Elemica and RubberNetwork Merge
Rubber industry supply chain providers Elemica and RubberNetwork have merged.
Continental AG Cap Hike Passes, CEO Under Fire
(Reuters and other reports) The soap opera that has been Schaeffler Group’s ownership of Continental AG continues to take new turns, with Reuters now reporting that Conti’s CEO is being forced out and Schaeffler wants to unload the company’s rubber group.
Red, White & Gray
The International Trade Commission’s desire to slap a series of escalating tariffs on Chinese-made passenger tires has backed the Obama Administration into a tight corner.
Hankook, Lanxess Sign Butyl Rubber Supply Agreement
German specialty chemicals company Lanxess AG and South Korean tire manufacturer Hankook Tire have further strengthened their collaboration by signing a five-year supply agreement whereby Lanxess will supply large volumes of butyl rubber to Hankook from 2010 to 2014.
And Now, for Some Serious Belt-Tightening
(New York Times) Given that is was designed to be the world’s cheapest car, should it matter whether the Tata Nano is any fun to drive?
Will It Go Round in Circles?
Now that NHTSA has set out its 177-page proposal on testing and grading tires for fuel efficiency – not to mention a consumer tire care education program – one can’t help but look back fondly at the early days of Uniform Tire Quality Grading, NHTSA’s first attempt at testing and grading.
Reaction to ITC Ruling: Wait and See
While no one appeared to be surprised by the U.S. International Trade Commission ruling yesterday on the USW’s petition to limit the importation of “Made in China” tires, most took a wait and see attitude about the ruling.
King Harvest Has Surely Come
No doubt that within days I will get news releases from Bridgestone and Goodyear and Michelin and Cooper – everybody – announcing plans to build new plants in the U.S. to produce low-value broadline tires.
Revised Conti World Cup Web Site Returns to the Field
Continental’s redesign of its ContiSoccerWorld.com Web site has been completed just in time for the opening kick-off at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 in South Africa.
Goodyear Brings Vulco Retail Concept to W. Africa
(Ghanaian Times) Goodyear, one of the world’s largest tyre companies, has signed a retail agreement to bring its Vulco retail concept brand, specialised in tyres and car-related under carriage parts and services, into West Africa.