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.
Earlier in October, Guizhou Tyre reported that phase III of its Vietnam factory project had made new progress, and “all domestic and overseas investment approval and filing procedures have been completed”. As a result, now the tyre manufacturer “will actively promote the construction of the Vietnam phase III project and strive to put it into production as soon as possible”.
The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) has approved an additional US$400 million investment by Continental Tyres (Thailand) Co. Ltd. in the firm’s Rayong production base. According to BOI, the funds are for the expansion of tyre production in the country, boosting output to 7.8 million tyres per year. Of course, BOI officials also noted that such an investment consolidates “Thailand’s status as the World’s second largest tyre production base”.
Nexen Tire has developed and implemented an AI-based automated tyre product inspection system. Apparently the first of its kind in the tyre industry, the system has been developed in a platform format, allowing swift application to new factories or equipment.
On 30 September 2024, the first 17-inch and 18-inch tyres rolled off the production line at Sentury’s Morocco factory. The tyre manufacturer called this “the official start of production at the Morocco factory”. Qin Long, chairman of Sentury, attended the commissioning ceremony and announced that the first batch of tyre products officially rolled off the production line.
Doublestar has held a ceremony to celebrate the start production at its Cambodia tyre factory. The factory’s total investment is about US$200 million. It is a joint venture between Doublestar and Zhongqi Holding Group. At total production levels, it will be able to produce 7 million semi-steel radial tyres and 1.5 million full-steel radial tyres per year.
Shandong Linglong’s “Project Europe” is clearly picking up speed. The manufacturer has now flipped the switch for mass production at its tyre plant in Serbia – the first ever by a Chinese manufacturer in Europe – which was inaugurated in 2022. Without delay, Linglong is also tackling the second expansion phase of its so-called Smart Factory, thereby pushing the investment volume to 1.6 billion dollars. To honour this moment, the manufacturer hosted a number of customers and suppliers at a ‘Global Partner Conference’ in Zrenjanin, Serbia, in mid-September, but also used it to place ‘Project Europe’ in a broader context.
While Nokian Tyres opened a new test centre in Spain a good three years ago and presented the so-called ‘Hakka Ring’ to a wider public for the first time this spring, the Finnish tyre manufacturer still has a lot going on. This primarily refers to the recent official opening of its new tyre plant in Oradea, less than a year and a half after the foundation stone was laid and less than two years after the decision was made to locate the plant in Romania, less than 20 kilometres from the Hungarian border.
Sailun Indonesia factory held a groundbreaking ceremony on 17 September. The tyre manufacturer called the Indonesian project “another important layout of the globalisation strategy”, “meeting the product and service needs of the local market”, and “enhancing the competitiveness and influence of Chinese tyre brands in Southeast Asia and even the global market”.
moveero reports that it has reached “a major milestone” in its latest hubs and spindles manufacturing investment program, with the second of the project’s four phases now complete.
Aeolus recently decided to increase the production capacity of giant tyres again. The tyre manufacturer said it will invest about 1.464 billion yuan (about £160 million; €180 million) to add 20,000 giant engineering radial tyre production capacity. Through the new project, the tyre manufacturer is trying to “further optimise the product structure, seize the high-end market, and increase market share.”
The 100 millionth PCR tyre has rolled off the production line at Continenta’s Hefei, China, factory, according to the company. Due to OE contracts with some of the largest and fastest-growing EV-makers, the factory is becoming increasingly of key importance to tyre supplies of electric vehicle OEMs.
Jiangsu General reports that the first tyre rolled off the production line of its Cambodia Factory Phase II project. The tyre manufacturer defines this milestone as “another historic and important moment in the internationalisation journey”. Gu Cui, chairman of Jiangsu General, said that the commissioning of the Cambodia Factory Phase II project will promote Jiangsu General’s “industry internationalisation, intelligence, and green transformation to a new level”.
After the news that Chinese tyre manufacturer Aulice has decided to build a tyre factory in Tanzania came out, Tyrepress China specially visited local auto parts wholesalers and discussed with them the possibility of Chinese companies building tyre factories locally.
Another Chinese tyre manufacturer has set its sights on Africa for its overseas factory plan. Aulice, a tyre manufacturer in Hubei, China, has decided to build a manufacturing plant in Tanzania with an annual output of 1.2 million sets of all-steel radial tyres.
Hankook’s factory in Chongqing, China, was fined 251,000 yuan (about £27,000; 32,000) by the Chinese Environmental Protection Department for not “storing hazardous waste” according to standards.
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