Korean tyremaker Hankook, who in a company news release referred to Europe as their “second domestic market,” are preparing their new factory in Hungary for the start of production. The plant in Dunaujvaros, Hungary, which according to the company cost US$500 million (£255 million), is located on a 54-hectare site 68km south of Budapest and when operational will provide output for the European UHP tyre market.
Employees at a Bridgestone factory in South Australia have voted to take strike action in order to obtain a wage rise. The company offered workers at its Salisbury plant a pay rise of up to 6 per cent over four years, however the workers’ representative body, the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU), has referred to the rise as insulting.
Fire crews spent the night of March 1 tackling a large blaze at a Sheffield tyre factory. The fire at the Dexel Tyres facility in Staniforth Road, Attercliffe, started on the Thursday night and was still burning the following morning.
People living near the industrial estate were warned by fire chiefs to stay indoors because of the thick smoke from the burning tyres. Firefighters had to use water from a nearby canal to fight the fire.
The new extension to the MAHA factory in Germany commenced operation following the Christmas break. The factory extension, built to accommodate the manufacture of 2 post electro hydraulic lifts, is considered by MAHA UK’s managing director, Gus Gregory, to possibly the most advanced lift production facility for the manufacture of 2 post lifts in the world.
Hankook Tire Co., South Korea’s largest tiremaker, announced on February 23 its intention to spend 235 billion won (£130 million) building a new South Korean factory. The new tyre plant will be located at Geumsan, 198 kilometres south of Seoul, where the company has an existing plant with an annual capacity of 15 million units.
At present Hankook operates four tyre manufacturing facilities, two in South Korea and two in China. A fifth factory in Hungary is scheduled to enter production this spring.
A South Korean company that recently bought an Akron tyre-mould maker plans to spend $2 million to expand its area operations and add as many as 70 employees in the next 18 months. Saehwa Machinery Co. Ltd., which bought Universal Tire Molds Inc. last fall, expects to open a 45,000-square-foot factory this summer on 10 acres in the Massillon Road Industrial Park, which is part of the Akron-Springfield Township joint economic development district. The company’s new president and chief executive is Sun Yong Hong.
Bridgestone India intends to increase its production capacity by 1,000 tyres a day to a daily capacity of 11,00 tyres at its plant in the central state of Madhya Pradesh and is gearing up to cater for the commercial vehicle market to a greater extent.
A Swansea First Stop dealership is renewing its support for a campaign raising vital funds for impoverished and neglected youngsters in South Wales. It is the third year running that Harris Brothers Tyres will be the headline sponsor of radio stations ’The Wave’ and ‘Swansea Sound’s’ Cash for Kids initiative. Last year alone the business worked with the stations to help raise more than £30,000 for good causes. That included a £10,000 donation to Childline following a glitzy ball and auction where Esther Rantzen was the special guest of honour.
Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama has recently been chosen to supply OE fitment tyres on three new models. The latest additions to the Yokohama portfolio include high performance, upgrade and off-road applications.
The new Honda Legend comes wearing Yokohama’s flagship tyre, the ADVAN Sport. The Legend is Honda’s flagship luxury saloon and features permanent four wheel-drive, a 291bhp V6 VTEC engine and a host of safety features, such as emergency braking radar and lane changing assistance. The Legend is fitted with 235/50R17 100W Yokohama ADVAN Sport V103 tyres, providing high levels of grip and response.
Michelin-owned tyremaker BFGoodrich will soon equip the US military’s Humvee vehicle with its Baja T/A tyre after being awarded a US$10.7 million contract. The Baja T/A to be fitted to the Humvee has been developed especially for military use and carries an E Load Rating with a load capacity of 4,540 pounds per tyre at 65 psi (4.4 bar). According to Michelin, the new tyre has a 22.5 per cent increase in projected tread life compared to the previous Humvee tyre, as well as superior manoeuverability and mud traction.
Deputies from the people’s congress in the Chinese city of Guangzhou have asked officials from the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau why no action has been taken to deal with the large amount of pollution caused by a state-owned tyremaker located in the city. South China Tire & Rubber, one of the country’s largest tyre suppliers, reportedly emits large quantities of sulphurous gas from its factory, and this is claimed to affect the health of an estimated 100,000 people.
Automotive component and sealant manufacturer Dupont Performance Elastomers will reportedly retain their Rubbertown factory in Louisville, Kentucky until the end of the year. The company previously announced the facility would close by the end of March.
Michelin has given more details of their decision to quit tyre production in Nigeria. At a press briefing the Corporate Affairs manager for Michelin Nigeria Limited, Ojo-Osagie, passed on details of the factors contributing to the decision and the measures the company plans to undertake in the coming months.
Michelin has announced that it is ceasing tyre production at its factory in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The tyremaker informed the Nigerian government of its decision on January 16 and, according to Michelin, both parties have agreed to work together to find a buyer.
Bridgestone Europe has begun recruiting employees for its new factory in Tatabánya, 35 miles west of Budapest. The facility is scheduled to commence trial runs and then volume production in the second half of 2007, following assembly of plant machinery in the spring.
The factory was built with the proceeds of a £125 million investment, and will supply Bridgestone’s European markets. An anticipated 8,000 passenger car and light truck tyres per day will be produced in Tatabánya from 2009 onwards.
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