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.
Russian tyre manufacturer Nizhnekamskshina has is broken through the 2 million all-steel radial truck Tyre barrier at its Nizhnekamsk factory. Nizhnekamskshina commissioned the factory in 2011 after a two-year, $575 million construction project, according to online news reports.
The pace of Toyota’s worldwide hybrid vehicle sales continues to accelerate with a further million units added in just nine months, taking the cumulative total through the seven-million mark.
Toyota’s hybrid range continues to grow, with 28 different passenger car models (including the Prius Plug-in hybrid) currently sold in more than 90 countries and regions. The new model strategy for 2014-2015 features 15 new hybrids, including in the UK the new Lexus NX 300h crossover and RC 300h coupe. In the future more new models and markets will be added.
The statutory negotiations at Nokian Tyres’ Finnish factory concerning workers and staff in car tyre production, maintenance and quality departments ended on 9 October 2014. Adjustments to production capacity utilisation as well as cost savings will be achieved mainly with temporary lay-offs and transfers to new positions. In addition, a pension plan for two employees comes into effect.
Starco has opened a new solid tyre manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka. The new facility, which has a capacity of 100,000 tyres per annum, replaces the original Starco facility in the country three years after starting production, and Starco states that the success of the venture has led to the need for a larger, more modern and better equipped factory. Starco continues that much attention has been paid to employee health and safety and welfare A Sri Lankan ceremony, in which the new workplace and its employees and management were blessed according to the local Buddhist tradition, was held in September to mark the opening.
British aviation tyre manufacturer, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has identified a site in Mocksville, North Carolina as the preferred base for its first retreading facility in the United States. The world’s only specialist aircraft tyre manufacturer and retreader announced its decision to establish the facility in order to boost its competitiveness across the Americas.
Michelin North America and the municipality of the County of Kings, Nova Scotia, have agreed the sale of about 50 acres of land in Waterville to the tyre manufacturer for a reported sum of nearly $1.9 million.
Chinese tyre manufacturer Qingdao Sentury Tire has commissioned Finnish robotics company Cimcorp to deliver a new material handling solution for passenger car green tyre production. Plans are that the system will be fully operational next year, and the stated aims are to increase plant productivity and improve product quality.
It is reported that China-based Guangzhou Fengli Tyre and Rubber has started work on a project at its plant in Conghua, Guangdon Province, to install annual capacity for 10 million eco-friendly, high-performance tyres.
Hankook Tire’s Daejeon South Korea factory has suffered a fire, the company confirmed on 1 October. The fire is not expected to disrupt production since the damage is mostly to its warehouse. However a fifth of the warehouse has reportedly been lost along with some 180,000 tyres. According to local news reports, the warehouse held products destined for both domestic and overseas markets.
US-based bioscience company PanAridus recently announced granting of its ninth US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant variety patent and the first tyre quality, bale-sized shipment of its guayule-derived biorubber. The announcement was made by company CEO Mike Fraley at the recent International Tyre Exhibition and Conference in Akron.
Tyre equipment manufacturer Mesnac has acquired Fushun Yikesi New Material, a Chinese producer of synthetic rubber and resin products, for the sum of US$60 million, according to reports. The acquisition gives the company entry into the rubber raw materials side of the industry.
Rice husk waste once headed for landfills is now helping The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company produce fuel-efficient tyres. Goodyear today announced it will utilise ash left over from the burning of rice husks to produce electricity as an environmentally friendly source of silica for use in its tyres.
Apollo has confirmed Hungary as the location for its first greenfield facility outside India. The manufacturer says that Hungary was chosen having considered some of its neighbouring Central Eastern European and Asian countries. Apollo’s latest investment, which is planned to total 475m euros over the next five years, was approved by its Board of Directors today.
Following the conclusion of Citexpo 2014 on 11 September, all initial figures point to the event being the most successful in the international tyre show’s history…by some way. Indeed, with this year’s unaudited visitor total said to have been around the 11,000 mark, the 2014 show could have grown by as much as 50 per cent since the last event, which attracted just over 7,000 visitors.
The continuing success story of the MINI brand was further underlined as the British manufacturer announced the production of its three millionth car since 2001, and its two millionth international export. Relaunched in 2001 under the stewardship of the BMW Group, the MINI brand has become one of the most popular in the automotive world.
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.