Nizhnekamskshina Ramping up Production

Russia’s OAO Tatneft states production of solid steel core (SSC) tyres is to increase at the Nizhnekamskshina factory it commissioned late last year. According to the manufacturer, this year it will draw upon technology provided by Germany’s Continental to produce 130,000 SSC certified tyres in four different sizes, and by the end of the year a total of six sizes will be certified. Starting in September tyres will be shipped to the vehicle manufacturer OAO KamAZ for OE fitment on a number of trucks.

Next year production of SSC tyres is planned to increase to 600,000 units, including 200,000 Continental branded tyres. The factory’s full capacity of 1.2 million tyres is expected to be reached by 2010, and when this level of production is reached the plant will manufacture up to 70 per cent of all SSC tyres purchased in Russia, the company reports. The use of SSC tyres is said to offer an eight per cent increase in load capacity and reduce fuel consumption by 15 per cent.

News of the factory’s increasing output comes shortly after Russia approved an increase in customs duties on imported retreaded and part-worn tyres. The August 17 decision applies to passenger car, truck and bus and aviation retreads and will come into effect on September 22. Duties will be 20 per cent of customs value of 20 euros, whichever is highest.

According to Sibur Russian Tyres, the decision to raise tariffs on imported retreads was made following a joint request by it and Nizhnekamskshina to the Russian government. Sibur Russian Tyres says the measure is aimed at reducing the importation of used and retreaded tyres, products it describes as being less safe and more environmentally harmful than new tyres. The tyre maker points out that the responsibility for eventual disposal of these tyres – 932,000 of which were imported last year – falls upon Russia rather than the country from which they are exported.