Tyres & Accessories has heard talk of Kumho investing in a European tyre production plant for almost two years. A year ago, reports surfaced publicly sharpening the focus on what Kumho is planning to do. Now, in mid-April 2025, executives have once again released details that both confirm the seriousness of the company’s investment plans but also reveal one or two changes in strategy along the way.
Can energy-efficient summer tyres still deliver excellent grip in wet and dry conditions? That’s the question Poland’s Motor magazine set out to answer in its latest comparative tyre test. The publication focused on 205/55 R16, a size popular among compact and mid-size vehicles like the VW Golf, Ford Focus, Vauxhall/Opel Astra, Audi A3, and even electric models such as the Nissan Leaf.
Polish tyre recycling specialist Recykl has achieved a milestone with the signing of its first international M&A transaction. The deal sees the company acquire a 100 per cent shareholding in Lithuania’s UAB Antrinio perdirbimo grupė (APG), which with an annual volume of 20,000 tonnes is the largest used tyre collector and processor in the Baltic States region. APG operates under the name Tirebee Recycling.
Polish waste tyre recycler Recykl Group says it increased the scale of its operations in the nine months to 30 September 2024, and during the final month of this period concluded due diligence processes regarding potential acquisitions in Germany and Lithuania. The company is currently analysing the results to prepare for possible transaction agreements, with Recykl’s Management Board anticipating reaching a decision by the end of the year.
Retreading operations at the Bandag facility in Lanklaar, Belgium will cease in the coming months. In a statement issued today, Bandag Europe NV announced its intention to close the retreading plant, most likely in the first half of 2025. The company stresses that it has “no other option than to take structural measures” such as this in response to the “significant decrease” in the European retreading market over the past ten years, a trend that has resulted in production overcapacity and uncompetitive production costs.
Polish firm Contec, developer of the proprietary ‘Molten’ pyrolysis process for recovering carbon black, oil and steel from end-of-life tyres, has appointed Dominika Żelazek to the position of CFO. Referring to this “strategic move” that underscores the company’s “commitment to innovation and sustainable growth,” Contec says Żelazek comes on board at a time when it is preparing for “international expansion and fundraising efforts.”
Specialty chemicals producer Orion S.A. is installing multiple tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) tanks at its plant in Jaslo, Poland. The company states that this installation is its “latest move toward boosting production of circular carbon black.”
Michelin recently confirmed plans to end truck tyre production at its Olsztyn factory in Poland and in Shenyang, China, as well as the shutdown of a semi-finished products metal reinforcement operation in Shanghai, China. Parallel to these planned closures, the company intends to invest in passenger car tyre capacities. In addition to expanding car tyre production at its Shanghai plant, Michelin says it will grow passenger car tyre capacities in both Olsztyn and Shenyang.
Michelin is set to transfer the truck tyre production capacity it currently operates at its Olsztyn, Poland factory to Romania. Currently, 430 people work in the Olsztyn, Poland factory truck tyre production operation.
Polish tyre wholesaler Latex and its subsidiary Hurtopony have taken on distribution of the Goodyear Farm Tire range. The four main centres in Ruda Slaska, Opole, Bydgoszcz and Sosnowiec will supply tyres to the Latex national network.
Polish end-of-life-tyre (ELT) recycler ReOil is increasing its pyrolysis activities in Bukowno and has contracted Zeppelin Systems to build a second plant there. Construction is scheduled to start in February 2024 and when completed the new plant will treble plant capacity at the 11-hectare (27-acre) site to around 60,000 tonnes of ELTs annually. Zeppelin Systems intends to provide solutions it can later offer as part of license arrangements.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company estimates that fire damage to its manufacturing facility in Dębica, Poland will reduce sales by up to US$40 million and lower operating income by as much as $30 million. After resuming production two days after the blaze of 20 August 2023, production has slowly risen from around 55% of capacity to approximately 70% by the end of September. Goodyear does not expect a full ramp-up of production until Q4 2024 due to the lead time to replace damaged equipment.
Giti-sponsored Truck Team Holten’s modified Mercedes 1622 800HP finished in fourth place in the Rallye Breslau while completing its fourth consecutive year on a set of Giti tyres. The Netherlands-based team entered two vehicles in the Cross Country Trucks category, with the Mercedes team recording five top three finishes in a field of 10 while the Scania 4×4 630 started well, completing the prologue and the first two legs before having to withdraw with significant engine damage. Both vehicles fit the Giti GAO897 mixed service tyre in size 14.00R20. The tyre is designed to work across a wide range of air pressures to optimise performance in different conditions and in temperatures ranging from 55˚C to a minimum of -40˚C.
The car tyre production hall at Goodyear’s Debica factory in Poland caught fire late on 20 August. According to multiple local news sources, more than 20 fire engines attended the scene before midnight and no injuries were reported. Official statements issued by the tyremaker suggest the company’s truck tyre production area remained unaffected and that some passenger car tyre production resumed on 22 August.
Nordic private equity investor Norvestor has acquired a majority stake of Scandinavia and Poland based truck tyre distributor Colmec Group. The company was founded in the 1960s by the Eckerström family, which previously led the company. Peter Eckerström, who stepped down as CEO in early 2022, and the family will remain as minority shareholders after the company’s leadership opted to bring in the new majority owner to lead the company into a new development phase.
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