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MRF Entreaties Employees to Return to Work

Unrest at the MRF Ltd factory in Arakkonam, India is now entering its second month, and the tyre manufacturer has voiced its hope for a swift resolution to the strike. In early June the company sent a letter to the plant’s 1400 workers, requesting their return to work.

“You are all aware of the difficulties that we are facing for the past few days due to all the unfortunate incidents that have happened,” the letter states. “Every day, our factory is suffering a loss of Rs 3.5 crore (£445,000). In these difficult circumstances, you must have been aware of the bonus and the wholesome amount to be paid every month. Therefore, be cautious and keep the evil forces at bay and cooperate with us on the path of success.”

16th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Happy Birthday, Vulcanised Rubber!

Today, June 15, is a red-letter day for the tyre industry – exactly 165 years ago Charles Goodyear was granted the initial patent for process of rubber vulcanisation. But while this patent – number 3633 – may have opened the door to the development of a viable range of rubber products and eventually led to a company bearing his name becoming one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world, the patent delivered far more financial reward to others than to Goodyear himself.

According to accounts of Charles Goodyear’s life, the vulcanised rubber story began in 1834 when Goodyear, whose hardware store had recently been made bankrupt, approached the Roxbury India Rubber Company with a new business idea.

15th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s ATMA Seeks NR Duty Reduction

India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) is seeking to have the customs duty on natural rubber waived in order to help domestic manufacturers compete against imported tyres. The issue was undoubtedly raised when Apollo Tyres chairman and managing director Onkar S Kanwar met with officials from India’s finance ministry on behalf of the ATMA in early June; as part of its pre-budget memorandum, the industry association has requested a reduction in the customs duty on natural rubber to 10 per cent from the current 20 per cent level. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the duty on the import of tyres could be raised to 20 per cent. Tyre imports from China and Korea, which account for nearly 80 per cent of all imports, currently attract 8.6 per cent duty under the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement.

12th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess Underpins its BRIC Strategy with Two Acquisitions

Lanxess is currently in the process of acquiring two new companies in Asia. And while, admittedly, these new acquisitions will not deal directly with the firm’s tyre industry chemical supply business, Lanxess says the purchase “is underpinning its long-term growth strategy in the BRIC countries.” The companies to be acquired by Lanxess are India’s Gwalior Chemical Industries Ltd, which comes with an 82.4 million euro price tag, and Chinese company Jiangsu Polyols Chemical Co Ltd, which is to be acquired for an undisclosed sum.

“These acquisitions in India and China are further milestones in our company’s long-term growth strategy in the BRIC countries,” said Axel C. Heitmann, chairman of Lanxess’s Board of Management. “Gwalior’s business complements the portfolio of our Basic Chemicals business unit and our first acquisition in India will strengthen our production base in this exciting market.”

10th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Organiser Reports Successful Automechanika Middle East

A total of 15,431 visitors attended Automechanika Middle East during the three-day event. Of this number, notes organiser Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH, 46 per cent were international visitors, converging on Dubai from a total of 114 countries. According to the organiser, buyers arrived in large numbers from the GCC, Middle East, Iran, Africa, CIS and India.

Considering the tough economic climate, adds Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Automechanika Middle East registered a remarkable increase in the number of exhibitors; a total of 966 exhibitors from 46 countries were present, and exhibition space this year occupied 31,000 square metres at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre.

9th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyre Dealers Voice Opposition to Import Duty

Trouble is brewing between Indian tyre manufacturers and dealers. A duty on passenger car tyres imported from China is expected to be introduced by the end of June, and the two parties hold differing views on the matter.

“We have invited views from all concerned. We will look at all representations before taking a decision. However, on the face of it, there does seem to be a case for application of safeguard duties,” a government official told India’s Economic Times newspaper on condition of anonymity.

9th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Hayes Lemmerz Bags New Production Contracts

New business agreements with a number of existing and new customers are being received with gratitude by a financially beleaguered Hayes Lemmerz International. On June 5 the company announced its Saraburi plant in Thailand will produce 16-inch alloy wheels for the Toyota Scion. This new award, Hayes Lemmerz notes, provides additional volume for the company, which is already a major supplier to Toyota in many parts in the world. In addition, the Thai plant has received new business awards to produce 14-inch alloy wheels for existing customer Nissan as well as 15-inch alloy wheels for a new customer, Nissan subsidiary Autech Japan, Inc.

8th June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

JK Tyre Sponsor Indian National Karting Championship

JK Tyre are to sponsor the fifth JK Tyre Indian National Rotax Max Karting Championship, which begins with its first round of the season at Coimbatore. The championship will take off at the Kari Motor Speedway with the qualifying & heat races to be held on Saturday June 6 and the main races on Sunday June 7, 2009. The winners of the 3 classes will have the honour of being declared the National Rotax Karting Champions of India.

The concept of the championship has been formatted to develop the burgeoning field of Indian motor sports. For the first time several teams will be in the fray for the prestigious event, with Amaron-Meco Pro Kart, Red Rooster, Mohites, Indus, AW, Rayo and Meco-City Kart all taking part. Also, for the first time the entries will have an international flavour, with a Scottish driver and an Iraqi girl participating.

3rd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tax at Ruia Group Tyre Companies under Investigation

An article published by the Indian business daily Mint indicates that three tyre companies owned by Ruia Group chairman Pawan Kumar Ruia are being investigated for tax incongruities. The probe is focusing upon the presence of “hawala” activities, a name given to the transfer of money in order to avoid taxes without a corresponding physical or electronic transfer of funds. The companies under investigation are Dunlop India Ltd, Falcon Tyres Ltd and Monotona Tyres Ltd.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gripen UK Enjoying ‘Month on Month’ Growth

Over on the other side of the North Sea lies the headquarters of one of the largest and fastest growing wholesalers in Scandinavia and Europe, Gripen Wheels. The Swedish based company delivers tyres to more than 20 countries and operates numerous warehouses throughout Europe. Some 18 months ago the UK joined the list of locations where Gripen boasts a presence, and the Cambridge headquartered operation now supplies customers nationwide from its warehouse in Immingham, near Hull. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Gripen’s UK director, Ray Coulson, to find out how the company is progressing in our market.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Unrest Continues Despite Lifting of MRF Lockout

The lockout at MRF Ltd’s Arakkonam factory in southeast India has been lifted – but many employees are refusing to return to work. An announcement from management regarding an end to the ten-day-old lockout was made on May 27, yet the company’s dispute with the MRF United Workers Union (MUWU), which declared a strike at the Arakkonam plant on May 9, remains an unresolved issue.

India’s Business Standard newspaper discloses that a number of MRF workers plan to file a Supreme Court petition against the company’s management. MUWU honorary president V. Prakash told the paper “we don’t have a choice but to file a petition in [the] Supreme Court” following recent failed talks. “The main plea would be to recognise the union,” he explained.

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin India Project a Step Nearer to Realisation

Objections to Michelin’s Rs 40 billion (£530 million) greenfield factory project in Tamil Nadu, India have been overruled by the Madras High Court. On May 26 the court ruled against an environmentally based petition instigated by a local villagers’ association, stating that the need for employment and investment must take precedence.

27th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Reports: Goodyear India to Expand Annual Capacity to 4 million Tyres

Goodyear India is aiming to boost annual capacity by 15 per cent to 4 million tyres a year, according to various online news sources. The news follows the launch of the Goodyear DuraPlus in the country, a tyre aimed at small family hatchbacks that account for the largest segment in the Indian car market. Goodyear India reportedly wants to target the replacement market with the new tyre and is said to be negotiating car makers on the subject of OE for the new tyre.

In an interesting twist, the reports also states that Indian branch of the manufacturer will soon be offering run-flats imported from Goodyear’s manufacturing facilities in the US or Europe. According to the reports, these tyres retail at more than 10,000 rupees (£132) each in India.

26th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MRF Temporarily Relocating Production from Locked Out Plant

India based tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd appears set to circumvent the lockout and worker protests at its Arakonam factory in Tamil Nadu state by temporarily transferring production to its Medak facility. In a press statement, the company made reference to vehicle manufacturers’ dependence on tyres it supplies, commenting that “MRF has made all efforts to ensure regular supply of OE tyres from its factory at Medak in Andhra Pradesh.”

The Business Standard newspaper reports that on May 21 around 800 employees and their families were arrested for continuing their sit-in strike within the company’s premises and were evicted.

22nd May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

MRF Strikers Plan New Protest Strategies

Striking workers at tyre MRF’s Arakonam and Puducherry plants in India are considering surrendering their important ration and voter identify cards in protest against a wage agreement signed with a rival labour union. The worker’s sit-in strike began on May 9 and led to a lockout being declared at the Arakonam site on May 17. Production at both locations has come to a complete halt as a result of the industrial action.

20th May 2009/by Tyrepress Editors