Goodyear to add mixing line in U.K.
WOLVERHAMPTON, England-Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd. plans to add an eighth mixing line at its former tire factory in Wolverhampton.
The company didn't say what type of mixer, nor the capacity, it is installing. Goodyear officials weren't available for comment.
The Wolverhampton plant opened in 1927 and became Goodyear's largest tire-making plant outside the U.S. In recent years tire production has been discontinued at the site and it has been restructured into a mixing center. The factory also has a specialized retreading facility producing NextTread truck and bus tires.
The Wolverhampton plant produces more than 1,500 metric tons of tire production material each week for export, and employs more than 350.
Trelleborg acquires seals maker Epros
TRELLEBORG, Sweden-Trelleborg A.B., through its buildings systems business, has agreed to buy Epros GmbH and Epros International Ltd.
Epros, with locations in Duisburg, Germany, and St. Albans, England, is a niche player in the aftermarket for pipe systems, specializing in trenchless repairs. The firm employs about 30 and has annual sales of about $13.2 million.
The acquisition is expected to be completed this month.
``Epros is an excellent complement to our existing pipe seals business,'' said Peter Suter, president of Trelleborg Building Systems. ``When combined with Trelleborg's polymer expertise and infrastructure, the acquisition will enable us to capitalize on the rapidly expanding market for internal pipe sealing.''
Indian firm to enter nylon cord sector
SILVASSA, India-Gupta Synthetics Ltd. plans to enter the nylon tire cord market with a $46 million plant in India to make both nylon filament yarn and nylon tire cord fabric for the tire, textile and furnishing industries.
The yarn capacity will come on stream in October 2007 with fabric processing to start in March 2008, the Indian synthetic yarn producer said. The annual production capacity will be 8,128 metric tons.
Gupta said it will buy cording and weaving equipment from Zimmer A.G. of Switzerland.
Pirelli licenses tire measuring technology
MILAN, Italy-Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. has licensed the use of a method for monitoring a tire footprint in motion, a move the patent holder said will enable Pirelli to speed up development of its ``cyber tire'' vehicle behavior concept.
Pirelli is licensing the technology from Fioravanti S.R.L., a Turin-based design studio headed by a former designer for the Pininfarina automotive design house.
The cyber tire monitors a tire's operating condition using built-in sensors that transmit information via an aerial positioned inside the tire to the vehicle's onboard computer, according to Pirelli. The system can then provide the driver with real-time data regarding the operation status of the tires.
All the identifying information relating to the tire, from its manufacture to its performance in diverse conditions-including deflated use in the case of run-flat products-are recorded and transmitted to the vehicle, Fioravanti said.
The process contributes to the development of a cyber system by way of miniaturized electronic sensors using wireless transmission technology, according to the company. The feature is vital to the increased performance and safety of future interactive vehicle control systems, the firm said.
In brief
DSM Thermoplastic Elastomers has raised its prices for the Sarlink, Kelprox and Keltaflex product lines by 8 cents per pound...French chemical concern Rhodia S.A. has agreed to sell its industrial fibers business to Butler Capital Partners, a private equity firm.