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.
The supervisory board of Continental AG has approved the executive board’s decision to discontinue production at the manufacturer’s plant in Aachen, Germany by the end of 2021. The supervisory board confirmed the executive boards decision during a board meeting today (30 September 2020). The closure decision will affect around 1,800 out of the about 2,000 jobs located at the Aachen site.
GKN Wheels’ multi-million-pound investment programme at its Telford factory has resulted in the achievement of record targets. Despite a number of obstacles, not least the impact Coronavirus pandemic has had on the plant’s operational capabilities, the new manufacturing plant is now producing more than three times as many wheels as the old plant, with 55 high-quality off-highway wheels now being manufactured every hour. With the new line now fully operational, the old lines and assembly cells have now been decommissioned and disposed of.
The tyre manufacturing output of Iranian factories increased 26 per cent in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (1399 and specifically the period between 20 March and 21 August 2020) compared with the same period last year. Such growth is consistent with the Iranian tyre industry’s 10-year plan to double in size by 2025, which was publicised in 2015. And it also corresponds to earlier optimism related to Iranian tyre market growth, but what do the latest figures tell us about the product mix of the Iranian national tyre production base?
Tyres & Accessories contacted Bridgestone for its response to the statement put out by French authorities following its decision to shutter its tyre factory in Béthune, France. Bridgestone addressed the characterisation of the closure as a “premeditated murder,” the idea that the plant has been deliberately allocated low-margin products, and that the plant had been passed over for investment.
On 12 September 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published its fourth batch of green manufacturing lists. The list includes 602 green factories, 371 green design products, 39 green parks and 50 green supply chain management demonstration enterprises.
Environmental campaigners have been protesting against Linglong’s Zrenjanin, Serbia tyre factory. At the same time the construction work, which has been variously described as either an 800 million euro or US$994 million project by different sources, has also been involved in certification disputes.
The president of the Hauts-de-France region has labelled Bridgestone’s planned closure of its Béthune tyre manufacturing plant “brutal” and a “premeditated assassination.” For good measure, Xavier Bertrand added “we are dealing with cynics and liars” in his strongly-worded response to Bridgestone’s announcement. In a joint statement with the French government, Bertrand’s Hauts-de-France Region called on the Bridgestone group to “assume its responsibilities,” alleging that the company’s divestment from and allocation of low-margin tyres to the Béthune plant over the last decade has “automatically” led to its deficit in competitiveness.
Double Coin Tires engineers praised the benefits of Eastman’s Eastman Crystex Cure Pro insoluble sulphur alongside scientists from the chemicals manufacturer Eastman during a joint speech at the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) conference on 15 September. Around 200 professionals from tyre-related enterprises gathered at the conference to discuss the latest industry technologies and market status.
Following the closure of Continental’s Aachen, Germany tyre production facility, Tyres & Accessories asked representatives of the company’s UK operation (Continental Tyre Group) what the impact will be on local customers. In short, the company is aiming to continue “high quality” service.Following the closure of Continental’s Aachen, Germany tyre production facility, Tyres & Accessories asked representatives of the company’s UK operation (Continental Tyre Group) what the impact will be on local customers. In short, the company is aiming to continue “high quality” service.
Bridgestone has announced its plan to close its Bethune plant in France. The manufacturer said that the measure is being used to reduce production overcapacity and to improve cost efficiency. The proposal could impact 863 employees. Bridgestone added that it is “fully aware of the social consequences of this project and is committed to using all means at its disposal to define support plans for each employee.” The earliest the closure would take place is the second quarter of 2021. Bridgestone’s presence in France would continue through sales and retail operations, in which it employs about 3,500, the company said.
Employees at Continental AG’s Aachen, Germany tyre factory were informed that the plant will be closed by the end of 2021. According to the German Handelsblatt newspapter, more than 1,800 employees will be affected by the closure. The announcement comes two weeks after Continental announced cost-cutting plans aiming at saving 1 billion euros by 2023.
In what is purportedly an industry first, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Continental are digitally tracing the rubber supply chain from cultivation in Indonesia and further processing through to tyre production.
Global tyre construction, reinforcement, and composites technology supplier Kordsa has appointed İbrahim Özgür Yıldırım as chief operating officer for the Asia-Pacific region. Yıldırım will replace Zeki Kanadıkırık, who steps down after five years in the position, as of 1 September 2020.
Britishvolt, which is purportedly making one of the UK’s largest-ever industrial investments, has announced the appointment of Ray Macera as project director for the construction of Britain’s first battery gigaplant. The new gigaplant is being designed by leading Italian design experts Pininfarina. It is set to be sited on a former RAF base in Bro Tathan, South Wales and will house Britishvolt’s manufacturing and research and development facilities.
PJSC Tatneft and JSC Allur Group of Companies are establishing a joint tyre manufacturing facility in Kazakhstan. The factory will produce passenger car, light truck and truck tyres. The planned production capacity is 3 million passenger and light truck tyres as well as 0.5 million truck tyres per year. Production is expected to start in 2022. The project will create about 800 jobs, according to Tatneft.
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Continental AG
GKN
MohammadAli Dahaghin; Unsplash
Bridgestone
GIZ; Canopy Indonesia | GIZ; Thomas Heinen
Kordsa
Tatneft