Vipal’s Mexican partner opens new unit
Vipal Rubber Mexican partner Llanco recently opened its second unit in the country, in Nuevo Laredo, in the state of Tamaulipas.
Vipal Rubber Mexican partner Llanco recently opened its second unit in the country, in Nuevo Laredo, in the state of Tamaulipas.
At a ceremony held at the Mexican Embassy in Rome on Monday, the Águila Azteca (Order of the Aztec Eagle) was bestowed upon Marco Tronchetti Provera. The Pirelli executive vice-president and chief executive offer received this, the highest honour the government of Mexico grants to foreigners, for services rendered to the country.
After 52 years in the tyre industry, including 19 at Yokohama Tire Corporation, Gary Nash is retiring on 31 March. His position as president of Yokohama Tire Mexico (YTMX) has been handed over to Humberto Gomez, who began in the role on 1 January 2018.
Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) and NRGene, a genomic big data solutions company, are collaborating on research efforts to enhance the company’s US alternative domestic natural rubber breeding programme. They will be working in tandem to sequence and assemble multiple genomes of guayule, a rubber-producing plant indigenous to the hot, dry environments of the Southwestern United States and North Central Mexico, to develop new, high-yielding varieties. The first-ever, two guayule genomes have already been sequenced and completely assembled and a physical and genetic map are being developed which will provide a high level of accuracy and efficiency for breeding improvement.
Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) has become the title sponsor of the 2018 Sonora Rally. The fourth running of the popular “hardcore off-road rally” in Mexico’s Sonora desert takes place 19-24 March.
Some of the closest World Endurance Championship racing of the season was witnessed at the 6 Hours of Mexico, as Dunlop supplied the tyres to the winners of all three classes in which the brand was present. In addition all three steps on a GT class podium were claimed by Dunlop drivers for the first time since the WEC was formed in 2012.
Chinese tyre maker Shandong Linglong Tire co. Ltd. has opened new subsidiaries in Luxembourg and Mexico City. According to Linglong Tire the Mexico tyre unit, Elite Faith Mexico, S.A. DE C.V., and Luxembourg investment unit Linglong Luxembourg S.à r.l, will engage in the import and export of tyres and raw materials required for their manufacture.
Ohio-based ChemSpec, Ltd., a member of the Safic-Alcan Group family of companies, formed a subsidiary, Chemspec México, S. DE RL DE C.V., in August 2016 to serve the rapid growth of automotive manufacturing in México, specifically in the central states−often referred to as the “automotive/rubber triangle” region. ChemSpec México is strategically based in Querétaro, with additional warehousing and logistics business support in nearby Laredo, TX. 12 months on the company is celebrating its first year of success.
Dmack wants to build on 30 fastest stage times set on gravel in 2016 at the first loose-surface event of the new FIA World Rally Championship season. The new, more-powerful 2017 world rally cars have seen tyre manufacturers upgrade products to offer greater durability and performance. At the Rally Guanajuato Mexico Dmack will offer completely new tyre specifications with enhanced compounds and construction.
Mexico still plays a role in Michelin’s future plans. Following Donald Trump’s comments on cross-border import duties and Ford’s decision to scrap plans for a new US$1.6 billion factory in the country, Michelin chief executive officer Jean-Dominique Senard has given his reassurance that the tyre maker hasn’t got cold feet.
On 24 October Japanese conglomerate Marubeni announced it had purchased a large minority shareholding in Mexican tyre dealer Radial Llantas. According to the company, Marubeni has bought 49 per cent of the shares in Radial Llantas. The pricetag for the stockholding is said to be “several billion yen”, according to Wards Auto.
Brembo announced that it inaugurated its new brake plant in Escobedo, Mexico on 20 October. Completed in record time, with an investment of $36 million, the new plant will focus on the production of aluminium calipers and is intended to strengthen Brembo’s presence in North America. At the same time the company announced a plan to invest an additional $93 million to build a new foundry for cast iron discs.
Ground was broken and the first stone set in place for the new Michelin plant in Mexico at a ceremony held yesterday and attended by government dignitaries, key customers and company management. Construction of the plant in León – Michelin’s 69th factory globally and 21st in North America – is expected to begin immediately, with completion currently scheduled for late 2018.
The China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) reports that its subsidiary Pirelli “recently” held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility in Mexico. It shares that the US$360 million has been invested in the new plant so far, and by the end of 2018 the total investment figure will exceed $600 million.
According to reports from Mexico, Michelin has signed a contract to acquire land for a new passenger car and light truck tyre factory in Guanajuato state. Mexican publication ‘am’ shares that Hector Lopez Santillana, mayor of Guanajuato León municipality, has reported a sale contract has been signed for one block of land, and negotiations are currently being held over the sale of a second, 80 hectare block.
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