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High commercial tyre demand to continue in North America, says Yokohama’s Phillips

Looking back on 2011 and forward to the coming year, Rick Phillips, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s director of commercial sales, states that the tyre maker expects the strong demand it has experienced in the North American market this year to continue. “Demand has continued to outweigh supply so we have literally sold everything that we are able to build,” he commented. “As an industry, we will go into 2012 with very little beginning inventory, much like we did in 2011…we see the demand continuing to be greater than supply, at least through next summer. Despite reports on the economy being on the brink of another recession, the trucking industry remains strong.” Phillips believes that high levels of demand, particularly within the OEM segment, may lead to further pressure upon the replacement market.

30th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Casumina to construct new pcr plant

Vietnam’s Southern Rubber Industry Joint Stock Company, or Casumina, has reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a US partner and will erect a new passenger car tyre factory. Work on the new plant should begin before the end of the year and the project’s stated total cost is VND3.7 trillion (around £112 million), including an investment of some £19 million from the US partner. The factory is expected to enter operation late in 2012 and have an annual output of 1.5 million tyres per annum. Two thirds of the new factory’s output is said to be earmarked for the US market; other named export markets are Canada and Australia.

30th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Aeolus to place greater focus on main brand

Chinese tyre maker Aeolus Tyres Ltd. states it recently ended the practice of simultaneously developing and promoting multiple brands of tyre. As of now the company is concentrating its efforts on the Aeolus tyre brand, a decision it believes will have a “positive impact” on the brand in the European market.

Aeolus recently discussed the potential opportunities and growth that may result from the decision with one of its main distributors, Netherlands-based Heuver Tyrewholesale. “During recent discussions with Aeolus Tyres, the board announced its decision to terminate the duplicate policy, which involves multiple brands launching the same tyres on to the market,” commented Heuver Tyrewholesale director Bertus Heuver. “In the near future, the B brands at the Aeolus factory will start to feature significantly different profiles and profile markings. The main outcome of the decision is that, in terms of development, delivery and availability, Aeolus will be given the highest priority to honour its position as the factory’s leading brand.

29th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Lockout announced at Cooper’s Findlay plant

Following the failure of Cooper Tire and the United Steelworkers to reach an agreement on a new long-term contract for unionised workers at Cooper’s Findlay, Ohio factory, the tyre maker announced on 28 November an immediate lockout of USW members at the facility.

29th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Metro begins tubeless moto tyre production

Indian manufacturer Metro Tyres has introduced the latest product to result from its technical collaboration with Germany’s Continental AG. In a statement, the company reported the release of its first tubeless motorcycle tyres. The new product will initially be manufactured at the company’s factory in Ludhiana plant; production will later be extended to a second plant.

25th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian to scale back heavy tyre output

Following a drop in demand for Nokian heavy tyres and the expectation that lower demand will continue into 2012, the Finnish manufacturer has opted to reduce its production output of these products. On 25 November Nokian shared details of a preliminary plan to change the working pattern of its heavy tyre production to a discontinued five-day, three-shift model and to reduce the work input of approximately 100 factory and 15 white-collar employees through lay-offs. The company says that personnel cuts are also a possibility.

25th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper, USW reach tentative Findlay agreement

Findlay, Ohio-based news source The Courier states that Cooper Tire & Rubber reached a tentative three-year labour agreement on 23 November with the representative chapter of the United Steelworkers union, Local 207L. No specific information has been disclosed about the agreement, which covers unionised workers at Cooper’s Findlay factory and succeeds the old agreement that expired on October 31. Local 207L members will meet on 26 November to hear details of the agreement and a vote on the deal will take place the following day.

24th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli “most innovative” Ducati supplier

Earlier this month, Pirelli was awarded the Ducati’s 2010 Best Product Innovation Award, an award offered by the motorcycle manufacturer to its most innovative supplier of the year. As a way of determining who receives this coveted award, the Italian firm utilises a committee made up of members of its Purchasing, Technical, Quality and Logistics departments; the committee analyses the performance of its suppliers from all evaluated aspects. In particular, Pirelli gained recognition from Ducati for its work in its development of the Scorpion Trail tyres for the Ducati Multistrada and the new 240/45 ZR17 size Diablo Rosso II for the Ducati Diavel.

23rd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Third delay for Kumho’s US plant

Media reports in the US indicate it may be third time unlucky for Kumho Tire’s planned factory in Bibb County, Georgia. Macon-based newspaper The Telegraph states work on the US$225 million plant has been placed on hold for a third time, a move that allegedly has prompted local economic development officials to rethink the entire project’s future and mull over the prospect of putting the greenfield factory site back on the market.

15th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Dan Smytka to replace Pierre Cohade as head of Goodyear Asia Pacific business

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Daniel L. Smytka as president of the company’s Asia Pacific business. He replaces Pierre Cohade who has decided to leave Goodyear and move to a new opportunity that will be announced at a later date. Cohade will remain with the company through the end of the year to assist with the transition.

Smytka, who has more than 25 years of leadership experience, takes the role after successfully running Goodyear's Asia consumer business and subsequently leading the relocation and expansion of the company’s factory in China.

14th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper, union still negotiating Findlay plant agreement

Negotiations on a new labour agreement for unionised workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s Findlay, Ohio factory failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion before the existing agreement’s expiry on October 31, and local newspaper The Courier says talks between the tyre maker and United Steelworkers representatives are still ongoing.

3rd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook establishes new subsidiary in Poland

International News

Hankook Tire has established an additional subsidiary in Europe. The opening of the company’s Polish branch in Warsaw is in keeping with the growing demand for Hankook tyres in the European markets. “Thanks to our new subsidiary in Poland we are now also able to provide full service to our partners and customers in the 6th largest tyre market in the European Union. This is in-line with Hankook’s strategy of close market and customer proximity to provide optimal tyre solutions, developed and produced with the very latest in market-specific and innovative technologies, to meet regional requirements and demands,” explains Hee-Se Ahn, vice president for marketing and sales Hankook Tire Europe.

31st October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli thanks customers for Tyre Manufacturer of the Year TAFF award

Pirelli has thanked customers and staff after being named Tyre Manufacturer of the Year at the National Tyre Distributors Association’s 2011 Tyre and Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards. Dominic Sandivasci, managing director of Pirelli UK commented: “We are delighted to receive this prestigious award which recognizes the hard work and effort of the entire Pirelli team in delivering the premium products and services demanded and deserved by the UK industry. I am extremely proud of our UK team for their contribution towards this prestigious accolade, and would like to place on record our grateful thanks and appreciation to everyone who voted for us.”

26th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Factory posts record 3Q sales

Portland-based independent tyre dealer group Tire Factory has announced record comparable-store sales growth through the third quarter of 2011, reports Tire Review. According to CEO John Kreidel, comparable-store (those stores that have been a member for at last one year) sales were up more than 15 per cent and member purchases were up some 37 per cent year-over-year through three quarters.

25th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Global Rubber opens second factory

Sri Lanka’s Global Rubber Industries, manufacturer of the Globe Star, Ultimate XT, Peak Master, Performer and Air Ryde brands, has opened its second plant. The US$6 million facility, which has the capacity to produce 400,000 solid industrial and press on band tyres a year, was declared operational on September 8.

14th October 2011/by Tyrepress Editors