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.
BusinessWeek.com reported on 7 May that the price of rubber fell to its lowest price in more than four months, erasing this year's gains, on concern that Europe's debt crisis may slow the global economic recovery. However, while financial analysts agree that tyre raw material prices have “ticked down for the first time since March 2009,” they say the full year effect in 2010 is still likely to be 15 – 20 per cent higher than last year.
ATS Euromaster will continue to fit Michelin rubber to Gregory Distribution’s 500-plus trucks and 850 trailers over the next three years after the logistics firm renewed its contract with the service network. ATS-E reports the deal is worth more than £4 million. The relationship between the two companies dates back to the early 1990s, and involves two ATS Euromaster technicians working full-time at Gregory Distribution centres at Cullompton and North Tawton.
While tyrepress.com already reported that the Westlake brand would be represented by its Central European distributor, Diamond Tire, the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber manufactured brand will also be in Hall 3 at Reifen 2010. The Westlake tyre portfolio is distributed by Eskay Tyres, which is part of the Dubai-based Al Dobowi Group, which promises Westlake will be a “focal” point of its stand – Hall 3, Stand 229.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. has obtained local government authorization for its wholly-owned subsidiary in Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, China to proceed with manufacturing passenger and light truck tyres. The company announced its decision to establish Toyo Tires Zhangjiagang Co., Ltd., on 28 January 2010. Operations are expected to commence by the end of 2011. Initial production capacity during the first phase will be 2 million passenger car/light truck tyres a year.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has officially openened its new natural rubber processing factory in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. The opening ceremony was held on 6 May 2010. Among a total of 90 participants in the ceremony were Governor of Surat Thani Province, government officers, construction company executives, people representing joint investment partners Teck Bee Hang Co., Ltd., and VonBundit Co., Ltd., raw material suppliers, and Kinya Kawakami, board director and corporate officer of Yokohama Rubber.
In his greeting remarks, Kawakami said: "Yokohama Rubber imports natural rubber from Thailand and Indonesia and Teck Bee Hang is one of the largest Thai suppliers for us. However, Teck Bee Hang's natural rubber processing factory, which mainly supplies to Yokohama Rubber, has been considered less certain in terms of supply stability because of its insecure location near the Malaysian boarder area.
Maxxis has two industrial tyres that it says are “highly versatile” offerings, giving the company the ability to “make its name” in the market. The M9000 MT Loader and the M8000 Tuff-Guard skid steer tyres are designed to tackle a wide range of heavy duty industrial applications, including construction, agriculture and dockside freight, safely and efficiently, Maxxis states.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will increase prices on all of its consumer tyres in North America by up to 6 per cent as of 1 June, says Tire Review. This includes Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly-Springfield brands. The company cites rising raw material and transportation costs as the reasons for the increases.
Apollo Tyres has confirmed it will increase tyre prices again by 4 per cent in June after already hiking prices by 3.5 per cent on 1 May, reports Tire Review. The company cited increases in natural rubber and crude oil costs as the reason for the successive price hikes. Citing similar input cost pressures, Apollo had increased prices 2 per cent to 4 per cent in April and 3-5 per cent in January.
Tire Review reports Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. reported net income of $12 million for the quarter ended 31 March, a $33 million improvement from the same period in 2009. Net sales were $754 million, an increase of $183 million, or 32 per cent, from the prior year. Operating profit was $33 million for the quarter, a $49 million improvement compared with a loss of $16 million in 2009, the company said.
Bridgestone Motorsport has confirmed the compound allocations of Potenza tyres for the next six rounds of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. The manufacturer has been able to implement its policy of keeping compounds two steps apart at the latter three Grand Prix (Canadian, European – super soft and medium – and British – soft and hard). The softer compound tyre used at any Grand Prix will be distinguished by the green bands on the edge of the tyre side walls, doubling up as a show of support for the FIA’s Make Cars Green campaign.
As it has for fast-approaching 40 years, the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company announced a quarterly dividend payable June 30, 2010, to stockholders of record at the close of business June 2, 2010. The payout will be 10.5 cents per share on common stock. The payout will mark the 153rd consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.
Galgo Pre-Q was recently honoured with the “National Export Award of Mexico 2009-2010” (Premio Nacional de Exportacion). According to the company, Galgo was the only company of its type to have received this prize “making us best-in-class in what we do.”
Since its foundation in 1952 Galgo Pre-Q has aimed to combine modern rubber manufacturing and laboratory equipment with a total quality management system. In 1999, Galgo Pre-Q systems received ISO 9001 certification recognized by ANSI RAB (U.S.A) and DAR (Germany). But last year this was re-certified at ISO 9001 version 2008. Company representatives say the certification assures clients that the company uses high quality processes and keeps a continuous improvement programme. They also point out that part of Galgo Pre-Q’s process SAP R/3 integrated computer systems provide “timely and accurate information upon which to make operational decisions.”
Danish recycling industry equipment supplier Eldan Recycling A/S reports demand from its German speaking markets is increasing, and therefore it is reinforcing its sales activities in this region. The recycling and separation technology specialist has appointed Dieter Jerschl as Sales Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company has also established a sales office to meet this regional demand. “The new sales office in Düsseldorf, Germany, is the logical next step due to the rising inquiries from this region,” commented Eldan managing director Toni Reftman.
Michelin has launched three new ranges of tyres designed and homologated to fit the new Porsche Cayenne. While Michelin’s continuing branding and product development pursuit of ecological savings seems to chime oddly with the SUV, Porsche’s latest strategy, which it calls “Porsche Intelligent Performance”, involves manufacturing vehicles that deliver enhanced performance while also consuming less fuel and are therefore more efficient and less polluting. This strategy, the French giant explains, “corresponds perfectly with Michelin’s strategy of designing and producing tyres that provide the most balanced performance.” Michelin says its tyres, “especially those that will be fitted on the new Porsche Cayenne, are designed for superior performance in terms of safety-enhancing grip as well as fuel-efficiency and total mileage”.
Diamond Tire is the exclusive agent for Westlake tyres in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and Slovenia since it was awarded distribution rights in the region by Chinese manufacturer Huangzhou ZhongCe Rubber Company in 2009. The company and its partners will exhibit the Westlake brand using their collective Westlake Central Europe Group moniker at Reifen Essen 2010 in Hall 6, Booth 124.
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