Kumho relocating Nanjing tyre plants in 2016

The timetable for the relocation of Kumho Tire’s factory in Nanjing, China has been set out. The shift to a new site will take place in stages throughout 2016 and will see the plant set up in an economic development zone in Pukou, some 19 miles (30 kilometres) from the original factory site. Both the passenger car tyre factory and the truck and bus tyre factory should be relocated to the new location by the end of next year.

Moving the Nanjing factory was first proposed as part of an urban development policy by the Nanjing city government, and the Kumho facility is one of a number of factories within the city transferring their operations to new sites. Kumho Tire commenced negotiations with the Nanjing city government in 2011 and reached a basic settlement for compensation at the end of 2014. At this time the new site for factory was finalised, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held there on 22 January 2015.

According to Kumho Tire, the Pukou economic development zone authorities promise an optimal environment for construction, including land, water supply, electricity, and road access. The two separate, existing PCR and TBR plants will be combined into a single new factory that will be equipped with “new high-end machines and technology” capable of producing “globally competitive high quality tyres.” Kumho says the factory will be able to supply tyres to international premium original equipment customers.

Kumho has operated its Nanjing facility since 1994, and today it is one of three manufacturing sites where it produces tyres in China – the others are in Tianjin and Changchun. The manufacturer’s research and development facility, the Kumho Tire China Technical Centre (KCTC), is located in Tianjin.