China Archives - Page 151 of 240 - Tyrepress

Now one of the largest tyre-producing countries in the world, China has an indisputable influence on the direction of global tyre trade. The home of both fast-growing up-and-coming brands as well as a burgeoning domestic market, this tag chronicles China’s involvement with the tyre business.

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Momentive Launches Silplus High Consistency Elastomer Platform

Automotive industry application is one of a number of uses Momentive Performance Materials states its new Silplus silicone elastomer is suited to. This global heat cured rubber (high consistency elastomer) platform is based on a uniform production process and raw material inputs, and will be produced primarily in Leverkusen, Germany, Shanghai, China and Ohta, Japan. The manufacturer states that all production sites will use a mix process, resulting in higher quality elastomers with good physical properties and a lower level of volatility.

3rd December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Recommend Korean Tyre Shares

Financial analysts are recommending buying shares in Korean tyremakers (particularly Hankook and Nexen), following their initiation of stock coverage at the end of November. Their view is that internal structural and strategic fundamentals and external conditions are now favouring Korean tyre makers: “The top three global tyre makers continue to lose market share, having lost 10 percentage points in the past 10 years. On the other hand, we expect the global market share of Korea’s three tyre makers to rise to 7.2 per cent by 2010 from 5.5 per cent in 2008 (by revenue),” Deutsche Bank wrote in an investors report dated 21 November.

3rd December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Nexen Tire America Announces Price Increase

Nexen Tire America has put an 8 per cent price hike on all of its South Korea-produced tyres, according to Tire Review. Additionally, Nexen reportedly said it is shifting moulds for its SB702 line from its plant in China to its home plant in South Korea. The move, in reaction to the new 35 per cent added tariff on China-produced passenger tyres, will also necessitate a price increase for that line, Nexen said, but the exact amount had not yet been determined. Nexen reportedly said the 8 per cent increase is due to increased raw material costs.

1st December 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Cord Maker to Close Virginia Plant

South Korea’s Hyosung Corp. has announced it will close its tyre cord plant in Scottsville, Virginia, in January 2010. The former Uniroyal tyre cord plant, which Hyosung took over in 2002, employs 106 people, according to Tire Review’s report.

The US tyre magazine explains that the facility was built in 1944 by the Defense Plant Corp. to help with the war effort, and Uniroyal bought the plant in 1945. Hyosung bought the plant from Michelin North America, and struck an exclusive supply deal with Uniroyal’s successor.

30th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Collmann Joins TRIB

TRIB, the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, reports the addition of German retreading machinery manufacturer Collmann GmbH & Co to its ranks. The Lübeck based company, which began manufacturing buffers and other retread related machinery more than 70 years ago, is today recognised as a world leader in retread and other tyre related machinery.

30th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

US Tariffs Put Pressure on Prices

Tyre manufacturers in the US are likely to follow Goodyear in raising prices to offset tariffs on Chinese made tyres and rising raw material costs. This is the opinion disseminated by Associated Press, which reports KeyBanc analyst Saul Ludwig’s view that prices will be up some five to ten per cent by January. Goodyear, which will increase consumer replacement market prices by six per cent in December, imports around two per cent of its tyres from China. Its price increase, thus, could offset the extra costs.

27th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

AV Birla Aiming for Carbon Black Top Three

A 225,000 to 240,000 tonne per annum global capacity expansion being implemented by India’s AV Birla Group may see it take over from Colombian Chemicals as the world’s third largest producer of carbon black. “Over the next six months, we will become world’s third largest producer of carbon black from fourth,” confirmed Rakesh Jain, managing director of AV Birla company Aditya Birla Nuvo. “Thanks to our position serving Asian markets, we have been less impacted by the demand slowdown in end-user industries in the West. In fact, our capacities are completely sold out.”

26th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Capacity Increase Planned for Cooper Tire’s Findlay Plant

A US$10 million investment is being made to increase capacity at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay, Ohio factory. The funds, says Cooper, will be directed towards increasing capacity through automation, cost improvements and retooling to support market trends. The investment will also enable up to 100 new people to be hired at Findlay.

25th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cheng Shin to Build New Taiwan Plant

Sources reported by China Knowledge indicate that Taiwan based Cheng Shin Rubber will invest NT$12 billion (£223.5 million) establishing a new tyre manufacturing facility in its home market. Construction work on the new plant is expected to get underway in June 2010 and be completed a year later. According to a company financial executive the facility will hold an initial capacity of 14,000 passenger car tyres and 3,000 truck and bus tyres; output from the new site will help raise Chen Shin’s passenger car tyre production capacity by 10 to 15 per cent.

24th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Brityrex Countdown: Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre to Exhibit

One of the features of next October’s Brityrex Int’10 exhibition will be the presence of several Chinese tyre manufacturers and distributors. Many of these companies may be new to UK and European tyre buyers, but all will share the same objective of increasing their brand awareness and penetration of the British and European markets. Among the first time exhibitors at Brityrex Int’10 will be Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre, a leading manufacturer of radial truck, bus and OTR products with an annual production capacity exceeding 1.5 million truck and bus units and 30,000 radial OTR. The company employs more than 2,000 staff and has fixed assets exceeding US$300 million.

23rd November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Translogik Buys Pneu-Logic IP and Trading Name

Translogik Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of RFID company Transense, has announced the purchase of intellectual property (IP) relating to Bluetooth enabled tyre inspection tools manufactured by Pneu-Logic and the trading name Pneu-Logic. Translogik paid an initial amount of £50,000 and additional payments will be made, subject to sales volumes, up to an undisclosed agreed maximum. This latest announcement follows the news (on 8 June 2009) that Translogik, Transense’s sales arm, was to distribute the Pneu-Logic made bluetooth tyre tools.

23rd November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Angels Draw a Crowd at Reifen China

Cooper Tires & Rubber Co. showcased 33 products under four brands at the third Reifen China show (11 – 13 November). Cooper officially launched its Chengshan CSC-5 and Austone SP-7 products at the show. The two are said to fit “all kinds of mid- to high-end sedans and roadsters.” In addition to two product launches, Cooper Tires also showed its “green way” philosophy for saving. However, it was the Cooper Angels (figureheads of the company’s Far Eastern TV advertising campaign) and the troop of dancers literally bussed in for the event that drew in the crowds.

According Reifen China’s organising company, Cooper Tires’ stand was one of the largest exhibitors in terms of size at the show. The stand was structured into four function areas which showcase four product categories: the domestically-made Zeon series passenger car tyres, Starfire saloon treads, Chengshan and Austone-branded passenger car tyres as well as the Dean TBR tyres. All the treads on display are manufactured by Cooper Chengshan, which fully reflects the technology and production strengths of Cooper's joint venture in China.

23rd November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MIRA Opens Brussels Office

On November 19, vehicle engineering specialist MIRA announced the opening of a new office in Brussels. This location, says MIRA, will support the growth of its research and development projects within the EU and be better placed to react to Europe’s evolving political landscape and deliver appropriate technology advice to policy makers.

23rd November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hangzhou Zhongce Invests in Premium Advertising Airtime

China’s growing automotive market presents rich pickings for tyre manufacturers looking to increase sales, and Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber is spending on advertising to ensure consumers know its products. During an advertising airtime auction held by the state broadcaster CCTV on November 18, the tyre manufacturer secured the top rated timeslot directly after the national news programme "Xinwen Lianbo". Hangzhou Zhongce is reported to have paid RMB 47.2 million (£4.13 million) for this premium airtime.

20th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti Opens Asia HQ, R&D Centre in Shanghai

As part of its drive to increase localisation and provide better technical support to customers in the Chinese market, Continental AG has opened its new Asia headquarters and research and development centre in Shanghai’s Yangpu district. The new 16-floor 15,000 square metre facility currently houses around 700 employees from Conti’s Automotive Group, and a further 200 will relocate there by early 2010. The site will function, says Continental, as its Asia headquarters as well as an “important technical centre for the design and development of vehicle electronics”. The new R&D centre is the second Conti has opened in Shanghai; the company’s Continental Automotive Tech Centre in Jiading focuses on vehicle application development and systems testing for electronic brake systems, hydraulic brake systems, and engine management and system control. Some 60 million euros have been invested in both sites.

19th November 2009/by Tyrepress Editors