information on the plant prior to it coming on line.
In addition to unveiling its new Zeon CS Sport, on Wednesday morning Cooper Tire Europe gave word that it has recruited David Coulthard as its UHP range brand ambassador. The ex-Formula One and DTM driver, who now fronts the BBC's F1 coverage, will represent the tyre maker until the end of 2016 at key events and also offer technical advice and feedback to the company's product development team, as he did for the Zeon CS Sport.
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.
Operations at Bridgestone Asia Pacific’s new technical centre are now underway following its official opening on 13 August. During the opening ceremony, Bridgestone’s senior vice-president Yoshiyuki Morimoto stated that the new Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Center – the Japanese company’s first in the region, excluding Japan and China – will provide technical support across the region and will enable Bridgestone to more quickly respond to customer needs.
Moulded polyurethane and rubber wheels and tyre manufacturer Stellana US Inc. has appointed a new industrial sales manager. Jack Garcyznski joined the company on 1 July and is responsible for developing sales of custom poured polyurethane parts throughout the United States.
Exol Lubricants, the UK’s largest lubricants blender, has appointed Robert Lundie as technical support specialist. Exol says Lundie will be responsible for supporting customers and the Exol sales team with product recommendations and advice on the correct oil for a specific application. Furthermore, he is tasked with writing technical and laboratory reports and ensuring Exol's product quality remains of the highest standard possible.
These days it seems every tyre maker and his dog participate in motorsport. This is fine of course, and a good way to boost brand awareness. But serving as a tyre supplier involves considerable product development costs, not to mention the logistics and planning associated with each championship round. And motorsport sponsorship only reaches a particular target audience – unless, as we’ve seen throughout this year, in cases where the tyre supplier finds itself on the receiving end of negative media attention.
A number of tyre manufacturers have launched new products at Tyrexpo India 2013 in Chennai this week. Aeolus, BKT, Emrald and TVS Tyres have all introduced commercial tyres for applications from truck to OTR. Amongst these, Aeolus is notable for being one of a number of Chinese manufacturers making their debut in India. It is joined by its compatriots Hangzhou Zhonce, Linglong and Wanda Boto.
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