Skinny is beautiful, at least according to a minority of motorcyclists in Asia – yet for these riders, beauty can also involve suffering. Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper brings word of a potentially dangerous trend, that of so-called “sotong tyres.” These tyres are thinner than regular motorcycle tyres and are said to be prized for their looks and promise of speed.
On December 13 German online tyre retailer Delticom AG announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Singapore-based Tyrepac Pte Ltd, for an undisclosed amount in cash. The transaction, Delticom reports, is structured as a capital increase at Tyrepac.
Sauber Motorsport has confirmed the signing of Pirelli F1 test driver Nick Heidfeld. The 33-year old German driver’s contract with the racing team comes into effect on September 17 and, thanking Peter Sauber for putting faith in him, Heidfeld said he was “looking forward like crazy” to racing in Formula One again from the Singapore Grand Prix onwards.
Nigel Lewis, currently purchasing director for Avon Tyres in Melksham, will as of June 1 take on the role of managing director of Cooper Tire International Trading Company in Singapore. In this capacity he will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the Singapore buying office and procurement of natural rubber.
Amtel Group founder Sudhir Gupta has reportedly sold a so-called “good quality bungalow” to Sareen Gajendra Singh who owns Omni United (S) Pte Ltd. According to local Business Times newspaper, the $28 million (Singapore dollar) sale of the property in the Binjai Park area of Singapore accounts for more than 5 per cent of total first quarter property sales in the “good quality bungalow” sector of the local market. The paper reports that this segment of the domestic property market recorded sales of S$500 million in the first quarter of 2010.
The Board of Directors of Singapore based Stamford Tyres Corporation has announced the appointment of Dr Wee Li Ann, daughter of company president Wee Kok Wah, as a non-executive director. The appointment took effect on December 9. Dr Wee will, adds Stamford, undertake formal training on her roles and responsibilities as director of a public listed company in Singapore in ‘due course’.
The Singapore based International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has announced that Dr Stephen V. Evans will take on the position of group secretary general on January 1, 2010, following the end of incumbent Dr Hidde Smit’s tenure. Dr Evans, notes an IRSG statement announcing his appointment, has been involved in the elastomer industry for the past decade and operated his own consultancy business since late 2008. The qualities he brings to the position include “extensive experience in biotechnology, business and marketing development as well as strategic management and research skills.”
Stamford Tyres will once again be exhibiting at CITExpo, the Singapore based company is using the forthcoming show in Shanghai to further endorse the group’s growing presence within the Far East and global tyre and wheel market. At Citexpo 2009, Stamford Tyres will emphasize the group’s versatile range in car, high performance, light commercial and truck sectors of the industry.
Back in March, Banbury-based Norbar Torque Tools Limited was named the regional winner in the £5-25m turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2008/9. On 24th June, the company went one better when it was awarded the national title of Best UK Family Business in the same category. Norbar won the national title against strong competition from knitwear manufacturer John Smedley and specialist pharmaceutical and medical supplies distributor Durbin Plc. The national finals were held at the Coutts headquarters on the Strand in London.
Norbar employs 200 people in Banbury, with a further 90 staff within its sales companies in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and China. The company's philosophy is about providing customers with high quality value for money products and services whilst being committed to the principals of environmental sustainability.
Specialty chemicals company Lanxess Butyl Pte. Ltd. has appointed Dr. Uwe Boltersdorf the site manager of its new butyl rubber plant in Singapore. Starting January 2009, Boltersdorf is responsible for project management of all third-party contracts, and supervision of all permits and internal guidelines. He will also oversee the hiring of new employees, implementation of business processes and setting up of the financial structure of the new site. Previously, Boltersdorf served as Board assistant to Dr. Axel Claus Heitmann, chairman of the Board of Management, Lanxess AG.
Due to declining demand for butyl rubber, Lanxess AG has elected to reduce production of the product at its Sarnia, Canada, and Zwijndrecht, Belgium facilities. In the coming months the factories belonging to the Butyl Rubber business unit will operate at reduced levels of capacity or will be temporarily shut down, perhaps for a duration of several weeks. Should shutdowns occur, the time will be used for routine maintenance work. About 360 employees in total will be affected by the measures. According to the company, in Canada a number of flexible working arrangements, such as a reduction of overtime and use of annual leave, will be used, while in Belgium employees will be placed on a short-time working arrangement.
Bridgestone has announced that at Formula One’s upcoming Singapore Grand Prix it will mark its super-soft and extremely wet tyres with reflective paint for the first time. The race will be held at night, and the measure is intended to inform spectators of what tyre each driver is using.
Shojiro Hara has been named the new chairman and chief executive officer of Bridgestone Australia. Currently the managing director of Bridgestone Asia Pacific in Singapore, Hara will take up the new role in October.
The Jacobs Engineering Group announced on June 24 that it has received a contract from Lanxess to provide Front End Loading services for a butyl rubber manufacturing plant project located on Singapore’s Jurong Island. Jacobs will provide the services from its Singapore office.
In making the announcement, Jacobs group vice president Chris Nagel stated, “We are excited that Lanxess has involved us in this project to support their growth in Asia. We are fully committed to delivering a safe, environmentally friendly plant.” Officials estimate the project’s total installed cost will amount to approximately US$700 million. Construction is expected to start early next year and be completed by the end of 2010.
Heathrow’s northern runway was forced to close for 20 minutes on 15 May after an arriving Ethiopian Airlines aircraft burst a tyre during landing. “The aircraft made a routine safe landing, exited the runway and passengers disembarked,” a Heathrow airport spokesperson told BBC News.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, two tyres fitted to a Qantas 737-800 blew during take-off for a flight from Sydney to Canberra. None of the 92 passengers on board was hurt and they were all rebooked on to later flights. “The flight crew acted in accordance with their training,” said a Qantas spokeswoman.
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