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Dunlop to Recommence Production in Nigeria

Following the importation of 500 million naira (£2.1 million) worth of raw materials, Dunlop Nigeria looks set to re-open its Ikeja facility, which ceased production in April. A report in Nigeria’s Business Day newspaper indicates that the paperwork needed to clear the imported materials through customers is currently being dealt with by the country’s minister of state for commerce and industry, Humphrey Enemakwu Abah, who is apparently enthusiastic about the prospects of local manufacture recommencing.

9th October 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama to Introduce ‘ECO’ Tyres into WTCC

A change of tyre is in the pipeline for the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Yokohama Rubber has announced it will supply its ‘ECO’ racing tyres as one-make tyres for the WTCC series for the 2010 to 2012 seasons. The ECO product follows on from Yokohama’s Advan A005 dry surface and Advan A006 wet weather tyres, supplied since 2006.

29th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

ANRPC Annual Conference Looks “Beyond the Crisis

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) is hosting its Annual Rubber Conference on 4 November 2009 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This year’s conferences’ theme is: “Beyond the Crisis: Emerging Asia and Opportunities for Natural Rubber.” Hosted by the Government of Vietnam, this one-day Conference will have three sessions followed by a panel discussion. The conference is being held in conjunction with the ANRPC’s assembly session and committee meetings to be held in the same week.

24th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Morgan Stanley: Michelin August Sales Present Good and Bad News

Analyst reports on Michelin’s tyre sales for last month show both an improvement over Morgan Stanley’s previous predictions and the continued decline of truck tyre sales on July, albeit at a slower rate than in year-to-date figures, representing a bittersweet day for Bibendum. The analyst said that truck sales “were somewhat disappointing in mature markets,” though the figures were “on track to exceed our volume forecast for the quarter. Assuming stable share, we estimate Michelin volume in Aug declined approximately 9 per cent versus our forecast of a 12 per cent volume decline in third quarter.” Predictions in the report were also variable in optimism, since the analysts believe improving declines should “turn into outright growth” towards the end of the year. However, pricing discipline and profitability could be affected over the next two years throughout the industry, as depressed volumes and lower raw materials prices put both at risk.

23rd September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

More News & Views on China Tyre Tariff Tiff from Tire Review

Tire Review has compiled a variety of news stories based around the introduction of tariffs on imported China-made passenger tyres. Here is a sampling of the most relevant items from the past day:

17th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Reifen China 2009 Aims to Connect Far Eastern and European Businesses

At the start of 2009, the Chinese Rubber Industry Association reported that, despite the global economic meltdown, China remains the world's fastest growing market. The Chinese tyre business is reportedly worth about $8 billion and accounts for 9 per cent of the world tyre market share. However with most of the world’s markets either struggling to recover or still nose-diving, the fact that July figures suggest Chinese passenger car tyre OE and replacement demand are actually up 10 and 20 per cent respectively is truly impressive. With this in mind, Messe Essen’s third Reifen China exhibition running from 11 – 13 November is likely to pique the interest of buyers, manufacturers and traders from around the world.

11th September 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nynas to Supply Lanxess Rubber Production Following DAE Ban

Company News, International News, News

To maintain its production of synthetic rubber after its utilisation of DAE oils ceases, Lanxess AG will enter into a strategic co-operation with Swedish oil producer Nynas. Lanxess will end the use of DAE oils in its synthetic rubber production as of December 1, 2009, ahead of next year’s European and Japanese bans on the substance.

25th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sapphire Gains Treble ISO Certification

Sapphire Energy Recovery, the tyre recovery and waste processing company owned by Lafarge Cement, has gained BSI certification for three management system standards: quality, environment and health and safety. Certificates for ISO 9001 (for quality management), ISO 14001 (for environmental compliance) and OHSAS 18001 (for health and safety) were handed out to members of the Sapphire team by BSI representative Colin Rushmere at a recent ceremony held to mark the occasion at Lafarge Cement’s head office in Solihull.

