China Archives - Page 194 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.

Posts

Deldo – the Winter Tyre ‘Specialist’

Deldo Autobanden markets itself as the European specialist for winter tyres, a claim based on the many years the company has participated in this seasonal market. Today in its Antwerp warehouse Deldo stocks more than 25 brands of cold weather tyres, including its exclusive Wanli and Sunny brands.

The two exclusive brands are manufactured in South China Tire & Rubber’s year old factory in China’s Guangzhou Province, and Wanli and Sunny offer an extensive range of tyres for passenger and commercial vehicles, with more than 80 studdable and non-studdable sizes available for the winter tyre segment alone. In mid July Deldo commented that it was “happy” with the level of pre sales for winter tyres ahead of the upcoming cold season, stating they had already reached a respectable 65 per cent.

24th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers Lobby Govt to Certify Tyre Imports

In a move that echoes events taking place in the US, India’s government has listened to demands from local tyremakers to only permit ‘certified’ tyres to be imported into the country, and is now considering what measures it will introduce. Calls for legislation banning the importation of tyres not meeting this criterion have ostensibly been made in response to a number of vehicle accidents involving reportedly sub-standard Chinese made tyres, however it is also no secret that Chinese tyre imports are hurting the bottom line of Indian tyre manufacturers.

In June representatives of India’s Industrial Policy and Promotion department, Consumer Affairs department and Bureau of India Standards met with those from vehicle and tyre producers to discuss this issue and prepare a case to present to the government. A proposal to introduce a US$135 anti-dumping duty on imported tyres has also been submitted to the government.

23rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Rubber Given OK to Construct Proving Ground in Thailand

Yokohama Rubber announced on August 22 that it has received approval from the Thailand Board of Investment to go ahead with the construction of a large proving ground. The company has already secured a 1.69-million square metre site in Thailand’s Rayong Province. The proving ground, to be built at an estimated cost of 2.5 billion yen (£11 million) should be complete by the end of March 2009.

For the new proving ground, Yokohama Rubber will construct a high-speed circuit with a total road length of 4.1 kilometres and a 1 kilometre section of straight track. The company also plans to construct various test courses for the proving of driving stability, fuel efficiency, durability, noise, vibration and driving comfort. Rayong Province was chosen both due to its close proximity to the facilities of Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., and the availability of suitable land in the area.

23rd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Trade Agency Votes to Continue OTR Tyre Dumping Claims

The United States International Trade Commission has voted to further investigate the joint petition presented by Titan International and the United Steelworkers in the wake of accusations of foul play on the part of Chinese OTR tyre manufacturers and China’s government. The Commission voted 6 to 0 in favour of continuing the investigation into alleged dumping of OTR tyres onto the US market and illegal government subsidies.

According to the International Trade Commission, 18 per cent of all OTR tyres sold in the US during 2006 were sourced in China, a US$306 million chunk of the market. As this percentage is growing year on year both Titan and the union see China as a growing threat to both US based OTR tyre manufacturers and the almost 4,000 workers they employ, and have stated their opinion that imposing duties on Chinese OTR tyre imports is the only means by which the tide of cheap imports may be stemmed.

“We are very encouraged that the Commerce Department voted to proceed with the investigation, 6-0,” said Titan chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “We still have a long way to go, but the important part of this whole process is determining what is fair and lawful. The American working men and women can be as competitive as anyone in the world, but when foreign governments subsidise and carry unlawful trade practices, then the US government must even the playing field.”

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

A Compound to Suit Your Winter

Since its inception in 1972 Interstate Tires has expanded rapidly and now represents a group of five companies, selling tyres under its own ‘Interstate’ brand name. Headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands, Interstate offers worldwide distribution and operates warehouses both in Europe and China, simplifying the delivery process for their customers as much as possible. Tyres can be shipped to every major port, with from the port truck or train transport also arranged by Interstate if required. A sign of the company’s popularity as a tyre supplier can be witnessed by the company’s positive sales figures, growth Interstate claims consistently outpaces that of the tyre market.

Interstate’s range of exclusive brand winter tyres for the 2007 season is called the Interstate Winter IWT-2. Produced in China to a European design and intended for European conditions, each tyre in the Winter IWT-2 line-up is E-marked, ISO certified, ETRTO, TüV and DOT approved. To maximise the range’s Europe-wide appeal Interstate will release the Winter IWT-2 in two silica compound variations, a softer compound for Nordic regions and a firmer ‘West European’ compound more suited to UK driving.

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Double Coin to Release Larger Size OTR Radials

China’s third-largest tyre manufacturer and producer of the Double Coin brand, Shanghai Tyre & Rubber, is adding larger sized OTR tyres to the range of products it offers – currently the largest OTR radial made by the company is size 29.5R25. Field tests of the new tyres are reported to be scheduled for early October.

According to Mike Yang, president of China Manufacturers Alliance LLC, the tyremaker’s sales and marketing unit in the US, the new offerings will initially be produced in 35/65R33 and 24.00R25 sizes. These will be followed by 49, 51 and 57-inch OTR radials by mid 2008. These new larger size Double Coin OTR tyres will be produced at the company’s Rugao TBR and OTR radial facility, which opened in 2005. The company intends to more than double its annual OTR radial output from its 2006 level of 50,000 units when the new, larger sizes enter volume production.

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Infinity Truck Tyres Roll On

The Infinity tyre brand is a private brand, owned by the Dubai-based Al Dobowi group and manufactured by Chinese company Shandong Linglong Rubber Co. Infinity has always had a strong presence in European markets, where the distribution is controlled by Goldspark Trading, an Al Dobowi company.

In turn, Goldspark has appointed Kings Road Tyres as the main truck tyre distributor for the UK and Ireland, with Dutch company Heuver Banden looking after the countries in mainland Europe. The product range is continually being developed and added to, with new steer and drive patterns in sizes 295/80 R22.5 and 315/80 R22.5 creating a great deal of interest in the market.

Goldspark’s General Manager Rob Henderson describes the truck tyre brand as “excellent value for money” and, when it comes to the extent of the range, he points out that it encompasses sizes from 16″ tyres up to 445/65 R22.5.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Marangoni Opens Office in Shanghai

Italy’s Marangoni Group has highlighted its interest in the Chinese market with the opening of its Shanghai office, an initiative initially announced during the Citexpo exhibition in Shanghai at the end of 2005. For the Italian corporation a representative base in China is seen as just the first of a number of steps into the Chinese tyre market. Marangoni’s plans focus upon both the new tyre market and the retreading business, and include the installation of retreading plants and the production of Marangoni retreading materials in addition to a general boosting of Marangoni’s presence in the Chinese tyre market. Furthermore, the office will also be responsible for increasing Marangoni’s exports throughout the region. The new Maragoni office in Shanghai is run by Marcello Gambarini, who has more than 30 years of experience in the tyre business, and by Zhu Pei Fang, who the company reports is very well known in the Chinese tyre market.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodway Focuses on Pre-Cured Treads

In the last few years the European retreading market has become more and more interesting to companies from outside of Europe. It is these companies in particular that are able to hold their own against growing competition from cheap imported new tyres from the Far East, their position is at least better than that of well-established European tread and material suppliers. Their competitive advantage is lower prices combined with a high level of quality. One of these companies trying to benefit from the changing European market situation is Goodway Integrated Industries Bhd from Malaysia – retreader and manufacturer of retreading materials. As explains Paolo Borgianni, managing director of Goodway Europe, the European retreading market will continue its process of consolidation to the detriment of well-established companies and to the benefit of companies such as Goodway Europe, a company established as recently as 2005.

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Carbon Black Producer to Invest in Europe and Asia

Carbon black producer Columbian Chemicals has announced two key projects it intends to carry out in Europe and Asia. A cogeneration facility is planned for the company’s Trecate Plant in San Martino di Trecate, Italy. This unit will generate up to 15 megawatts of power. And in China production capacity at Columbian Chemicals’ Weifang facility will be expanded to 70,000 tonnes per year. The increased production capacity will be accomplished with the addition of one carcass line and debottlenecking the existing tread line.

“Growing the business in Asia is a key part of our long-term strategy, and success in Weifang is a very important start,” said JS Lee, Columbian Chemicals’ president and CEO. “The cogeneration facility is in line with our long-term operational strategy as well. We are committed to controlling costs, and conservation of energy is a significant part of that strategy.” At present the company is engaged in preliminary engineering work and acquiring long-delivery equipment for the Weifang project, and construction work is expected to be completed in August 2008.

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Further Expansion Slated for Chinese Goodyear Plant

Further expansion is already planned for Goodyear’s tyre facility in Dalian, China. This news comes at a time when the plant’s previous 1.06 billion yuan (£70 million) expansion project is nearing completion. This new project will be the third expansion at the plant since it was established in 1995.

“By the end of this year, the daily output of the plant will be 17,000 units,” said John Gonsalves, quality and technology manager of Goodyear Dalian Tyre Co. “We plan to increase the output next year,” he added.

“About 30 per cent of the products will be exported to Asia-Pacific region, Germany, India, Egypt, Israel and North America. However, the total exports are expected to decrease later,” Gonsalves said. “China will be our main market rather than export markets.”

Goodyear’s OE customers in China include Chery Automobile, Shanghai VW, FAW-VW, Great Wall Automobile and Brilliance Automobile.

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

A Strong Argument in Support of Tubeless Tyres

The recent bad press surrounding Chinese made tyres and inner tubes has not deterred one man from giving Chinese tyre products his own unintended and unorthodox vote of confidence. Staking his life on the quality of a round black rubber object to an extent that few of us would dare, 41 year old Cheng Yanhua from China’s Hubei Province undertook a six week odyssey down the Yangtze River on a truck tyre inner tube.

Cheng’s adventure began on July 1, when the enthusiastic amateur adventurer embarked from the southwestern city of Chongqing. Spending at least ten hours a day on a raft that owes its origins more to John Dunlop or Andre Michelin than to any credible boat builder, Cheng paddled and drifted 3,000 kilometres down the Yangtze to Shanghai, where the river meets the Pacific ocean. And despite the absence of even the most rudimentary safety equipment and widespread flooding of the Yangtze this summer, the tyre-bound sailor completed his journey displaying few ill effects. Cheng commented that the greatest physical discomfort during his 44 days afloat came from having to tuck his legs into the inside of the ring for extended periods of time.

15th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ceat Reiterates China Outsourcing Plans

Not wanting to miss out on a sizable chunk of India’s TBR sector, Ceat Ltd has decided upon plans that will see its sales increase from their current 600-700 tyres a month to 4,000-5,000 by June 2008. However to achieve this sixfold increase the Indian tyre manufacturer will need to outsource tyres from arch-rival producer China. India’s Hindu Business Line reported further news about the company’s plans on August 13.

“We have shortlisted a few Chinese producers and are currently evaluating the performance of these tyres. The evaluation process will be over shortly to make way for regular outsourcing,” a company official told the business daily. The tyres, unlike those sourced from Pirelli, will be marketed under brand names other than Ceat.

As previously reported by Tyres & Accessories, Ceat still hopes to enter into a technology sharing arrangement with an overseas tyre major, and while the Global top five manufacturers have not shown much interest in such a deal, a number of large tyremakers are still considered to be potential partners in a greenfield radial facility. However the company confirms it will proceed with this plant even without an overseas partner.

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Stamford Tyres: Quality Products For A Global Market

Having enjoyed very successful shows recently at Tyrexpo Africa 2006 and Autopromotec in Italy with their European trading division – Sumo Firenza. Stamford Tyres prepare for Tyrexpo Asia 2007 in their home-base of Singapore with justified optimism.

The company’s primary objective at the show will be to promote the benefits of the Sumo Firenza tyre ranges as well as its wheel division – Stamford Sport Wheels (SSW). There will be an extensive selection of products on display including the Sumo Firenza ultra high performance and truck ranges and high quality aluminium wheel designs.

The Sumo Firenza range is manufactured in China incorporating Japanese state-of-the-art-technology and both the high performance and truck tyres are expected to arouse a lot of interest among visitors. The Sumo Firenza ST-08 high performance pattern offers a number of features including twin wide grooves to combat aquaplaning, tapered groove walls for improved overall grip as well as a silica-based compound to further enhance grip on wet roads.

Pat Berriman, Vice President for Sales and Marketing states, “We are confident of being able to maintain a premium above most other Chinese tyres and as visitors to the stand will discover, you only have to inspect the ST-08 to appreciate its sheer quality and durability.”

13th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Update: Infinity Truck Tyres at a Realistic Price

Manufactured by the Shandong Linglong Rubber Company in China, Infinity tyres continue to be seen as a leading ‘value for money’ force in the highly competitive international market. A private brand label of the Al Dobowi Group based in Dubai, Infinity is not produced by the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber company as was erroneously reported. Al Dobowi’s divisional Company, Goldspark Trading is based in London, and they are responsible for the distribution of the brand in the UK, Ireland and throughout Europe.

A fully comprehensive range is available from 16 inches and 17.5 inch ratios, through to 445/65R22.5. Goldspark General Manager, Rob Henderson says: “Infinity truck tyres represent excellent value for money and the production capacity in China is being further enhanced to cope with the additional ongoing demand for the tyres. This currently stands at 3 million units but in 2008 this capacity will rise to 4 million.”

13th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors