Timing is key for 2024 motorcycling season
We’ve done Covid-19 and grown used to rising energy prices. Now it’s 2024, and our crise du jour involves an important sea lane and those intent on disrupting its navigation. The situation is making itself felt in many parts of the tyre business, including the two-wheeler tyre segment.
Continue ReadingToyo Tires dissolving Europe Project Development Department, appoints Murase GM of EMEA Sales
Toyo Tire Corporation has announced changes related to its business within Europe. Effective 1 February, the company is “constructively” dissolving its International Production Division’s Europe Project Development Department. Meanwhile, Takanori Murase will become the new General Manager of Toyo Tire Corporation’s Europe, Sales Department and Sales Division for the Africa & Middle East region, effective 1 April 2024.
Continue ReadingSailun ups Cambodia expansion to 12 million tyres
Following on from an October 2023 announcement that it will extend annual passenger and light commercial vehicle tyre capacity in Cambodia by 6 million pieces, Sailun Group has approved additional investment in its plant. It will invest a further RMB 773.69 million (£85.05 million) to expand the capacity expansion project from 6 million to 12 million tyres a year. In total, Sailun is investing RMB 2.25 billion (£247.33 million) in its Cart Tire Co. Ltd. project, which will result in a facility capable of making 21 million semi-steel radial tyres a year.
Continue ReadingRemember This? – January 2024
Our monthly magazine column looks back at the biggest news events from the tyre industry five, 10, 15 and 20 years ago. This months edition looks back to January issues from 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 for some of the biggest tyre industry news of those months. Click the month and year to access the digital edition of the relevant issue of the magazine from Tyres & Accessories’ expanding digital archive.
Continue ReadingBridgestone set to invest $5 billion in enhancing EV tyre offering
Bridgestone is planning to invest around 800 billion yen ($5.38 billion) over the three years between now and 2026, with the money earmarked for the development of electric vehicle and mining tyres along with decarbonization technologies, according to a Nikkei report.
Continue ReadingDepartures & arrivals – changes to Borbet’s management team
Three managing directors are parting ways with wheel manufacturer Borbet, and not all are going voluntarily. One is Oliver J. Schneider, who as managing director of Borbet Vertriebs GmbH is in charge of aftermarket business. He is leaving at his own request, and Borbet has yet to name his successor. Two other members of the Borbet GmbH management team also ended their tenures with the company in the past week.
Continue ReadingBiomass butadiene plant inaugurated at Michelin site
Together with partners IFPEN and Axens, Michelin has brought an industrial scale bio-based butadiene demonstrator plant into operation in France. The facility is located at Michelin’s Bassens site near Bordeaux. The aim is to develop and commercialise butadiene from plant biomass-derived ethanol as a replacement for petrochemical-based butadiene.
Continue ReadingZC Rubber increasing Yonggu rubber track capacity
ZC Rubber subsidiary Yonggu is expanding its capacity to produce rubber tracks and other rubber products. On the site of the former Hangzhou Taihong Rubber Track plant in Jiande, in China’s Zhejiang Province, Zhongce Yonggu Rubber (Jiande) Co. will establish a facility that will ultimately have a capacity to make 1 million tracks a year.
Continue ReadingFurther carbon black capacities in Asia – 2 new Birla Carbon plants
Birla Carbon has announced new greenfield projects in India and Thailand. The facilities will be respectively located in Niadupet, Andhra Pradesh and Rayong and each will have an initial capacity of 120 kMT when they become operational in 2025. Birla Carbon will develop the sites with an eye to expanding both to 240 kMT in the future.
Continue ReadingKwik Fit opens fleet support centre, grows leadership team
On 23 January, Kwik Fit opened its new national Fleet Customer Support Centre just outside Glasgow. The company also announced two additions to its leadership team.
Continue ReadingVredestein become FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025 main sponsor
Vredestein has become the Official Main Sponsor of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2025, which will be held in Saalbach, Austria from 4 to 16 February next year. Building on a successful partnership with the flagship event in 2023 in Courchevel and Méribel, France, the new sponsorship deal will enhance brand recognition and drive further awareness of award-winning Vredestein winter and all-season tyres.
Continue ReadingYokohama Rubber, RAOT hold 6th joint seminar event for natural rubber farmers in Thailand
Yokohama held a seminar alongside the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) in December 2023 to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber. 70 farm households in the Surat Thani area participated in the event. Each participating household received a complimentary 250kg of fertiliser developed with RAOT’s specialist knowledge. The seminar is the sixth held by Yokohama Rubber and RAOT since 2020.
Continue ReadingGoodyear “in advanced discussions” on Avon motorsport tyre asset sale
Following the news that Avon’s ex-motorsport head has formed the Nova Motorsport tyre brand, Goodyear has confirmed to Tyres & Accessories that its Cooper Europe operation is “in advanced discussions” relating to the sale of certain Avon motorsport tyre assets.
Continue ReadingYokohama to expand car tyre production capacity in Philippines
Yokohama will expand the production capacity of Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI), by 1,800 tyres per day with an investment of 8.4 billion yen (around £45 million). As a result, the annual production capacity for the plant will reach nearly 12 million – YTPI states the daily capacity will be 32,500. The capacity increases will also be joined by an expanded size lineup at the top end of its size range. 21 and 22-inch tyres, sizes associated with performance cars and SUVs, will be added to the 13-20 inch range already produced at YTPI. Established in April 1996, YTPI manufactures Yokohama tyres primarily for export to the global market.
Continue ReadingPoint S signs international service agreement with TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
Tyre dealer and car maintenance network Point S has signed an international service agreement with TotalEnergies Lubrifiants. a leading global manufacturer of lubricants. The company will supply its portfolio of high-performance automotive products, including its range of Quartz engine oils, to the Point S global network of independent dealers and repair centres. The agreement is designed to enhance the international growth of both companies. The Point S network consists of 6,185 points of sale across 51 countries on five continents, while TotalEnergies Lubrifiants is present in 160 countries, including 42 production sites.
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