Continental AG set the 250 million euro ($271.58 million) expansion of its Hefei, Anhui province, China tyre production plant into operation on 28 March. Total investment in the Hefei plant is now said to be 570 million euros.
First ChemChina sent shockwaves through the tyre market by successfully purchasing Pirelli in 2015. This year another Chinese firm – this time tyremaker Qingdao Doublestar – made waves by offering an US$830 million bid for 42 per cent Kumho Tire in mid-March. The obvious question is what is the next tyre-related investment to come out of China?
Toyota Motor Europe will invest a further £240 million in its Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) car plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire (UK). According to the company, Toyota’s investment will be spent on improving competitiveness and promoting UK supply chain efficiencies.
At the beginning of November Sailun Jinyu International (SJI) appointed Gareth Passmore as its president for Europe. He replaced Martin West, who has been appointed global president of the SJI Speciality Tire Group. Passmore, who started on 1 December 2016, is now responsible for all operations throughout Europe across all of the Sailun Jinyu Group brand portfolio – Sailun, Jinyu, Black Lion and Rovelo. Passmore brings with him over 25 years of tyre industry experience, including time with Continental, Apollo (in South Africa) and latterly with Sumitomo Rubber Industries where he headed up the Falken brand’s European export operations. During a recent brand and winter tyre product demonstration event in Sweden, Tyres & Accessories caught up with Passmore and at the same time we were introduced to Sailun’s ambitious goal of becoming a top 10 tyre manufacturer in the years to come.
ExxonMobil has started construction on a multi-million dollar expansion of its Shanghai technology centre in China. The expansion is expected to be complete in early 2018 and will include a new R&D facility.
In its year-end 2016 report, Sweden’s Trelleborg AB states that its Board of Directors has “decided to make a major investment” in Trelleborg Wheel Systems’ tyre operation in Serbia in order to improve the facility’s footprint and increase production capacity to accommodate additional future sales.
Around €150,000 (£131,000) is being invested in STARCO’s tyre and wheel production facility in Crewe as part of a €2.5 million project to strengthen manufacturing capabilities in Europe. The Danish company’s site in the UK will receive new equipment that will automate the polymer wheel and puncture-proof polyurethane tyre production that takes place there. A STARCO representative told Tyrepress.com the installation of this new machinery will lift capacity and will also facilitate the development of new designs that ensure the plant’s continued competitiveness.
Ceat, the Indian tyre manufacturer, has announced plans to increase production of truck and bus, passenger car and two-wheeler tyres. According to local news sources, the company said it will invest approximately 2,800 crore rupees over a five-year period leading up to 2022.
Michelin’s Fort Wayne plant in Indiana, USA may benefit from a US$100 million investment in efficiency and quality. Local television channel WANE-TV states that Michelin is looking to spend $20 million on upgrading processes and equipment, $23.5 million on improving production and efficiency, $18.5 million on improving quality verification and $38 on tooling and moulds. It adds that no new jobs will be created as a result of the investment.
Algerian state oil company Sonatrach is looking to enter the tyre business. The Algeria Press Service (APS) shares details given by group vice-president for Downstream Activity, Akli Remini on the sidelines of the Ogex 2016 oil and gas exhibition; Sonatrach will cooperate with foreign partners on a project to produce “5 million tons of tyres per year.”
ATS Euromaster has opened of a new 5,300 square foot facility in Bracknell – marking the brand’s first presence in the booming Berkshire town.
Located on the Trade City estate on Western Road, the new centre will provide car and van tyre and vehicle maintenance for consumers and fleets. It also means it is situated just a mile from Bracknell town centre, and close to vital transport routes connecting London with the South and South West.
After the firm’s official opening in the UK in early 2015, specialist TPMS and valve manufacturer Hamaton Ltd reports it is pleased to look back on a year that has seen the business go from strength to strength, with increasing sales and an enhanced reputation developing throughout the global TPMS market. One sign of this is the firm’s decision to move to large UK premises.
Coventry-based car panel OE supplier Covpress entered administration at the end of September, with administrators stressing there are no current plans for redundancies amongst the 800 staff. Rather there is a good chance the business will be sold as a going concern. So far around 50 companies are said to have expressed an interest. But with business on the up at Covpress, could a deflated Chinese tyre business be behind the news?
Autosupplies (Chesterfield) is adding a 7,600 square foot extension to its Bolsover site, making it one of the largest single branch motor factors in the UK.
Michelin has opened a new distribution centre for the Iberian peninsula following investment of some 32.5 million euros. The goal of the logistics centre located in Illescas, near Toledo in Spain is to optimise logistics performance in Spain, Andorra and Portugal, not to mention the Balearics, the Canaries, the Azores and Madeira.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.