retreading Archives - Page 75 of 104

Report: Retreads are Greener than New Tyres

An independent analysis carried out to compare the relative carbon footprints of new tyres and retreaded tyres has concluded that the process required to manufacture and distribute a retreaded tyre produces significantly less carbon emissions than that required to produce a new tyre. The report, commissioned for the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse (embedded within Oakdene Hollins Ltd) and carried out by carbon footprint specialists Best Foot Forward, compares the carbon footprint of a new and a retread 17.5” tyre for use by light commercial vehicles.

This study showed that the manufacture of a 17.5” new tyre produces 86.9 kg CO2 emissions compared to 60.5 kg CO2 for an equivalent retread tyre, a saving of 26.4 kg. This equates to a reduction of emissions by 30 per cent.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Unimax Deal Off, Tirecraft Back into Receivership

Product News

Tirecraft Group was placed in back into receivership after Pneus Unimax pulled its offer to buy the distributor and franchisor, which was supposed to close on May 30. News reports indicate that two investment companies – Omni Group of Companies and Stern Group – are in the process of bidding to take over the Sherwood Park, Alberta-based Tirecraft. Their bids were due on June 15, according to the Edmonton Court of Queen’s Bench.

CIT Business Credit Canada Inc., Tirecraft’s largest creditor, put the firm back into receivership on June 10 after efforts to sell the company to any of the original bidders failed. Ernst and Young, the court appointed receiver, plans to operate the business day-to-day while it is in receivership, though miscommunication apparently caused some store managers to close their doors briefly last week. Last week, Ernst and Young fired Tirecraft president William Steeple.

18th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Malaysian Retreading Association Increases Prices

Product News

The Tyre Retreading Manufacturers’ Association of Malaysia has announced the second price rise this year for retreaded tyres. This latest round of increases takes effect on July 1 and will see prices go up by between 5 and 18 per cent.

According to a June 12 report in the country’s China Press newspaper, service charges at retail tyre outlets will also increase by 20 per cent. Quoting a spokesman for the retreading association, the daily reported that manufacturers are finding it hard to cope with current conditions. “Initially the association wanted to increase the price of tyres by 25 per cent. But fearing a backlash from consumers, we decided to raise it to between 5 per cent and 18 per cent.”

13th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Licensed to Produce ContiTread Retreading Materials

Product News

Marangoni Group and Continental AG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see Continental transfer the production and marketing of ContiTread pre-cure treads. “Marangoni and Continental have been working for years in various fields together successfully. This cooperation is another important and complementary facet,” said Eckhard Wilanek, Continental’s Managing Director of Fleet & Retread Business. No details of the financial side of the arrangement have been released, but both companies hope to benefit from faster growth in the global marketplace – Maragoni in the retreading segment and Continental in the new tyre business.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

International Tyre Exhibitors Sign Up for Tyrexpo Asia’09

Product News

International exhibitors are already confirming plans for the new products and displays designed to catch the eye of tyre industry buyers at next year’s Tyrexpo Asia March’09 exhibition. For Singapore-based manufacturer and distributor Omni United, the sales focus next March has already been agreed as its Radar ranges of bus and truck tyres, designed in India and manufactured in China. Radar OTR tyres will also form a very prominent stand presence, with products ranging in size to cover mining and industrial equipment from 21 to giant 57-inch wheel sizes.

Confirming the company’s plans, senior vice president, Shivi Kalra said: “Tyrexpo Asia’09 is an important opportunity to interact with current customers, showcase our expanding ranges of products and meet potential new customers. Next year the focus will be on our ranges of SUV, PCR, TBR and OTR tires – all marketed under our Radar private brand range.”

5th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Brenno Benaglia Appointed New BIPAVER President

Product News

BIPAVER, the European federation of tyre retreaders’ associations, has named Brenno Benaglia as its new President. The decision was made on 23 May during the Reifen 2008 exhibition in Essen, Germany. During the meeting, a number of changes were made to the Board of the Federation, in line with the organisation’s constitution.

Brenno Benaglia, represents both AIRP (Italy) and the Marangoni Group and replaces Peter Hülzer of BRV (Germany), who becomes one of the Federation’s two Vice-Presidents. Also appointed Vice-President was Jan Driessen, Chairman of the Retreading Sector in VACO (Netherlands).

