Manufacturing Archives - Page 193 of 257 - Tyrepress

Whether its raw materials, machinery, research and development or the latest manufacturing trends, this tag provides up-to-the-minute insights into the upstream part of the tyre industry.

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Bridgestone to Expand Capacity at Two Asian Facilities

According to a statement released by Bridgestone on August 22, the company’s subsidiary Bridgestone India Private Limited (BSID) has taken the decision to expand production capacity at its passenger car and light truck radial plant in the city of Indore. This expansion is deemed necessary to meet burgeoning demand fuelled by a booming domestic market. The Japanese tyre major also stated that its Indonesian subsidiary, P.T. Bridgestone Tire Indonesia (BSIN), will increase production capacity at its passenger car and light truck radial facility in Karawang, east of Jakarta. This planned expansion comes in response to growing demand, primarily from export markets.

The Indore plant began volume production in 1998, manufacturing passenger car and light truck radials for the domestic market, and with vehicle ownership in India skyrocketing during the subsequent nine years BSID forecasts a continued strong demand for its tyres, particularly in larger diameter rim sizes. To accommodate this domestic market appetite for Bridgestone tyres BSID has opted to invest 6 billion yen (£26.4 million) expanding production capacity at its Indore plant from its current 4,500 tyres per day up to 15,000 daily by 2010.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Laugfs to Begin Industrial Tyre Production

Laugfs Holdings, the Sri Lanka based LPG company that has diversified into many areas of business, ranging from rubber products to restaurants, bottled water and apartments, is planning to invest Rs 350 million (£1.58 million) during the next three months at their tyre manufacturing facility in Millewa, in the country’s Western Province.

“We will start making solid tyres used for forklifts and other heavy machinery,” said Laugfs managing director Thilak de Silva. He added that the products are primarily destined for export to Australia and South Africa. “We have got orders from these countries, from companies which engage in mining.”

Prior to this latest investment Laugfs’ tyre manufacturing focused upon pneumatic tyres for three-wheeled vehicles and tyres for wheelbarrows. The company reports it is also in the process of developing a range for motorcycles and passenger cars under its ‘Palomino’ and ‘Stallion’ brand names.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyremakers Back to Work in South Africa

A decision that resounded as music to the ears of South Africa’s tyre industry was announced on August 17 – the month long strike that brought production at factories belonging several tyre majors to a halt has been resolved. Following a breakthrough in negotiations workers at Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone and Goodyear agreed to return to work on August 21.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) urged all its members to meet at their workplace on August 20 for a report about the wage talks. “Numsa is of the view that it has made progress. It will discuss with its constituencies on Monday whether the current offer on the table does constitute a settlement,” said Numsa regional secretary Irvin Jim. The offer includes an eight per cent across-the-board increase, 8.5 per cent for minimum salary employees, and 7.5 per cent for next year and the year after.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop SA Introduces Hi Tech Sales Tool

Today people expect more than a basic over the counter ‘buy and sell’ retail experience. In our technology-driven world, where a cell phone doubles as a video camera, home computer and music player, where we can pause and replay television programmes at the push of a button, there is no such thing as a passive consumer anymore. Instead people demand to be entertained, involved and informed every step of the way. No wonder interactivity has become the latest buzzword in the modern sales environment internationally.

In South Africa, Dunlop Tyres has responded to this new phenomenon by initiating a new dimension to the customer experience. At Dunlop dealers countrywide, they have developed and launched a state-of-the-art Dunlop Interactive Display Module. It is claimed to be the first of its kind in the region’s tyre business.
Jenny Soons, advertising manager at Dunlop elaborates. “Enhanced interaction with the consumer is a global retail trend, providing product information in an entertaining way, and this is what the Dunlop Interactive Display Module does – it adds interest and provides consumers with an enjoyable interactive experience.”

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conferences to Help Business with an Eye on Eastern Europe

It is no secret that Russia and Eastern Europe hold much potential for global automakers, and also for those in the tyre and related industries. However it is essential that overseas operators enter these markets with their eyes open, and sometimes businesses need all the help they can get to fully grasp the intricacies of doing business in an environment so different from their home market. Conferences and forums provide a valuable venue in which to obtain this much needed information.

The third annual AutoRussia conference, an international forum for companies participating in the automotive business in Russia or globally, is scheduled to take place on December 4 and 5 at the Astoria Hotel in St Petersburg. More than 300 senior representatives; leading figures in Russia’s automotive manufacturing sector, including leading OEM projects in the St Petersburg area, as well as senior representatives from auto OEMs and T1s around the world, will meet at the conference to discuss their current projects and future plans.

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian to Build 300 Workers’ Flats near Russian Factory

Employees at the Nokian Tyres factory in Vsevolozhsk, near St Petersburg, will soon have access to affordable accommodation near their place of work. The Finnish tyremaker plans to build seven five-story apartment blocks, containing 300 flats in total, on a 4.5 hectare section of land it has purchased. The flats will be sold to employees at cost price.

The construction of the new accommodation comes at a time of growth for the Vsevolozhsk factory. A 33,000 square metre expansion of the facility is currently underway, and when completed in March 2008 manufacturing capacity will increase over a three-year period from four million to ten million units per annum.

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nissan Honours Hayes Lemmerz as Leading Supplier

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. has been recognised by Nissan North America as one of its top suppliers in the US. The Hayes Lemmerz automotive steel wheel facility in Sedalia, Missouri received a 2007 Quality Master Certificate in recognition of being among the carmaker’s top suppliers based on quality evaluations from Nissan’s North American Engineering, Manufacturing, Product Quality, Production Control and Purchasing divisions.

The award is based on year-long evaluations of supplier systems, incoming quality, response time, cost reductions capability, design support, timely shipments, product performance and Nissan’s own vehicle evaluation system. Additionally, the Hayes Lemmerz Sedalia Operations and the Company’s automotive brake facility in Apodaca, Mexico were named 2007 Nissan Zero Defects Award winners. The Zero Defects Award is presented to suppliers that ship fewer than three defective parts per million in the course of a year.

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

South African Tyre Manufacturing Strike Continues

South Africa’s tyre manufacturing sector strike has failed to reach a settlement despite previous high hopes. Workers have already accepted the proposed wage increase offer but have not been able to reach an agreement with employers on issues related to contract work and employees’ benefits.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the Employers Association have met to find a resolution to the strike, however Numsa provincial secretary Irvin Jim reports that a new complication has arisen. “At the eleventh hour, employers approached negotiations with a new demand. They want to secure a three-year agreement. We were forced as a union to place on the table what we demand on wages for the next two years, which is 8 per cent for the next year and 8.5 per cent for the third year.

“Under these circumstances we think it is time that we remain very strong and solid. The strike must continue because we can’t sell-out for the second and third year.”

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Underlines its Commitment to the Environment

With green policies and procedures the subject of widespread debate in the global tyre market, Bridgestone has reiterated its commitment to achieve the highest possible standards of environmental performance.

The global corporation, including Bridgestone UK, is vowing to continue improving its eco-impact through a series of measures ranging from manufacturing tyres containing more environmentally-sound ingredients through to reducing levels of waste, replenishing natural rubber supplies and reducing the carbon footprint of its global production, sales and logistics network.

All tyres manufactured by Bridgestone are certified to the international ISO14001 standard, which specifies requirements for an effective Environmental Management System (EMS). To this end the tyre major has implemented its own Product Orientated Environmental Management System (POEMS).

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin to Establish New PCR Plant in Mexico

Michelin plans to capitalise on the energetic Mexican automotive market through investing US$740 million over the next four years in the establishment of a new factory. The tyremaker will set up the plant in Silao, in the central state of Guanajuato, and production is scheduled to begin in 2010. According to Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin’s North America unit, the new factory will employ 1,300 staff and produce passenger car and SUV tyres for the domestic and US export markets.

“This is one of the most dynamic automotive and tyre markets in the world,” said Micali during in a ceremony with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Numerous car manufacturers, including the US “big three”, have adopted Mexico as a low cost manufacturing base for exports to the US and other markets. Michelin said in a statement that the Guanajuanto facility is part of a $1.2 billion investment plan for the region.

14th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Indian Tyremakers Thinking Globally

With India’s vehicle industry experiencing a slowdown of late, the country’s tyremakers have needed to consider how to best maintain their profits. According to a report published in India’s Business Standard newspaper, a number of manufacturers including Apollo, Ceat, JK Tyre and MRF are increasingly thinking internationally in the face of this new challenge. Not only are Indian tyremakers looking at establishing overseas manufacturing plants – at least one is also casting its gaze at established manufacturers in other countries with a view to acquiring one of these firms.

The nation’s second largest tyre manufacturer, Delhi based Apollo Tyres is reportedly actively pursuing the acquisition of an overseas tyremaker. It seems most likely that Apollo will seek the purchase of a company based in Europe, although an acquisition in the Americas is by no means out of the question. “Margins are better in Europe with good product acceptability and confidence in technology,” commented Neeraj Kanwar, joint managing director and COO, Apollo Tyres. The company has seen European market demand for radials increase substantially in recent times, and on the back of this Apollo aims to become a major player in Europe in the next half decade or so.

13th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

First Batch from Hankook’s Hungary Plant Roll off Production Line

Hankook Tire has shipped its first batch of tyres produced at the company’s maiden European manufacturing operation. Current capacity is reportedly 1 million units, but mass production operations at the factory could be up and running in as little as six weeks. The first batch is reportedly en route to the UK and France, two of the manufacturer’s key regional markets.

The tyres produced are the Optimo K415 and K715, which were developed mainly for the European replacement business. Hankook Tire Executive Vice-President and COO for Europe, Seung-Do Jin, Hankook Tire CTO & CPO Hwi-Joong Kim together with the Hungarian plant Managing Director Eung-Young Lee wished a safe journey to the drivers of the first two trucks leaving the loading platform of the new Hankook-warehouse, located next to the production facilities.

10th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Quarter Profits up at Superior Industries

OE alloy wheel supplier Superior Industries International announced their financial results for the second quarter of this year on August 9, figures that show a solid increase in unit wheel shipments, net sales, gross margin and pre-tax income from continuing operations compared to the second quarter of 2006.

“The benefits of our hard work during the past several years to improve productivity, reduce costs, and position Superior for success as a truly global company are becoming increasingly evident in our financial performance,” said chairman, president and CEO Steven Borick.

For the three months ended June 30, 2007, net sales increased 16.1 per cent to US$255,217,000 compared to $219,880,000 for the second quarter of 2006, driven by a 3.7 per cent increase in unit wheel shipments, a higher percentage of large-diameter wheels in the sales mix than in the prior year, and higher pass-through aluminium costs in selling prices.

10th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop India Employees Bribed to Seize Factory Land

All operations at the Dunlop India facility in Ambattur, Chennai have been suspended after real estate company VGN Enterprises reportedly used force to take possession of a section of the factory land on July 30. The tyremaker notified the Bombay Stock Exchange on August 7 that it has taken this decision following the recent activities, and in a press release claimed VGN’s “illegal” act made it impossible to carry out normal manufacturing activities.

It appears that after VGN Enterprises demolished part of the factory compound wall it drew upon the assistance of some of the plant’s workforce and occupied an eight acre piece of ground, erecting its own boundary walls around this land. VGN Enterprises allegedly paid Dunlop India workers Rs 15,000 (£180) each for their complicity in the land grab.

8th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Second-Hand Tyres Costing More Than New as OTR Shortage Bites

(Akron/Tire Review – Mining Weekly South Africa) Second-hand tyres for large off-road trucks were costing more than new ones because of the biting tyre shortage, Kumba Iron Ore CEO Ras Myburgh told Mining Weekly Online on Tuesday. Myburgh said that the shortage of tyres was at one stage so acute that trucks were grounded for months.

Second-hand tyres were selling in the region of R250,000 each and trucks costing as much as $5-million dollars were being delivered without tyres because of the acute shortage. He said that the JSE-listed Kumba bought tyres separately. “Currently you can get trucks, but you can’t get tyres,” he said. “If you don’t have a long-term supply agreement, you can end up buying brand-new tyres that last only a fraction of what you get from normal suppliers.

8th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors