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Government to Offer Electric Car Subsidies

Business secretary Peter Mandelson and transport secretary Geoff Hoon have given details of the government’s vision to promote ultra low carbon transport – in other words electric cars – over the next five years. This involves a headline subsidy for consumers worth £2000 – £5000 towards buying their first electric and plug-in hybrid cars when they hit the showrooms.

The consumer incentives will be introduced in 2011 to coincide with when the government expects electric and plug in hybrid cars to enter the mass market. To be eligible cars would need to meet modern safety standards and have a range and top speed sufficient to give mass market appeal.

16th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MPs Back Scrappage Scheme

A cross party group of 25 MPs has written to Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson, asking for immediate action to support the vehicle component industry, including a car scrappage scheme like the systems that have been successfully running in Germany and France. According to the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), the component industry employs some 100,000 people who now face a bleak future because of the economic downturn. However, the group of MPs suggest that targeted measures could help turn the situation around.

The highest profile suggestion is for an “appropriately structured scrappage scheme” subsidising the replacement of old cars in favour of newer more environmentally friendly models. However, the MPs all back support for car finance to stimulate the demand side; improving access to credit and liquidity; and sharing the burden of continuing to employ staff between employees, employers and the government.

16th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New PCL Wrench ‘Perfect’ for Automotive Applications

Pneumatic Components Ltd has introduced a new half-inch composite impact wrench, and the company says it’s the handiest air tool of its kind. The composite housing on the APP203, says PCL, provides superior comfort with a strong yet lightweight finish, and its compact design provides a soft, ergonomic grip for prolonged usage. As with other products in the PCL Prestige range, the new addition features low vibration, low noise and higher performance, making it suitable for industrial and heavy duty, repetitive work.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

R&D Centre to Help US in Race to Build Better Battery

The race is on to develop more efficient batteries for electric vehicles, and on April 8 the US based National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture announced the establishment of a research and development centre for this very purpose. The Kentucky-Argonne Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center in Lexington, Kentucky will house collaborative research by scientists from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Argonne National Laboratory.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

STL Notes Growing Interest in Rolling Resistance Reduction

Ohio, US based Standards Testing Laboratories (STL), the world’s largest independent testing facility for tyres, wheels and related automotive components, presented an overview on wheel testing during the 2009 Tire Industry Conference, held in South Carolina between April 1 and 3. The company’s director of technology, Guy Edington, examined various types of wheel testing – from rotary and radial fatigue to impact tests – during the conference, focusing on commonly used Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) test methods. He also discussed wheel history and manufacturing methods as well as changing industry standards.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Positive Feedback for Automechanika Malaysia

The organiser of the Automechanika Malaysia exhibition has reported on the success of this year’s show. Messe Frankfurt states that the exhibition, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre between March 25 and 28, attracted 133 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, plus 4,521 visitors. The top five visitor countries and regions outside Malaysia were Singapore, China, Thailand, Korea and Egypt.

Receiving official recognition can substantially boost a show’s standing, and Messe Frankfurt comments that the Malaysian government “understands the needs of having an automotive parts and aftermarket trade fair to boost the industry”. Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry, YB Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan officially opened Automechanika Malaysia. He is quoted as saying: “I am happy to note that Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong proceeded with this event although the automobile industry is experiencing a bumpy ride.”

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Dikabo a Supplier of Raw Material for Retreaders

One of the major prerequisites of a functioning retreading market is the fluidity of casing supply. This is where casing dealers such as Dikabo and Robeo play an important role, because what retreader – whether small-scale or even from the new tyre industry – would choose to deal with the logistics and technical requirements of dealing in casings personally rather than look after their core business of retreading used tyres. The secret to Evert Dilling’s success has been the ongoing availability and supply of casings to his customers, plus the high level of casing quality.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Minor Fire at Cooper’s Texarkana Plant

A fire at Cooper Tire’s Texarkana, Arkansas, tyre plant last week resulted in the evacuation of all employees, but caused limited damage and no one was injured. According to a Tire Review report, the fire broke out after some tyre dust caught fire. Investigators said upgrades are being done at the plant and that a welder’s torch sparked a fire in rubber dust. It took firefighters less than half an hour to put the fire out. Soon after, the tyre plant’s workers were soon allowed to go back inside. The fire follows a similar minor incident at Cooper Tire’s Tupelo platn on Saturday 14 March. In this instance an apparent mishap with some welding work started the fire. According to a WTVA.com report at the time, no injuries were reported, but “several holes had to be cut in the roof by firemen to get the fire out.”

