ERJ Top 10 Stories of the Week (27 Feb- 5 Mar)

Mesnac, Bosch Rexroth strike “strategic” partnership

China-based machinery manufacturer, Mesnac, has signed a cooperation agreement with Bosch Rexroth on the development of drive & control technology for the rubber and tire industries. (Read more)

This year’s Geneva Motor Show, being staged 5-15 March in the Swiss city, has once again provided a venue for leading tire makers to showcase potentially game-changing concepts and technologies. Among the new concept tires are Goodyear’s electricity-generating BHO3 and shape-changing Triple Tube, as well as all-weather tires from Michelin and Pirelli. (Read more)

Comment: The way forward for ‘recovered carbon black’

Jacob Peled of Pelmar Engineering comments on a report titled ‘Recovered carbon black making its mark’ in ERJ’s Nov/Dec 2014 issue. Peled, executive chairman of Israeli-based Pelmar Engineering Ltd says that the “absolute majority” of tire people are longing for a substitute to carbon black and particularly pyrolysis derived fillers. (Read more)

 UAE set to enforce RFID tire labelling rules

After several months of delay the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to implement regulations requiring that all tires imported into the country are fitted with RFID tread labels. Ferm RFID Solutions, specialist in RFID solutions tire industry, and have developed an integrated RFID tag that can be vulcanised inside the tire. (Read more)

ERJ Survey: Readers back Audi call for more supplier input

ERJ readers have backed a call for tire makers to bring their suppliers in on discussions with automotive OEs around the development of tires for new vehicle models. According to feedback, this would help speed up the development process and overcome many current technical challanges. (Read more)

Mixed trend in NR markets despite producers’ meeting

Rubber markets were expected to bounce back after the Chinese New Year holiday (18-25 Feb), but a mixed trend was observed as TOCOM rubber futures hit an 11-month high on 2 March and Shanghai rubber futures declined. (Read more)

Marangoni opens new site in France

Manutention, a Marangoni Industries’ French subsidiary, has recently inaugurated a new logistics and distribution site in Louvres, near Paris. Marangoni has stated that the new site “confirms the group’s interest in the French market and further strengthens its presence in the area”. (Read more)

Asahi Kasei announces major restructuring plan

Japanese chemicals and fibres maker Asahi Kasei Corp. has initiated a group-wide restructuring plan, which is designed to improve its management of resources. The plan involves “a transformation of the corporate configuration” in which Asahi Kasei, currently a holding company, would become an operating holding company. (Read more)

Evonik to continue “growth strategy” in 2015

Evonik Industries AG has announced its financial results for the year ending 31 Dec 2014, stating that its profits were down 1 percent while its sales showed a meagre rise of 2 percent. (Read more)

Cooper Standard takes over China automotive sealing firm

Cooper Standard Holdings Inc. has completed its purchase of Huayu Automotive System Co.’s share in Huayu-Cooper Standard Sealing Systems Co. Ltd, now owning 95 percent of the business, with 5 percent retained by the Shanghai Zhaotun Collective Assets Managing Co. (Read more)