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.
Italian elastomer firm Versalis and guayule biomass specialist Yulex Corporation have announced the formation of a strategic partnership to manufacture guayule-based biorubber materials. Within the partnership, the companies will launch an industrial-scale production complex in Southern Europe.
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
A planned expansion at Michelin’s semi-finished rubber factory in Starr, South Carolina, will meet heightened overall tyre production demands at the tyre maker’s North American facilities. Capacity at the Starr plant, one of two Michelin factories producing rubber compound within the region (the other being Sandy Springs, Michelin’s largest rubber-producing facility in the world), will increase through a US$200 million expansion project that will begin operation in 2014. Michelin has not stated what the Starr plant’s capacity will be following the project’s completion.
With consumers putting off tyre changes later than ever, and with part worn sales soaring, a recent award-wining invention purports to be answer.
According to various online news sources, the Discolor Tyre works something like this: under normal tread lies a layer of coloured rubber, which is revealed when treadwear hits 1.6 mm. From here on in the dull black normally associated with tyre is replaced with a loud orange hue.
At the company’s Board of Directors meeting on 24 January, approval was given for Kenji Nakakura’s appointment as chairman and representative director of Toyo Tire & Rubber. The Japanese tyre maker has not stated when this appointment takes effect. The incumbent company president, CEO and representative director will be replaced in all offices by Akira Nobuki, who currently serves as Toyo’s executive corporate officer.
Over the last five days Kwik Fit has sold more than five times the number of winter tyres than the same time last week, as drivers have taken heed of severe weather warnings and made advance preparations.
Due to weakened demand for truck tyres in North America, Goodyear Tire & Rubber is laying off 41 workers at its Danville, Virginia truck and aircraft tyre factory. Local newspaper the Danville Register & Bee writes that the layoffs will take effect on 4 February. In an article published 21 January, it quoted Goodyear communications manager Laura Singleton as saying hourly workers throughout the plant will be affected, with selections based on seniority; employees most recently hired will be laid off first.
Four years after trialling its first Montracon trailer with Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres, Nestlé Customer Logistics reports that 25 per cent of its 200-strong tri-axle ‘Cooliner’ fleet is operating on the uniquely sized 455/45 R22.5 tyres. Nestlé Customer Logistics’ fleet operates on trunking routes between its production facility in York – which makes 6 million Kit-Kats a day – and distribution hubs throughout the UK. Moving forward, engineering manager Ralph Defty specifies the Michelin tyre on all new standard length trailers joining the fleet.
Stellana, Inc., a moulded polyurethane wheel manufacturer recently introduced its Optima line of polyurethane tyres for the material handling industry, which apparently differ from press-on bands. “Standard press-on tyres come with costly trip charges, press-on charges, and downtime expenses. The Optima Tire System eliminates these costs: simply bolt the tyre onto your lift truck and you are up and running again,” said Stellana’s sales and marketing manager, Michael Scoon.
UK firm Symphony Recycling Technologies says it has released a semi-automatic tyre cutter that is small enough to be used by neighbourhood garages and can completely scrap a tyre in 60 seconds. The SymTyre-S300 is aimed at businesses wishing to flat-pack end of life tyres for easier and more cost effective storage and transportation.
Toyo Tires supported driver Robby Gordon won Stage 11 and finished second at Stage 12 of the 2013 Dakar. Gordon’s victory at Stage 11 came after the competition portion was shortened amid safety concerns. Originally intended to run from La Rioja to Fiambalá in Argentina, the Stage was cut at the first checkpoint, taking the distance down from 219km to 70km, since heavy rains had flooded two rivers along the route.
MV Agusta has chosen to fit Pirelli’s Diablo Supercorsa SP tyres as original equipment on the basic, R and RR versions of its 2013 F4 range. The tyre is manufactured as a race replica version of the SC (Special Compound) mix version used in the World Supersport, Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and UEM European Championship in 2013. The racing street tyres in sizes 120/70 ZR17 on the front and 200/55 ZR17 on the rear are the latest fitment deal in a series of inter-Italian partnerships between the motorcycle brand and the tyre supplier.
One of the more critical drivers of Pirelli’s P Zero and Cinturato Formula One tyres has stated that he expects teams to “go into this season feeling more assured about the Pirelli tyres.” McLaren’s Jenson Button told the team’s website that he expected a more settled start to this years’ campaign, contrasting with the undeniably exciting opening stages of the 2012 season, which saw seven different Grand Prix winners. Button’s first taste of Pirelli’s 2013 rubber came during free practice at the season closing Brazilian Grand Prix, with the Italian firm bringing two extra sets of prototype tyres for teams in addition to the usual allocation.
The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Co.’s Fayetteville, North Carolina plant has successfully filled the nearly 200 buyouts required to avoid layoffs. The company had announced the need to cut 200 jobs in Autumn 2012, offering staff the option to take buyout packages. Local news sources estimated around 135 employees’ buyouts had been completed on 16 January, with the staff leaving their jobs in phases.
Continental AG expects its full-year 2012 free cash flow to come in at around 1 billion euros. Speaking at an investor’s presentation in New York, Conti CEO Dr Elmar Degenhart upped its previous assessment of about 750 million euros by a third. The statement came as a surprise to financial analysts and apparently even for the CEO himself, who reportedly only found out in the last few hours.
This is a short extract. Tyrepress and Tyres & Accessories subscribers can log in below to read the full article.
If you are not yet a Tyrepress or Tyres & Accessories subscriber, you can change that here.
Becoming a member has benefits such as:
Exhaust manufacturer Milltek used the occasion of Autosport International to reveal the car in which its team will compete during the 2013 UK Time Attack Championship. Having won the 2012 Club Classes with a Nissan GT-R in the hands of driver Richard Marshall, the Milltek team will return to its VW Group roots with a prepared VW Golf GTI Mk6, as it goes head to head with the reigning Club Pro 2WD class champion, Bo Nielsen in his Astra VXR Coupe.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