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Scottish Rally Championship 2009 Gets off to ‘Gripping Start’

Organisers of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship are celebrating a successful start to the season with registrations reportedly running well ahead of 2008. Despite the tough economic conditions and falling registrations elsewhere in the UK, the series continues to attract some of the country’s top rally teams. With two rounds now complete, the championship has already attracted over 200 registrations, almost 10 per cent up on the same time last year and calls to the organisers suggest this number could climb still higher as the series heads to Aberdeen for the Granite City Rally in April.

The series, which is sponsored by Hankook, is proving increasingly popular with junior drivers, and competitors outside Scotland who have been attracted by the package being offered by the SRC as well as to Scottish crews. Launched in Glasgow last year by Scottish rally legend Jimmy McRae, the series includes eight classic rallies from February to October, throughout the length and breadth of Scotland.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Grouptyre Launches 2009 Pirelli Promotion

Following the success of its exclusive Pirelli promotion last summer Grouptyre, is launching another national incentive in conjunction with the premium brand to build retail sales through the independent sector. The new Pirelli promotion runs from 1 May to 30 June inclusive and the top prize is once again an all-expenses paid VIP trip for two people to the WRC Rally of Spain (October 2-4), the penultimate round of the 2009 World Rally Championship whose sweeping asphalt roads provide the fastest sealed-surface stages the teams will encounter all season.

The winners will be able to compare notes with Aaron Bothamley, manager of Rickmansworth-based Fairway Tyre and Auto Services, and his brother-in-law Paul who were VIP guests of Pirelli and Ford at the Spanish round of the 2008 World Rally Championship. “The flights, hotel, food and overall organisation were superb, in fact the whole weekend was absolutely fantastic and I can’t stress enough how well we were looked after by Pirelli and Ford,” said Aaron, who is supplied by Grouptyre member Broadway Tyres.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

New 2009 Scrap Tire & Rubber Users Directory

The 2009 edition of the Scrap Tire & Rubber Users Directory is now available. Updated annually, the directory contains more than 2,000 listings with name, address, telephone, fax, e-mail, web address, contact person and a summary of products and services provided by the companies. Published by Recycling Research Institute (RRI), the 2009 edition provides current market data in the Market Price Survey. This section gives a three-year price index of average prices for crumb rubber, tyre-derived fuel, and buffings. US tipping fees for whole tyres are also provided.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nizhnekamskshina 1Q Tyre Production Down 48.5%

Russian tyre producer Nizhnekamskshina has reported that its first quarter 2009 tyre production was 48.5 per cent lower than during same period the year before. In the first quarter of 2009 the tyre manufacturer reportedly produced 1.505 million tyres. Nizhnekamskshina is one of the Russian market’s two most dominant truck tyre players, along with Sibur-Russian Tyres. Between them the two companies control approximately 80 per cent of domestic truck market sales.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama to Exhibit at Auto Shanghai 2009

Yokohama Rubber has confirmed its presence at the Auto Shanghai 2009 exhibition, which runs from Monday April 20 to Tuesday April 28. The company will use the Chinese show as a venue for introducing its environmentally friendly and high performance models. In addition, to market its products in China, this year Yokohama Rubber has appointed the popular Chinese actor Louis Koo as the company’s ‘face’ in this market.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Launches Proxes Ne Eco Tyre

Toyo Tire Europe GmbH has launched a new low rolling resistance tyre into the market. According to the company, the Proxes Ne features an extremely low rolling resistance to reduce fuel consumption and therefore carbon emissions associated with driving. However, Toyo have taken their efforts to reduce carbon emissions a step further by incorporating a recycled polyester carcass ply as a way of reducing the energy and carbon used in the manufacturing process. The use of “Ecocircle” recycled polyester ply, which was developed by Teijin Fibers Limited, is said to be a world first. This recycled material, along with a 15 per cent reduction in rolling resistance compared to the Proxes CF1, make the Proxes Ne one of the most environmentally friendly products on the road, according to Toyo.

The new tyre is available now in four sizes ultra-mini orientated sizes designed to fit the Smart car and others: 145/65R15 72T, 155/60R15 74T, 175/55R15 72T, 195/50R15 82T.

A further six 15 to 18 inch variations will be made available from October 2009: 185/65R15 88H, 195/65R15 91H, 195/55R16 87V, 205/55R16 94V XL, 215/45R17 87W, 225/45R18 91W.

15th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Production Begins at Kenda’s Tianjin Plant

Production has officially commenced at Kenda Rubber’s new facility in Tianjin, China. Approximately US$23 million has been invested in this first phase of the project – a total of $200 million has been set aside for work at Tianjin. The second phase is set to be launched in July.

14th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors