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Michelin’s “Green Production”

A 250kW Molten Carbonate fuel cell has been installed in Michelin’s tyre plant in Karlsruhe, Germany. The project, supported by the energy utility company Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW), the local energy supplier Stadtwerke Karlsruhe and DaimlerChrysler’s subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen cost about Euro 3.6 million. The facility will run as a test station for about two years. After the completion of a successful trial, MTU will think about mass producing this and similar units from 2006 on.”Our tyres have to be black, but their production should be green,” said Olivier Furnon, managing director of Michelin’s plant in Karlsruhe. Apart from producing electric energy, the fuel cell also produces 200°C hot steam which is used in the tyre galvanisation process. One of the major reasons for installing this unit was, apart from pollution-free electricity, the cost factor. The fuel cell uses much less natural gas than a conventional energy power plant.

11th February 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Sixth US Plant For Toyota

Toyota is set to announce plans to build its sixth vehicle assembly plant in North America. The new factory – probably sited at San Antonio, Texas – is expected to cost $800 million and have a production capacity of 150,000 pickup trucks a year. It will begin producing vehicles by 2005.

5th February 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Production Record At Fulda

The Goodyear plant at Fulda, Germany, set a production record of exactly 7,141,095 units in 2002. The plant, which employs 1,648 staff, manufactures high, ultra high, offroad, light truck, truck and agricultural tyres carrying the Fulda name, as well as tyres for other brands from the Goodyear group.

4th February 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Analyst Cautious Over Goodyear

Concerns over liquidity, increases in oil prices and declining market shares are making analysts cautious over Goodyear’s attempts to turn the group around. Analyst Lache, from DB Global Equities New York, is expecting Goodyear to come up with an aggressive restructuring plan in March, involving moving production to lower cost areas with subsequent plant closures and giving up loss-making OE contracts. Investors may regard such plans with a pinch of salt, as Goodyear has spent $640 m so far in unsuccessful restructuring efforts. Lache estimates that Goodyear will have to reduce costs by up to another $850 m in order to be competitive

1st February 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

ArvinMeritor To Shut Plant In Tennessee

ArvinMeritor is to close its light vehicle systems aperture plant in Tennessee as part of on-going cost-cutting efforts and a response to excess capacity. The work of the factory – the production of window regulators and sunroof systems – will be transferred to other group facilities and 317 jobs will be lost in the closure, which will happen by August.

22nd January 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

Waste Tyres A Global Problem

Sarawak’s Natural Resources and Environment Board claims that there is no market for the recycled products from the scrap tyres and that retreading was not economically viable. Crumb rubber which can be used for many purposes has a market value of only 75 per cent of its production cost. Sarawak, has no system developed or legislation formulated to promote and regulate scrap tyre disposal and recycling issues. Malaysia produces about 14 million pieces of used tyres per year and the number is increasing at a rate of 10 to 15 percent.

14th January 2003/by Tyrepress Editors

KoSa Expands Tyre Cord Production

KoSa is investing in the expansion of two of its tyre cord facilities; at Queretaro (Mexico) and Charlotte (North Carolina). Output at Queretaro will increase by 40 per cent, while the investment at Salisbury will mean higher quality product for packages.

29th November 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Thunderbird Fits Pirelli As OE

Pirelli P Zero tyres have been chosen as standard OE fitment on the Saleen Thunderbird Bonspeed Edition Concept Car. The car was originally planned as a one-off for the Sema show, but such was the reaction that it was decided to go into production with the vehicle. Saleen Inc. has a reputation for the design of high-performance speciality vehicles and, for the past five years, has exclusively chosen Pirelli tyres.

27th November 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Cord Deal At Michelin

The Hyosung Corp. has announced that it has won a $350 million order from Michelin to supply tyre cords and has also agreed to acquire a U.S. cord plant from Michelin for an unspecified amount. Hyosung, which is the world’s largest polyester tyre cord maker, said its U.S. unit, Hyosung America Inc, would acquire Michelin’s tyre cord plant in Virginia. The acquisition would enable Hyosung to “secure a production point to enter the North American market”.The South Korean company said in the statement it expected to increase its North American market share of tyre cords to 20 percent from the current 13 percent, while global market share would rise to 24 percent from 20 percent.

26th November 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Rumaguma Going Private

Yugoslavian tyre manufacturer Rumaguma is aiming at privatisation. The company produces 11,000 tonnes of tyres annually, mainly bias ply tractor tyres. As well as its own brand, Rumaguma manufactures Continental, Barum, Semperit and Galaxy brands and over 70 per cent of production is exported. Of these, half are destined for Continental and 10 per cent for Galaxy. 70 per cent of the company will be sold, with a further proportion distributed among employees and some offered for public sale.

8th November 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

180 Jobs To Go At Goodyear Wolverhampton

Goodyear has announced that 180 jobs will be lost at its Wolverhampton, UK, plant. The company has had to make the announcement to comply with employment legislation and the jobs could be lost as early as the beginning of next year. Uncompetitive production performance and low European demand for tyres were cited as the main reason. The job cuts will halve tyre production at Wolverhampton to 3,000 tyres a day.

23rd October 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental May Move More Production East

Continental has said that it plans to improve profitability by utilising cheap eastern European labour. CEO Manfred Wennemer told reporters in Moscow that the company would not invest in fully automated plants in the west, but would shift production to factories in countries with low labour costs. “The 50 per cent target is not magical, neither would 60 or 70 percent represent a limit.” Labour in the Czech republic is 25 per cent of that in Hanover, and Romanian labour is only 10 per cent of that in Germany.

17th October 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

“Personalityres” From Continental

Continental says it is looking at the possibility of introducing a range of tyres, incorporating colourful designs such as denim and leopard print. The concept is aimed at encouraging people to view their tyres as fashion accessories. The new product, which is a long way from production, is called “Personalityres”.We know the item reads like an April Fool’s Day joke, but it is true, although we don’t know when (if ever) we will see such tyres, as the technical difficulties have been ignored. It has been featured on TV, radio and national press, so if Conti was trying to get publicity, it succeeded!

16th October 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho UK Wins OE Van Tyre Contract

Kumho UK has been awarded a contract to supply tyres as original equipment to specialist van manager LDV. 70 per cent of LDV’s annual production of Pilot and Convoy vans will be equipped with Kumho’s radial 857 commercial van tyres in sizes 185 R14 and 205 R14. The contract follows a rigorous quality audit at Kumho’s Kwangju plant and tyre testing at the MIRA proving ground in the UK, resulting in the Korean manufacturer being awarded Approved Supplier status.

24th September 2002/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental To Build Moscow Plant

In a joint venture with Moscow Tyre Plant, Continental has signed an agreement to build a new production facility in Moscow. Continental is the majority shareholder and will produce tyres for passenger cars and light trucks. The predicted investment will be in the region of 30 million Euros over three years. The plant is expected to produce 1.5 million tyres per year when it opens in 2003 and will generate 3.4 million tyres for Continental and Barum, largely destined for the local market. The new plant in Moscow will help Continental avoid the 70 per cent import tax on new tyres.

13th September 2002/by Tyrepress Editors