21st August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Exceeds Environmental Goal in First Year

Continental Tire North America reports having officially exceeded its goal of increased compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership during its first year of participation. Continental first joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership in June 2008 as a Shipper Partner, committing to reduce its environmental impacts from ground freight transportation. In joining the partnership, the tyre manufacturer agreed to use the Freight Logistics Environmental and Energy Tracking (FLEET) Performance Model for Shippers to quantify its environmental performance level. Continental was then required to maintain a score of at least 0.5 within the FLEET Performance Model.

17th August 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Klarius Responds to DEFRA Report

The UK has the worst road pollution in Europe, according to a recent government report, with 95 per cent of cities exceeding the European Union limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This figure is almost double that of the next worst polluter, Germany, where 52 per cent of cities exceed the limit, followed by Italy with 42 per cent, France (21 per cent) and Spain (14 per cent). While the report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warns that the UK will face large fines for breaching the EU limit unless radical measures, such as national road pricing and subsidies for electric cars, are taken, exhaust system manufacturer Klarius firmly believes that the best solution would be to ensure the quality of exhausts and catalytic convertors fitted to the UK’s cars.

22nd 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

Bridgestone Predicts Breakeven Net Income

Bridgestone, reports Bloomberg, has reduced its full year prediction to breakeven in line with continuing vehicle sales declines. The manufacturer had previously set its net income forecast at 3 billion yen (£19.1 billion), but in a statement delivered to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the company suggested that the global recession has driven down demand for new vehicles and with it the need for OE tyres. Therefore the company went through with its May promise to revise its targets, concluding that it will sell fewer units in Japan, Europe and America.

However, cost reduction programmes and declining raw materials prices mean that, for the first half of the year, Bridgestone now predicts a loss of 46 billion yen, 16 billion less than the original forecast of a 62 billion yen loss.

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Where the Rubber Hits the [Off] Road

The word unique is arguably overused in the tyre business, however in the case of Michelin’s Almeria proving ground it is certainly appropriate. Situated in the south of Spain, Almeria is the largest purpose built EM/OTR test facility in the world, which means Michelin has free reign to put products such as the new XHA2 (see textbox) through all manner of torture in the name of product development. It also provides the valuable opportunity for discrete and detailed original equipment testing, something that vehicle manufacturers will clearly appreciate.

Michelin bought the 4,500-hectares of land the Almeria off-road tyre test facility is now built on in 1977. The site was chosen because it is one of the driest places in Europe with the express purpose of developing it into a centre of excellence for earthmover/off-the-road tyre developments. More than three decades after Michelin moved in, the latest generation of OTR tyres are tested on surfaces ranging from thick mud to sharp objects designed to literally stretch the company’s tyre treads to the limit. In total there are over 100 kilometres of track where automated long term testing “robots” circle various courses ad infinitum to measure durability. Throughout the site modern testing equipment is used on some of the newest and largest machines in the business. For example you can’t miss the fact that Michelin’s Almeria centre is home to the only CAT 797 currently operating in Europe.

25th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Gearing Up for World Rubber Day

One hundred years ago, the chemist Fritz Hofmann invented the first ever synthetic rubber. After beavering away with his assistant Carl Coutelle and a research team in their employer’s laboratory in Elberfeld, western Germany, Hofmann produced the flexible substance methyl-isoprene, and in doing so laid the cornerstone for the development of a viable alternative to natural rubber. To honour this invention, Lanxess has established “World Rubber Day”, an occasion that will be celebrated for the first time on September 12, 2009.

24th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s ATMA Seeking 7.5% Natural Rubber Duty

India’s national budget is due to be delivered on July 6, and the nation’s tyre manufacturers are hoping that a sought after reduction in natural rubber duty will be forthcoming. “As in the past we are looking forward to the correction of the inverted duty structure,” said Rajiv Budhraja, director-general of India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA). “That is the first and foremost demand.”

According to a Reuter’s news brief, the ATMA has requested the government reduce the customs duty on natural rubber to 7.5 per cent; previous news reports indicated the ATMA was seeking a 10 per cent duty. Regardless of the desired rate, the association’s goal is to provide manufacturers some relief from what is seen as an unfair tax structure. While natural rubber currently attracts a customs duty of 20 per cent, the tax on imported finished tyres is only half that.

23rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors