Belarusian tyre maker Belshina is investing an undisclosed sum to expand its heavy tyre capacity. The project will see production of all-steel radial industrial tyres with 25- to 29-inch rim diameters begin within the main factory at Belshina’s heavy tyre plant. Plant director Vadim Nikitenko shares that Belshina intends to begin serial production of these tyres in sizes 18.00R25, 17.5R25, 20.5R25 and 23.5R25 by the end of this year.
The entry of Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina into the giant tyre market comes another step forward with the successful testing of the 57- and 63-inch tyres at quarry sites. The tyres were fitted to 360 and 450 tonne payload BelAZ dump trucks; Belshina has been approved as an original equipment supplier to the manufacturer, whose BelAZ 75710 is said to be the highest capacity haul truck in the world. Belshina reports that the results of these operational tests are a prelude to volume production.
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC reports the production of its first 63-inch mining tyre. The tyre, which has a diameter of more than four metres and weighs 5.7 tonnes, is intended for fitment on dump trucks used in quarry and mining applications. Belshina reports that the tyre’s capacity exceeds 100 tonnes thanks to its steel cord casing, and it can be used at ambient temperatures between -55ºC and +45ºC.
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. executives have confirmed that the firm’s chairman recently visited Belshina. According to the company, the visit followed earlier meetings with Belarussian managers in Japan. However, Yokohama executives stopped short of confirming joint venture reports and instead issued the following carefully worded statement:
Belarusian OTR tyre manufacturer is reportedly discussing the establishment of a joint venture with Japanese tyremaker Yokohama. According to the local Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA), talks were held during a visit from a delegation of Yokohama’s executives led by chairman and representative member of the board Tadanobu Nagumo. BelTA cited representatives of Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim as its source.
Construction of Omsk Carbon Group’s third production site – a carbon black plant in Mogilev, Belarus – is underway, according to the company.
Omsk Carbon Mogilev’s production facilities are being constructed in a Belarusian Free Economic Zone. Production is expected to begin in July/August 2016. The plant is expected to reach full capacity in 2019.
Belshina JSC says it expects sales of its tyres in Pakistan this year will be double the level achieved in 2014. The Belarus-based tyre maker has been exporting to Pakistan since 2001 and in past years shipped 11,000 to 12,000 tyres a year to the country. Most of the tyres Belshina currently sells in Pakistan are agricultural tyres, however the company sees potential for greater volumes there, including sales of truck tyres.
Belarus-based tyre maker Belshina JSC says its goal of producing 63-inch tyres for mining trucks should be realised by the end of next year. The company reports that modernisation of the milling facility at its Babruysk plant is currently taking place, and according to the project’s schedule further equipment for upgrading the plant will begin arriving in January 2016. A group of Belshina specialists will also complete tyre building training at a location within Europe in the coming months and will assemble prototype tyres ahead of the first Belshina 63-inch OTR tyres leaving the factory some time in 2016.
The Belarus Digest reports that some residents of capital city Minsk have taking to puncturing tyres on Russian-registered cars they encounter. The publication opines that these attacks on cars bearing Russian number plates are in part occurring due to the increasingly “radical” attitude of some Belarusians towards Russia, a stance linked to the conflict in Ukraine. “These tyres appear to be just one example of their growing displeasure,” wrote the Belarus Digest’s Ryhor Astapenia. He added that this radicalisation is also the by-product of the authoritarian political climate in Belarus, under which “many feel they have no way to express their dissent other than by piercing the wheels of cars.”
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