steel cord Archives - Page 6 of 8 - Tyrepress

Posts

Boughey Chooses X One Maxitrailer Tyres

Boughey Distribution has reportedly placed “a significant order” for Michelin’s new X One MaxiTrailer tyres, to be fitted exclusively across 100 Montracon and 30 Schmitz Cargobull tri-axle trailers which are currently being delivered into the Boughey’s fleet.

Designed to deliver up to 50 per cent more mileage than standard 385/65 R 22.5 XTE2, each new 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyre benefits from Infinicoil architecture, one of the Michelin Durable Technologies. This consists of a 400 metre steel cord wrapped continuously around the crown for greater longevity and even wear. Compared to a 385/65 R 22.5, the tread band is also 120 millimetres wider and has 35 per cent more rubber in the compound, which is said to be responsible for increasing the mileage potential of each tyre by up to 50 per cent.

28th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert to Acquire 100% Ownership of Turkey’s Beksa

Multinational manufacturer of tyre reinforcement and other materials, NV Bekaert SA, has announced its upcoming acquisition of the 50 per cent share in Turkish steel cord and metal fibre manufacturer Beksa Celik Kord Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S that it currently holds jointly with Turkish conglomerate Haci Ömer Sabanci Holding A.S. The two companies have signed a letter of intent for the transfer of shares, a transaction estimated to be worth 40.3 million euros, and when the deal is complete Bekaert will assume full ownership of Beksa. The transfer of shares will be executed after receiving approvals from the respective authorities, Bekaert reports.

Located in the city of Izmit, Beksa manufactures steel cord products and Dramix metal fibres for a variety of industrial applications, including the tyre and automotive industry. The company employs about 330 people and recorded sales of 80 million euros in 2006.

20th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Spend £150 Million on Additional Romanian Plant

Pirelli has plans to invest as much as £150 million during the course of this year to build a second factory at its Slatina tyre manufacturing site in Romania. According to Romania’s Ziarul Financiar newspaper, who quoted Enrico Malerba, chief executive of Pirelli’s Romania unit, work on the factory will commence in the summer. The completed facility will have an annual production capacity of 4 to 5 million tyres and will provide around 1,400 new jobs.

1st February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Planned Bekaert Facility to Meet Russian Tyremakers’ Needs

International News

Demand in Russia for the steel cord used to reinforce tyres is rising, and to meet this growing market Bekaert has taken the decision to invest in a new production facility in the country’s Lipetsk Special Economic Zone. More than 97 million euros will be invested in this project in a series of stages over the period 2008 to 2013, with the first stage scheduled to enter production in 2010.

The Lipetsk region, about 400 kilometres south of Moscow, is strategically located close to the target markets, reports Bekaert, and features good logistics, ready access to energy supplies and a skilled labour force. Bekaert already has an established portfolio of customers in Russia, including tyre manufacturers. These Russian customers are currently being supplied by factories in Central Europe.

21st January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Geert Roelens Named Bekaert Group Executive VP

Bekaert’s board of directors have appointed Geert Roelens as Group Executive Vice President and member of the Bekaert Group Executive Committee, effective 1 March 2008. He will succeed Marc Vandecasteele, Group Executive Vice President AWP Steelcord, who will retire after more than 36 years of service. In his new position, Geert Roelens will be responsible for managing and developing Bekaert’s steel cord activities on a global level. Geert Roelens is currently General Manager steel cord products Asia, based in Shanghai (China). He joined Bekaert in 1988 and gained extensive international business experience in various management assignments in Belgium, the United States, Indonesia and China.

17th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Announces Management Changes

Bridgestone Corporation announced on November 28 that its Board of Directors has approved the following proposals of the changes in Member of the Board and in Corporate Officers. The following board member will undergo changes in position and responsibilities, effective January 1, 2008.

– Toru TSUDA

New position and responsibilities: Vice president and senior officer responsible for products development, tyre products development, tyre research and material development.

Current position and responsibilities: Vice president and senior officer responsible for products development, tyre products development.

30th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Produces 100 Millionth Tyre in Bridgewater, Canada

The Michelin North America plant in Bridgewater, Canada has turned out its 100 millionth tyre. The production of this milestone item, a LTX A/T2 truck tyre, was marked by staff and management at the facility in Nova Scotia, and plant manager Dana LeBlanc referred to it as “an important event for everyone here at Michelin in Bridgewater.”

“Since 1973 the Bridgewater facility has been a leading example throughout Michelin of producing quality tyres,” said LeBlanc. “Achieving this production milestone again demonstrates how Michelin in Bridgewater is dedicated to being a leader in the manufacturing sector in Nova Scotia.”

The Bridgewater facility’s 100 millionth tyre follows expansion plans announced in July to modernise and increase production capacity, as well as an expansion announced in August 2006 for the steel cord products operation at the facility.

18th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Acquisition Talks in Russia Abandoned

International News

Following several months of negotiations Bekaert has opted to withdraw from talks with Russian firm ZAO Uralkord regarding a possible takeover. The Russian manufacturer, located in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, produces steel cord products for domestic tyre manufacturers and was viewed as a suitable vehicle through which the Belgian firm could strengthen its position in Russia. As recently as late July Bekaert CEO Bert De Graeve told media that the group was hopeful of closing a deal by the end of the year, adding that about 50 million euros had been offered for the purchase of Uralkord.

Despite this optimism, the deal fell through within three months of De Graeve’s announcement. The reason for this, Bekaert outlined in a statement, is that during “the course of the difficult and protracted negotiations, it became clear that no agreement could be reached with the current shareholders of ZAO Uralkord that would meet Bekaert’s criteria for pursuing its strategy of sustainable profitable growth in Russia.”

15th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Announces US Lay Offs

In the US Bekaert Steel has laid off 23 employees at its Rome, Georgia facility, a result of stronger competition from manufacturers in China. The factory, which produces steel cord used in tyre production, began laying off staff on October 1.

“We hope this is short lived,” plant manager Gary Downey told local newspaper the Rome News-Tribune. “The market is slow right now, but we fully anticipate that it is going to return.”

In late August the company also announced the closure of its joint venture steel cord facility in Geelong, Australia, quoting cheaper production costs in other regions as a factor in this decision.

5th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Australian Steel Cord Plant to Close

Belgium’s Bekaert Group and its Australian joint venture partner OneSteel Pty Ltd have decided to close their steel cord plant located in Geelong, Australia. This decision follows an extensive review of business performance, including customer and market outlooks, financial performance, plant operations and sourcing alternatives.

Employees, customers and suppliers have been advised of the closure, which will occur by the end of the year after all customer supply contracts and commitments for 2007 have been completed. The company says it will work closely with the plant’s 74 employees and their union representatives to provide advice and job placement assistance.

The joint venture, known as Bekaert Australia Steel Cord Pty Ltd, was established in 1986 to supply steel cords and hose wires to tyre and hydraulic hose manufacturers in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Bekaert says these markets will for the immediate future be supplied with products sourced from factories in North and South East Asia.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Steel Giant Seeks Controlling Stake in Cooper JV Company

Information supplied by a spokesman for leading global steel manufacturer Arcelor Mittal indicates that the company plans to pay US$27 million for a controlling stake in China’s Chengshan Steel Cord Co. This stake, according to a China Business News report of June 20, could be higher than 90 per cent, however its exact size has not been specified, and Chinese government approval must first be granted before any transaction can take place.

The firm at the centre of the takeover plans is located in Rongcheng, Shangdong Province, and is a 75-25 per cent venture between Shandong Chengshan Group Co and the Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. The company produces steel cord and bead wire for use in tyre reinforcement, and has an annual output capacity of more than 60,000 tons. Chengshan Steel Cord achieved sales of 375 million yuan (£24.6 million) in 2006, up 51.5 per cent from a year earlier.

Cooper Tire has not commented on this proposed deal, but if it takes place they may be required to pull out of the venture they helped establish.

25th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dick Denby Transport Puts New Michelin Trailer Tyre to the Test

Lincoln-based Dick Denby Transport has become the first haulier in the country to fit Michelin’s new X One MaxiTrailer tyres, which deliver up to 50 per cent more mileage than standard 385/65 R 22.5 tyres. Fitted to a Schmitz Cargobull tri-axle curtainsider, the X One MaxiTrailer tyre is the first trailer tyre to incorporate Michelin Durable Technologies.

Dick Denby, Chairman, explains: “We fit a lot of Michelin tyres across our fleet and will be monitoring the MaxiTrailer tyres very closely, to carefully ascertain the benefits they offer in comparison with our regular trailer fitment. Any tyre which claims to offer such a massive leap forward in mileage performance is certainly worth putting to the test, as the pay back across the fleet could be significant.”

25th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Tyre Romania Reports 2006 Turnover of £12.7 million

Pirelli Tyre’s operations in Romania ended the 2006 year having recorded a turnover of 60.36 RON (£12.7 million) and losses of 18.49 million RON (£3.9 million). The division has a capital share of 77.16 million RON (£16.3 million). However, while on paper the company’s 2006 appears less than illustrious, late October saw the opening of a new tyre manufacturing facility near its existing steel cord plant in Slatina. The establishment of this new plant, which specialises in the manufacture of high performance tyres and employs about 450 people, required an investment of £115 million.

22nd May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Releases Longer Lasting Tyre

Michelin has launched a tyre that the company claims to be the most notable technological breakthrough since the radial technology was first applied to truck tyres in 1952. The tyre – Michelin’s X One MaxiTrailer – reportedly provides up to 50 per cent more mileage than a comparable standard 385/65 R 22.5 tyre.

6th February 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Phoenix Yule to Expand Capacity by 60 per cent

(India/Rubber Asia) India’s largest manufacturer of steel cord reinforced converyor belts, Phoenix Yule, has announced plans to expand its capacity by as much as 60 per cent. Phoenix Yule is the company created by the privatisation of the conveyor belts division of the public sector Andrew Yule. According to Rubber Asia, currently 74 per cent of its 460 million rupee (£5.26 million) paid-up equity capital is held by Phoenix of Germany, while the rest is with the Government.

29th January 2007/by Tyrepress Editors