Retread Pioneer George Edwards Dies
(Akron/Tire Review) George Edwards, one of the founders of the former American Retreaders Association whose efforts on behalf of U.S. retreaders earned him induction into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame, has died.
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Trelleborg acquires Gummiteknik GTM AB
Product NewsThrough its Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area, Trelleborg has signed an agreement to acquire Swedish company Gummiteknik GTM AB, with approximately 30 employees and annual sales of about £2.6 million. Gummiteknik is privately owned and is based in Bålsta, on the outskirts of Stockholm.
Trelleborg Begins Consultations on UK Plant Closure
Product NewsAs part of the strategic and operational action program Trelleborg announced at their Capital Markets Day in November 2006, the company plans to initiate consultations with their Employee Consultative Committee regarding the closure and transfer of Trelleborg’s operations from West Thurrock, in the UK.
Lights….Camera….Tyres
Product NewsPirelli have made a second foray into the world of filmmaking with their new short film ‘Mission Zero.’ The ten-minute film, whose debut screening recently took place in New York, stars Uma Thurman as the target of relentless assassins who are determined to kill her for apparently no reason.
Hankook Reportedly Ahead of Schedule with Hungarian Plant
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) South Korean tiremaker Hankook Ltd. said it may be able to complete the first phase of the construction of its new 92,000-square metre plant in Dunaújváros, Hungary, by the end of March. The majority of the workforce has already been hired, and training has begun, Hankook said.
Reprieve for DuPont Factory
Product NewsAutomotive component and sealant manufacturer Dupont Performance Elastomers will reportedly retain their Rubbertown factory in Louisville, Kentucky until the end of the year. The company previously announced the facility would close by the end of March.
Goodyear Plant Managers Swap Posts
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear has swapped managers at two of its tire plants.
Todd Turner, formerly production director at the company’s Americana, Brazil, tire plant, has taken over as plant manager at its Union City, Tenn., plant. Union City plant manager Jim Davis has taken the reins at Goodyear’s Gadsden, Ala., tire plant.
Michelin to Close Nigerian Factory
International News, Product NewsMichelin has announced that it is ceasing tyre production at its factory in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The tyremaker informed the Nigerian government of its decision on January 16 and, according to Michelin, both parties have agreed to work together to find a buyer.
Michelin OE for Russian Market Focus
Product NewsMichelin has signed the first OE deal for its Davydovo plant near Moscow. The plant, which opened in the summer of 2004, will produce two sizes of tyre as original equipment for models of the Ford Focus built in Ford’s Vsevolozhsk factory near St Petersburg.
Giti To Boost Production Capacity
Product NewsGiti Tire (China) Investment Co. Ltd, China’s largest tyremaker, has voiced its intention to raise tyre production capacity at its Hualin factory. The company intends to boost annual capacity there by a further 4.6 million tyres from its current 3.4 million by the end of 2008.
Giti Tire operates six factories in Mainland China, the largest of these being in Anhui and Fujian provinces. The company recently announced plans to sell bonds in order to free up revenue for capital expenditure.
Goodyear Plans to Sell Park Area
Product News(Akron/Tire Review) The Akron Beacon Journal reported that Goodyear has put its Wingfoot Lake park near Akron up for sale. The area includes a 522-acre lake and 150-acre recreational park in Suffield Township, Ohio.
CEO Outlines Kumho Plans
Career TracksKumho Tire USA’s annual dealer meeting is currently underway in Cancun, Mexico, and new CEO B.K. Kim has used the event as an opportunity to unveil the company’s aspirations for the coming years.
According to media sources, Mr. Kim announced Kumho’s plans to open three new production facilities during the next few years, and with this increased production base the company is aiming for an output of more than 76 million tyres by 2010. Anticipated output for 2007 is 52 million units.
Double Coin, Navistar Sign OE Deal
Product NewsHeavy vehicle manufacturer Navistar International Corp. has approved the fitment of Double Coin radial tyres as original equipment on a selected range of International Truck vehicles and IC Corp. school buses.
International has been, like many manufacturers and fleet owners, affected by global truck tyre shortages. Tom Akers, the company’s vice president of purchasing and logistics, has reportedly said they are pleased to have entered into an agreement with a tyre manufacturer who can “meet International’s production needs and strict quality standards at an affordable cost.”
Goodyear to Close Canadian Plant
Product NewsThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced its intention to discontinue the production of tyres at its facility in Quebec, Canada and transfer operations to a materials mixing centre. The changeover will take place by the end of the second quarter of 2007.
This decision comes as part of Goodyear’s global strategy of cost reduction, and will see a net job reduction of 800 hourly and salaried staff. The current plant in Valleyfield, Quebec employs approximately 1,000 persons.
Kumho Announces a Greener Tyre
Product NewsKorea’s Kumho Tires has announced a tyremaking first, namely that it has developed products that incorporate a new environmentally friendly material known as Lyocell. Kumho will use the material in the production of tyre cord for ultra-high performance products, and the company claims that the use of Lyocell can mimimise the production of hazardous materials during the manufacturing process.
