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 Toyo Environmental Protection Fund has decided to expand its giving to not-for-profit orgnisations beyond Japan. Coinciding with the 60th anniversary year of Toyo Tire & Rubber’s foundation, this move demonstrates the collective commitment of the Toyo Group to playing a public service role commensurate with its growing presence in the world.
(Akron/Tire Review) Even after reports that negotiators had to take a break to accommodate the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball championships in St. Louis and the United Steelworkers of America’s (USWA) April national convention in Las Vegas, there remain concerns on whether the USWA and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) can resolve their apparently deep differences and reach agreement on a new master contract.
(Akron/Tire Review) Sumitomo Chemical has announced plans to establish a new company in southern China to manufacture and sell polypropylene compounds for automotive applications.
The new subsidiary, Sumika Polymer Compounds (Zhuhai) Co, will be 55 per cent owned by Sumitomo Chemical and 45 per cent owned by Toyo Ink Manufacturing (not related to Toyo Tire & Rubber Co.). The planned facility, which should open in mid-2006, will have an initial capacity of 10,000 tons/year, with a target of 20,000 tons/year at full capacity.
A proposed Chinese joint venture between Qingdao Doublestar and Continental AG fell apart because of a dispute over who would take the majority stake in the partnership, according to a Bloomberg report. The Chinese company has since said it is in talks with other overseas companies for a venture in which it wants a majority stake, the Chinese company said in a Shenzhen exchange statement today. The statement did not name the prospective partners.
In the past the European alloy wheel market was heavily influenced by the decisions of large local producers. However these companies successfully chose to focus more and more on the original equipment business. As a consequence they had to neglect the aftermarket. This created a vacuum, which newcomers from Europe and the Far East have tried to fill. One such company is BSA from Malaysia. In Malayasia, these three letters represent a premium brand, although this is not the case in Europe – and this is something that is unlikely to change overnight. However when the Rudersdorf, Germany based wheel manufacturer, SMC, manufactured with BSA, the company found that it had gained rapid entry into the catalogues of important European wholesalers.
BSA’s slogan is “The Sign of Quality.” These words represent the company’s intention to bring quality into the aftermarket. Rolf Bene, managing director and owner of SMC GmbH is particularly interested in developing good customer relations, exclusively in the aftermarket business. BSA chairman, Dato’ Cam Soh Thiam Hong, summed this up when he said that it was all about: “You and ME!”
Pirelli has announced that it has embarked on exclusive negotiations with RoadOne Tyre Co Ltd, a market leader in conveyor belt manufacturing. The new joint venture is to be based in Shandong Province and will manufacture large all-steel radial truck tyres for the domestic market and other export markets in South East Asia. Pirelli sees its latest move confirming its strategy in China, the world’s fastest growing market for road transportation. Negotiations with RoadOne Tyre began after some of the conditions stated in the company’s Letter of Intents with Aeolus Tyre (2004) could not be met.
(Akron/Tire Review) With advances in technology, materials and manufacturing, today’s radial truck and bus tires provide more performance, reliability and safety than ever before. Truck and bus tyre manufacturers design their tyres for multiple lives, meaning the tyres are designed to be retreaded. And every day, millions of retreaded truck and bus tyres are performing flawlessly all over the world in all types of weather and on all kinds of roads.
Sibur has announced that it will outsource its tyre manufacturing business to its marketing department, Russian newspaper, Kommersant, has reported. By this Autumn, the stocks of the four Sibur controlled tyre works will be transferred to Sibur Russian Tyres (SRT). At the moment SRT works exclusively in a sales and marketing role. Sibur is reported to have explained that the tyre business will be split off into a seperate structure because the company needs outside investment for development.
CITEXPO, the largest tyre exhibition in China is publicising its change of venue. The exhibition venue has moved from Shanghai East Asia Exhibition Center to a much bigger venue – Shanghai Everbright Exhibition Center. The exhibition’s organisers say that show aims to bridge the gaps between the soaring tyre industry in China and companies from overseas. After being launched in 2003 the second CITEXPO attracted over 100 exhibitors and 5000 visitors from a range of tyre industry roles including manufacturers, buyers, distributors, wholesalers, direct retail and manufacturing purchasers. This year, CITEXPO will be held from 14 – 16 December 2005.
(Akron/TR) Cutbacks, fast rising raw material costs and marketshare battles by US automakers have created a crisis among auto part and component suppliers, according to a Detroit News report today.
Media reports are continuing to circulate about exactly where in Eastern Europe Hankook will make its proposed $500 million investment. Numerous previous reports have stated that the company is interested in manufacturing in this region, and that the shortlist has narrowed to two countries (Poland and Slovakia). Now a Polish newspaper has added further information. A Rzeczpospolita report suggests that the Korean company is leaning towards Slovakia because of a governmental policy offering “flat tax” incentives to foreign investors.
Malaysian-based tread solutions company, Goodway, recently welcomed Dr Aldo Ghitturi, chairman of Italmatic Srl to its Nilai plant. The visit of one of the world’s largest retreading machine manufacturers was part of on-going efforts to foster closer business relationship between Malaysian and Italian companies. According to a Rubber Asia report, it is also part of Goodway’s vision and latest aggressive business expansion plans, which will see it form strategic alliances with reputable companies worldwide. Goodway is confident that it will soon form successful strategic partnerships that will help capture new markets in Europe. The venture is designed to raise the profile of ‘Supercool’ as a premium product in European markets.
Goodyear has extended a multi-year contract for the supply of aviation tyres to Airbus. Specifically, the extended contract is between Airbus France and Goodyear Nederland BV, a Dutch (Tilburg) company. Goodyear will supply Flight Leader aircraft tyres for the Airbus wide-body family, the A300 and 310 models, as well as Flight Radial and Flight Leader aircraft tyres for the Airbus single-aisle family, the A318, A319, A320 and A321 models. Goodyear has not published any details of how many additional tyres it will supply.
The Turkish government is planning to privatise its national communications company, Türk Telekomünikasyon AS (Turk Telecom). Two tyre manufacturers have been linked to the prospective bidders. One of the favourites to complete the purchase is Oyak, the Turkish army pension fund, which is involved in a joint venture with Goodyear. But at the same time Telecom Italia, controlled by Pirelli, is also said to have a good chance of winning.
Roll containers are proving the most efficient method of distributing goods in the supply chain, according to Bekaert Handling. In recent months the company reports that it has seen the use of roll containers rise sharply throughout a variety of different industries. The company claims that it is unique in offering a complete bespoke design capability, developing innovative solutions to storage and handling problems.
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