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.
Hankook has won an SUV original equipment fitment deal with BMW. The tyre manufacturer will supply a newly developed SUV version of its flagship ultra high performance tyre, the Ventus S1 evo2, to the third generation X5. Hankook plans to launch the tyre, which will be manufactured mainly at its Hungarian facility, on replacement markets in spring 2014.
Titan International has set a 2014 revenue goal of US$2.4 billion to $2.7 billion, the company reported on 25 November. This target assumes that Titan will not make any further acquisitions and is calculated on the premise that pricing and raw material costs will remain flat next year. Titan forecasts maintenance capital expenditure will be $70 million in 2014.
According to news reported by the Bangkok Post today, Yokohama Rubber intends to double capacity at its Rayong factory in Thailand; the stated reason for this increase is to equip the country as a base from where the ASEAN region can be supplied.
Hungary’s MOL Group and Japan’s JSR Corporation have reached an agreement to establish an S-SBR synthetic rubber plant in Tiszaújváros, Hungary. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2017 and JSR and MOL will hold 51 per cent and 49 per cent shares in the joint-venture respectively. Plant capacity will be 60,000 tonnes per annum, and in the long term the project should create more than 100 new jobs.
R O Williams & Son, a farm contractor near Bristol, is aiming to keep its 2009 John Deere 6930 tractor in operation until early 2014 on its original Michelin MultiBib tyres.
The JD 6930 has clocked up more than 7,300 hours operation since being delivered to R O Williams & Son more than four years ago, with its tyres still only two-thirds worn (based upon the tyres remaining in service until between 10-15mm of tread is remaining).
Women in the United States are being encouraged to buy local; Goodyear Tire & Rubber has featured twice in the ‘America’s Best in Automotive’ category of this year’s Women’s Choice Award. The company was selected as best Premium Tire Brand, Tire Retailer and Auto Service Retailer.
The MG marque returned last year as a brand owned by China’s SAIC, and now the second new MG model has arrived in the UK. Following its launch at Auto Shanghai 2013 in April the new MG3 is now available here – and Goodyear has been chosen to provide original equipment tyres for all versions.
With the nights closing in and winter well on its way, Mercedes-Benz Retailers are helping customers to prepare for the changing road conditions in the months ahead by stocking Cold Weather Tyres.
Mercedes-Benz points out that Cold Weather Tyres are effective as soon as the temperature falls below seven degrees Celsius, not just when there is snow on the ground.
Cabot Corporation has completed its acquisition of the equity stake owned by Grupo Kuo S.A.B. de C.V. in its Mexican carbon black manufacturing joint-venture, Nhumo, S.A.de C.V. The company says Nhumo is Mexico’s leading carbon black producer and the acquisition of Kuo’s interest strengthens Cabot’s global carbon black business and will help meet growing demand throughout North America. The Nhumo business will now be integrated into Cabot’s Reinforcement Materials segment. Under the terms of the agreement, Cabot will pay Kuo US$105 million, of which $80 million was paid upon closing. In addition, at closing, a special dividend payment will be paid to Nhumo shareholders, of which Cabot will receive $14 million.
The Tokyo Motor Show 2013 opens to the public on 23 November, and during the press days ahead of the official start of the exhibition Bridgestone unveiled its second generation ‘air free’ concept tyre. The manufacturer says the latest improvements to the air free concept bring it one step closer to developing a viable, commercially available non-pneumatic tyre; the second generation concept features improved load-bearing capabilities plus a more ‘environmental’ design and driving performance.
The Delaware Supreme Court has approved Cooper Tire & Rubber’s request for an expedited hearing of its appeal against the partial bench ruling made by Delaware Chancery Court on 8 November and the letter of opinion dated 9 November.
With the sport still growing in the UK and trying to attract new talent, the attractiveness of the series to tyre suppliers is equally important. Title sponsor of the British Drift Championship and supplier to one of its major teams Japspeeed, Maxxis explains how it is helping the sport to thrive and grow as part of the UK motorsport calendar.
Two tyre makers have both pledged aid to support relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan on 8 November, and a third is contributing to aid efforts following the earthquake there three weeks earlier.
Current low prices for butadiene rubber have been singled out as a key reason why sales within Lanxess’ Performance Polymers business declined eight per cent year-on-year to €1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2013 despite a 14 per cent rise in volumes. Lanxess says lower raw material prices, especially butadiene, led to selling prices dropping 19 per cent. Sales were also hampered by negative currency effects.
Toyo Tire & Rubber’s third quarter 2013 results, published on 12 November, show a 10.5 per cent year-on-year increase in net sales for the June to September quarter, to ¥268.2 billion (£1.7 billion). Third quarter operating income, at ¥24.7 billion (£155.6 million), was up 159 per cent year-on-year and offered a 9.2 per cent margin.
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