Retiring from the board was Richard O’Connell, representing the RMA (UK). BIPAVER Secretary Ruud Spuijbroek thanked O’Connell for his services as President between 2006 and 2007 and as a Vice-President during the past year as well as for his valuable contribution to the Federation’s Technical Committee.

During the General Assembly BIPAVER members approved a change in the Federation’s Constitution, which will allow Federation officers to serve two years in office as opposed to one year, as was previously specified in the constitution. This means that Brenno Benaglia will now serve as BIPAVER President from 2008-2010.

In his acceptance speech Brenno Benaglia commented: “Retreading is going through a complex period and BIPAVER now needs to carry on what it’s doing through strong co-operation with those new tyre producers, who are committed to producing retreadable casings. BIPAVER is an open and independent association and the ideas we have developed over the past year will be framework for our future work together.”

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Opens First India CV Tyre Outlet

Product News

Apollo Tyres has opened its first full-service branded commercial vehicle tyre outlet in India. Located in Salem, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, the new outlet is called Apollo Trust, and is the first of a number of outlets that will be established in large trucking halt points outside city limits and along India’s national highways. Apollo reports the Salem centre is equipped with the latest commercial vehicle wheel aligning, tyre balancing and nitrogen gas inflation equipment and staffed with highly trained employees. Therefore, the company adds, Apollo Trust is best positioned to cater to the unique and demanding needs of India’s commercial vehicle operators and drivers, who currently utilise both cross ply and radial tyres.

Plans are underway to gradually increase the Apollo Trust network to five locations in the next few months, offering tyres and tyre-related services, alongside the sale of retreaded tyres and retreading materials. Apollo Tyres states in a press release it felt the need to introduce such service-oriented outlets to “assist customers move up the value proposition, enabling them to chose the appropriate application for their vehicles and operational needs through informed decision making.”

29th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vipal Launches VRT1 Tread

Product News

Increasingly influential Brazil-based retreading material producer, Borrachas Vipal, has launched a new medium to long-haul tread. The new Vipal-branded pattern has a tread width of 205 millimeters and a tread depth of 15 millimetres. According to Vipal, the new tread improves traction and protects casing integrity.

28th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Reports Strength in Russian Market

Product News

Ellerbrock, the German subsidiary of the Marangoni Retreading Systems Group, has reportedly taken leadership in the Russian truck retread market after a decade of growth. Marangoni report that at least half of Russia’s retreaders are directly supplied with Marangoni/Ellerbrock products.

The size of the market is about 48 million car tyres (including OE) and about 7 million truck tyres (including OE). Over the past three years, truck sales have doubled in a country with over 700,000 kilometres of roads and 30,000 kilometres of expressways and highways. Marangoni says that unofficial but reliable estimates indicate a truck retread market of about 150,000 to 200,000 tyres, of which one third are retreaded locally and two thirds are imported, mostly from Central and Western Europe. Official figures for 2007 indicate 7.3 million units in the European truck retread market, which means that the Russian market accounts for about 2.4 per cent of the overall western, central, and eastern European market.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BIPAVER Meeting to Take Place During Reifen Show

Product News

The pan-European organisation representing retreading manufacturers, BIPAVER, is to hold its annual general assembly meeting concurrent to May’s Reifen show in Essen, Germany. The meeting will take place between 10.00am and 12.30pm on Wednesday, May 21 at the exhibition site’s Congress Centre South, Room L.

A key event of the general assembly will be the election of BIPAVER officers. It is expected that the candidate for the 2008/2009 president, Mr. Brenno Benalglia from Italy’s AIRP, will be elected to the position. Outgoing president, Mr. Peter Hülzer, from Germany’s BRV, will according to the BIPAVER charter assume the position of vice-president. Jan Driessen, from the Netherlands, is the candidate for the other vice-president position. Incumbent vice-president, Bandvulc’s Richard O’Connell, will resign from his position.

14th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Shod Fleets Get 22 per cent More Mileage

News

Coninental Tyres is claiming that correctly managed fleets running on the German manufacturer’s products gain 22 per cent more mileage in comparison with competing tyres. The claim comes as the main result of a comparative test of Continental tyres carried out in collaboration with an independent coach operator.

The test saw Continental tyres fitted all-round on one of six Scania luxury touring coaches in the 12-vehicle fleet of Worcester operator Commandery Coaches. These were then carefully monitored alongside another premium brand of tyres on an identical coach.

On the coach fitted with Continentals the tyres on the steer axle required changing at 133,000 kilometres and those on the drive axle at 205,000 kilometres, making a total for all six tyres of 1,086,000 kilometres. By comparison, the competitor brand of tyre needed changing at 116,000 kilometres on the front and 165,000 kilometres on the rear, making a total of 892,000 kilometres. Taking into account the lower price of the Continentals, the results showed a significant saving in overall tyre running costs. Other factors were also analysed, including the effect on fuel economy, noise and road-handling, all of which proved either positive or to have a neutral effect.

12th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Tyres Profits Rocket 125%

Product News

Apollo Tyres Ltd has reported a 125 per cent increase in annual net profits, rising from 1.2 to 2.7 billion rupees (£33.42 million). Operating profits grew 50 per cent to 6.1 billion (£75 million), from 4.1 billion in 2006/07. Consolidated revenues grew by 9 per cent, while operating profit showed a growth of 50 per cent from 4.1 billion to 6.1 billion rupees. Net sales grew 9 per cent to 47 billion rupees. Apollo also detailed how its retread business is also booming – sales of DuraTread retreading materials grew 139 per cent in the period.

However, the company reported a worsening raw material situation, with crude and raw material prices rising sharply in the final quarter of the last financial year. At the beginning of the quarter crude was around $90 a barrel, while by the quarter end it had crossed $113/barrel. Rubber moved from 92 rupees/kg to 116 rupees/kg in the same period.

9th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyrexpo Africa Continues to Grow

Product News

The second staging of the Tyrexpo Africa exhibition was generally perceived to be successful by exhibitor companies, who welcomed an increased number of industry buyers and delegates at the recent exhibition in Johannesburg. Tyres & Accessories was there and this month brings you the exhibitor highlights in the context of the current business environment.

Independently audited figures released by show organiser ECI International confirm a healthy six per cent increase in visitor numbers, up to 2,478 compared to the inaugural event in 2006. 130 exhibitors occupied around 5,000 sq.m of exhibition space in the Sandton Convention centre, with a 40/60 split between African suppliers and those from overseas. China, with 35 individual exhibitors, was the major presence, heading a truly international line-up made up of more than 60 different countries.

South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well developed financial, legal, communications and transport sectors; a stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world; and a modern infrastructure supporting relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centres throughout the country.

However, growth has not been strong enough to lower South Africa’s high unemployment rate and the daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era – especially poverty and lack of monetary empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. South African economic policy is fiscally conservative but pragmatic focusing on targeting inflation and liberalising trade as a means to increase job growth and household income – which means there is definite opportunity for those willing to do business here.

One example of a company that has thrived in these conditions is South Africa’s Chemvulc Marketing, which celebrated 30 years in business at the show. Sales director Danny Kirsten were positive about their involvement in the show: “Being able to meet visitors from Africa and the surrounding countries face to face was a big plus as in some cases we were not aware of their business ventures. Another factor was that we were able to meet and conduct business with a number of international customers.”

A further satisfied business was Imex Tyres, who commented: “Our attendance at the expo has brought us major enquiries relating to various exports opportunities as well as new business prospects for our markets. We’ll be back in 2010.”

And Srinivasan Ramamurthy, head of international marketing for Elgitread of India commented: “We kept busy up on the second day of the show with quality enquiries from prospective customers and were able establish many new contacts.

Another company who will be returning for the next show in two years time is Dutch retreader and wholesaler Bandenmarkt, managing director Leen van’t Hof has already confirmed a doubling of stand space for 2010. He said: “Participating in Tyrexpo Africa was a pleasure. After the initial event in 2006, was somewhat visitor light, this year’s event was very well supported.

Joaquin Gonzalez, chief operating officer for Tire Group Inc of the United States, said he hoped the show would help expand his company’s trading presence in the region. “The Africa show, without a doubt, was a complete triumph for us, due to the high number of new customer leads that it generated.”

Up and up

Rowena Suthers, sales director for ECI, believes that the exhibition is growing in stature after a second successful staging: “The general feedback from exhibitors and visitors was that the show was a good deal better than 2006 and certainly growing in stature. The second day proved the busiest and again exhibitor feedback recognised the quality rather than quantity of visitors, which is generally in line with our other events in the UK and Asia.

