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Yokohama team acknowledged for cashew nut shell innovation

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a group of four men working for Yokohama Rubber developed a bead filler compound for high performance tyres based on polymerised cardanol, a chemical derived from liquid extracted out of cashew nut shells. Cashew based products were already in use to improve bleeding on the surface of green rubber, but the cardanol based product developed by Shineru Shinoda, Masayoshi Daio, Hideki Ishida and Tetsuji Kawazura providing an extremely high hardness after vulcanisation while at the same time keeping the viscosity of the compound low during processing. Some two decades later, on February 4, 2011, the Yokohama Rubber team’s efforts were acknowledged with their receipt of the “Mortimer T. Harvey Award 2010” from Cardolite Corporation, a leading manufacturer of cashew nutshell liquid products.

25th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Thailand to implement rubber price guarantees

Thailand’s Natural Rubber Policy Committee has agreed to set minimum and maximum prices for natural rubber as part of a range of measures intended to stabilise the industry and prevent major fluctuations in price. The Bangkok Post reported on July 22 that a task force chaired by the country’s Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry has been appointed to lay out these price guidelines within one month.

22nd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Another Step Forward: Trelleborg explains rationale behind recent acquisitions

Recent months have seen a flurry of expansion and acquisition activity at Trelleborg Wheel Systems. First the company enhanced its position in the European solid tyre market through the acquisition of Watts’ industrial tyre business towards the end of 2010 (it was officially finalised during February 2011). Then came the acquisition of the pneumatic tyre production lines at the former Hebei Starbright plant, which the company bought from Maine Tire in the US. Most recently the company launched its TMBlue eco-concept range at the SIMA show in Paris at the end of February. Tyres & Accessories was on hand to hear further details about the thinking behind the recent developments and noticed a significant nod in the direction of further expansion in the emerging markets.

21st March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Emerging market interest in value-generating products key to expansion – Trelleborg

Emerging markets such as the BRIC countries are expected to drive growth for Trelleborg Wheel Systems over the next few years. In the Trelleborg Group’s 2010 annual report, Maurizio Vischi, president of the business area responsible for producing industrial and agricultural tyres, said “emerging markets as Brazil, China and Russia have begun to show more interest in high-tech products and products that generate value. This provides significant expansion potential through greater presence in these markets.” Vischi admitted that that Trelleborg expects only “restricted” growth in Western Europe and North America, where the business area already counts as “one of the principal players.”

21st March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre makers, suppliers update operational status in Japan

A number of tyre manufacturers and materials suppliers have updated their progress towards resuming normal operations in Japan.

18th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Global investments set to boost Cabot carbon black capacity 15%

The recently announced joint venture between Cabot Corp. and China’s Risun Chemicals forms just one part of the American company’s plans to expand its global carbon black manufacturing capacity. On March 16 Cabot shared that it will invest more than US$180 million to this end between now and 2013. In addition to its as yet unnamed Chinese joint venture operation the company intends to expand capacity in Indonesia, Brazil and Argentina plus at three European facilities. In total these projects will increase Cabot's annual global carbon black output by about 15 per cent, or more than 300,000 tonnes.

18th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

2011 Rewards offer greater choice, says Maxxis

This year, dealers participating in the Maxxis Rewards scheme can look forward to “some extra spice,” promises Maxxis International. The top prize for retailers taking part in the 2011 Maxxis Rewards is still an all expenses paid luxury holiday, however this year quarterly draw winners will be given the opportunity to choose their prizes, while all participants can earn cash to spend with High Street retailers via the new Maxxis rewards card. Adding icing to the cake are Take That concert tickets up for grabs plus new point of sale items and an updated promotional clothing range.

18th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Belarusian steel manufacturer negotiating Michelin supply deal

Byelorussian Steel Works, also known as BMZ, reports that a recent visit from Michelin has resulted in plans for a long-term supply deal between the two companies. A March 14 press release from the Belarus based company refers to the talks held between Michelin and BMZ management on March 1 as providing good opportunities for further enhancing cooperation. Specific details on what form such a deal would take were not given.

16th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Cabot China to build JV carbon black plant

Cabot (China) Ltd. has entered into a joint venture agreement with Risun Chemicals Company, Ltd. The wholly-owned Cabot Corporation subsidiary holds a 60 per cent equity interest in the joint venture, and on March 15 the two companies’ first shared undertaking was announced: Cabot and Risun are to erect a carbon black manufacturing facility in the Chinese city of Xingtai, some 250 miles south of Beijing. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in early 2013 and will produce approximately 130,000 tonnes of carbon black annually with the potential for expansion to 300,000 tonnes. Advanced emissions control technology and energy recapture will be utilised at the new facility, Cabot notes.

16th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Status of Yokohama Rubber factories in Japan

Yokohama Rubber has provided information on the status of its factories in Japan following last Friday’s earthquake. Tyre production has been largely unaffected, with its Shinshiro, Mie and Onomichi factories operating as normal. The tyre maker comments that it is “addressing the issue of procurement of raw materials” for these plants. Operations at the company’s Mishima plant, where passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyres are produced, was suspended following the earthquake. Yokohama has found no serious damage to buildings or equipment, and operations were partially resumed after it confirmation was given it was safe to do so. Yokohama says it is “now working to determine a schedule for returns to full operation.”

15th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Thai Government to prop up rubber prices

According to news published on the The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries’ website, Thailand’s government intends to intervene in its domestic rubber market and support prices following their recent fall. The country’s deputy prime minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, is quoted as saying “we will meet exporters very soon. We need to do something to support rubber prices; they should not fall below 100 baht (£2.01) per kilogramme.” Prices for USS3 rubber fell to 95 baht per kilogramme on March 14, down from 132 baht on March 11. Since mid-February prices for USS3 rubber have plummeted almost 50 per cent.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Japan earthquake exacerbates rubber price decline

Rubber prices have been in decline of late and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have added to this downward trend. The trading of rubber futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange was suspended following a 30 yen per kilogramme drop in the April-delivery contract (to 378.4 yen) while the August delivery rubber contract declined 4.5 per cent or 17.9 yen to 383.5 yen. This decline was tracked by China's benchmark rubber futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, which on March 14 fell by six per cent, the daily limit, to RMB 33,480 per tonne.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Evonik raises carbon black prices

Evonik Carbon Black GmbH, a subsidiary of Evonik Industries, is increasing prices for carbon black and carbon black preparations by up to 200 euros per tonne for deliveries to locations in Europe and the rest of the world. The price increase will be effective for all deliveries on or after April 1, 2011.

14th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Raw material costs declining: DB report

A March 11 report from DB Equity Research Automotive observes that the cost of “certain key raw materials” used by tyre manufacturers have begun to decline. The Deutsche Bank equity research team states: “Most notably, we estimate that natural rubber prices have declined by nine per cent since last Friday…and rubber has declined by approx. 15 per cent (from the $2.45-$2.50/lb level) since US tyre companies reported their Q4 results. If this decline in natural rubber costs is sustained, total raw material costs could decline by 4.0 per cent compared with Deutsche Bank estimates.”

11th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Europe announces further price increases

Prices for all Bridgestone consumer, commercial and specialty tyres are set to increase by an average of seven per cent in European markets. The new prices take effect with the start of the second financial quarter in April and exact increases will vary between product categories, Bridgestone Europe reports.

10th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors