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Qingdao Hengda Tyres to Exhibit at AIMEX 2007

Qingdao Hengda tyres will show its range at Asia Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (held at Sydney’s Olympic Park between 4th and 7th September, online news services have reported. Qingdao Hengda manufactures 600,000 cross-ply tyres per year across its range of 60 industrial and machinery lines. The largest OTR tyres it produces range from 27.00-49 to 46/65-45. These tyres have shoulder protection for cut resistance, deep treads for long life, dissipate heat and use a special rubber compound that provides abrasion and impact resistance.

23rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Boosts Presence in Emerging Markets through Acquisition

Continental’s Automotive Systems Division is bolstering its brakes systems capabilities in both Europe and in emerging markets, particularly Asia, through the acquisition of drum brake manufacturer Automotive Products Italia S.r.l. from the Australian Pacifica Group Limited. Based in Cairo Montenotte, in the Italian province of Savona, Automotive Products Italia employs approximately 500 people and since its establishment in 1984 has grown into a business with annual sales (2006) of 79 million euros.

This acquisition is not the beginning of relations between Automotive Products Italia and Continental Automotive Systems – the two parties have been involved in a technical and marketing cooperative agreement for the past decade. Automotive Products Italia has grown to become Europe’s second largest producer of drum brakes; approximately 5.8 million drum and park brakes were manufactured at the company’s 17,000 square metre facility in Savona last year, and counted amongst the firm’s OEM customers were major manufacturers such as Fiat, Ford, Renault/Nissan, Toyota, Land Rover, Mazda and General Motors. Upon regulatory approval the company will be integrated into the Hydraulic Brake Systems business unit of Continental Automotive Systems.

19th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Record Exhibitor Numbers at Tyrexpo Asia’07

Russia’s Alimark Ltd has become the 140th exhibitor to sign up for September’s TyrexpoAsia exhibition in Singapore, breaking all records for the show as it approaches its 10th anniversary. One of Tyrexpo Asia’s strengths has always been the diversity of its exhibitor base.

2007 will be the biggest and most international to date with over 140 exhibitors representing 24 different countries covering an area of approximately 6000 square metres. Amongst these are the major players in the tyre industry offering the widest range of products and services available in the industry.

There are many exhibitors making repeat appearances at Tyrexpo Asia’07, but equally there are many first-time attendees. Of particular interest this year is the participation of over 35 Chinese exhibitors to the show to date, confirming the importance and value the exhibition has to a wider international market.

18th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

F1 Gives Indianapolis the Red Flag

The famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway will not resound to the screeching of Bridgestone Formula One tyres in 2008 following the decision to scrap the event after eight lukewarm years. Bernie Ecclestone’s verdict on the race was announced on July 12, a decision that the speedway’s CEO hopes will be a temporary one.

“It’s my sincere hope that we’ll have the opportunity to bring it back in the not-too-distant future,” said speedway CEO Tony George. “Eight years ago, it was our intent to host this event on an annual basis. While I still hold hope for the future that we’ll be able to bring it back, its tough to have a hiatus like this, and I view it as such. I’m going to continue to work on this to try to bring it back to the best of my ability as soon as possible.”

The US Grand Prix on average attracted around 125,000 spectators, which while respectable in terms of F1 attendance was smaller than any other event held at the speedway. In comparison, attendance at the Indianapolis 500 has been estimated at around 300,000 people. George believes the US Grand Prix could have drawn larger crowds had it been given the opportunity to better establish itself through sponsorship and the media.

13th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Invests in China Engineering Centre

Continental’s Automotive Systems Division has announced plans to build a dedicated engineering centre in China. On July 10 the company announced in Shanghai that 48 million euros have been earmarked for the project, which will be comprised of two facilities, an office site with design and test labs in the Yangpu District of Shanghai and a site containing large-scale equipment for bench testing. This second site will be an extension of the existing Continental Automotive Systems Shanghai facility in Jiading. The Yangpu site will also serve as the new Asia headquarters of Continental’s Automotive Systems, ContiTech and Passenger & Light Truck Tire divisions. Both facilities will be fully operational at the beginning of 2009 and provide employment for about 450 people, with the potential for this number to increase to 600 by 2011.

10th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

An Untapped Resource? Nokian’s Kazakhstan factory bid

Editorial/Comment, International News

With news of Chinese product recalls and revised tax rules, some people are looking elsewhere to source their tyres. But if a tyre manufacturing colleague said they were about to expand capacity by entering into an off-take agreement in Kazakhstan, they would probably be met with either a blank “where-exactly-is-that face?” or a stream of Borat-related quips. Joking aside, Nokian Tyres, a company that has made a real success of its niche market approach, has reportedly taken the plunge and broken ground on $200 million-worth of production capacity in Astana, the former Soviet country’s capital city.

Although Nokian staff have not immediately confirmed their involvement in the deal, it would see Nokian gain another low-cost production base to supplement its very successful St Petersburg, Russia operation and – just as importantly – a strong and growing market in which to sell its high quality winter tyres. The winter conditions in Ukraine and Kazakhstan are harsh, making studded tyres popular.

6th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

August 2007 – Tyrexpo Asia

In September Tyrexpo Asia will celebrate its second decade with a show the organisers anticipate will break all records for exhibitor numbers. This year’s event, to be held in Singapore between September 11 and 13, promises once again to attract both exhibitors and visitors from around Asia and the world. In our August edition Tyres & Accessories previews the region’s longest-established dedicated tyre exhibition.

5th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Signs Agreement with China’s BRDI

Only days after announcing its intention of investing around 400 million euros in a new facility in Asia, Lanxess’s Polybutadiene Rubber business unit has signed a three-year co-operation agreement with the Beijing Research & Design Institute of Rubber Industry (BRDI). The BRDI is China’s national testing centre for tyres and a leading research institute, possessing both the facilities and staff required to engage in advanced research into tyre and rubber products, engineering design for the rubber industry, machinery and equipment and testing of rubber and rubber articles.

“The co-operation will put our efforts to explore and further penetrate the world’s fastest growing tyre market on a firm footing,” said Christoph Kalla, head of Marketing in Lanxess’s Polybutadiene Rubber business unit. “It will also make use of BRDI’s respective strength in customising the application of Lanxess’s high-performance polybutadiene rubber and solution styrene-butadiene rubber grades in China.

4th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

CTNA Announces $78 Million in New Investments for Mt. Vernon Plant

Continental Tire North America (CTNA) is planning US$78 million in new investments at Mt. Vernon facility. According to Conti, these funds will “significantly expand CTNA’s commercial operations and regionalise the company’s commercial tyre production to better meet market demand in the United States.”

“This is another major investment in our Mt. Vernon facility and one that will allow us to take our commercial operations to a new level,” said CTNA CEO Matthias Schönberg. “The market demand in the US for CTNA’s commercial tyres continues to grow, and this expansion will help us to serve all our customers better, faster and more efficiently.”

2nd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Investing to Meet Asian Tyremakers’ Needs

Chemical group Lanxess has plans to expand its global position in the butyl rubber market and is pursuing plans to build a new facility in Asia. The company will invest somewhere in the vicinity of 400 million euros in the project and at present three possible sites – Singapore, Kuantan in Malaysia and Map Ta Phut in Thailand – are under consideration. Lanxess has reportedly already analysed a number of sites across Asia to assess their feasibility.

“This would be the largest investment in the history of our company,” said Lanxess management board chairman Axel C. Heitmann during a visit to Singapore. “In the next few months we will hold talks with possible host locations to determine the feasibility of the construction of a new plant. Should we decide upon a location, we will be able to bring the facility on stream in 2010.”

With this new investment Lanxess hopes it can further satisfy the growing demand for butyl rubber in Asia. Tyre production will continue to be the main use of butyl and Lanxess anticipates the continued rapid increase of the manufacturing capacity of Asian tyremakers.

2nd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Degussa Targets South American Tyre Market

Degussa GmbH has doubled its carbon black production capacity in Paulinia, Brazil, to 100,000 tons per year. The move will make the company the world’s second largest manufacturer of carbon black with approximately 1.4 million tons per year.

“We have invested a total of 65 million euros ($85 million) in Brazil…Carbon black is one of the strategic growth areas that we are systematically expanding. This capacity enhancement allows us to serve the demand of our customers in the tyre and technical rubber-products industry even better. We are very optimistic overall regarding future growth in the rubber industry,” commented Dr. Klaus Engel, Chairman of the Board of Degussa GmbH at the opening of the plant.

Brazil is a core market for the Degussa’a Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit. In the Brazilian market, around 90 per cent of the demand for carbon black comes from the tyre and technical rubber articles industry, and 10 per cent is used as pigment in plastics, dyes, enamels and print inks.

28th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Home Away From Home

Less than a year after a ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Dunaujvaros Industrial park in central Hungary, Hankook Tire celebrated the official commencement of production at its first European factory. To mark this momentous occasion the very first tyre, an Optimo K715, made its way through the 56 hectare plant’s assembly and vulcanisation facilities, and upon completion a small ceremony was held in which this first tyre was signed by the company’s global CEO Seung Hwa Suh, the Hungarian Minister of Economy and Transport Janos Koka together with Eom Seock Jeong, the Korean Ambassador to Hungary.

“We are very glad to be welcomed by the Hungarian government, by the people of Dunaujvaros and the whole region”, said Mr. Suh. “From the start of this project in late 2005 to the production of our first tyre made by Europeans for Europeans, Hankook Tire has been in the safe and reliable hands of our Hungarian partners. We owe a debt of gratitude to the support we have received from both the Hungarian government and from the warm and generous welcome of the people of Dunaujvaros to everyone from the Hankook Tire family.”

28th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Names Appointments for New Business Units

As of 1st July Dr. Andreas Esser (48), who has headed Continental’s global Original Equipment Car Tires business for many years, will be responsible for the company’s newly-created business units Replacement Business Car Tires and Replacement Business Truck Tires Asia, based in Shanghai. At the same time Nikolai Setzer will take over as head of Continental’s Original Equipment Car Tires business. Dr. Esser previously held this position for over six years, whilst Nikolai Setzer was responsible for the OE Car Tires business in North and South America.

Creating the two new business units enables Continental to consolidate its growing activities in the car, MPV/light van and commercial vehicle tyre replacement business on Asia’s booming market, and Continental believes this move demonstrates the company’s interest in this continent. In his new position Dr. Esser will report directly to Manfred Wennemer, chairman of the board at Continental AG and head of the Car Tire division, as well as to Dr. Hans-Joachim Nikolin, who is a member of the board and is also responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Tire division. Dr. Esser headed the Original Equipment Car Tires business unit for over six years and under his leadership Continental became number one in Europe for OE sales and number three in North America.

25th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Turmoil Passed, CTNA Focus Shifts to Brand, Rebuilding Dealer Trust

(Akron/Tire Review) Plant closings, union battles, multiple management changes, low fill rates, irate dealers, shifting directions…the last five years have been difficult for Continental Tire North America. But, the past is the past. Since the appointment of Continental AG CFO Alan Hippe as president and CEO of CTNA in May 2005, CTNA officials point out, progress has been made. Even while it was sorting out its North American tyre production issues, Andreas Gerstenberger, who joined CTNA in September 2003, was leading a virtual transformation of the company’s marketing and sales group. It was not, as he himself admits, a smooth road, and it wasn’t until 2005 that many key issues were settled.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Interview – Roy Armes

(Akron/Tire Review) Roy V. Armes was named president and CEO of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. last December, following the August resignation of Tom Dattilo. A 31-year veteran of Whirlpool Corp., Armes held several senior-level posts in various departments at the appliance manufacturer, including engineering, project management and purchasing. He also had positions in Mexico and China and was responsible for establishing overseas manufacturing operations and joint ventures.

Most notably, Armes oversaw the integration of Maytag into the Whirlpool fold and, over the years, gained a strong background in manufacturing and technology, engineering, international business, consumer products and distribution channel management.

19th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors