Hangzhou Zhongce largest tyremaker in China
Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company (ZC Rubber) was China’s largest tyre maker in 2011, according to figures published by the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA).
Continue Reading
TestWorld building year-round winter test centre in Summer 2012
Test World Oy, the well-known winter tyre and vehicle test operation in Finland has announced plans to build a year-round winter test centre which to fulfil the needs of vehicle and tyre manufacturers. According to the company, the first phase of construction will start in May 2012 and this part of the site will be in operation before the end of the year. The three-phase project to create the 30,000 square metre test centre will be completed by the end of 2015.
Continue ReadingSibur – Russian Tires renamed Cordiant
Sibur - Russian Tires has announced that is renaming itself. According to the company, the name-change took effect on 3 April 2012 and new full name Joint Stock Company (or JSC) or just Cordiant for short.
Continue ReadingLassa producer Brisa investing US$117.5 million to expand tyre capacity in 2012
Brisa, the company producing Lassa brand tyres in a joint venture between Bridgestone and the Sabanci Group, has announced it will invest US$117.5 million expanding its tyre manufacturing units in Izmit, Turkey. The investment figure exceeds the $110 million of investment that was reported at the start of April.
Continue ReadingTurkey leads strong Eastern Europe heavy trailer demand
Automotive and transport consulting group, CLEAR has shown that there was growth of 58 per cent in heavy trailer demand in Eastern Europe in 2011. Thirteen of the fifteen countries covered in the report had growth of over 30 per cent, while three other markets grew by more than 100 per cent. The stand-out nation was Turkey, which completely recovered from the downturn of 2009 to post record trailer demand in 2010 and 2011, making it the largest trailer market in Eastern Europe.
Continue ReadingPirelli recognises suppliers’ excellence
Pirelli has introduced a Suppliers Awards for the first time, aimed at recognising quality, innovation and competitiveness, in addition to improving the company’s partner relationships. Inaugurating the Pirelli Suppliers’ Awards the company nominated its best suppliers of 2011, as chairman and CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera and chief purchasing officer, Carlo Costa presided over the ceremony held at the company’s Milan headquarters.
Continue ReadingNexen increases Italian market focus
Hot on the heels of the news that growing Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen has secured OE supply to Fiat, the firm has revealed details of its plans to expand in the well-known marques domestic Italian market. With a replacement market potential of over 30 million tyres a year in the passenger car segment, Nexen has suggested Italy is one of its key countries for expansion in Europe.
Continue ReadingYokohama Tire Corporation debuts Mexico website
Yokohama Tire Corporation has launched a new Spanish-language website for Mexico. “The website is designed to meet the needs of our growing customer base in Mexico,” said John Cooney, Yokohama's director of export. “It has been customised with many of the features found on our English-language website in the US, including an interactive dealer locator, interactive product ‘hot spots’ and downloadable bulletins in Spanish. These materials highlight the features and benefits of Yokohama's tyres ranging from our high-performance passenger car tires to fuel-efficient commercial truck tyres.”
Continue ReadingMaxxis joins EDIWheel
Maxxis has announced that it has become the most recent tyre manufacturer to sign up with EDIWheel. “The economic environment means that tyre retailers are looking to maximise their existing resources to reduce the costs involved in running their businesses and EDIWheel represents a no cost benefit to them because they do not have to upgrade their software to access it,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
Continue ReadingVredestein launches its “ultimate high performance tyre”
Apollo Vredestein has introduced its new ultra high performance summer tyre in Budapest, the Ultrac Vorti. The tyre, like the simultaneously launched Sportrac 5, has been designed by Italian company Giugiaro for a sporty, distinctive appearance. Vredestein says the Y-indexed tyre excels in terms of grip, handling and braking on both dry and wet surfaces. The Ultrac Vorti name was also created by Giugiaro, inspired by the powerful vortex air flow that is generated, for example, when a helicopter takes off. The name reflects the speeds and forces that the Ultrac Vorti can handle, rated for up to 300kmh, while the tread is reminiscent of the tips of helicopter blades.
Continue ReadingDouble Star embarks on “Rainbow” tyre production
At the end of 2011 Double Star Tires based in Qingdao, Shandong province, China announced plans to produce a range of multi-coloured tyres. According to local news reports, Double Star has dared to differ from the overwhelming trend towards manufacturing black tyres having developed a patented process to make tyres of any colour. This range has been appropriately dubbed “Rainbow” and is set for imminent market release.
Continue ReadingGentipak to produce motorcycle tyres
Comments made in Pakistan’s Express Tribune indicate the General Tyre and Rubber Company of Pakistan, also known as Gentipak, plans to enter the motorcycle tyre market in mid 2012. The Karachi-based tyre maker, which produces passenger car radials under the General and Euro brand names and cross-ply tyres for light trucks, trucks and agricultural vehicles, recently invested Rs500 million (£3.5 million) expanding its production facility and began manufacturing tyres for natural gas-powered rickshaws; its production of motorcycle tyres is expected to start before the end of Pakistan’s current fiscal year.
Continue ReadingHow much? Freight rates double
The world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, has just announced that its container line made a loss of US$537 million last year and is unlikely to turn a profit in 2012. The vast majority of its competitors have posted similar losses and it seems like they have now decreed that enough is enough and across the board rate increases have been announced. And we’re not talking single percentage point increases. Rather rates are said to be almost doubling their previous levels.
Continue ReadingNizhnekamskshina to lead Russian tyre market by 2014 – TechSci
TechSci Research, which recently published an analysis of the Russian tyre market covering the next five years, has predicted that Nizhnekamskshina will lead the domestic market by 2014. It says that cheaper manufacturing cost, increasing demand for premium tyres, an increasing number of automobiles on Russian roads and the sale of Sibur will allow the manufacturer to lead by financial year 2014.
Continue ReadingPirelli appoints Paolo Ferrari NAFTA region chairman, CEO
Pirelli has appointed Paolo Ferrari as chairman and chief executive officer of Pirelli’s NAFTA region. He will be tasked with driving the group’s growth and further strengthening its commitment to its US, Canadian and Mexican operations, according to a Pirelli statement. Matteo Battaini will focus on the role of NAFTA region chief operations officer.
Continue Reading
