![Dandelion rubber to feed ‘aggressive’ expansion of Sumitomo’s global production footprint](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015_091_01.jpg)
Dandelion rubber to feed ‘aggressive’ expansion of Sumitomo’s global production footprint
A number of tyre makers have recently shown interest in Taraxicum kok-saghya (TKS), or Russian dandelion, as an alternative source of natural rubber – one manufacturer is even looking to launch tyres containing this raw material within the next five to ten years. Now Sumitomo Rubber Industries has added its name to the list of tyre firms examining the potential of TKS as a replacement for rubber from the Hevea tree; the Japanese manufacturer has commenced joint research with emerging US-based biotech company Kultevat and is working to find practical applications for natural rubber derived from the yellow-flowered plant.
Continue Reading![Uniwheels profit up 67% in H1 2015](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/uniwheels-poland.jpg)
Uniwheels profit up 67% in H1 2015
Alloy wheel manufacturer Uniwheels AG reports sales of 3.9 million wheels in the first half of 2015, 11.3 per cent more than a year earlier and a record first-half volume. This gave the company revenues of €217.0 million, a year-on-year increase of 26.8 per cent. EBITA rose 30.2 per cent in the January to June period to €27.9 million and the margin increased from 12.5 to 12.8 per cent. Net profit rose 66.9 per cent to €19.3 million.
Continue ReadingDelticom reports higher turnover, plans warehouse closure
Online tyre retailer Delticom reports that its revenues in the first half of this year rose 10.7 per cent year-on-year to €250.2 million. EBIDTA for the period between 1 January and 30 June was up 6.4 per cent to €6.6 million, although the EBITDA margin contracted from 2.7 to 2.6 per cent. EBIT decreased 32.3 per cent in the reporting period to € 1.4 million, while consolidated net income totaled €0.7 million, up from the €0.2 million net loss reported a year earlier. Earnings per share were €0.06.
Continue Reading![Belshina aiming to start 63-inch OTR tyre production in 2016](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/belshina.jpg)
Belshina aiming to start 63-inch OTR tyre production in 2016
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC says its goal of producing 63-inch tyres for mining trucks should be realised by the end of next year. The company reports that modernisation of the milling facility at its Babruysk plant is currently taking place, and according to the project’s schedule further equipment for upgrading the plant will begin arriving in January 2016. A group of Belshina specialists will also complete tyre building training at a location within Europe in the coming months and will assemble prototype tyres ahead of the first Belshina 63-inch OTR tyres leaving the factory some time in 2016.
Continue ReadingArnco tyre fill range production begins in Germany
Accella Tyre Fill Systems GmbH, the subsidiary of US company Accella Performance Materials formed prior to the August 2014 acquisition of Rösler Tyre Innovators’ “Zeus” tyre fill business (and known as Zeus Tyre Fill Systems GmbH immediately after the acquisition), has announced it will begin producing the Arnco portfolio at the former Rösler facility in Dortmund, Germany. Accella states that the start of Arnco production at the Dortmund site is a “significant milestone” for the company.
Continue Reading![ChemChina Pirelli buy-out underway](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/NeuePirelliEigentuemerstruktur_EN.jpg)
ChemChina Pirelli buy-out underway
The complete buy-out of Pirelli led by ChemChina is now fully underway, following the passing of the 11 August deal closing date. While the exact process is labyrinthine in its detail, the concise version of events is that ChemChina is buying out Pirelli with the firm’s shares being held by a number of holding companies which are themselves owned by a number of different companies. In short ChemChina, businesses owned by Marco Tronchetti Provera and the Rosneft-owned Luxembourg-based Long Term Investmentss will be the major shareholders.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres lifts profit margin to 18.7% in April-June quarter
Unaudited financial results for the first quarter of Apollo Tyre Ltd’s 2015-16 financial year were released yesterday, and these show a year-on-year rise in the company’s operating and net profits despite lower net sales.
Continue ReadingToyo reports 1H 2015 net loss
Publishing its first half 2015 financial results, Toyo Tire and Rubber has reported net sales of 194,402 million yen (£999.314 million; 1.408 billion euros; US$1.556 billion), an increase of 7,080 million yen or 3.8 per cent from the same period in 2014. This resulted in a net loss of 4,156 million yen (£21.365 million; 30.116 million; $33.268 million) compared with 15,269 million yen profit in the same part of 2014.
Continue ReadingYokohama record first half sales and operating income
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. January to June 2015 financial results were the highest first-half results in the firm’s history. Net sales increased 4.4 per cent, to 296.3 billion yen (£1.522 billion; 2.146 billion euros; US$2.374 billion); operating income increased 7.3 per cent, to 25.3 billion yen (£129.966 million; 183.141 million euros; $202.702 million); and net income declined 9.6 per cent, to 16.2 billion yen (£82.253 million; 117.255 million euros; $129.668 million).
Continue ReadingCarlstar sells belts business to Timken
The Carlstar Group has agreed to sell its Carlstar Belts Business to Timken Company. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015 following customary government and regulatory approvals.
Continue ReadingRussia continues to pound Nokian Tyres’ sales and profits
It is hard to believe that little more than two years have passed since Nokian Tyres predicted the market for premium tyres in Russia would grow by an average of ten per cent each year, and even harder to grasp that as recently as 2012 the Russian and CIS markets accounted for 35 per cent of the tyre maker’s total net sales.
Continue Reading![Lassa endorses FC Barcelona’s Arda Turan](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/arda_turan_lassatyres__fc_barcelona-e1438953385719.jpg)
Lassa endorses FC Barcelona’s Arda Turan
Lassa Tyres has signed a an endorsement agreement with Barcelona midfielder and Turkish National Football Team captain Arda Turan on a two-year contract. The news follows the earlier partnership agreement between FC Barcelona and Lassa making Lassa the main partner of all the indoor sports (which includes basketball, handball, futsal and roller hockey teams) as well as official partner of the Football Club for the next four seasons until 30 June 2019.
Continue Reading![Nokian Tyres to lower production, lay off workers in Finland](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/madeinrussia.jpg)
Nokian Tyres to lower production, lay off workers in Finland
The the economic situation in Russia and the CIS countries has led to a downgrade in Nokian Tyres’ 2015 outlook. The Finnish tyre maker says sales of passenger car tyres have continued to decline in this region, and those tyres being purchased within the Russian market are increasingly lower B or C segment brand products. The company’s own sales in Russia were down 39.1 per cent year-on-year during the first half of 2015.
Continue ReadingPirelli lifts sales, income in first half of year
The financial results for the first six months of published by Pirelli & C. SpA yesterday show a 6.4 per cent year-on-year rise in net sales in the period to 30 June, with sales amounting to €3.2 billion. Organic growth accounted for 3.2 per cent of this increase. Pirelli’s consumer business enjoyed year-on-year growth of 10.2 per cent, while revenues for the industrial business declined 5.2 per cent.
Continue Reading![Nexen Tire begins Manchester City FC partnership](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/nexen-manchester.jpg)
Nexen Tire begins Manchester City FC partnership
As of yesterday, Nexen Tire is Manchester City FC’s official tyre partner. Nexen Tire president Ho-Chan Kang and Manchester City FC CEO Ferran Soriano signed the partnership documents during a ceremony held at the City Football Academy in Manchester. Amongst the attendees witnessing the start of the new agreement were Omar Berrada, the club’s football marketing director, plus a number of Nexen Tire and Manchester City executives. Several players were also present.
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