Soopa Toobs, a leading niche product supplier, reports that has widened it speciality offering. The tyre portfolio has been widened to include agricultural, industrial, lawncare, ATV and utility vehicle tyres, from such household names as Carlisle, Trelleborg, Goodyear, Dunlop, Eurogrip and others. The company also opened a new warehouse this year, which increases warehousing capacity by 300 per cent.
Trelleborg has taken steps to consolidate its industrial tyre production capacity, moving production from North America to Sri Lanka. Trelleborg reports that it has plans to invest in increased production capacity at one of Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ plants in Sri Lanka. As a consequence of this, the production of industrial tyres will be terminated and relocated from Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ plant in Hartville, Ohio, in the US. The cost of closure, production transfer and investments will total approximately 130 million Swedish krone (£9.7 million) over a three-year period.
(Akron/Tire Review) Tenneco Inc. announced the third expansion of production capacity and an increase in application coverage for its Monroe Quick-Strut assembly, a fully assembled replacement strut for late-model passenger vehicles. Tenneco has added a third Quick-Strut assembly production cell to its ride-control manufacturing facility in Paragould, Ark., to accommodate increased demand.
A Sheffield First Stop tyre dealership is marking its twentieth anniversary with an investment in stunning new-look premises. Since opening its doors in 1986, Steadfast Auto Centre has evolved from a small, family-run business into an award-winning dealership spanning two prime city sites and affiliated to Bridgestone. To celebrate the 20-year milestone, the company’s flagship depot has been extensively refurbished – a move that will enable the business to expand still further.
Goodyear’s position as a leading global buyer of natural rubber means its ongoing strike dispute with the United Steelworkers is likely to affect natural rubber prices, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank. “Since Goodyear buys approximately 10 per cent of the world production of natural rubber, the strike at the company’s North American plants has consequences on raw material prices,” the analysts wrote, adding: “They are currently producing at 40 per cent of their pre-strike capacity (10 per cent at union plants and 100 per cent at non union plants).”
Inter-Sprint’s latest news is that the company has released its Tyfoon product in a range of SUV-orientated sizes. The new tyres will initially be available in 11 sizes ranging from 15 – 18 inches in diameter and 55 to 70 series aspect ratios. Speed ratings will vary from H – V. Inter-Sprint describes itself as Europe’s largest car tyre import and export company. The company’s stock includes many European private labels, imports and all premium brands. With the help of the company’s own transport network, customers are supplied numerous times each week throughout Europe.
Some analysts have responded positively to a Nokian’s announcement that it has launched the second stage of its Russian plant. Deutsche Bank reported that the warehouse “raises delivery capacity while the mixing department improves the process and should hence save some cost given that the compounds have been imported from Finland thus far.” The analysts reported that production is on track and progress is in line with previous suggestions that the factory will be able to produce four million tyres in 2008.
Soopa Toobs says that it has had a busy year, characterised by stiff competition and a difficult marketplace. Despite this, the company has, over the past 18 months, taken on more warehouse and distribution staff and has now fully opened its new warehouse, which increases warehousing capacity by 300 per cent.
Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) sa/nv in Frameries is expanding capacity to keep pace with increased aircraft production worldwide from Airbus and Boeing. A reinvigorated European aviation market and soaring demand from new and existing Middle Eastern fleets is a major influence in projected growth. According to the company, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) is market leader with a share of around 50 per cent. “So far we have retreaded some 2 million tyres which is equal to the tyre supply of Lufthansa Airlines for some 120 years,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories.
The second stage of Nokian Tyres‘ Russian factory, which started operation in June 2005, was launched today (22 November) in Vsevolozhsk. The second stage launch marks the conclusion of construction work on the warehouse and the mixing departments, which started in September 2005.
The 19,000 square metre warehouse can house approximately 600,000 tyres. The start-up and test-run of the first mixing line at the new department was done in September and the second line is being installed. The new mixing department enables the company to produce rubber compounds for tyre production locally in Russia and end deliveries from the Nokia factory in Finland.
Continental will hire a further 1500 people in Romania in the next three years. Thomas Sattelberger, Continental board member for human resources told local newspapers that the company plans to double production at its ContiTech unit in Timisoara and increase staff at its research centre in Sibiu to 300 employees, from almost 200 at present. Continental also announced plans to expand the Timisoara-based Continental Automotive Products plant, with its production capacity set to rise to 16 million tyres per year by 2008, from current levels of 12 million. Following the recruitment drive Continental, said to be the largest German investor in the local car parts industry, will have a total of 5,000 employees in Romania by 2010, compared with 3,500 at the moment.
Usha Martin India and Gustav Wolf of Germany, who have jointly set up a 2,400 tonnes per annum (tpa) capacity steel cord manufacturing facility at Ranchi, India have decided to diversify into the manufacture of tyre bead wire. A 30,000 tpa capacity tyre bead manufacturing facility will be set up at Ranchi in two phases at an estimated investment of 400 million rupees (£4.667 million). The proposed 30,000 tpa tyre bead manufacturing facility will be set up with Gustav Wolf’s product know-how and process technology, according to Dr P. Bhattacharya, joint managing director of Usha Martin Ltd.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has announced that Yokohama Tyre Vietnam Inc., held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new industrial and mini-spare tyre plant at the planned construction site in the Vietnam/Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, on 31 October 2006. A total of 90 people including those from Vietnam government offices, Japan-based manufacturers, banks and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. participated in the ceremony. In his remarks, Tooru Kobayashi, director and corporate officer of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., said:
Trelleborg Wheel Systems has launched the TM900 High Power (710 75R42), the tallest tyre on record according to the manufacturer. The new pneumatic tyre will be on-show during international exhibitions, starting with EIMA, which is going to be held in Italy – Bologna, from 15 – 19 November. Co-designed with leading tractor manufacturers, the TM900HP 710/75R42, Trelleborg says the new tyre has been specifically developed to fit tractors with up to 300 horsepower or which require high load capacity.
Sapphire Energy Recovery has announced that its new Manchester tyre processing facility is now taking truck tyres for onward processing. The new truck tyre disposal service at the Manchester site, came into operation on 16 October and is expected to handle hundreds of truck tyres each week.
Sales and marketing manager, Ryan Mifflin explained: “There is currently a lack of truck tyre disposal facilities in the North West. Our site near Trafford Park provides the perfect hub for local collectors and businesses giving the ultimate solution on service and sustainability helping to reduce vehicle movements and the impact on the environment.
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