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Arcom Notes Increased Presence of Consortia

Arcom, based in Rzezawa, Poland reported an exceptionally busy stand at the Autopromotec Trade Fair in Bologna, saying that “although there is a global economic crisis this was not apparent to us in Bologna”. The company says that it had stands at the previous two fairs but found this occasion to be the most fruitful. In fact, Arcom continues, it was even more fruitful than the fair in Essen which is very specific to the tyre industry and after only two days the Arcom stand had more visitors than in a five day period in previous years. Most of these visitors were Italians, though the company also reports a significant international following too.

3rd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin PRM Report Examines Key Company Performance Areas

The fourth edition of the Michelin Group’s Michelin Performance and Responsibility (PRM) report is out. Focusing on the 2007-2008 period, this new report is a summary of the progress the company has achieved in its ‘Michelin Performance and Responsibility’ sustainable development approach – an approach designed around the five stages of the tyre’s life: tyre design, raw materials and purchasing, tyre manufacturing, commercialisation of tyres and tyres in use, and end-of-life recovery.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sumitomo Establishing Falken European Sales Company

News that has already been doing the rounds in the tyre world for several months has now been officially announced – in response to questions from Tyres & Accessories, Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd has confirmed the establishment of a new sales company for the European market. Called Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, the new company will be based in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, Germany (where the manufacturer’s European liaison office is already located) and will take over the Falken and Ohtsu brands in the European replacement tyre market from Goodyear Dunlop as of January 1, 2010.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Snaps Up Motor Transport Innovation Award

The Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane played host to some 1,300 road transport professionals on the evening of 1 July. The reason for this gathering of senior industry figures was of course the 23rd Motor Transport Awards, in which approximately 70 contenders vied for victory in the 16 award categories. Amongst this elite group was Michelin, who on the evening walked away with the Innovation Award, having beat off stiff competition from a trio of fellow finalists – white goods manufacturer Indesit UK, asset management specialist Amey, and a joint entry from B&Q and Ceva Logistics.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mitas/CGS Extends Size Range

Earlier this year Mitas a.s./CGS Tyres added a range of additional Continental SuperVolumeTyre sizes and the new 65 Series Mitas RD-03 to its portfolio. The company extended its successful SuperVolumeTyre range to include powerful machines which have over 180 hp by adding the rear axle size 710/75R42 and the matching 650/65R34 for the front to its portfolio. “The 710/75R42 size in our SVT range is designed for high-performance tractors with 300 hp and more,” explained Andrew Mabin, marketing and sales manager at Mitas/CGS.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Magna Tyre Releases New E4 and 240 Tonne Products

In June Dutch company Magna Tyres launched its MA04 E4 tyre. Developed specifically for mining, quarry and construction applications, this product is intended for 40 – 100 tons nominal payload off-highway trucks in order to help them keep materials moving at high volume with lower costs per ton. According to Magna, the new MA04 is “reliable, durable, dependable” and features “an aggressive tread pattern to ensure maximum traction.”

The release of the MA04 follows the earlier launch of another project for even larger 240 ton rigid dump trucks. The Magna MR420 is designed to offer lower cost per hour, long tyre life and outstanding protection. The MR420 E4 pattern is already available in three major sizes: 40.00R57; 36.00R51; and 33.00R51.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Coppid Hall Farm Switches From Goodyear to Michelin XMCL Tyres

Coppid Hall Farm on the Isle of Wight has switched to Michelin XMCL tyres on its JCB Loadall on the recommendation of local agricultural tyre specialist ATS Euromaster. The change in tyre policy was reportedly made after the previous set of tyres needed replacing after just 1,800 hours operation. As the workhorse around the dairy, the Loadall is said to clock up approximately 1,100 hours each year on tasks ranging from transporting cattle feed through to putting silage into the pits, as well as general duties around the 250 acre farm.

Harold George, owner of Coppid Hall Farm, says: “I’d previously seen as much as 3,000 hours out of a set of tyres on the telescopic handler, but this has steadily dropped off with the last two sets of Goodyear tyres, to 2,500 and 1,800 hours respectively. ATS Euromaster’s local agricultural specialist, Jim Wollweber, suggested we try Michelin XMCL tyres and after three months operation, I’m confident they are performing well and will deliver a significantly longer life.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

BKT Promotes All-Steel Radial OTR Tyres

Balkrishna Tyre (BKT) launched its latest range of OTR radials, which are sub-branded Earthmax at the Intermat show in April. At present they are available in SR 30 pattern E3/L3 tyres in 25-inch rim diameter and are the first Indian produced all steel casing radial tyre for earthmover application. According to the company, the first phase BKT is to extend the product line up to 35-inch diameter tyres in various patterns with multiple compound options. BKT has also increased its existing industrial and construction tyre range, with expansion of its radial industrial tractor tyre segment and launch of AT 621 pattern tyres for Backhoe loaders with special cut resistance compound & lug geometry.

BKT boasts a comprehensive range of industrial, construction, material handling and earthmoving tyres from 8’ to 51-inch rim diameters covering wide applications including underground mining tyres and specialized port application tyres. Now having ventured into the Radial OTR BKT representatives believe the company is “all geared up to make in-roads and widening its penetration in servicing this market.”

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Recycling Classic Tyres with the Stig

In other Vintage Tyre Supplies news, the Beaulieu based specialist comments that, in the current climate of “recycle and reuse”, the company is well aware of the need to dispose of worn out classic tyres in a responsible way. VTS reports that its tyres are always collected and processed by an ethical tyre processing company; many tyres reappear as children’s playgrounds, conveyer belts and even new car tyres.

Recently however, VTS has been able to use its old worn tyres in a different way, as part of the new “World of Top Gear” at the National Motor Museum, located just a hop, skip and a jump from Vintage Tyres’ headquarters.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

More than Just Rubber

No other tyres are submitted to as much stress as those fitted on earthmovers. As a result retreading these tyres requires specific experience and solutions, especially with regards to the development of the most appropriate compounds and tread patterns, says leading tread rubber, machinery and retread manufacturer Marangoni.

Earthmover and off-the-road tyres require compounds that have high resistance to mechanical stress and atmospheric agents, so as to guarantee the required working life. In many cases cut resistant compounds are needed, but at the same time the compounds must feature low hysteresis/heat generation (two technologically opposing characteristics when obtained using standard materials and processes). Consequently new reinforcing agents with specific characteristics need to be added.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

VTS Offers Fitment for Classic Citroën H

Mon Dieu, have owners of the unmistakeably French Citroën H van experienced difficulties sourcing their unusual metric sized tyres during the past few years. To remedy this Eiffel Tower sized problem, Vintage Tyre Supplies has been working closely with Dutch manufacturer Vredestein towards the goal of reintroducing an appropriate fitment.

The vintage tyre specialist reports that the 17R400 Vredestein Classic is now in stock at £117 + tax and is the only tyre currently available for these important classic vehicles that combines the correct size and load capacity

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

An Uphill Struggle?

Certain tyre industry players have suggested that the green shoots of recovery are already visible in the North American off-road and construction markets (see elsewhere in this feature for more on this) meaning recovery in some markets could begin as soon as this year. However, CECE (European Committee of Site Machinery Manufacturers Associations) figures show that the OE side of the business isn’t really expecting growth to return until 2011. According to the CECE, the machinery market peaked in 2007 with a record year, while 2008 – despite still being worth 30 billion euros across Europe – is characterised as “a crisis year.” Projections for 2009 suggest there will be a drop in orders of around 30 per cent on a European scale compared to the previous – some companies hit lows of 60 per cent in February 2009.

Now, you may be thinking that as far as the infrastructure/construction part of the OTR tyre business is concerned, much of the annual market volume is purchased through the replacement market. However, while these figures only relate directly to the original equipment part of the tyre business, the OEM business can also be seen as a barometer of confidence in the industry as a whole. After all, OEM sales are determined by general economic output and construction demand and if there is no construction work taking place, this will affect both OE and replacement tyre sales.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New Rhein Chemie Compounding Plant Now Fully Operational

Rhein Chemie reports that the new compounding plant build at its Mannheim-Rheinau site in southwest Germany is now in full operation – an event the Lanxess group subsidiary describes as a milestone in the company’s century-plus history. The facility will produce Rhein Chemie’s Rhenogran product line of pre-dispersed, polymer-bound rubber chemicals that are used to in the manufacture of tyres and other rubber items.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Releases Renewed Environmental Mission Statement

On behalf of its worldwide subsidiaries, Bridgestone Corporation has launched its renewed Bridgestone Group “Environmental Mission Statement”. This document refines and further develops the “Environmental Policy Statement” formally issued in 2002 and is intended to reaffirm Bridgestone’s commitment to environmental stewardship as stated in the Company’s Environmental Philosophy: “To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations.”

The renewed Environmental Mission Statement is comprised of two intertwined areas of focus – “Three Areas of Environmental Progress” and “Two Core Strategies for Growth” – that guide the Bridgestone Group’s environmental management activities.

2nd July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Global Natural Rubber Production Shows 2009 Decline

Production of natural rubber in the seven countries that account for 93 per cent of world supplies – Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka – is continuing to fall. Data covering the period to May 2009 indicated that natural rubber in Thailand (the country that supplies a third of the world’s requirements) dropped 22 per cent during the first four months of 2009 to 107,175 thousand tons. In the first five months of the year Malaysian output fell 28 per cent to 47,333 thousand tons due to a combination of factors including lower than anticipated rains which slowed tapping activity, poor export demand and an ongoing replanting programme. Replanting and the resultant reduction in tappable crop area were largely responsible for production in Vietnam declining 22 per cent year-on-year in the January to May period to 11,036 thousand tons, while natural rubber output in India fell nine per cent in the first five months of the year.

1st July 2009/by Tyrepress Editors