“We have been very encouraged by the feedback so far and will be working hard to continue its development as a major event in the African tyre industry calendar. Tyrexpo Africa will be back in two years time, in March 2010,” she confirmed.

Exhibition stands at Tyrexpo Africa 2008 were of a particularly high calibre, reflecting substantial investment from principals, especially by Bandag, which celebrated its 50th anniversary at the show by winning the Platinum Award for Best Stand Design. Other winners were CFP Tyres, which clinched the Gold and Tandem/Techking Tyres and Tubestone, who shared the Silver award.

Overall, the show reflected a keen emphasis on OTR tyres for the important mining and construction industry in South Africa. Retreading companies such as Leadertread, Imex, and Elgitread, recognised this trend by emphasising specialist materials for the OTR and earthmoving sector. There was also a strong showing of passenger and truck tyres.

The workshop and depot equipment side of the business was better represented than in 2006, with a comprehensive presence from machinery and equipment suppliers including: Leaderquip, Snap-On, Wheelquip, Syco Machinery and Hofmann Megaplan.

The only consistent disappointment expressed by exhibitors and visitors was the absence of major domestic tyre manufacturers, who visited the show as delegates but did not feel able to support their industry by exhibiting.

8th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Partners with US Commercial Service, TRIB for Recaufair

Product News

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) is to exhibit alongside the US Commercial Service and the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) and the at the 2008 Recaufair Tire Show, which will be held 5-8 May in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Germano Julio Badi will represent TIA and Anne Evans, director of the Middletown Export Assistance Center, will be representing the US Commercial Service. Members of TIA, TRIB and other US companies interested in growing their export activities are invited to stop by the TIA stand. Acknowledged as the largest tire show in Latin America, the event’s organizers are anticipating 10,500 domestic and international visitors. The retreading, recycling, commercial and service sectors are the focus, and the show will also feature lectures on markets, technology, environment and social responsibility.

8th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Wins 2 TAFF Awards for the 2nd Year

Premium, Product News

For the second year running, Michelin has scooped two NTDA Tyre And Fast Fit (TAFF) awards in one night. Michelin Tyre Plc won both the Tyre Manufacturer of the Year and Industry Advertising Awards. The success follows a strong showing at the 2007 awards when the French manufacturer received the Product Innovation and Industry Advertising awards. The 2008 TAFF awards also saw a return to winning ways for BITS who won Wholesaler of the Year for a record eighth time, including comparable prizes from before the TAFF awards began three years ago.

As the award citation stated, “the Michelin name is recognised across the world, as is its iconic emblem, Bibendum.” When it comes to the UK, the company – uniquely – has three manufacturing facilities and it is a measure of its commitment to the UK that investment in all three sites remains ongoing. The larger a company becomes, the greater is its social and environmental responsibility, and these are areas that Michelin takes very seriously.

Another environmental ‘first’ for Michelin is visible at its plant in Dundee, where giant wind turbines generate electricity to power the factory. On a global scale, the annual “Challenge Bibendum” encourages the development of sustainable mobility and environmental responsibility. Michelin has a proud history in the field of motor sports and this continued with a victory in the Le Mans 24 hours race. Competition is the driving force behind development, the company believes, which is why it did not put its name forward to be the sole tyre supplier for Formula 1.

2008 Industry Advertising Campaign of the year – Michelin

This is the second year running that Michelin has picked up this award, despite some fierce competition. “Bibendum” – the Michelin Man – is over 100 years old and still going strong. The worldwide icon has once again been at the centre of Michelin’s European 2007 advertising campaign. Notably, Bibendum returned to the television screens after an absence of three years in an advert giving a longevity message that a Michelin tyre can last more than once around the world.

New media were also targeted with online campaigns featuring on a range of sites including MSN, Yahoo, AOL, iVillage as well as trade sites such as Autotrader and Pistonheads. These banner and skyscraper ads carried the longevity message, plus a safety theme emphasising the importance of maintaining correct tyre pressure as well as fuel saving & environmental messages. Voted the leading tyre brand on the Internet by Envisional, online advertising is another area in which Michelin is the industry leader.

Wholesaler of the Year – BITS

To win Tyre Wholesaler of the Year once is commendable, but to win it eight times (including the similar preceding equivalents) is simply a fantastic achievement.

