Raw Materials
Teijin Aramid has won a 2014 Pirelli Supplier Award. Suppliers receiving the award as those Pirelli considers to offer “outstanding performance and commitment to the business with Pirelli”. According to the manufacturer, Teijin Aramid is the first supplier to receive an award for textile reinforcing material. The award was proudly received by Erik Delnoij, director […]
During the first quarter of the 2014 fiscal year, Michelin experienced a 3.4 per cent rise in volumes, with fast original equipment segment momentum and growth in the truck tyre business, while weak mining tyre sales were offset by growth in aviation and two-wheel tyre business within the specialty tyre segment. This increase in volumes did not translate to higher net sales, however.
Overall Michelin Group sales declined 2.4 per cent year-on-year to €4.76 billion.
Orion Engineered Carbons Holdings Gmbh, which makes carbon black for printing and tyres, filed for a US initial public offering (IPO) worth US$300 million, according to document submitted to the American securities and exchange commission. The Frankfurt-based company, which used to be owned by Evonik, was acquired by private equity firms Rhone Capital LLC and Triton Advisers for $1.2 billion in 2011. Orion reported revenue of $1.8 billion last year.
Styron, the rubber material supplier, is to convert its Nickel Butadiene Rubber (Ni-BR) production line in Schkopau, Germany, to Neodymium Butadiene Rubber (Nd-BR) manufacturing. Coupled with Styron’s existing technology in Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR), the company believes the Nd-BR offering will allow Styron to help customers around the world meet the increasing demand for green and ultra-high performance tyres.
Due to a weaker economic forecast for Russia and the CIS, Nokian Tyres has downgraded its guidance for 2014 and now says net sales and operating profit will decline this year compared with 2013. This latest forecast replaces that published on 7 February, in which Nokian Tyres said it was positioned to show growth in net sales and operating profit this year.
Recently the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) gave word that trials of a new eco tyre specification (standard number XXZB/LT-102-2014) began in China on 1 March. Chemical manufacturer Lanxess, which is currently participating in the CRIA-hosted China Rubber Conference in Qingdao, has provided additional information on the specification: it says the Green Tire Technology Specification is based on the tyre label introduced in the European Union in November 2012.
Connell Brothers (CBC), the largest distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients in Asia-Pacific, has announced a partnership with specialty materials company Lehigh Technologies to market Lehigh’s PolyDyne micronised rubber powders (MRP) to the tyre and rubber industries in Southeast Asia.
While the news that Goodyear is looking to exit its international joint venture with Sumitomo Rubber partly precipitated a 10 per cent intra-day leap in Goodyear’s share price, commentary on the latest financials published by Sumitomo suggest that the JV break-up the two companies are currently in arbitration over could be bad news for the Japanese tyre maker.
Together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Continental has gained a nomination at the GreenTec Awards 2014 for the joint “Rubin” project. The project, which focuses on the industrialisation of rubber sourced from dandelions, is one of three nominees in the ‘Automobility’ category, one of 14 awards categories. On 25 February, the awards jury will decide on the podium positions for the three finalists in each category, and the awards will be given out on 4 May at the start of IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste, and raw materials management.
Sustainable materials company Lehigh Technologies has elected Lamar Chambers, former senior vice president and chief financial officer at Ashland Inc, a leading specialty chemical company with more than $8 billion in revenue, to its board of directors. Chambers led Ashland’s financial organization during a period defined by multiple high-profile acquisitions and significant change in the […]
Styron has added two new Sprintan-branded rubber grades for use in tyre manufacturing. According to the company, Styron’s Sprintanrubber portfolio offers “high performance solutions” to answer specific tyre industry needs. The range includes rubber grades with enhanced wet grip and wear performance, as well as grades that provide a good balance between traction and rolling resistance.
Cabot Corporation has launched two new carbon black products for tyre tread applications. According to the company, Propel E7 carbon black is engineered to reduce tyre rolling resistance and improve vehicle fuel economy. Propel D11 carbon black is designed to provide a high level of tread durability and is purposed for use in both short-haul truck and off-the-road vehicle tyres. Cabot has been showcasing the new products at Tire Technology Expo 2014 in Cologne, Germany.
Last month Tyres & Accessories published an exclusive preview of the 2014 additions to Continental’s mid-European and Nordic winter tyre stables. The central story was that Conti has launched the new Continental WinterContact TS 850 P. In addition T&A also got the opportunity to experience the performance of the new product’s 4×4 variant, the WinterContact TS 830 P SUV. Key facts includes that the TS 850 P outperforms its predecessor both dry road snow handling and braking. The products also raise the label scores from EC to CC territory. Both tyres will be available from the Autumn.
Now UL/Malaysia’s sustainable raw material for more fuel efficient tyres is in commercial production, Ekoprena is being showcased at this week’s Tire Tech Expo.
Ekoprena representatives report that they will be explaining why this material is “the only way for tyre manufacturers to be at the forefront of green innovation and to claim ownership of the most ecologically sound tyres.”
Gert Wendroth has been appointed president of Nynas AB, effective 1 March 2014. He will replace Staffan Lennström who is retiring. Gert Wendroth has a thorough background in the oil industry. His latest position was as CEO of H&R AG, a German listed company operating two base oil refineries in Germany and a number of blending and filling plants for specialty products around the world. Before that he has held various management positions in the Royal Dutch / Shell Group with a strong focus on B2B sales and marketing.
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