Airport closure to facilitate Michelin expansion in Canada
Additional space to expand Michelin’s Waterville truck and OTR tyre plant in Canada has been found – at the town’s civilian airport. According to Tire Review, on 10 March councillors in Nova Scotia’s King County voted to close Waterville Municipal Airport on 30 September and make the airport land available for purchase by the province or Michelin. While the tyre maker has not confirmed any expansion, it is understood that the layout of the plant and its equipment is such that expanding onto the land currently occupied by the airport is the only option open to Michelin at the Waterville site.
Continue ReadingGiant OTR tyre production begins at Bridgestone’s US plant
Although construction work at Bridgestone Americas’ new Aiken County plant in South Carolina is still ongoing, Tire Review reports that the production of 9-foot OTR tyres has already begun there. The tyre maker is building a 1.5 million-square-foot (approximately 140,000 square metre) facility to produce OTR tyres for quarry and construction machine applications. Bridgestone says equipment to produce larger 12-foot tyres should be ready by 2015.
Continue ReadingAlcoa doubles Hungary truck wheel production
Alcoa, the global leader in forged aluminium wheel technology, has announced plan to invest US$13 million expanding its wheel manufacturing plant in Europe. According to the company, this means doubling production of its increasing popular lightweight, durable, low-maintenance aluminium truck wheels. Work is expected to be completed by early 2015
Continue Reading![Rosneft buys 13 per cent of Pirelli](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Rosneft.jpg)
Rosneft buys 13 per cent of Pirelli
Russian oil major, Rosneft has bought into Pirelli, taking control of 50 per cent of the holding group controlling Pirelli and a 13 per cent share of the tyre maker itself. The purchase makes the Russian group the largest single shareholder in Pirelli. The deal is being characterised as a solidification of the company’s partnership with Rosneft in Russia, which is seen as a access route to the emerging market for the tyremaker. However, Pirelli’s share price had fallen 2.24 per cent in response to the news (correct at time of publication).
Continue ReadingMitas celebrates 10 years of Continental agricultural tyre production
Mitas is celebrating a decade of manufacturing Continental agricultural tyres under licence. Following the signing of the the licence agreement in 2004, Mitas has produced more than 300,000 tonnes of Continental tyres. Currently, Mitas offers more than 200 variations of agricultural Continental tyres. Mitas recently extended its Trademark License Agreement with Continental Tyres through to 2019.
Continue Reading![‘Pneu Expo’ tyre show postponed](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/postponed.jpg)
‘Pneu Expo’ tyre show postponed
The organiser of French tyre show Pneu Expo has announced it will not take place as planned on 9 and 10 April 2014. In a statement, Editions VB shared that this decision was taken due to a lack of exhibitor sign-ups received by the application cutoff date on 28 February.
Continue ReadingMinister anticipates Nexen will build tyre plant in Poland
Earlier this month, Nexen Tire responded to speculation that it had selected the Czech Republic as the site for its new European tyre factory by stating that these were merely false rumours. Now it seems Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Janusz Piechociński has indicated his country is top contender. On 14 March, the Warsaw Business Journal published a comment Piechociński reportedly recently made: “Soon there will one of Europe’s largest tyre factories in Lower Silesia.”
Continue Reading![Hämmerling sees ‘excellent opportunities’ in Africa](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/np-haemmerling.jpg)
Hämmerling sees ‘excellent opportunities’ in Africa
German wholesaler the Hämmerling Group reports a positive response at this month’s Tyrexpo Africa show in Johannesburg, with considerably more dealers, wholesalers and forwarding agents visiting the Hämmerling stand during the three exhibition days. A focus for Hämmerling at Tyrexpo Africa was its Athos and Mäxx truck tyres, Talas steel truck rims and Sämm truck retreads.
Continue ReadingEvonik inaugurates Thailand silica expansion
The project to expand Evonik Industries’ production of precipitated silica at its facility in Thailand is complete and officially opened on 14 March. The company says it invested a ‘lower double-digit’ figure in the expansion project, and while it hasn’t indicated the new capacity at the Maptaphut (Rayong Province) site, Evonik’s global capacity for precipitated silica, fumed silica, and matting agents now stands at around 500,000 tonnes. As well as supplying the tyre and automotive industries, Evonik will ship its precipitated silica to customers in the food, animal feed and paint and coatings sectors.
Continue Reading![Nokian gives winter market overview](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nokian-winter.jpg)
Nokian gives winter market overview
In its Annual Report for 2013, which was released today, Nokian Tyres estimates that approximately 111 million winter passenger car and van tyres were sold last year in its main regions of activity. This includes 69 million winter tyres sold in Europe (excluding the Nordic countries) out of a total of 230 million passenger car and van tyres sold in the region.
Continue ReadingHankook to receive US plant site in August
According to local body the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board, the site of Hankook Tire America’s future 140,000 square metre (1.5 million square foot) factory in the US state of Tennessee will be ready by 31 August. Board executive director Mike Evans said “we’re going to do everything we can to get the site ready to turn over to them by that time.” Evans told the full board that a contractor to handle the site work is expected to be selected shortly after a meeting on 17 March.
Continue ReadingConti planning to grow workforce by 7,000 this year
Assuming the market develops according to expectations, Continental intends to increase its global employee count by around 7,000 in 2014. This would bring the number on its payroll to approximately 185,000 by the end of the year. This is about 50,000 jobs more than in 2009, during the midst of the financial crisis. At the end of 2013, the employee count had reached around 178,000, with 50,000 of these positions based in the company’s home country, Germany.
Continue Reading![Hankook gains European funds for second Hungarian plant](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/np-hankook-hungary.jpg)
Hankook gains European funds for second Hungarian plant
The European Commission has authorised €57.9 million of regional investment aid for Hankook Tire Hungary Manufacturing and Trading Ltd. This will be used to erect a second greenfield facility alongside Hankook’s plant in Rácalmás, which entered production in 2007. The new consumer tyre facility will produce ultra-high performance tyres, sealant and run-flat tyres, and these products will be sold globally.
Continue ReadingMassa distributing Aeolus PCR range in France
France’s Groupe Massa (MPSA) has been appointed the sole national importer for the Aeolus consumer tyre range, which was first introduced into Europe last year. The company began supplying Aeolus products to the French market at the start of February and has accompanied its new distribution with an advertising campaign.
Continue Reading![Team Toyo driver to attempt new ‘car ramp jump’ record](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/np-record-mini.jpg)
Team Toyo driver to attempt new ‘car ramp jump’ record
Toyo doesn’t produce aviation tyres, but this doesn’t stop its products getting airborne from time to time. On Sunday 16 March, a Toyo-shod vehicle will have a shot at the Guinness World Record for the longest car ramp jump; it’ll need a good run-up, as the record currently stands at 332 feet/101.19 metres.
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