Putting the company’s success down to “consistently great service, day in and day out,” BITS managing director Brian Duguid explained: “For over 70 years we have had a service-first policy which means we put great customer care at the centre of everything we do. Our customers clearly appreciate it and we’d like to thank them for voting for B.I.T.S once again.”

This service-first approach may be a simple philosophy, but it’s also a hugely successful one. Since being formed in 1970, the family-owned company has grown into one of the largest independent tyre wholesalers in the country. Its distinctive flame-liveried vans are a regular feature on roads up and down the country, as the company completes its regular daily deliveries from its eight key regional centres, including the newest B.I.T.S centre based in Southampton.

Commenting on the growth of the business, Brian Duguid said: “We’re a people business. We look after our staff, who in turn look after our customers. This allows us to offer a highly personalised service which our customers really value. We get to know our customers’ needs and our dedicated team is always on-hand to help.”

Product innovation award

This year’s Product Innovation gong was won by Goodyear for the company’s Eagle F1 Asymmetric tyre. Goodyear representatives will no-doubt be pleased with the tyre’s performance as the TAFF Award joins the list of silverware the new Eagle tyre has won. Soon after being launched the Eagle F1 Asymmetric was named the best tyre by Evo magazine and was lauded by the Autocar in both its front and rear wheel drive test categories.

“Goodyear is thrilled to win this TAFF award. Already, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric has dominated the Autocar and Evo tyre tests, and it is great to see that the trade agree with the media! ActiveCornerGrip Technology, which maximises the footprint distribution of the Eagle F1 Asymmetric, is the latest in a long line of award winning Goodyear innovations including RunOnFlat, BioTred and HydraGrip.

“The Goodyear Eagle F1 family has won more industry awards and tyre tests than any other tyre. We thank the NTDA members for their nomination and support. It is important that we work with our dealers to communicate to drivers that not all tyres are the same, and recognition from this award will certainly help,” stated James Bailey, Corporate Communications Manager.

Environment award

The 2008 NTDA TAFF Environment Award was won by Kingpin Tyres. The award was collected on behalf of the company by John Campbell representing last year’s winner, Vellco.

In response to the company’s success, Kingpin representatives told Tyres & Accessories that the company’s management and staff are “honoured to have received the NTDA’S TAFF Award for the Best Environmental Company 2008 and wish to thank all those who contributed to this award.”

With over 35 years in business, Kingpin Tyres is certainly not ‘the new kid on the block’ when it comes to providing environmental and recycling services to the tyre industry. The business commenced operations in 1973 manufacturing passenger and commercial van retreads, whilst also providing the service of collecting used tyres from its customers. At the peak of tyre retreading in the UK, Kingpin supplied in excess of 20,000 retreads per week directly to the domestic market. Today Kingpin is the only remaining UK passenger tyre retreader, supplying a full range of passenger, commercial van, 4×4 and truck retreads nationally and one of the UK’s largest used tyre collection specialists.

In addition to providing retreading services and used tyre collections, Kingpin recognised the need to process scrap tyres in-house at its site in Wem, Shropshire – closing in the recycling process chain. All scrap tyres are processed through the company’s tyre shredding and granulation plant, eliminating the need for further transportation and so improving the company’s carbon footprint. Materials produced on-site include aggregate replacement and rubber granulates for use in the equestrian and leisure industries.

A major contributor to the collection and disposal of tyres in the UK, Kingpin collects and disposes of over 3 million tyres a year. Kingpin is accredited with a full waste management licence and waste carriers licence as well as being fully compliant in its duty of care to the environment.

Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year

And lastly, but by no means leastly, for the second consecutive year, the Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year award was presented to Apaseal.

The 79th NTDA Annual Dinner and Tyre And Fast Fit (TAFF) were held concurrently at the Hilton Metropole, alongside the Commercial Vehicle Show in the NEC and featured after dinner entertainment from former world snooker champion, John Parrott.

At the end of the evening the NTDA raised around 6000 pounds in a prize draw in aid of the automotive industry benevolent fund, BEN. Approximately 5300 pounds was raised by the initial draw, with a further 650 pounds being added to the total following an impromptu auction after winner Mary Scanlon generously returned her two track-day tickets to the prize fund.

Membership Required

Already a member? Log in here

6th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Posts

We see you are visiting us from China.