Chinese contingent view potential Thai rubber sources
A group of “leading rubber processors from China” are set to visit Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar to survey sites to establish rubber plants in the next week or so. Thailand’s The Nation reports that about 10 rubber processors from Shandong province and representatives from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade are scheduled to visit Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand between 19 and 25 November.
The group reportedly consists of around 50 representatives from both companies and government agencies. It will reach Thailand on 23 November where it will stay for two to three days with a view to considering “opportunities to invest in the South and Northeast, the countrys major rubber tree growing areas”.
Triangle set to expand North American distribution
Triangle Tire is planning to expand its role in the North American market through a distribution partnership. The news came as part of a presentation given at the company’s annual meeting, which was held in parallel with the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The company also highlighted two new product launches Tyres & Accessories’ […]
Innoson General Tyres Nigeria executives seek to reopen plant
Executives are moving to re-open the former General Tyres and Tubes factory in Nigeria, according to local news sources. The bid to reopen General Tyres and Tubes Company, Emene, Enugu, a subsidiary of Innoson Group, the Bank of Industry (BOI) sees executives promise to meet the relevant stakeholders with a view towards resolving lingering problems between the company and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
We’ve heard surprisingly little about Michelin’s Tweel in the decade since the airless tyre and wheel combination debuted at the Paris Motor Show 2004. After eight further years of development, the Tweel made its commercial debut in 2012, and Michelin recently announced the first original equipment Tweel deal, with John Deere. But while the Tweel has maintained a low profile, Michelin clearly has confidence in the product’s future, and on 20 November is opening a plant in the US that will be dedicated to Tweel production. The tyre maker hasn’t yet disclosed how much it has invested in the new Tweel facility in Piedmont, South Carolina, or the plant’s production capacity.
US agency the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will convene a symposium next month to highlight the important role tyres play in overall vehicle safety. The event will take place in Washington D.C. on 9 and 10 December and be chaired by NTSB board member Earl Weener. Invited subject matter experts will present on such safety issues as vehicle handling and dynamics after tyre disablement, the identification and analysis of tyre disablement-related crashes, tyre registration and recall, tyre aging and service life, recent advances in tyre technology, tyre maintenance, and consumer awareness. Presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer period to allow NTSB staff to follow up on points made during the presentations and take other tyre safety topics into consideration.
Mesnac Co., Ltd. has promoted Zheng Jiangjia into the role of president of the company, effective on 27 October 2014. Zheng Jiangjia joined Mesnac in May 1998 and served as the general manager of MESNAC Dosing System Division, assistant president and executive vice president.
Reporting from the Michelin Challenge Bibendum event in China, Indian financial daily the Hindu Business Line shares that Groupe Michelin intends to establish an R&D team in India that will develop truck tyres for the Asian market. While the publication hasn’t published the comments to this effect that Michelin CEO Jean-Dominique Senard is said to have made on 13 November, it quoted Senard as saying Michelin’s presence in India is “just beginning” and that Michelin hoped to grow its presence in India soon. The new R&D team will apparently be based at Michelin’s development centre in Gurgaon, Haryana State.
Tyre manufacturing machinery and systems supplier, Mesnac recently won the “Golden Rubber Award” at China International Rubber Industry Expo, which is also known as CIRI Expo. Mesnac was also recognized as one of the “2014 Top Ten Leading Brands” in China.
The US Tire Industry Association (TIA) is to host a Global Retread Symposium on Wednesday, 4 November 2015, from 3pm – 5pm during the Global Tire Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “Our goal is to gather retread associations from around the world to discuss issues that cross international boundaries and impact the industry […]
Aeolus-sponsored Dongfeng team second in first leg of Volvo Ocean Race
After a close fight in the race to Cape Town, tyre maker Aeolus has congratulated the Dongfeng team for crossing in second place at 15:22:48 UTC on 5 November, just 12 minutes and 4 seconds behind Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
Dongfeng skipper, Charles Caudrelier: “As a team we might not have much experience in the Volvo Ocean Race but my men know how to fight and they fight for every 1 per cent. I have a great team around me and for leg 1 we are really happy. We were not the favourites, we knew this, but I also knew we could do great things. I chose men that could fight.”
The Sofia News Agency reports the end of production at the tyre division run by Bulgarian holding company Vidachim AD. It says Vidachim chief executive officer Tsvetomir Leshtarski informed Bulgaria’s State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (DKEVR) that the ‘Pneumatic Tire Factory’ would stop producing industrial tyres as of today. The company produced its first ‘Vida’ brand tyres in September 1969, and recommenced pneumatic tyre production following the firm’s privatisation in November 2004. However, reports indicate that only small quantities of tyres have been produced of late, and the company’s main source of income is now electricity production. As Bulgaria’s state-owned National Electric Company (NEK) owes it around BGN 19 million (£7.6 million), Vidachim is unable to continue production or pay salaries.
Tyre production in China – where are the ‘tier one’ manufacturers?
Although only a few Chinese tyre makers can be considered sizeable suppliers in the European market, a glance at the top names in the Chinese tyre market shows that exactly the same applies in reverse. The massive share held by the names at the top of the list also points to the trend towards consolidation within the market.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has agreed an OE supply deal with Shanghai Hyster Forklift Ltd. The deal was signed at the CeMAT Asia show in Shanghai, China on 29 October.
Nicolas Nolle, director of global OEM business for Trelleborg Wheel Systems Industrial Tires, and Richard Lim, managing director of Shanghai Hyster Forklift Ltd, signed the agreement between the two companies in Shanghai.
English-language Polish weekly the Warsaw Business Journal has honoured Bridgestone with an ‘Investment of the Year’ award. The financial publication chose Bridgestone as one of three recipients due to the funds ploughed of late into its Poznań and Stargard Szczeciński plants.
At a meeting on 30 October, the Board of Directors of Indian tyre maker Ceat Ltd approved an Rs 4,200 billion (£43 million) investment to set up a new plant for producing tyres for two and three-wheeled vehicles. This planned facility is expected to have a daily capacity of 120 tonnes. It is understood that the facility will be built in the city of Nagpur, Maharashtra State, rather than in Karnataka State as originally planned.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
