China’s Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber has entered into a joint venture agreement with Thai Hua Rubber to establish a tyre production facility in Thailand’s Rayong Province. According to Bangkok based newspaper The Nation, the plant will be set up with a five billion baht (₤102.7 million) investment from the two parties; Hangzhou Zhongce holds an 85 per cent share in the joint venture, with the remainder belonging to the Thailand based rubber company.
India’s Ruia Group has stated it is at a “very advanced” stage of discussion regarding a proposed joint venture with an international partner to build a passenger car radial factory. This information appears to confirm news published by the Calcutta Telegraph last November; the Indian newspaper reported that the Ruia Group was engaged in talks with Sumitomo regarding the construction of such a factory.
Thanks to a combination of bad weather and economic gloom, most sectors of the motorcycle and scooter tyre replacement industry suffered during 2010. So it is good to hear of one manufacturer reporting a large growth in sales. This manufacturer is the maker of Sava tyres. And while Bike Tyrestore, the UK trade distributor for the Slovenian produced brand, comments that Sava is not yet a “household name”, it notes that its products are approaching dominance in the UK motor scooter replacement tyre market and Sava is also making strong progress in the fields of light motorcycle and on/off road tyre sales.
Three years ago, Pirelli launched a programme to assist staff at the Hospital of Slatina, a facility located near the company’s Romanian car and light truck tyre plant. Since this time the Italian tyre maker has contributed towards the professional training of more than 120 doctors and nurses, who have benefitted from assistance provided by Milan’s Niguarda Hospital Ca’ Granda. Pirelli’s support of the Slatina hospital has now been renewed with the signing of an agreement to expand and extend the programme to 2013.
Double Coin Holdings has announced plans to invest at least RMB 3.18 billion (£301.5 million) establishing a wholly owned subsidiary in China’s Anhui Province. Within this subsidiary, known as Double Coin Huili Tire Co., the company will establish a new factory capable of producing 15 million tyres per annum. Double Coin will provide RMB 1 billion of the funds for the factory project, with the remainder coming from bank loans and from a RMB 900 million loan obtained from controlling shareholder Shanghai Huayi (Group) Company.
Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker, began building its third plant in China 28 November with the goal of reaching a million unit a year total capacity by 2012. Beijing Hyundai Motor Company (BHMC), a 50-50 joint venture between Hyundai Motor and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., held a ground-breaking ceremony for a 400,000 unit/year plant on 28 November in Shunyi District, Beijing. The new plant is scheduled to be completed by July 2012. The two existing plants which roll out up to 300,000 units each.
Privately owned multi-service transport organisation Clarke’s Transport has selected the Bandvulc range of tyres as policy fitment for its fleet operation. The arrangement sees the Clarke’s fleet using AC Tyres based in Oldham to manage and provide fleet support to its Northern based vehicles. AC Tyres is a certified member of Bandvulc Tyre Contracts’ Service Provider Recognition Scheme and a key partner for Bandvulc.
During the winter months many British motorists will engage in the practice of turning on their vehicles’ engines well before departure time in order to remove the morning frost without manual scraping. The obvious resulting problem is that leaving a running car unattended invites the attentions of the criminal classes; Sainsbury’s Bank has recently published figures suggesting 66,000 vehicles are stolen in this situation. Vehicle accessories company Armour Automotive believes it has found a solution, announcing the launch of its new range of engine remote starter systems, available through the company’s Clifford brand.
US industry publication Tire Review has reported the latest chapter in the Washington Tire Corporation saga: It appears the costs involved in the failed Washington Tire deal have prompted residents near the proposed Port of Ephrata, Washington factory site into action. Residents have signed a petition requesting the termination of Mike Wren, manager of the Port of Ephrata.
Anyone possessing an eye-catching Michelin stained glass window and a guilty conscience can unburden themselves of both during an amnesty declared by the tyre maker. The windows in question were originally a feature of Michelin House, located on London’s Fulham Road. They’ve been missing for several decades now, yet with the building’s centenary fast approaching, Michelin has decided to “give people an opportunity to return the panels – or parts of them – without any fear or worries.”
According to the Calcutta Telegraph, the Calcutta-based Ruia Group and Japanese tyre manufacturer Sumitomo are engaged in talks concerning the construction of a radial tyre factory in India. It is reported that the joint venture would cost around 500 crore rupees (US$113 million) and would either be a 50/50 project or with Sumitomo taking a majority holding.
Federal Tyres is rewarding its top-performing dealers with a tour package to Taiwan throughout the second quarter of this year. The tours give winners time to experience local customs and see the country’s best-loved tourist spots. The fully escorted tour features southern Taiwan’s fabulous ocean and mountain views and the picturesque landscapes of Kenting National Park and Kaohsiung City.
Staff at Cooper Tire & Rubber’s plant in Melksham went on a no overtime strike last week to protest changes to working conditions at the facility, reports Tire Review. It is believes that 500 workers there – members of the Unite union – have refused to take any overtime in a dispute over benefit changes, which include a cut in paid holidays, capping sick days, elimination of a late Saturday shift, and an increase in the mandatory retirement age, as well as overtime that has been forced by staff reductions at the plant.
Russian website Rccnews.ru reports Michelin’s intention to establish a truck tyre retreading facility at its Davydovo plant, near Moscow. At present, production equipment is being installed in the Davydovo facility and it is anticipated to enter operation in late 2010, introducing the French manufacturer’s latest retreading technology into Russia. According to Rccnews, in the coming years Michelin plans to invest ten million euros in developing its commercial vehicle tyre retreading business in Russia.
The Korea Times has reported the death of a 27-year old man employed as a subcontract worker in Hankook Tire’s Daejeon factory in South Korea. According to the September 27 published article, the death is the 16th amongst workers at Hankook’s Korean facilities since May 2006 and the deaths “are suspected to be related to the working environment.” The man, who is identified by the name ‘Lee’, is said to have had no previous health concerns and was employed to examine the surface of newly manufactured tyres.
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