Alcoa Launches Eight New Cast Aluminium Wheels
Alcoa Automotive has announced that it has launched eight new cast aluminium wheels for Nissan and Chrysler Group.
Wheels
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The Lightest Truck Wheel on the Market?
Product NewsAlcoa’s contribution to the 60th IAA show centred around the company’s first forged aluminium wide base 17×22.5 wheel.
Goodyear to Invest $30 million in Fayetteville
Product NewsGoodyear Tire & Rubber Co has confirmed that it is planning to plough $30 million into its Kelly-Springfield plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina. .
Future of US HP Tyres
Product NewsAccording to the US Tire and Rim Association the number of auto tyre sizes has jumped 120 per cent since 1991 to 249 different sizes. The association claims that 82 per cent of this growth has come in rim sizes of 17 inches or more and it believes the increase is due to the automotive industry’s passion for performance.
Statistics show that about 59 per cent of the increase run in rim diameters of 18 inches or more. However, the total number of tyre sizes actually decreased last year due to a sharp fall in 13 and 14 inch sizes. The number of 15 and 16 inch tyre sizes has also levelled out in that time.
The demand for high performance tyres with their wide, low profile stance is inspired by motorsports, says Warren Croyle, marketing manager for Dunlop tyres in North America. As the industry has increasingly fitted HP tyres as original equipment on everything from the sports coupe, to the family sedan, the effects have had a dramatic impact on the tyre industry and tyre buyer alike, explained the company representative.
As high performance tyres have become increasingly important to consumers so have they to manufacturers. “Dunlop sizing, in particular, enjoys an advantage as the industry trend continues toward lower profile applications,” said Mr Croyle. “We’re well-positioned now, and we plan to introduce even more low profile sizes this year and next. Using technology derived from Dunlop’s experience with low-profile race tyres, engineers are finding new ways to improve the handling capabilities of today’s high performance automotive fleet.”
The tyre manufacturer claims that growth among 17 and 18 inch wheels is slowing. It predicts that by 2008 18 and 20 inch tyre sales will amount to 6 million units; however, 22 and 24 inch sizes are expected to be the fastest growing sizes.
Pirelli to Sponsor Golden Ticket Contest
Premium, Product NewsPirelli have partnered with DUB magazine to sponsor the ‘Nelly Golden Ticket Album Contest.’
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Motorcycle Registrations Continue to Grow
Product NewsAs high-street retailers report a wet August and rising interest rates hit consumer sales generally, the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) today released figures indicating a rise in new bikes sales.
New OE Aluminium Casting Wheel Manufacturer
NewsOnly two years after its foundation, Cevher Alloy Wheels (Izmir, Turkey) has achieved the impressive feat of becoming an original equipment (OE) manufacturer of aluminium casting wheels. The company’s first assignment will be producing wheels for the Volkswagen T5, followed by a contract to work with Ford in the company’s Turkish car plant. In a promising development for the company, there have also been discussions with BMW. The acceptance of the company into the OE ‘circle’ is down to years of OE experience producing a range of other aluminium car parts says group president and CEO, Haluk Oezyavuz.
A Four-Door Coupe? The New Mercedes CLS-Class
Product NewsAt the beginning of October Mercedes’ new CLS-Class range will make its market debut. From Mercedes’ point-of-view the new cars represent the bridge between “the elegance and dynamics of a Coupé and the practicality of a saloon.”
Down-Under and Back Again
Product NewsThe Italian aluminium wheel brand, OZ, is known worldwide for its involvement in motorsports. It is equally well known in the aftermarket because of its good reputation. But, in recent times there have been many fears that Italian companies couldn’t compete in European market, where high quality and low prices are paramount. Now, at thirty years old, the company has experienced the sharpest turnaround in its history. A turnaround that the management believes has a lot to do with its acceptance of Japanese Kaizen Philosophy. To download this article as a PDF file, click here.
Group Tyre Team Win Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge
MotorsportA team made up of tyre fitters from Elite Garages of Horsham and Broadway Tyres of High Wycombe demonstrated their high speed skills by winning Michelin F1 Pitstop Challenge at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Honeywell Flies High
Product NewsHoneywell International is to provide wheel and brake repair and overhaul services for American airline Evergreen International’s entire fleet of aircraft.
“This agreement is a great example of Honeywell’s capabilities to provide the right value for our customers through superior support and low-cost solutions,” says Peg Billson, Honeywell aircraft landing systems VP and general manager. “We are pleased to provide Evergreen with a comprehensive repair and overhaul service package to support their complete wheel and brake requirements.”
The service agreement will provide the airline with significant maintenance cost savings for its current fleet of 10 747s and five DC-9s. The contract will also include all labour and materials for wheels and brakes, as well as tyre management, and logistic services. In addition, Honeywell will provide distribution to and from more than 10 domestic and international operations.
New 3 Series BMW to use 16 and 17-Inch Tyres
Product NewsBMW is due to present the next generation of its popular 3 series by the beginning of next summer. The 3 series will entered the market in four different versions. Of these, three will use 205/55 R16 and 7×16 wheels and the high performance version will use 225/45 R17 with 8×17 wheels.
Michael Schumacher Formula 1 Champion on BBS
Product NewsGerman wheel manufacturer BBS AG is pleased again with the success of Scuderia Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. After the constructor’s championship was secured at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the manufacturer was confident that Michael Schumacher could do what no other Formula one driver has done before and become world champion for the fifth consecutive time. Schumacher’s seventh Formula One championship was confirmed with his second place podium position at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Ferrari supplier BBS has said that it is proud to have contributed its extremely light and sturdy forged magnesium wheels to all seven world champion titles. The development partnership with Ferrari obviously inspires the Schiltach, Black Forest, engineers as each year they contribute innovative ideas to the success of the Scuderia.
Home Market Dwindles for BBS
Product NewsBBS has released its consolidated first-half sales figures, which hold steady at 89.6 million euros. Growth outside Germany has seen the sales increase from the previous year’s figure of 89.4 million euros. However, due to dwindling business inside Germany EBT amounted to a mere 1.9 million euros.
In Germany, business volumes fell 3.4 per cent from 50.2 million euros to 48.5 million euros. Outside Germany, the wheel manufacturer boosted sales by 4.9 per cent from 39.2 million euros to 41.1 million euros. As a result, its share of sales outside Germany rose from 43.8 per cent to 45.9 per cent of its total sales.
Amcast Finalises its Assets Sale
Product NewsAmcast Industrial Corporation has completed the sale of its Aluminum Components business assets. The sale, which was made to Park-Ohio Holdings Corp, included the company’s Wapakoneta Ohio, Richmond Indiana and Cedarburg Wisconsin plants.
The manufacturer’s remaining businesses now include Aluminum Wheels, Squeeze-Cast Components and Lee Brass.
