Michelin
Michelin exec discusses 3D printing, telematics, and the future of tires
MONTREAL, Que. – Laurent Bourrut is clearly focused on the future of tires. As the Michelin’s executive vice-president – long distance and urban transportation business lines, and a member of the tiremaker’s group executive committee, it’s his job. But the future of tires involves more than tracking sales trends. Michelin is exploring ideas that could radically transform the rolling rubber.
Airless tires, autonomous tech, and future of mobility at Movin’On
MONTREAL, Que. – The annual Movin’On Summit is a free-flowing think tank of sorts, sharing ideas about sustainable transportation against a backdrop that looks something like the setting for a post-apocalyptic movie. Maybe the exhibit at a modern art museum.
Retread, and realize returns
MONTREAL, Que. -- Tires are a fleet’s third-highest operating expense, just after wages and fuel. But while many fleet managers can tell you precisely how many drops of diesel they burn, tire life is often described in vague terms, says Lorenzo Borella, general manager of Montreal’s Système de rechapage RTS. A closer look at the life of rolling rubber will identify just how quickly the rolling rubber is heading to the scrap heap, and stress the need to maximize the underlying investments. Having a healthy casing retreaded, for example, can save as much as 50% compared to buying a new tire of the same brand and model. According to the Tire Retread Information Bureau, those savings add up to billions each year in the North American trucking industry, says Robert Palmer, director of market sales for Bridgestone Americas tire operations.
Michelin guarantees performance of new drive tire
ATLANTA, GA - Michelin is promising its new XDA Energy + drive tire will save fleets $400 a year in fuel, and is backing that promise up with a guarantee. The company's newest drive tire was designed for fuel economy, and Michelin says it will pay fleets that don't see the promised fuel savings over competitive brands up to $400 per truck. Fleets of any size can take the test. Michelin will work with them to benchmark their fuel economy using their current drive tire, then swap those brands out with the new XDA Energy+.
Michelin applauds Alberta for allowing Super Singles
LAVAL, QC - Michelin Canada is lauding the recent choice by the Alberta Government to allow wide-based single tires on provincial highways. The North American arm of the tire company said it recognized the leadership of the Alberta Ministry of Transportation and the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) for working together to make the new environmentally-friendly regulation possible.
Michelin unveils wheel with no air
MONTREAL, QC -- Looking not unlike a lushly blue life form on James Cameron's cinematic world of Pandora, the prototype of Michelin's Visionary concept tire glowingly held center stage on June 14 at the tire maker's Movin' On global conference on sustainable transportation.
Canadian Trucking Moving Toward ‘Sustained Mobility’
LAVAL, QC -- Canada's trucking industry is making progress toward what one tire manufacturer calls "sustainable mobility." The reason, according to Michelin Canada, is three provinces now have load parity legislation in place following the recent move by Manitoba to adopt new regulations, allowing wide base single heavy truck tires to operate at the same weight limits as conventional dual tires.
