rubber Archives - Page 128 of 347 - Tyrepress

Tyres can’t function without this critical raw material. Whether its natural or synthetic rubber you are interested in, articles bearing this tag feature this indispensable polymer.

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“Severe” Silverstone Grand Prix Expected by Bridgestone

Bridgestone Motorsport representatives are anticipating a “severe test” for their tyres at Silverstone for Formula One’s British Grand Prix, described as the company’s effective “home Grand Prix”. “The British Grand Prix is one of the most famous on the calendar and we are pleased to be visiting Silverstone once more,” said director Hiroshi Yasukawa. “Bridgestone Motorsport is based in Langley, near Heathrow, so this is a home Grand Prix for us. I am happy that Formula 1 will experience the new circuit layout that Bridgestone recently enjoyed with the British MotoGP race. Bridgestone UK is a very supportive market of our F1 programme and will enjoy a range of activities there.”

5th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo one of ‘Thailand’s Best Friends’

The Kingdom of Thailand has named Toyo Tire & Rubber one of ‘Thailand’s Best Friends 2010’ in acknowledgement of its importation of Thai natural rubber. Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 is a project implemented in line with a strategy to maintain and promote close relationships with purchasers and overseas importers of Thai products. The project, run by the country’s Ministry of Commerce, began in 2009.

5th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Evonik to Close Botlek Carbon Black Plant on 31 July

Evonik has announced that it will close its Botlek, Netherlands carbon black plant on 31 July 2010 as part of a production “realignment” programme. Plans are said to be in place for the site to continue as a supplier of energy to businesses located in the vicinity for the news few years. "While the Botlek facility has always excelled in quality and efficiency, the market has moved away from Northwest Europe. Botlek’s great performance is, unfortunately, not enough to overcome the logistical disadvantage", said Jack Clem, Evonik’s head of Carbon Black.

According to the company, the guiding principle behind the realignment of Evonik's European carbon black production capacities is “closer to the customer.” Their view is that, with the carbon black market in Western Europe is increasingly shifting towards Central Europe and that the main drivers of this change are the major tyre manufacturers and producers of mechanical rubber goods.

2nd July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Goes Patriotic

Citizens of the US are celebrating their 4th of July holiday on, um, July 4, and for some this means hoisting the Stars and Stripes and belting out a few bars of the Star Spangled Banner. Other Americans will be showing their patriotism in tyre form. Goodyear Tire & Rubber, exclusive tyre supplier to the quintessentially American NASCAR race series, intends to ‘transform’ all Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races over the July 4th holiday weekend.

2nd July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

New Kenda Taiwan Plant to Enter Production Q2 2011

Kenda Rubber has begun construction of a passenger car tyre factory alongside its existing Yun-Lin plant in Taiwan. The new factory, reports the China Economic News Service, will enter production in the second quarter of 2011 and reach a daily capacity of approximately 5,000 tyres by the end of 2011. The company also produces passenger car tyres in China and Vietnam.

30th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Matador-Omskshina JV Marks 15th Anniversary

This year Continental Matador Rubber celebrates the 15th anniversary of the ZAO Matador-Omskshina joint venture project, which is based in Omsk in the Russian Federation. The founders, Slovakia’s Matador and Russia’s Omskshina, each contributed a 50 per cent capital share in order to establish a passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre production facility. The joint-venture was officially registered in the Russian Federation on 17 May 1995.

30th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Toyo Announces Death of Carlos Kibata

Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. has announced the death of its chairman, Carlos (Shozo) Kibata on June 26, 2010, following a brief illness. Kibata, aged 64, had been with the Toyo Tires organisation for more than 41 years and in addition to being chairman was until recently an executive corporate officer of Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., LTD. in Japan.

30th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Kirkby Announces New Additions to Alliance, BKT and Double Coin EM Range

Speke, UK-based wholesaler Kirkby Tyres has announced the latest additions to its earthmover tyre range, including new, larger and more specialist sizes under the Alliance, Double Coin and BKT brands. Alliance has released a new wide-based radial in the 650 design used on Loaders/Dozers and Graders. It is available in sizes ranging from 20.5R25 to 26.5R25, inclusive. Ilan Goldstone commented: “This tyre has been designed with a compound that has exceptional wear and an all-steel casing for superior durability and puncture resistance – it’s a very popular tyre. As well as the tyres we also have off-the-shelf EM wheels, as well as being able to provide bespoke specifications when necessary.”

