Sumitomo to set up moto radial production in Thailand

In response to growing demand in Asia for tyres to fit full-size motorcycles, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has decided to install equipment for the production of motorcycle radials at its factory in Thailand. Approximately 1.4 billion yen (£9.9 million) is being invested in the motorcycle tyre project, and the new facility is scheduled to begin production in January 2015. By the end of 2018 the plant is expected to have the capacity to manufacture 64,000 motorcycle tyres a month.

Thailand is a major motorcycle producer and in recent years demand for motorcycle tyres there has grown in line with the rising demand for full-size bikes that has been brought on by the global recovery. Currently Sumitomo Rubber Industries produces motorcycle radials at only one site, its Nagoya Factory in Japan. The company’s Thailand factory currently manufactures passenger car radials.