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NORTH AMERICA NEWS
CARB Issues Retreaded Tyres Advisory – This Could be Emulated in Europe
tractor-trailer combination vehicles operating in California. The regulation applies to 53-foot or longer dry-van and refrigerated-van trailers (box-type trailers) and the tractors that pull them on California highways. The regulation requires tractor-trailers operating in California to utilise tractors and box-type trailers that are either U.S. EPA SmartWay certified, or retrofitted with SmartWay verified aerodynamic devices (typically skirts, tail devices or undercarriage devices for the trailer) and low rolling resistance tyres on the tractor and trailer that meet specified fuel efficiency improvements. SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tyres include new tyres and retreads.
The regulation requires owners of affected tractors to meet the following requirements with respect to low rolling resistance tyres:
• 2011 model year and newer
affected tractors (sleeper cabs and day cabs) must use SmartWay verified low rolling resistance new tyres or SmartWay verified retread tyres, beginning in 2010.
• 2010 model year and older affected tractors must use SmartWay verified low rolling resistance new tyres or SmartWay verified retread tyres by Jan. 1, 2013.
This Advisory clarifies that 2010 model year and older affected tractors using noncompliant tyres manufactured or retreaded prior to January 1, 2013 (as determined by the date code on the tyre sidewall) may continue to use those tyres until the end of their useful tread life, or until Jan. 1, 2015, whichever comes first. After Jan. 1, 2013, any tyre on an affected tractor that must be replaced or retreaded must be a SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tyre.
According to TRIB, in late 2012, the California Air Resources Board issued a Regulatory Advisory in an effort to outline how the low rolling resistance tyre requirements of its Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation will be implemented.
The advisory addresses both tractors that use two or more open shoulder drive tyres, as well tractors and trailers using retreaded tires that are model year 2011 and newer.
TRIB said the new advisory supplements a previous Regulatory Advisory that explained how the low rolling resistance tyre requirements would be implemented for 2010 model year and older tractors.
In the first advisory, CARB stated: Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation Clarification Of Low Rolling Resistance Tyre Requirements The purpose of this advisory is to explain how the low rolling resistance tyre requirements of the Tractor- Trailer GHG Regulation will be implemented for 2010 and older tractors. The regulation
requires 2010 and older
affected tractors to use U.S.
EPA SmartWay verified low
rolling resistance tyres by Jan.
1, 2013. This advisory
clarifies that tractors using
new or retreaded non-
SmartWay tractor tyres that
were manufactured prior to
Jan. 1, 2013, can continue to use those tyres for the useful life of that tread, or until Jan. 1, 2015, whichever comes first. Any new or retreaded tyre manufactured and installed on an affected tractor after Jan. 1, 2013, must be a SmartWay verified tyre. By Jan. 1, 2015, all tyres on affected tractors must be SmartWay verified.
A listing of SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tyre and retread models is available on the U.S. EPA website at www.epa.gov/smartway/technology/tir es.htm.
The latest Regulatory Advisory states: Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulation Clarification Of Low Rolling Resistance Tyre Requirements: This advisory explains how the low rolling resistance tyre requirements of the regulation will be implemented for: (1) tractors that use two or more open shoulder drive tyres, and (2) 2011 model year and newer tractors and trailers that use retreaded tyres. (1) Tractors using two or more open shoulder drive tyres: The regulation
requires tractors that use 2 or more open shoulder drive tyres to use SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tyres by Jan. 1, 2013. This advisory clarifies that tractors using new non-SmartWay open shoulder drive tyres manufactured before Jan. 1, 2013, can continue to use those tyres for the useful life of that tread, or until Jan. 1, 2015, whichever comes first. Any new open shoulder drive tyre manufactured after Jan. 1, 2013, must be a SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tyre. This advisory also clarifies that tractors using non-SmartWay open shoulder retreaded tires manufactured prior to Jan. 1, 2014, may continue to use those tyres for the useful life of that tread, or until Jan. 1, 2016, whichever comes first. Any open shoulder retreaded drive tyre retreaded after Jan. 1, 2014, must be capped with a SmartWay verified low rolling resistance retread material on any casing.
(2) 2011 model year and newer tractors and trailers using retreaded
tyres: The regulation requires 2011 model year and newer tractors and trailers to use SmartWay verified low rolling resistance tyres beginning Jan. 1, 2010. This advisory clarifies that 2011 model year and newer tractors and trailers using retreaded tyres comprised of a SmartWay casing capped with any retread material prior to Jan. 1, 2013, can continue to use those tyres for the useful life of the tread or until Jan. 1, 2015 for tractors and Jan. 1, 2017 for trailers, whichever comes first. Any tyre retreaded after Jan. 1, 2013 must be capped with a SmartWay verified low rolling resistance retread material on any casing.
The manufacturing dates in this advisory are determined by the four- digit date code on the tyre sidewall.
Regulation Background
On Dec. 12, 2008, the California Air Resources Board approved for adoption the regulation (title 17 California Code of Regulations sections 95300-95312) to reduce GHG emissions from long-haul
Hexpol Acquires Robbins
Hexpol has acquired Robbins Holdings, Inc. including Robbins LLC. Robbins is a leading US rubber compounder and a global leader in moulded envelopes and curing tubes for especially truck, heavy equipment and airplane tires. “The acquisition is a very good compliment to Hexpol Compounding and broadens our presence with rubber compounds into end user markets like agriculture, mining, oil and gas. It also brings a global leadership in moulded envelopes and curing tubes to the tyre industry”
George Brunstam, CEO Hexpol Group
Robbins has an estimated annual
turnover of approximately US$100 M with around 240 employees and has three production facilities in the US; Muscle Shoals, AL, Findlay, OH and Tallapoosa, GA.
The acquired business has an EBITDA margin slightly lower than the Hexpol Group and is expected to have a positive impact on earnings per share from the start. The acquisition price amounts to US$89.2 M on a debt free basis, and is funded by a combination of cash and existing bank loans. Integration and transaction cost of 15-20 M Swedish Kroner will be charged in Q4 2012. Robbins was consolidated from December 2012.
Georg Brunstam, CEO Hexpol Group
14 Retreading Business