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Capacity has been expanded at the Turkish joint venture silica facility belonging to Evonik Industries AG. Following the addition of a new dryer, in operation since the second half of last year, capacity at Egesil AS in Adapazari, near Izmit, has been lifted to 40,000 tons a year. Growing demand for tyre silica in Europe is the key factor behind the decision to take such a measure.
Some tyres, most notably those designed for rugged, off-road purposes, sport particularly macho names: g-Force, Grabber, Wrangler, Couragia. It is, therefore, somewhat surprising that nobody has used the name Bear for a tyre. But one simply can’t, alas, walk into a tyre dealer and see a bear on display. Except perhaps in the US state of New Mexico.
Officers from New Mexico Game and Fish were called to a tyre centre in the town of Estancia on June 18 after being notified that a brown bear was peacefully snoozing in front of an air conditioning unit. Officers managed to trap the bear without undue drama and take it away to a nearby forested area.
When relating his experience to local media, centre owner Rick Lopez commented that the bear “almost looked like he had fake paws on because they were so big.” The bear was last seen loping into the woods; T&A have been unable to confirm whether its paws were genuine or fake.
The largest importer and exporter of passenger car tyres in Europe is Inter-Sprint. The Dutch company has approximately 250 permanent employees and growth in recent years had made the construction of a second premises in the town of Moerdijk necessary – the original site at Heinenoord, near Rotterdam, lacked sufficient space for adequate expansion. At the new site Inter-Sprint has the room it needs to develop a brand new 68,000 square metre facility, which it will do in phases. Significant extensions are planned for 2009.
Inter-Sprint is able to offer its customers a huge range of products that includes the major ‘A’ brands plus numerous private labels, including Milestone, Euro Tyfoon, Mastersteel, Roadhog and Meteor. The company also stocks a number of exclusive labels, amongst them the Viking brand of summer and winter pcr and lcv tyres, produced by Continental and exclusively distributed by Inter-Sprint in the Netherlands and several other European markets.
One of the leading manufacturers of systems for non-destructive tyre testing based on Interferometric Shearography, SDS Systemtechnik of Calw, Germany is celebrating 10 years in business this year. Since its foundation in 1998, the company has grown steadily. Starting with a staff of 10, Stefan Dengler’s original tyre-testing mechanism – built in the early 1990s – was used as the basis for serial-built machines of greater complexity. At the end of 2007, the number of installations had increased to over 300 with 20 employees, representatives across the globe and a new production hall in Calw.
In addition to the 10-year growth of the company, SDS has taken great pains to remain at the technological forefront of the industry. The organisation has optimised existing installations, bringing the latest technology to tyre testing machinery, providing up-to-date conditions in which tyres can be put through their paces. The company has developed its computer and laser technology, successfully applying for a range of patents and pushing forwards the quality and performance of its machinery.
The Rubber Chemicals business unit of Lanxess AG is increasing prices for the antioxidants (Vulkanox), accelerators (Vulkacit) and specialties (Vulkazon, Coagulant, KS 95) as of July 1, 2008. Increases will be in the range of up to US$1,200 per tonne, depending on the product and region. The company reports that continued cost increases have, in spite of cost-cutting programmes previously introduced, made a price rise unavoidable.
Michelin reports healthy OE sales of radial truck tyres throughout Europe in May and for the 2008 year to date. Sales for the month were 11.2 per cent greater than those of a year earlier. Sales were significantly weaker in the replacement market, were a decline of 12.5 per cent on May 2007 was reported, and in both the OE and replacement segments of the European market. During the month unit sales for these dropped 4.9 and 4.3 per cent respectively. Sales of OE passenger car tyres for the period between January and the end of May, contrary to the month’s figures, were up 3.1 per cent, while the replacement sales dropped 1.9 per cent. Truck tyre OE sales increased 14.3 per cent in Europe between January and May, while sales in the replacement market was down 4.6 per cent on the five-month period of 2007.
Korea’s Hankook Tire has released details of its plans for an annual total of “at least 12.5 million euros” research and development spending on eco-friendly technology in the coming years. The company noted the industry trend towards decreased rolling resistance and fuel consumption as key concepts to be investigated using the money, while ensuring the sustainability of the manufacturing operation will also take up a key position in the ongoing research.
The announcement, prompted by the current climate of environmental awareness, is set to more than treble Hankook’s current fund for eco-conscious research, with the figure boosted to 0.5 per cent of the manufacturer’s global annual revenue – an increase of 350 per cent. Reportedly the world’s “fastest growing tyre manufacturer”, the firm’s commitment to R&D in this sector is designed to meet the growing demand of the market for ever-greater levels of environmental friendliness.
A new private label tyre company based in Oregon, USA has launched its first product, one with an interesting twist. Icon Tire’s new I/Q LT7 line features what the company calls “Visual Tire Performance Indicators” (VTPI), stud-like devises designed to help drivers see when a tyre has worn to its removal mileage.
Icon said the new tyres and system will be available to dealers and retailers by the end of this year. Initially there will be 12 sizes, Icon said, focused on minivans and SUVs. Icon said the new line was “developed through a non-exclusive license of Smart Tread LLC’s patented performance testing and identification method, and Icon’s patent pending stud design.”
Falken Tyres recently invited UK tyre retailers to Germany’s legendary motor racing circuit, the Nürburgring, for a weekend of motorsport. Micheldever Tyres, the UK’s exclusive distributer of the Japanese manufacturer’s products, were joined by dealers from across the UK as guests of Falken for the annual Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club’s 24-Hour race.
As one of the fastest-growing brands within Europe, Falken have made their presence felt in the UK especially with the release of the Assymetric 912 range. During the weekend, retailers commented on the exceptionally high customer satisfaction gained from buyers of the 912 Supertyre. Additional praise for Falken came from Micheldever’s Sales Director, Alan Baldwin: “Product quality is as expected of a top six world manufacturer…2008 has seen a significant increase in our Falken sales.”
It appears American Tire Corporation (ATC) still holds a strong interest in acquiring the Goodyear OTR tyre facility in Kansas, USA. To follow on from the letter sent to Goodyear regarding this on April 21, ATC is organising a number of information events and has invited a number of senior Goodyear exports to speak at these. These speeches are due to be held at the ATC facility in California on June 23 and “thereafter”, a press release from ATC states.
A more efficient use of production capacity should see tyre output increase by 7 per cent this year at Belshina. The Belarus based company is reported to be planning an upgrade of its existing processing lines and the introduction of a new tyre assembly system. Its output of OTR tyres is also set to expand following the commissioning of an OTR radial assembly system supplied by the VMI Group. The system can accommodate tyres between sizes 17.5 R25 and 24.0 R35, although it will be principally used for manufacturing 21.0 R35 and 24.0 R35 size tyres suitable for rigid dumper applications. Belshina will reportedly increase output to just under 28,500 units per year, with 37 new sizes and types introduced by 2010.
The Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it is to promote its recycled tyre business through Bandag, a new retail chain based on their retreading business acquisition of last year: the US firm Bandag Tire Solutions. The chain will look to employ the technology of Bandag Tire Solutions to retread around 10,000 tyres every year. Bridgestone plan to open its first new Bandag depot by the end of the year, and to spread the presence of the chain to 20 over the next three to four years. Each one will be the subject of a 100 million yen investment.
An independent analysis carried out to compare the relative carbon footprints of new tyres and retreaded tyres has concluded that the process required to manufacture and distribute a retreaded tyre produces significantly less carbon emissions than that required to produce a new tyre. The report, commissioned for the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse (embedded within Oakdene Hollins Ltd) and carried out by carbon footprint specialists Best Foot Forward, compares the carbon footprint of a new and a retread 17.5” tyre for use by light commercial vehicles.
This study showed that the manufacture of a 17.5” new tyre produces 86.9 kg CO2 emissions compared to 60.5 kg CO2 for an equivalent retread tyre, a saving of 26.4 kg. This equates to a reduction of emissions by 30 per cent.
Netherlands based industrial tyre specialist Bandengroothandel Mast placed a particular emphasis upon its expanded range of very large, heavy tyres for port and quarry duties at Reifen 2008. A key product on display was the large industrial tyre from Tianli, the HarbourMaster. This item, says Mast, attracted much attention from visitors at the show. Company director, Sander Mast, stated: “During the past eighteen months we have extensively increased our activity within the large industrial sector of the market and can provide a very flexible and diverse selection of large patterns and sizes for busy port and quarry and mining environments. The Tianli HarbourMaster is a specialist harbour tyre complete with an L5 compound and extra deep tread which has already been very well received around the world in busy port working environments.”
A US$90 million investment is planned for Michelin North America’s facility in Lexington, South Carolina. The additional capital will be used to upgrade plant equipment and expand capacity at the site’s passenger car and OTR tyre factories. The news was announced by the company during a ceremony held in the region on June 19, at which it thanked local public officials and development agencies for their support of Michelin’s continued growth in Lexington.
“Lexington has been a great place for Michelin to produce some of the best tyres in the world,” said Jim Micali, chairman and president, Michelin North America, Inc. “And, we hope that Michelin has been equally good for Lexington County. We especially thank the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the chairman and members of the Lexington County Council, without whose support this investment would not be possible. Their efforts directly impact Michelin’s ability to expand manufacturing at this site and to continue to provide quality jobs in Lexington.”
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