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Dunlop Aircraft Tyres strengthens manufacturing, testing with ex-Yokohama equipment

Birmingham’s Dunlop Aircraft Tyres facility has announced that it has taken delivery of manufacturing and testing equipment acquired from The Yokohama Rubber Company. The Japanese firm, which Dunlop says had a strong reputation in Japan for manufacturing and retreading aircraft tyres, withdrew its brand from this sector of the market last year. “By acquiring this equipment we will enhance our global manufacturing capability and put Dunlop Aircraft Tyres in a strong position to expand its product range,” said the company’s chairman, Ian Edmondson.

22nd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas’ Tom Rodgers takes on expanded role

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations has promoted Tom Rodgers to the role of director of Sales and Marketing, Agricultural Tire, US & Canada Commercial Tire Sales Division (BAAG). In his expanded role, Rodgers’ primary objective will be to manage the channel supply strategy between the company’s original equipment and replacement markets. In addition, he will work with sales personnel to continue providing technology and service to and through the company’s original equipment customers and Certified Dealer network to meet the needs of production agriculture. The former director Marketing, Sales Support and Strategic Management at BAAG will also continue with his existing marketing duties, including responsibility for Marketing and Promotions, Sales Support, Budgeting and Forecasting, Pricing, Product Development, and Field Engineering.

7th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Eurotire says “Romanian OTR plant is complete”

New York based mining tyre company Eurotire – not to be confused with European distributor Eurotyre – has announced the completion of its OTR manufacturing plant at Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania, which was first announced in 2007. The company says US$300m was invested, with “nearly 1,000,000 sq ft of high-tech manufacturing and product development space” available at the facility. Information on the capacity of the plant, the product lines manufactured there and the markets products from the plant will be shipped to has not yet been passed to tyrepress.com.

22nd February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Tire USA appoints new COO

Toyo Tire USA (TTC) has hired former Pentel of America chief operating officer Marty Furman as the company’s new COO. In his new role, Furman will manage all functional departments at TTC, including Technical Services, Sales, Marketing, and Pricing. He will report directly to company president and CEO Yasushi Takagi.

1st February 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres appoints former Cooper man technical director

Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has appointed Marcus Hancock as technical director. Hancock has 21 years’ experience in the tyre industry and joins Dunlop from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe, where he was general manager for the company’s European Technical Centre with responsibility for overseeing all product development for the region. The company’s former technical director Martin Pye has moved into a new role as head of original equipment sales. He will seek to strengthen Dunlop’s relationship with, and secure new business from customers, including airframers and landing gear manufacturers.

31st January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

2010 a Record Year for Infinity Tyres

Infinity Tyres Europe reports that 2010 was the brand’s biggest ever sales year both in terms of unit sales and turnover. Company representatives told Tyres & Accessories that there were a number of prevailing factors contributing to the achievement including: a prominent presence in Hall 3 at Reifen 2010; a new, clear brand concept “Welcome to Infinity World”; heavy multi-lingual national trade press advertising campaign; focus on key patterns, key sizes and competitive pricing.

21st January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Tyre Machinery Maker BJ Hanch Looks to Export Markets

Current annual production stands at 100 units a year, with annual turnover totalling 400 million yuan. The main customers, which include names known to European tyre import business such as Shandong Jinyu and Yongtai Chemical, reside within the People's Republic. Less than 10 per cent of production is exported.

That said the company reports that it plans to develop its export business depending on market conditions. The intention is to further develop the “excellent local support” the company's products and services have been receiving before moving into the export business. In the meantime domestic demand is described as a “more than sufficient opportunity.”

13th January 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Holds Topping Off Ceremony for US Technical Centre

After nine months of construction, on November 18 the final steel beam was hoisted into place on the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO) state-of-the-art Technical Center in Akron, Ohio in a small topping off ceremony. This final beam to be manoeuvered into place bore the signatures of many employees at the current technical centre, many of whom watched its installation via web conference. The beam is situated at the highest point of the US$100 million dollar facility.

22nd November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone’s “Duke” Returning to Japan

At the end of this year the chairman of the Bridgestone Americas (BSAM) Board of Directors, Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, is to return to Japan in order to commence a new assignment within Bridgestone Corporation. As of January 1, 2011, Nishiyama will be promoted to vice president and senior officer, responsible for International Tire Business Operations, Bridgestone Corporation (BSJ).

15th November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Metzeler Renews National Superstock Tyre Supply Agreement

Pirelli recently renewed its tyre supply commitments to the British Superbike (BSB) and Supersport Championships, and now the company’s Metzeler brand has been confirmed as the control tyre supplier for the 1000ccc and 600cc National Superstock championships for a further five years. The German based manufacturer says these two “important production based classes within the prestigious MCE British Superbike series” have great importance as they offer Metzeler the chance to demonstrate the quality of its ‘over the counter’ tyres.

12th November 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Van Service Award a 2010 Hat-Trick for Kwik-Fit Fleet

A concerted focus on helping businesses reduce operating costs and improve efficiency has helped Kwik-Fit Fleet secure a third award for 2010, this time from industry publication Fleet Van. At the Fleet Van Awards 2010 ceremony, held in London on October 6, the fast-fit provider was confirmed as this year’s Van Service and Repair Company of the Year. The latest gong to come Kwik-Fit Fleet’s way joins accolades earned in the BusinessCar Awards and from LeasePlan UK earlier in the year.

8th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Giti Tire Doubles MIRA Testing Operation

Giti Tire has doubled the size of its European test centre, based at the MIRA research facilities in Warwickshire by both expanding its garage space and staff numbers at the test track. The development, which comes not much more than two years after the company embarked on its European research and development programme there, reflects the company’s determination to significantly increase sales and further develop its products to compete with longer established brand names.

As a result of the investment Giti has made, the company’s operation is now amongst the largest tyre testing programmes operating at MIRA. Speaking to Tyres & Accessories during a recent truck tyre demonstration day, company representatives explained that this UK-based European testing operation is increasingly adopting the position of a global centre as it now tests products for the US and various other global markets as well as its European mainstay. In addition the test centre has reportedly played host to the engineers from the firm’s Indonesian and Chinese production bases. Furthermore, the experienced test team that has been established under the leadership of the company’s European Technical Centre head, Eddie Young, has also begun bi-annual winter tyre testing at respected centres in Finland and New Zealand.

1st October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Increases Ply Rating With Latest Forest King F Size

In introducing the newest size in its Forest King F range, Nokian Tyres has described it as the “world’s strongest forest tyre”. Intended for fitment on CTL (cut-to-length) harvesters, the range has been extended to include size 710/45-26.5, the first tyre in the line-up to have a Ply Rate of 24. Nokian states that the cross-ply tyre “offers the best available reliability and load-bearing capacity for modern harvesters and forwarders.”

6th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti: HTL 2 Eco-Plus Offers ‘Top Economy’

The introduction of the new HTL 2 Eco-Plus long-distance trailer tyre sees Continental complete its new tyre product range for international long-distance transport that the firm has been successively launching since 2009. By using a casing and tread pattern that is configured for long-distance transport, this trailer tyre is designed to combine further optimized furl consumption figures with “considerably extended life.” According to the company, Continental’s latest truck offering also complements the HSL 2 steer axle and HDL 2 drive axle tyres that have already been successfully launched. The latest development sees the company add the XL extra load carrying designation to its product line, enabling it to carry heavier axle weights.

1st September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Infinity: July Was a Record Month

Infinity Tyres has reported that July 2010 was its best ever sales month. According to the company turnover for the month represented a massive 60 per cent year-on-year increase. Infinity sales are said to be tracking so that by the end of September 2010, after nine months, the company will have already surpassed 2009’s full-year sales figures.

19th August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors