“Impact Wrenches Can Be Health Hazard” – Report
Pneumatic impact wrenches such as those typically used for commercial wheel bolting could prove to be a health hazard if used for more than a few minutes a day, says a new assessment.
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Goodyear Partners with Tredit
Product NewsGoodyear Tire & Rubber Co has partnered with Tredit Tire & Wheel Company, Inc to provide tyre and wheel assemblies to original equipment trailer manufacturers. Tredit is a leading supplier of wheel and tyre and wheel packages for trailers used in the recreational vehicle, cargo, horse/livestock, boat and utility segments.
New F1 Tyre Rules Confirmed
MotorsportThe FIA World Motorsport Council has officially approved new Formula 1 rules, which will see the series re-introduce a control tyre and bring back tyre changes. The new rules also mean larger wheels and slick tyres will be used. The new rules state: “Each driver will be permitted to use seven sets of dry-weather tyres for each event. All tyres used for qualifying and race must be of the same specification. Tyre changes will be permitted at any time during the race.”
While the reintroduction of pit-stop tyre changes and the use of more than one set of tyres will begin next season, the control tyre concept, larger wheel sizes and slick tyres were originally slated for 2008. However, the FIA has allowed for this collection of rules to be brought forward to 2007 if an 80 per cent majority of the Formula One Technical Working Group agree to do so before the end of December 2005.
Investor Unhappy With Titan “Merger” Plans
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) Activist hedge fund Jana Partners has taken a strong stance against the proposed “merger” between Titan International and One Equity Partners. Calling it a move to take Titan private, Jana Partners said the $18 per share offer made by One Equity Partners was “well below the true value of the company.”
New F1 Rules
MotorsportA meeting of the Formula 1 commission has voted to re-introduce tyre changes into the racing series. The Daily Telegraph described F1’s decision to reintroduce tyre changes as “far from unanimous”. In addition the series will adopt a new qualifying system for next season as well as a radical alterations to vehicle aerodynamics and appearance.
Hayes Lemmerz Sells Aftermarket Brake Controller Business
Product NewsHayes Lemmerz International, Inc is to sell its aftermarket brake controller business to Hayes Brake Controller Company, a limited liability corporation formed by Syncro Corporation of Arab, Alabama. Under the agreement Hayes Brake Controller Company will acquire all inventory, assets and intellectual property necessary to the operation of the aftermarket brake controller business. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Van den Ban Clears the Way for New Brand
Product NewsAt the beginning of September Van den Ban Autobanden BV launched its new ‘Clear’ brand in several European countries. Produced in China, the new exclusive brand, is said to have attracted “a great deal of interest” already. Van den Ban has stated its intention to enhance its size range by the end of 2005, but the company says its “ultimate objective” is to present a comprehensive portfolio of over 30 high performance size options in due course. There are even plans to extend the range to include SUV and truck sizes. The Clear HP166 model is being promoted on the basis of its V-shaped pattern. In addition to wet and dry traction performance, the new tyre is said to include a rim protector to guard against wheel damage.
Klein Appointed VP/General Manager Accuride Aluminium Wheels
Product NewsAccuride Corporation recently announced that it has appointed Richard (Rick) Klein as vice president/general manager Accuride Aluminium Wheels. Klein has served as Accuride’s director of operations based at the companies Erie plant since early 2004.
New Maywood Lift
Product NewsMaywood Equipment Group, the sole importers of the world famous Hofmann brand of lifts, has added eight and twelve tonne four post lifts to its range. Both models are supplied in three phase only and include safety deadman controls. In both cases the platform length is 8000 millimetres, which allows for a large range of commercial vehicles. The lifting time is only 55 seconds and both lift to a height of 1750 millimetre.
Maywood also offers four post lifts suitable for wheel alignment, namely the Quadrolift wheel alignment series, available with or without secondary lifting.
All lifts from Maywood are distributed through leading companies such as Unipart Automotive (Partco and Brown Brothers) and members of The IFA (Independent Factors Association).
Bridgestone to Exhibit at Tokyo Motor Show
Product NewsBridgestone will run a booth at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show to be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City from 22 October to 1 November.
The theme of the Bridgestone stand this time is “Technology for People”, and will comprise three corners – Premium, Future, and Safety – and will introduce aspects of tyres and technology supporting automobiles, which are such an important part of people’s lives.
Titan Takes Third Extension on Goodyear Deal
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) Late yesterday morning, Titan International announced that it was extending the deadline for the completion of its planned purchase of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s agricultural tire business. The new deadline is 1 November. The previous deadline of 1 October came and went without a public announcement by the Des Moines, Iowa, tire and wheel maker. Titan said it filed for the extension on 30 September.
The extension is the third Titan has taken since it announced its plans to buy all of Goodyear’s agricultural tyre business – including its Freeport, Illinois, agricultural tyre plant – for some $100 million. As required by Goodyear’s contract with the United Steelworkers (USW) union, Titan must reach an agreement on a new contract for the plant’s 800 workers before the sale can be completed.
Easy Round
Product NewsRema Tip Top has launched a new wheel straightener called Easy Round.
The portable device can be mounted on to a tyre changer; requires no external power source (such as air or electricity) and has no over-heads or maintenance costs.
Tradesman Refurbishment
Product NewsHofmann Megaplan has introduced a new addition to its wheel service range with the launch of the ‘Tradesman’ machine for alloy wheel refurbishment and repair.
The megamount ‘Tradesman’ is the result of a joint development project with wheel refurbishment specialist Wheel Clinic. Based on a conventional tyre changer chassis, the unit enables rims up to 24 inch diameter to be clamped and rotated at the necessary speed for grinding and polishing. A full starter kit of grinding and polishing wheels is supplied with the unit and ongoing consumables are available directly from Wheel Clinic.
Alcoa’s Workhorse Wheel
Product NewsAlcoa has developed a new wheel for the Axor construction vehicle together with DaimlerChrysler. The new product does not have any hand holes and has been developed to protect the vehicle’s disc brakes from sand and gravel on the drive axle.
The “workhorse” wheel has the same load and mounting characteristics as a standard Alcoa wheel and will be on display at the DaimlerChrysler stand at the up and coming European Road Transport Sow in Amsterdam.
It is available in three sizes: 22.5 x 8.25, 22.5 x 9.00 and 22.5 x 11.75 and in a Diamond Brite finish.
Bridgestone Exhibits Updated Dynamic In-Wheel Drive System
Product NewsBridgestone has launched an improved version of its revolutionary in-wheel motor drive system for electric vehicles. First announced in September 2003, Bridgestone’s system was seen as an advance in in-wheel motor drive systems that use motors installed inside vehicle wheels.
Installing the drive motors inside the wheels allows for controlling each wheel individually, which supports excellent handling, Bridestone says. It also eliminates the need for the differential and drive shaft and therefore allows for unprecedented freedom when designing vehicles. Designers can allocate more space to the driver and passengers without increasing the overall size and weight of the vehicle.
