ZC Rubber, Bekaert sign strategic cooperation agreement
ZC Rubber has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Bekaert, the global top steel cord supplier. The new arrangement will focus on the development of steel cord on green tyre.
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.
Tag Archive for: Manufacturing
Premium tyremakers continue to lead global top 20
Global premium tyremakers continue to lead Tyres & Accessories annual ranking of the leading tyre manufacturers. Owing to the fact that all five of the top five firms have remained stable in their positions, it is difficult to view the chart very differently. Indeed, stability is the order of the day on this year’s table, with 12 of the 20 keep the same positions as last year.
Cooper Tire Tupelo, Clarksdale plants gain environmental quality recognition
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has recognised Cooper Tire’s Tupelo and Clarksdale, Mississippi plants as members of its environmental stewardship enHance initiative. A voluntary programme consisting of three-year membership terms, the enHance initiative, which stands for “envision heightened awareness nurturing conservation and environmental excellence,” recognises committed environmental leaders in Mississippi that put in place environmental initiatives beyond those that are required.
ZC Rubber Thailand adds two-wheel production line
ZC Rubber Thailand has added a new production line for motorcycle tyres to support the market in Southeast Asian market. The manufacturer also launched its first bias industrial tyre.
Apollo Tyres opens €475 million greenfield Hungarian plant
The opening of Apollo Tyres’ Gyöngyöshalász plant, 100km east of Budapest, marks a significant event for both the company’s global aspirations and the Indian tyre industry – the 72 hectare greenfield factory, begun in April 2015, is the first inaugurated by an Indian tyre company to come online outside the domestic market. The importance was reflected in the event itself, with some of the plant’s cavernous warehousing housing around 1,300 guests, among whose number was the prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, who declared Apollo’s sixth global tyre manufacturing plant – its second in Europe after the existing Netherlands facility acquired alongside Vredestein – open on 7 April.
Re-globalisation of the international tyre market?
In the last few weeks, Apollo has initiated production at its new Hungary tyre factory and launched a brand new European truck tyre range (see Company News section pages 32 – 24); Doublestar has confirmed that it is the only remaining bidder in the race for 42 per cent of Kumho Tire (see pages 36 – 37); and as we went to press, Finnish tyre maker Nokian announced that it will build its third production plant, this time in the USA. All this points to what we might call a re-globalisation trend. Rather than businesses from the large so-called developed nations expanding around the globe, this second wave of international expansion sees the roles reversing to some extent. While before the Western nations were looking to invest in fast-growing “emerging” economies, now the proverbial shoe is on the other foot and large companies in what used to be called the BRIC nations are investing in more developed tyre markets.
Nokian to invest $360 million in new US tyre factory
Nokian Tyres’ board of directors has authorized its management to sign a letter of intent with the respective authorities to build a new tyre manufacturing facility in America. The new greenfield factory will be located in Dayton (Rhea County), Tennessee, USA. It will concentrate on the production of passenger, SUV and light truck tyres that are sold exclusively or primarily in the North American market. The annual capacity of the factory will be 4 million tyres with an expansion potential in the future. About 400 people are expected to be employed.
Tyre cord and fabric market size to reach US$6.40 billion by 2024
The tyre cord and fabric market will be worth over U$6 billion by 2024 on the back of robust growth in the automotive industry is the growth driver in the global tyre cord and tyre fabrics market size, according to a new report published by Global Market Insights. The US, India, Japan, China and South Korea are the prominent countries for the automotive sector and account more than 50 per cent of the global commercial and personal vehicle production in 2015. Growing middle class population along with rising consumer per capita disposable income in China and India will complement the automotive business growth by 2024.
Hexpol buys Valley Processing for $44 million
Just three days after buying Trelleborg’s Czech compounding operation, on 3 April Hexpol announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the business of Valley Processing from Ted Ballou and his family. The acquisition price amounts to approximately US$44 million on a cash and debt free basis. There will also be an additional product transfer fee, which will be paid later.
Hexpol buys Trelleborg’s Czech compounding unit for 65 million euros
Hexpol has today acquired 100 per cent of Trelleborg Material & Mixing Lesina s.r.o from the Trelleborg Group. The divested operation develops, produces and supplies polymer compounds. The majority of its sales are to external customers and a minor share to a small number of Trelleborg facilities in Europe.
VMI appoints Dr Edward Holweg as COO
Prof Dr Edward Holweg will be appointed as the new COO of VMI Group effective 1 April 2017. Dr Holweg succeeds Guido Roncken MBA, who held this position for over 10 years.
Avon increases Cobra tyre production
Avon Tyres has increase production its Cobra motorcycle tyre in response to the successful launch of the new Triumph Bonneville Bobber.
The Cobra tyre is the OE fitment on every Bobber that rolls off the production line, with the bespoke front and rear tyres specially designed for this premium custom bike.
Chem-Trend expands in Eastern Europe
Chem-Trend, the release agent manufacturer, has acquired the release agent business of its long-time distribution partner in Romania, Rubio Trading & Consulting SRL. As part of a planned growth strategy in Eastern Europe, Chem-Trend Romania SRL has been established through the acquisition. Chem-Trend Romania will continue to support the local market in the existing industries of polyurethane and rubber moulding, thermoplastics processing, die casting and tyre manufacturing.
Cimcorp appoints new leadership
Major organizational changes have been announced by Cimcorp. the robotic gantry-based and tire-handling solutions supplier. Three senior executives have been appointed to Cimcorp’s Group Executive Management, two sales units have been merged and a more highly integrated software department has been formed. Masatoshi Wakabayashi, CEO, Cimcorp, says, “The changes have been made in response to […]
Mesnac and Rockwell partner in “smart” tyre manufacturing cooperation
On 22 February Mesnac signed a strategic agreement with Rockwell Automation in Beijing. Yu Mingjin, vice president of Mesnac, and Bob Buttermore, managing director of Rockwell Automation Greater China, signed the agreement on behalf of the two respective companies.