29th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Asymmetric Tyres Allow MotoGP Tyres “Good Overlap of Performance” in Assen

MotoGP’s Dutch TT Grand Prix this weekend – the 80th meeting held at the circuit – yielded a significant success for Bridgestone, the series’ sole tyre supplier. Throughout the weekend, the tyre manufacturer states, riders were lapping competitively on each specification, and the race provided a direct comparison between the extra edge grip of the softer rear slick option and the additional traction of the harder option. The balance between the medium and the hard asymmetric rear tyre options was illustrated by the podium: Jorge Lorenzo took his fourth win of the season using the hard option, with Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner coming second and third respectively using the softer rear tyre. While the circuit was modified in the Ruskenhoek corner, shortening it by 13 metres, the new lap record set by Dani Pedrosa was two seconds faster. The track temperature was high, reaching 47 degrees Celsius, and the weather was fine throughout the weekend maximising the riders’ dry running time.

29th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Schaeffler Preparing For Conti Merger

As of June 28, the Schaeffler Group has consolidated its operational businesses and its share in Continental AG under a corporation called Schaeffler GmbH. This company, based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, will function as a management holding for the operational businesses of the Schaeffler Group and is wholly owned by the Schaeffler family.

29th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

North American Launch for Michelin X-Traction Range

It’s been on the market here since 2004, but for our neighbours on the other side of the pond the Michelin X-Traction earthmover tyre range is so new you can still smell the factory-fresh rubber. The first offering in the range, a size 27.00R49 tyre, will be introduced into the North American market on July 1. This initial size will be followed up by a size 24.00R35 variant in September and two 33-inch fitments next year.

29th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Boosting Butyl Rubber Capacity in Belgium

Production capacity at Lanxess’ butyl rubber facility in Zwijndrecht, Belgium is to be expanded by ten per cent to meet growing global demand for butyl and halobutyl synthetic rubber. The company has announced its intention to invest 20 million euros to lift annual capacity by 14,000 tonnes to around 149,000 tonnes, with the required work being mainly undertaken during a scheduled plant turnaround in the third quarter of 2011. The changes necessary to accommodate this higher capacity are anticipated to be in place and completed in the second quarter of 2012, and Lanxess comments the plant will produce a “superior quality” of butyl rubber.

28th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Compounds Perform “Strongly” in Valencia

Sebastian Vettel produced a disciplined display to win the European Grand Prix at Valencia’s street circuit, using a super soft-medium tyre strategy. Bridgestone Motorsport declared the performance of both compounds “strong”, with track conditions improving over the course of the race as the streets took on more rubber. Vettel crossed the line ahead of the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, following a lengthy safety car period early in the race after a dramatic exit for Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing). Nine cars, including third place finishing Jenson Button, were being investigated after the race for their pace under the safety car, while Hamilton incurred a drive through penalty after an ambiguous move as the safety car arrived. The British driver hesitated when he saw the vehicle pulling out of the pit lane, only to overtake it when it joined the track. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso – a veteran of a tumultuous season as Hamilton’s team-mate – was angered by the Briton’s actions, suggesting the penalty was not great enough.

28th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Natural Rubber Prices Continue Climbing

Bloomberg reports that natural rubber prices continued rising for the third straight day on fears that heavy rains will hurt output in Thailand. Tokyo rubber futures jumped 1.5 per cent on Thursday after a 3.8 per cent rise earlier in the week. A monsoon is dumping heavy rains on many parts of Thailand, the world’s largest natural rubber producer, and are not expected to dissipate soon.

25th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Comma Painting Aided by Avon-Shod Caterham, F2 Car

Using the tyres of a 6-tonne racing truck, an Avon-shod Formula Two single seater, race bike and a Caterham as his paintbrushes, artist Ian Cook – famous for using radio controlled cars in much the same style – has created a unique 50 square metre work of art. The painting was commissioned by oil and car care company, Comma, to launch a £2 million motorsport giveaway at the company’s website.

24th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors