Retreading
Pirelli and Vacu-Lug have renewed the contract that means the Lincolnshire-based retreaded tyre manufacturer will continue as sole producer of the Pirelli Novateck range in hot and cold cure processes in the UK. The relationship between the two manufacturers dates back to April 2007 when a production agreement between the companies dictated that Vacu-Lug take over the machinery and moulds from Pirelli's own production facility in Burton-upon-Trent.
In December 2011 Triangle’s retreading operation, which at this point was running at 200,000 units a year was recognised as one of Shandong Province’s top 10 “Circular Economy Demonstration Projects” by Shandong provincial government. Triangle’ rubber products centre in Weihai, Shandong Province, is also known as production base number 3. This site has the capacity to produce 10 million rubber flaps and inner tubes, 5000 tonnes of rubber powder and 500,000 retreads a year.
Henry Johnson has been appointed Goodyear Dunlop’s EMEA vice president, Emerging Markets, leading “the strategic growth and development of the company’s complete product range in South Africa, Turkey, Middle East, Russia and the Nordic countries.” Johnson was previously responsible for the Commercial Product business unit.
Desser Tire & Rubber Co., Inc. has been awarded a contract by General Atomics Aeronautical for warehousing and “in time” supply of aircraft tyres and tubes used in OEM Production and the US Military. The two year agreement valued at over $1 million per year encompasses supply of Desser OEM branded products as well as Dunlop and Goodyear aircraft tyres.
Brazilian retread material and tyre repair manufacturer Vipal has hosted a course in Europe. The even was run in conjunction with Universidad Miguel Hernández and Asociación Española de Neumáticos Reciclados (the Spanish recycled tyres association).
One of the objectives of the inaugural course in Elche, Spain, was to provide participants with a general overview of the techniques involved in recycling tyres, with a particular focus on common problems and methods for avoiding them. Held at the end of October, this event launched activities that are part of the course entitled “Research and Training regarding Recycling Tyres” that has become part of the Mechanical Engineering degree offered by the University.
Reduced downtime, improved tyre management and greater security are three of the advantages Goodyear claims the introduction of microchips into its truck tyre range will bring. The tyre maker has released its first product to utilise the technology, the Goodyear Regional RHT II RFID (Radio Frequency Identity) 435/50R19.5 trailer tyre; the microchip built into the tyre helps deliver fleet operators the above benefits through interfacing with FleetOnlineSolutions, Goodyear Dunlop’s internet-based tyre management programme.
In its recently released 2011 ‘European Tyre & Rubber Industry’ statistics, the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association states that retreading managed to stage an almost complete recovery in Europe during 2010. Quoting Europool figures, the ETRMA shares that after experiencing a 21 per cent decrease within the region from 2007 to 2009, with unit sales dropping from 5,800,000 to 4,561,000 during this time, in 2010 retread unit sales rose 22.9 per cent year-on-year to 5,605,000. The number of retreads sold within Europe last year is thus only 3.3 per cent lower than 2007 levels, the ETRMA notes.
Base prices for Bridgestone, Firestone and Continuum off-road tyres and Continuum pre-cure tread rubber and retreading materials are to increase by 15 per cent in the United States and ten per cent in Canada. Announcing the new pricing, which takes effect 1 January 2012, Bridgestone Americas Commercial Solutions president Kurt Danielson commented: “We are committed to providing our customers with products of the highest possible quality and value. While we make every effort to absorb rising costs, increases related to market conditions, supply pressures, global competition and manufacturing expenses have made these adjustments necessary at this time.”
Non-destructive tyre testing equipment provider L-Ray has launched its newest differometric tyre analyser model for the tyre manufacturing and retreading industry. The new MDA-48 series machines will use the same differometric technology as previous, more expensive models, but in a manual load/unload, two-camera configuration with a base price of under $100,000.
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Westlake Tyres has announced that it has appointed Direct Tyre Sales as sole distributor of its truck tyre range in the UK. Direct Tyre Management (DTM). In order to supply the British market, DTM will promote Westlake’s TBR brand through its own “team of regional sales staff” where it will “complement” its own “retread brand”. DTM plan to distribute all Westlake TBR products destined for the UK from their Wigan Retread Factory in Lancashire. Sales of circa 90,000 Westlake TBR units over the next three years are expected.
Goodyear has announced the introduction of 14 new Omnitrac MSS II and MSD II truck tyre sizes. Typically for use on vehicles operating on and off road, such as those in service on construction sites, waste tips and quarries, the ranges now cover all the major sizes and include variants with Duraseal technology, Goodyear’s air loss prevention system in the event of a puncture.
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced a new deal with Bergkvarabuss AB, one of the largest private tourist bus and coach companies in Sweden. The Italian retreader will supply tyres with its BUS-T tread pattern, manufactured using its Ringtread joint-free procured ring technology, to the transport firm, becoming the first retreader to supply Bergkvarabuss. Founded in 1975 as a small taxi and bus business, the fleet has since grown to become the biggest family business in the sector in Sweden.
Italmatic Italy reports that it has taken over MGT Tyre, an OTR and aviation tyre retreading equipment manufacturer, in a deal that includes the brand and the related technology and know-how. Dr. Massimo Ghitturi, CEO of Italmatic Italy, pointed out that the takeover of MGT forms part of the company’s plans to invest in its technology and human resources with a view to becoming “the leading company in the worldwide retreading equipment market.”
Bridgestone has donated over £2,000 worth of free tyres to Cambridgeshire charity Connections. The charity, which supports its local 13 to 19 year olds with a wide range of advice, guidance and practical help, relies on its converted double decker buses for its drop-in youth clubs. The tyres have come as a welcomed surprise, especially during a time when tyre prices continue to increase.
The European retreading organisation Bipaver states it feels “very uncomfortable” regarding a decision taken by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile to go ahead with its ban on the use of retreaded tyres in its Racing Trucks Technical Regulation. On October 6, Bipaver secretary general, Ruud J.L. Spuijbroek, outlined the European retreading organisation’s concerns in a letter to the FIA secretary general for sport, Pierre de Coninck.
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