Fengli Tyre goes green

It is reported that China-based Guangzhou Fengli Tyre and Rubber has started work on a project at its plant in Conghua, Guangdon Province, to install annual capacity for 10 million eco-friendly, high-performance tyres. The project will cost $328 million, and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2015.

Guangzhou Fengli is a joint venture between South China Tyre and Rubber (SCTR) – the producer of Sunny and Wanli tyre brands – and Guangzhou International and was set up in 2005 in Conghua. The plant covers 7.8 million square feet and has an annual capacity of 5 million steel-belted radial tyres. The project was first planned with a 2-million-per-year capacity for truck tyres, but was modified to add production of eco-friendly, high-performance tyres in December 2013.

There are also reports that SCTR will relocate its manufacturing capabilities to the Conghua site. SCTR produces 1.3 million radial truck tyres and 4.2 million radial passenger/light truck tyres a year.

It appears that green is definitely the go-ahead for China: Chen Weifang, secretary general of the China Rubber Machinery Association, said: “Currently, less than 10 per cent of the tyres produced in China are eco-friendly. However, it is estimated that over half of China’s tyre companies will be making green tyres at the end of 2015.”