New mixer, greater utilisation to facilitate expansion at Sumitomo’s US tyre plant

According to a permit issued by a state authority, car tyre capacity at Sumitomo Rubber USA’s plant in Tonawanda, New York will double to 10,000 tyres per day. In addition to its existing production of 5,000 motorcycle tyres per day and 2,000 medium truck/bus tyres per day, this expansion will lift the plant’s annual rubber production capacity to 250 million pounds or 113,400 tonnes.

Renewing the facility’s Title V Air Permit, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation notes that the multi-year project to increase production will see the utilisation of the six Banbury rubber mixers at the site increase as well as the installation of a new Banbury rubber mixer.

The information published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supports news posted by Nikkei Asian Review in August regarding an increased focus on the Falken tyre brand in North America. Nikkei wrote that Sumitomo Rubber Industries plans to invest approximately 10 billion yen (£69.2 million) to upgrade plant equipment and double daily production capacity at the company’s plant in New York State to 10,000 tyres by the end of 2019.