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.
Superior Industries International, Inc is restructuring its manufacturing facility in Van Nuys, California, laying off approximately 375 employees, out of 635 manufacturing employees. Superior’s corporate offices and 125 corporate staff, which also are located at this facility, will not be affected by the downsizing. The company reports that manufacturing will continue despite the job cuts.
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced that Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Truck Corporation company, will include the SmarTire’s active TPMS as an option for new and existing fire-fighting vehicles. Pierce Manufacturing is North America’s leading manufacturer of fire and safety apparatus.
When the China International Tire Expo (CITExpo) opened its gates for the second time in 2004, it was already considered to be the potential Chinese tyre show of the future. It appears these estimations were well founded now that the third show in December has reached a size, which makes it the biggest show of its kind in East and South-East Asia. CITExpo even had to move into a different venue in order to accommodate its 150 exhibitors. Overall more than 5,800 visitors have registered with the organisers; two thirds came from abroad and the growing number of foreign exhibitors emphasises the increasingly open Chinese tyre market.
To the organisers of the China International Tire Expo the positive developments of the show have been much more than just good luck. “Most industry experts know our exhibition by now,” says Wilko Fong. The managing director of Reliable International Exhibition Services Co., Ltd., the organising company from Beijing, firmly believes that many of the current exhibitors have already taken part in earlier shows as visitors in order to find out how the land lies. Only now this wait-and-see-approach has actually paid off for the Shanghai CITExpo, with the latest event taking place in the Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center in downtown Shanghai.
Apollo Tyres Ltd is to buy Dunlop Tyres International (Pty) Ltd (Dunlop South Africa) for US$62 million. The all-cash deal will see Apollo take on 100 per cent equity for 2.9 billion rupees (£37.3 million). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in both countries, including that of the South African Competition Commission, and a number of conditions. The Durban, South Africa-headquartered company also owns subsidiaries in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. The news follows speculation that Apollo Tyres was interested in purchasing Dunlop Zimbabwe.
The 2006 Autosport/Aftermarket Show confirmed its position as the largest dedicated motorsport exhibition in Europe with 94,000 visitors in total. According to the organisers, 27,000 of these were trade visitors, an 8 per cent increase on 2004.
Apollo Tyres is to invest 400 million rupees in truck and bus radial production at the company’s Limba plant. Apollo’s announcement follows the news in October 2005 that Michelin had bought Apollo Tyres’ stake in the two companies’ joint venture. At the time Michelin cited the “slower than projected pace” of radialisation as its reason for the move.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company today announced that its acquisition of 51 per cent of Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Passenger Tire Co, Ltd, and Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company, Ltd. has been finalised with an effective date of 4 February 2006.
As the automotive world converges in Detroit for the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Alcoa Wheels Products say that the company is enjoying fitment on many new 2006 models.
Alcoa Wheel Products, a Cleveland-based business unit of Alcoa, has fitments on new production model vehicles including the Nissan Altima SE-R, Chrysler 300C SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge Ram 2500, Dodge Magnum SRT8, Dodge Viper and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. Alcoa wheels are also being shown on Ford F250 trucks, including Ford’s Harley-Davidson Edition and on the GMC Envoy Denali, Hummer H2 and Pontiac Grand Prix GXP.
(Akron/Tire Review) Just days after announcing significant cutbacks at its Charlotte, NC, tyre plant, Continental Tire North America (CTNA) said it planned a $60 million to $70 million capital improvement effort at its Mt Vernon, Illinois, passenger and truck tyre facility.
Michelin has put its planned collaboration with Apollo Tyres on hold while the businesses wait for the national radialisation rate to gather speed. The companies maintained that their working relationship was on track, but that demand has to increase before manufacturing work gets underway.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has announced that all necessary government approvals have been received for its transaction to obtain 51 per cent ownership in China’s third-largest Chinese-owned tyre manufacturer.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America (CTNA) announced today that it will significantly cut production and lay off employees at its hometown Charlotte, North Carolina., passenger tyre plant. The cuts will come in two phases, said CTNA, with the first taking place on 15 March, resulting in 241 salaried and hourly jobs lost, and the second on 30 June when another 272 jobs will be cut. In total, 513 workers will be laid off, said CTNA.
The Harvie name has been associated with tyre repair materials and wheels service accessories for the past four decades, during which time the company has demonstrated rapid response to continuous tyre and rim change processes and the ensuing demands for high quality, technically efficient products plus customer service support within the UK market.
Managing director, Terry Brooks, points out that the company has experienced a 35 per cent sales revenue growth during 2005 along with a high degree of customer satisfaction. The company now presents a product portfolio backed by impressive service levels to both existing loyal customers and prospective customers alike.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has named Rodney A Kreinbrink as plant manager for its Albany, Georgia, manufacturing facility. Kreinbrink will oversee the daily operations of Cooper’s 3rd largest plant, which produces about 11.5 million tyres per year and employs almost 1,600 people. Kreinbrink succeeds William Bonner who retired at the end of 2005.
Apollo Tyres Limited is to expand the passenger car radial (PCR) capacity of its Limda plant, the Business Standard has reported. The company will reportedly invest 3 billion rupees (£38.33 million) in the expansion of its PCR capacity at its Limda unit.
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.
