Production has started at a new Goodyear Chemical polymer plant in Beaumont, Texas. The plant cost US$ 144 million and has an annual capacity of 240 million pounds of synthetic rubber and speciality polymers. It is Goodyear Chemical’s fourth facility in Texas.
Renault is negotiating with Samsung Motors, of South Korea, to buy the latter’s Pusan plant (production capacity 200,000) for Euro 400 million. Renault’s daughter company RVI, made an offer to Daewoo to buy its truck operation (production capacity 20,000) and bus operations (production capacity 6,000 units) for Euro 700 million. Renault has already bought a 37% stake in Nissan for around Euro 5 billion and the new plans will bring the company’s investment in Asia to more than Euro 6 bn.
The May issue of TYRES & ACCESSORIES contains an interview with Andrea Vassura, managing director of Marangoni Tyre. Speaking at the launch of Marangoni’s extended range of high performance tyres, Mr. Vassura revealed that the company was planning to build a new factory with an annual capacity of 4.5 million tyres. The existing plant at Anagni, which can produce three million tyres a year, is currently running at 90% capacity. The site of the plant has yet to be decided but the choice seems to be between Southern Italy or somewhere in Eastern Europe. There are substantial grants on offer from the Italian government for those who invest in the area, but Mr. Vassura says that no decision will be made until later on in the Summer. Marangoni Tyre had been offered the Cisterna di Latina factory, recently shut down by Goodyear, but it did not meet the company’s requirements. As a profitable tyre manufacturer, would Marangoni Tyres make a tempting takeover target in these days of consolidation? Mr. Vassura has no fears about this, as the sheer size and diversity of the parent group offers sufficient protection, he believes. On the other hand, Marangoni Tyre is small enough to be flexible and allow Mr. Vassura to make decisions quickly.
Degussa-Hüls AG of Frankfurt/Main will again increase prices for precipitated Silicas and Silicates from their European operations effective from November 1, 2000 by 8 %. These products are used as an active filler or carrier in a variety of different applications, e.g. tyres. Degussa-Hüls has an annual capacity of more than 240.000 tons at seven production sites.
Tenneco Automotive has announced that it is to start formal consultations with employees regarding the closure of its Monroe factory in York with the loss of 392 jobs. Tenneco blames competitive pressures, requiring the company to reduce capacity. Subject to consultations, the closing will be complete by the end of the year.
Bridgestone/Firestone is to invest another US$ 24 million to expand the mixing capacity of its Aiken factory. This plant was built with an investment of US$ 435 million and was opened in November 1999. The factory produces nearly 20,000 SUV tyres daily and employs around 800 people, or ‘team members’.
Bridgestone/Firestone Europe (BFE) has revealed details of a new, ultra-low aspect tyre for trucks and city buses. Called GMD (Greatec Mega Drive) the tyre replaces a pair of dual-mounted drive axle tyres with a single unit. Advantages claimed by BFE include lighter weight, lower rolling resistance and increased carrying capacity. Sizes are 435/45 R22.5 (for city buses) and 495/45 R22.5 (for trucks). Bus tyres will be commercially available early next year and the larger GMD truck tyres in 2002.
The Nissan factory in Barcelona is not working to capacity and is the obvious candidate for joint production work in similarly built Renault models, according to a statement at the Detroit Motor Show by Carlos Ghosn, ex-Michelin manager, now responsible for the integration of Nissan with Renault. Vehicle suppliers hope to profit from the new arrangements, as Ghosn announced a significant reduction in their numbers. For instance, Hayes Lemmerz supplies nearly all the aluminium wheels to Nissan Europe and is now making big strides with Renault as well.
The Michelin Siam group is investing US$ 100 million to increase annual plant capacity from 2.9 million passenger and SUV tyres to 6 million, within two years.
Bridgestone/Firestone will cut production capacity in two of its US plants as a result of the tyre recall and decline in demand for Firestone tyres. Approximately another 1,100 employees will lose their jobs.
The BMW factory at Spartanburg (South Carolina), in which in addition to the Roadster ever more X5 off-road vehicles are produced, will soon face production capacity problems. A higher vehicle output could also benefit American wheel suppliers such as Superior Industries or Alcoa/Reynolds.
Marangoni Tyre plans to invest US$ 200 million to build a second tyre factory in Europe with a capacity of 4.5 million car and SUV tyres a year.
A year ago, there were rumours that Yokohama was seeking an alliance with Michelin. TYRES & ACCESSORIES recently visited the company and, in addition to factory and R&D facility visits, interviewed the President of Yokohama Rubber Company, Mr. Yasuo Tominaga. Mr. Tominaga spoke of the company’s wide-ranging restructuring plan and whether a company the size of Yokohama can survive alone in a global market dominated by the big three manufacturers.
US tyre manufacturer Goodyear has announced its confidence in the Latin American market during the year 2000. The company believes it will be able to increase its Ebit-margin significantly.
Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest rubber company, wants to join the electronic marketplace RubberNetwork.com as the seventh member of the group.
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