Nexen Tire is releasing 9 new sizes to its UHP lineup in the company’s N7000 and N3000 treads.
The new sizes are as follows:
N7000
275/30ZR20
275/35ZR20
255/30ZR24
N3000
225/30ZR20
275/30ZR20
285/30ZR20
245/40ZR20
255/30ZR24
275/25ZR24
Reports say that Nexen Tire America Inc. will increases prices on all of its tyre lines by 7 per cent, effective April 1. Nexen raised prices in January, adding 2 per cent to 7 per cent on its consumer tyre lines. (Tire Review/Akron)
The first images of the new Nexen factory in China, which started production at the end of 2007, have now been revealed. According to company representatives, the new plant is one of the largest single tyre factories in China and follows a commitment by Nexen to invest £87 million ($170m) over three years including the construction of a new R&D centre which is now underway. State of the art technology has been selected for the new plant, which is designed to increased productivity through improved workflow.
South Korea’s Nexen Tire plans to open an engineering research and development facility in northeast Ohio, most likely somewhere in the Akron area. The company has hired veteran engineers George Kamvouris and Gary Zolton to start the facility. Kamvouris was most recently with Continental Tire North America, while Zolton comes to Nexen from Denman Tire Corp.
In 2007, Nexen Tire America opened distribution centres in Atlanta, Chicago and Little Ferry, New Jersey, in addition to its existing facility in southern California. The tyremaker also began production at a second plant in Qingdao, China, with planned capacity of 6 million tyres by 2010. The company is considering sites in Ohio, but has not finalised a location. (Tire Review/Akron)
As the 2007 drifting season comes to a close, Korean tyre manufacturer, Nexen Tire Corporation, have confirmed that they will enter the 2008 drifting market as a partner to Europe’s leading drift series, Prodrift. Recently, at a sponsorship signing ceremony held at Mondello Park Circuit outside Dublin, General Manager for Nexen Tyre London Bong-Wan Lee and General Manager of Nexen Tyre Europe John Bosco Kim met with members of Prodrift management and the drivers of the 2008 Team Nexen to confirm the details of this exciting 2008 drift programme. “We are pleased to sponsor Team Nexen for the Prodrift 2008 series. As becoming a global motor sport brand, we have no doubt that Prodrift would perform an excellent and exciting drift series in 2008”, said John Bosco Kim, General Manager of Nexen Tyre Europe.
(Tire Review/Akron) Due to increases in raw materials and freight cost, Nexen Tire America said it will increase its prices as of January 1, 2008. Prices on Nexen’s passenger, performance and light truck/SUV tyres will increase by 2 to 7 per cent, depending on the line.
Speaking to Tyres & Accessories, Korean manufacturer Nexen has confirmed that the first phase of building work on its £87 million ($170 million) factory has been completed and the first tyres are due to roll off the production line in December 2007. Initially the plant will produce 2 million units per annum and will reach full production capacity by 2009. Construction of the company’s new R&D centre is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2008.
The chairman of Nexen Tire Corporation, Mr. Byung Joong Kang, has presented Stapleton’s commercial director Peter Allen with a commemorative plaque to congratulate the tyre wholesaler on its 70th anniversary year. Speaking at the presentation, Mr Byung Joong Kang said: “We wanted to mark this special anniversary by presenting a plaque to Stapleton’s in appreciation of the years of its dedicated efforts and outstanding accomplishments in promoting the Nexen brand in the UK Market.
“Since the beginning of our commercial relationship, Nexen Tire Corporation has been extremely proud of working with Stapleton’s and we consider the company to be one of the leading and most creative partners in the tyre business.”
As one of the UK’s largest wholesale distributors of passenger car tyres, Stapleton’s understands the needs of the fast moving tyre retail market and is committed to ensuring customers have a wholesaler they can rely on.
Nexen has unveiled visual plans for its China factory currently under construction and due to be up and running by the end of 2007. The new plant will be one of the largest single tyre factories in China and follows a commitment by Nexen to invest £87 million ($170 million) over three years including the construction of a new R&D centre in China at the beginning of 2008. The visual plans of the new Nexen plant also highlight additional employee facilities including a cafeteria and recreational area.
Chairman of Nexen Tire Corporation Byung Jung Kang, said: “The new plant in China will allow Nexen to improve availability and continue to increase the company’s international growth.”
At Autopromotec, Nexen Tire was showing examples of its extensive range of UHP, SUV and winter tyres. One of the company’s latest products is the N6000, which is an ultra high performance summer tyre, designed for drivers of sports cars and sporty coupes, who enjoy the performance of their vehicles. The N6000 will eventually be available in 15 Y- and W-speed rated sizes, for rims from 15″ to 20″ and with aspect ratios from 55 series down to a very low profile 35 series.
Nexen says that an ultra high performance tread compound gives excellent dry traction, while the directional tread design, with its four, wide, straight channels and lateral grooves, provides good wet performance and aquaplaning resistance. Another recent introduction is the H- and V-rated Roadian HP range of tyres for SUVs. Available in 18 sizes, from 65 series to 30 series aspect ratios and rims up to 22″, the Roadian range combines a silica tread compound with a directional tread pattern to provide high performance tyre qualities to luxury SUV drivers.
Nexen tyres have been chosen as the competition tyres for two of Europe’s leading drifters Eric O’Sullivan and Martin French. The first Prodrift meeting of the series took place in Ireland at the end of April and Eric O’Sullivan achieved first position. After the race, Eric said: “The Nexen 3000 definitely aided the car’s performance and played an important role in the win. The grip from the tyres was so good that on the final lap the speed recorded as I entered the first corner was 86mph.”
Stapleton’s has announced it is restructuring its management team giving current wholesale director Steve Parker a new role. With 20 years service at Stapleton’s, Steve has an outstanding understanding of the needs of the company’s customers as well as knowledge of products available and the UK tyre market as a whole. In his current role, Steve has instigated many improvements to the company including the introduction of Prestivo, Stapleton’s own brand tyre range, and dealer partnership schemes for both Prestivo and Nexen brands.
Nexen Tire Corporation has announced it will invest some £87 million ($170 million) over three years in the construction of its new Qingdao plant. The new production line will be up and running by the end of 2007, increasing production levels for customers signed up to UK exclusive distributor Stapleton’s Nexen Key Dealer Programme. The company is also planning to construct a new R&D centre in China at the beginning of next year, meaning customers can look forward to the launch of new products and an improved range.
Located in Laixi City, Qingdao, China, Nexen Tire Corporation’s new production facility will produce tyres for the American, European and Chinese markets and form part of the company’s strategy to become one of the top 10 tyre manufacturers in the world.
The production line will be running at full capacity by 2009 when it will produce more than 2.25 million tyres a year. Combined with Nexen’s production capacity in Korea, the company will be producing a total of more than 22 million tyres a year. Nexen expects the plant to be among the largest in China, covering around 5.7 million square feet.
The Nexen Key Dealer Programme, introduced at the beginning of the year by Stapleton’s is being well received by tyre retailers. Steve Parker, Stapleton’s trading director says: “We are delighted that the scheme is proving to be such a success but are happy to admit that it has not come as a surprise. The programme is our way of rewarding and supporting those customers who consistently support the Nexen brand and in return for committing to purchase from Stapleton’s, customers can enjoy a number of attractive benefits that really support their businesses.”
Members of the scheme benefit from a personalised reward programme which includes preferential purchasing prices, in store support in the form of leaflets and posters, branded merchandise and lifetime guarantees on products. Each member also receives a dealer reference catalogue.
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