Apollo Tyres has inaugurated the second of its two global R&D centres. According to Indian publication The Hindu, the tyre maker opened the centre at its Chennai facility today. The centre will focus on the development of commercial vehicle tyres.
Landsail has announced that its new run-flat range is expected arrive with UK retailers before the end of March 2014. The range will continue to be expanded throughout the year with fitments for ultra high performance and SUV applications.
Rubber and plastics manufacturer Styron announced today that Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR) capacity at one of its production lines will double after the company reached an agreement with material supplier JSR to acquire its current production capacity rights. JSR currently holds capacity rights to 50 per cent of one production line at Styron’s facility in Schkopau, Germany, however under the agreement Styron will regain full capacity rights as of 1 April 2014.
The Board of Directors at Yokohama Rubber and Kumho Tire have resolved to enter into master technological alliance agreement. This agreement is the result of discussions between the two companies following their signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 29 November 2013; Yokohama says the newly-signed agreement defines the framework and purpose of the technology alliance the two tyre makers will share, and it paves the way for further discussion of the details of the their proposed technology tie-up.
Solvay has appointed Jean-Francis Spindler to the role of research and innovation director within its Silica business unit. Spindler graduated with a Ph.D. in Organic Catalysis in 1990 from Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France and joined Rhône Poulenc as a project manager. He progressed through various scientific and management roles; his most recent positions were R&D director for Rhodia Organics and R&I European Zone director for Rhodia and then Solvay upon the former company’s acquisition.
Hankook Tire says sales of its UHP tyres were a “key growth driver” in boosting operating profit last year. Accumulated UHP segment sales accounted for 26.5 per cent of Hankook Tire’s entire global sales; UHP tyre sales rose 3.4 per cent year-on-year, growth led by the Chinese and European markets, where accumulated UHP tyre sales rose 13.6 per cent and 12.9 per cent year-on-year respectively.
On 16 December, Michelin chief executive officer Jean-Dominique Senard laid the foundation stone for the main building to be built as part of the company’s €270 million upgrade to its research and development facilities at the Ladoux site in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The stone-laying ceremony took place in the presence of members of Michelin’s Executive Committee along with representatives from architects Chaix & Morel and engineering group Ingerop.
The September report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders makes good reading for the UK car industry, as output has reached a level not seen since 2007-08. In the rolling 12 months since October 2012, the UK has manufactured more than 1.5 million, achieving a five-year high.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been named a Thomson Reuters 2013 Top 100 Global Innovator for the third successive year. “This recognition is further evidence of Goodyear’s ability to drive innovation,” stated chairman and chief executive officer Richard J Kramer. One of the world’s oldest tyre manufacturers, Goodyear has a lengthy history of innovations, including the first all-season radial tyre and environmentally friendly concepts like the use of soybean oil and BioIsoprene in tyres.
Japanese manufacturer Toyo Tire & Rubber state that the appointment of Kenji Nakakura’s appointment as its new chairman and representative director and Akira Nobuki’s appointment as president, CEO and representative director will take effect on 28 March 2013. On that same date, numerous other personnel changes will occur; including those listed below.
Hankook Tire America Corp has named Thomas Kenny its new vice president of technology and head of its Akron Technical Center. Tire Review reports that Kenny will be responsible for managing various aspects of work at the Akron Technical Center, including development, testing and research for Hankook tyres sold in the US.
Dunlop’s motorcycle tyre management team in the US has been expanded by the appointment of Cary Budzinski as its new general manager of sales. Budzinski begins his new role with more than 26 years at Goodyear’s retail store and consumer business units behind him; most recently he served as general manager of dealer development for Goodyear’s Consumer business unit. In his new position, Budzinski will report to Mike Buckley, Senior vice-president sales/marketing & R&D. Reporting to Cary will be Scott Dewey, Phil Waters, Fred Hassen and the rest of Dunlop’s sales force.
Drummond Distribution, a logistic provider for Hankook, has rolled out new liveries featuring the manufacturer’s corporate identity. The family run business, Drummond Distribution has worked with Hankook for over 12 years providing a next day delivery service to customers across Scotland.
Test World Oy, the well-known winter tyre and vehicle test operation in Finland has announced plans to build a year-round winter test centre which to fulfil the needs of vehicle and tyre manufacturers. According to the company, the first phase of construction will start in May 2012 and this part of the site will be in operation before the end of the year. The three-phase project to create the 30,000 square metre test centre will be completed by the end of 2015.
The official opening of Continental’s new winter test centre in China’s Heilongjiang Province was held on 23 February. The Heihe-based facility, operated by the company’s Chassis & Safety Division, is located in what Conti calls a “favourable environment for cold weather testing” and is made up of a 7 million square metre lake and 30,000 square metre land area. The Heihe winter test centre is the German company’s fourth ABS and ESC test facility; the others are located in Europe, the US and Japan. The focus for activities at the centre will be testing vehicle stability in all driving conditions, especially on low friction surfaces.
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