Wheels
Maxion Wheels has launched its latest light vehicle wheel innovation, Maxion Bionic, at IAA Mobility 2023. When it comes to market in 2025, Bionic will be available in 18-inch and larger diameter sizes and customisable finishing. Maxion also speaks of utilising the lowest CO2 primary materials and optimised aerodynamics, as well as “revolutionary design options.”
As reported yesterday, a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Industries International has commenced insolvency proceedings in Germany. The outcome of this process will decide the fate of the company’s Werdohl aluminium wheel manufacturing facility, and Superior will make its decision within a matter of months.
Wheel manufacturer Borbet has marked 20 years of alloy wheel production at its Bad Langensalza plant in Germany with a celebration at the site on Saturday. The company has also announced that Dr Andreas Güntner will succeed Dr Claus-Michael Honsel as managing director of the subsidiary operating the Bad Langensalza factory, Borbet Thüringen GmbH, from November 2023.
GTS, an Icelandic coach company and tour operator, reports that it has improved the safety of its operation and made significant financial savings since fitting its vehicles with Wheely-Safe technology.
moveero’s Profi-Grip is designed for all weather conditions, but – according to the company – it is particularly good at eliminating tyre-to-rim slippage in hot weather.
Essex agricultural rim manufacturer, Brocks Wheel & Tyre (BWT) has launched a new wheel brand, 3S, and is fitting Bridgestone’s VX-Tractor as original equipment. The new brand is the company’s first since it was founded 15 years ago in Thaxted, where the company now employs 16 members of staff. Director Will Brock and son Eugene, the company’s business development director, launched 3S at the Royal Highland Show in June. They say demand is already high for the UK manufactured wheels, which are also being supplied as an option in an eye-catching powder-coated chrome finish.
GB Tyres started its wholesale offering back in 2012 focusing on value truck tyres. The business has grown rapidly in the last 10 years, and has even extended its product range into PCR, agricultural, plant and OTR segments. The business is now sees itself as “easily one of the largest commercial truck tyre wholesalers in Europe”, with a stockholding of more than 80,000 truck tyres and continues to focus on development in the commercial vehicle sector.
The Ronal Group is partnering with Lamborghini to develop the wheel for its SC63 Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) race car. The car will participate in the WEC FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA (International Motor Sport Association) series from 2024. The Swiss wheel maker has vast experience in supplying motorsport-grade wheels, such as the 89 FIA World Champion titles won on its products in Formula 1. It also supplies the World Rally Championship, World Rallycross Championship, Super Touring and GT Racing.
Wheelmaker Ronal Group has published its revised webshop which features a number of additional functions. One of the highlights is a new 3D configurator, which allows various wheel designs, sizes, colours and finishes to be chosen and viewed on a selected vehicle.
The UK’s last remaining wheel manufacturer, Rimstock Limited, has entered administration. Chris Pole and Ryan Grant from Interpath Advisory were appointed Joint Administrators of Rimstock Limited on 5 July 2023. There have been no redundancies amongst the company’s 74 staff while options are explored.
The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. says it has eliminated “counterfeit versions of the company’s aluminum wheels in China”. Yokohama Rubber filed an administrative complaint and submitted information to the Administration for Market Regulation in Foshan, Guangdong Province, regarding five companies engaged in the distribution of counterfeit sports car aluminium wheels imitating Yokohama’s “ADVAN Racing” wheels. The distributors were selling the counterfeit wheels via internet shopping sites and retail shops outside of the company’s official distribution channels.
The Ronal Group has displayed its latest Ronal and Speedline Corse wheels at the Essen Motor Show (3-11 December, Hall 7) including its innovative new Energy Wheel. The new concept wheel uses a generator to produce energy while driving; storing this energy in a battery. An LED lighting system located in the gaps between the wheel spokes is supplied with this energy and can then light up in different colours, thus also functioning as a warning system. The company’s exhibition highlight was presented in a darkened container to maximise the impact of the patent-pending concept.
The Borbet wheel factory in Solingen, Germany will close on 31 December 2022. The wheel manufacturer told its workforce on Monday 28 November at a works meeting. Around 600 employees are affected. All previous attempts to find an economically viable future for the location had failed. A transfer company will be set up.
After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the Ronal Group is returning to the Essen Motor Show to present both its Ronal and Speedline Corse brands of wheels. In addition new products from these brands, visitors will see the Energy Wheel concept, the exactly meaning of which is being revealed on-show.
Essen Motor Show 2022 takes place from 3-11 December. As in every other year, the visitors can vote for their favourite wheel in the associated World Wheel Award 2023. The awards see wheel manufacturers with the most votes make it to the final round which is an online voting at VAU-MAX.de. There, “the most beautiful and elegant wheel” becomes the winner of the World Wheel Award 2023.
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.
Wheely Safe
Brocks Wheel & Tyre
Lamborghini
The Ronal Group
Borbet
Ronal Group
BBS