Pirelli’s Scorpion Graces Australia in WRC Round
Rally Australia is back on a new route after two years of absence from the WRC calendar, and it looks like being one of the most interesting events of the 2009 Championship.
Asia
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Kumho May Sell Vietnam Plant
Career TracksKumho is in negotiations with Bridgestone to sell its recently finished tyre manufacturing plant in Vietnam, according to a report issued by Jaccar, a global investment firm. Kumho invested $155 million in the plant, which was completed in 2008 and has an annual production capacity of 3.15 million tyres. The tyre-maker has said it planned to export tyres manufactured in the Vietnam plant to southeast Asia, Europe and the US. Jaccar reported Kumho is negotiating the plant’s sale due to liquidity crunches resulting from the current “global financial turmoil.” (Tire Review)
Toyo Tires is Back on Track
Career TracksWhen at the start of the year Japanese manufacturer Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. put the brakes on expenditure in response to the global economic and financial crisis, the package of measures implemented were received with a shock: layoffs, massive budget cutbacks, withdrawal from the Tokyo Motor Show, restrictions upon travel for management and so on. Later it became public knowledge that top managers voluntarily forewent their bonuses. Since that time a collective sigh of relief has been breathed that some of the restrictions didn’t turn out to be as severe as first anticipated, and for Toyo’s factories in particular the tide has turned. "Our plant utilisation in Japan is already approaching a hundred per cent," comments Tatsuo Mitsuhata (44), executive vice president Toyo Tire Europe. The company’s Japanese competitors are somewhat lagging in this respect and their recovery not occurring as quickly as Toyo’s.
Green Shoots or a False Dawn?
Career TracksRecent positive economic indicators coming out of Europe, Asia and the US have given analysts reason to forecast a recovery in the global logistics industry. However for global freight and parcel volumes and revenues to rebound significantly – and therefore the tyre sales which rely on logistics firms’ prosperity – analysts at Datamonitor suggest there will need to be “major improvements in consumer confidence, industrial output and subsequent international trade volumes.”
Kumho to Lay off 706 Employees in September
NewsIt is alleged Kumho Tire will lay off 18 per cent of its workforce during September. According to South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo (East Asia Daily), the tyre maker has filed an application to this effect with the Gwangju Regional Labour Office, and the country’s Labour Ministry stated on August 17 that Kumho will dismiss 706 employees on September 16. In its application, the company cited a number of reasons for its decision, including aggravating business conditions, rising accumulated deficits, and a lower operating rate at its factories due to declining profits. On August 10 Kumho began offering early retirement packages to employees. Only 20 workers have so far applied to take such an offer, however.
Tyrepac Extends Online Presence into Malaysia
NewsAsia’s first online retail tyre portal, Tyrepac, was launched in Singapore last February. Since that time the website has extended its presence into Hong Kong, China and South Korea. The company has now officially added Malaysia to the growing list of countries covered.
New 'Triad' Finish From Wolfrace
NewsWolfrace has introduced a Black/Polished finish for its popular Asia-Tec Triad alloy wheel. The split, five-spoke design of the Triad has made it one of the most successful wheels in the Asia-Tec range over the past three years. The latest addition gives the Triad a high-quality, gloss black finish with highly-polished spoke and rim surfaces […]
ECI International launches Tyrexpo India
International NewsIndia is set to have its own dedicated tyre and equipment exhibition following confirmation of plans to stage Tyrexpo India in Chennai in July 2011. The exhibition, based in the region that is home to many country’s leading automotive industry players, including Apollo Tyres, Michelin, Dunlop India and MRF, will be based on the successful model already applied by organiser ECI International at its established Tyrexpo Asia, Tyrexpo Africa and Brityrex events.
Cooper Aims for Double-Digit Growth in China
Company NewsCooper aims to maintain its double digit growth in China over the coming years. The company’s vice president and general manager of Asia operations, Allen Tsaur, reports Cooper’s revenues in China last year to be close to five billion yuan, a figure he describes as contributing a “significant portion of Cooper Tires’ global revenue.”
Work on Conti China Vehicle Parts Factory Underway
NewsContinental is building a new manufacturing facility for its Automotive, Chassis & Safety and Powertrain divisions in China. The 74,000 square metre plant is located in Shanghai’s Jiading Industrial Zone, site of its new Continental Asia Headquarters and dedicated Engineering Center. Production at the new facility will mainly be dedicated to supplying vehicle manufacturers in China, Japan, Korea and Europe, with the first deliveries expected to take place in the middle of next year.
Cooper Supports “Rambling Rat” Child Poverty Aid Tour
NewsCooper Tire is supporting a charity expedition travelling across the world to highlight the plight of children living in poverty. Dubbed the “Rambling Rat”, Tim Dennis has travelled all the way across Europe, Asia and North America in a Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with Cooper’s rugged Discoverer STT tyres, which have successfully taken him some 44,000 miles across the harshest terrains on Earth.
Kabat Company Increases Capacity 60%
NewsAt the beginning of 2009 Polish tyre tube and rubber product manufacturer Kabat Company reported that it increased its annual production capacity by 60 per cent after purchasing equipment from Goodyear-Debica.
Tyres & Accessories July 2009
NewsThe July issue of Tyres & Accessories is now available to download and for virtual reading. This month's features include: EM/OTR Tyres, CITExpo Preview and Tyre Manufacturing Equipment:
Suntex Promotes Retreads
Product NewsSun Tyre Industries Sdn Bhd (Suntex) Malaysia’s largest tyre retreading company, is promoting the safety and reliability of retreaded tyres. According to national news agency Bernama, Suntex’s general manager Chin Hon Meng said some people have a misconception about retreaded tyres, confusing then with some ‘over-regrooved’ tyres available in Asia.
Chin said that retreaded tyres are used by over 60 per cent of the industries in Malaysia, including agriculture, mining, public transport and cargo handling. “Many industrial and light commercial vehicles are using retreaded tyres. About 80 per cent of the world’s aircraft are using retreaded tyres too,” he said, adding: “To produce safe, reliable and good quality tyres encompasses various key processes, such as on selection of good quality casings it is essential to have proper screening using the shearography tyre test system, buffing and punctures repair, and final pre-delivery quality control checks,” he said.
Michelin Says “Da” to Russian Language Guides
Product NewsRussians wishing to spend their hard earned roubles abroad can now draw upon expert help when visiting Paris, thanks to the launch of Michelin’s first Russian-language guide. The Cyrillic version of the Michelin Paris Green Guide is one of a number of guides, maps and atlases now on sale in bookshops across Russia. Apart from the Paris Green Guide, the range on offer is at present solely available in English – however Michelin states it will release four further Russian-language Green Guides before the end of the year.
