Bridgestone puts $300M price tag on relocated Shenyang plant
Further details of the new factory Bridgestone will build in China to replace its Shenyang plant have been announced, including the tripling of investment plans.
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Toyo management changes scheduled for 28 March
NewsJapanese manufacturer Toyo Tire & Rubber state that the appointment of Kenji Nakakura’s appointment as its new chairman and representative director and Akira Nobuki’s appointment as president, CEO and representative director will take effect on 28 March 2013. On that same date, numerous other personnel changes will occur; including those listed below.
Road traffic volume down slightly in 2012
NewsThe Department for Transport has released statistics relating to road traffic in Great Britain in the fourth quarter of last year and for 2012 as a whole. Over the year, the volume of all motor vehicle traffic fell by 0.4 per cent to 302.6 billion vehicle miles. Cars accounted for 79.4 per cent of all motor vehicle traffic, which is broadly the same proportion as in recent years.
VMI introduces Cortexx control portal
NewsIn addition to launching its FLEXX Belt Maker at this week’s Tire Technology Expo – for which it won the show’s ‘Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year’ award – VMI introduced its new tyre production equipment control portal. Called Cortexx, the new control portal is said to be a user-friendly system that employs the same look-and-feel for user interfaces across all machines, making it easier for operators and maintenance technicians to work across several pieces of equipment.
Pirelli to increase ‘rice silica’ use in Brazil
NewsPirelli says it is “going greener” with rice husks. In 2012, the Italian company stated it had investigated the properties of silica produced from rice husks and was calculating the carbon footprint for this product; now on its company Facebook page, the tyre maker refers to a text published by The Economist, which reports that rice husk-derived silica could provide a third of Pirelli’s silica requirements in Brazil within the next two years.
Bridgestone to boost mining tyre output in US
NewsAccording to US media reports, Bridgestone Americas intends to increase production of giant mining tyres. Bloomington, Illinois-based newspaper the Pantagraph writes that the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations factory in the jauntily-named town of Normal will benefit from two expansion projects; these will increase production by around 30 per cent and increase the factory’s workforce by more than 80 employees.
Birla shuts factory until year’s end
NewsThe Indo-Asia News Service reports that sluggish market conditions have prompted India’s Birla Tyres to temporarily stop operations at its Orissa state factory. The plant will remain closed until 31 December, an anonymous senior plant official told IANS. He added that Birla has stocks of almost 100,000 tyres that it is unable to sell. The company has reportedly stopped production for at least one week in every month since May due to low demand.
Pirelli to invest 105 million euros in Slatina, Romania plant
International News, NewsPirelli will invest 105 million euros in its Romanian plant over the next five years, the manufacturer has announced. The investment, which is supported by around 35 million euros of state aid, is designed to increase the size of the factory – from 180,000sqm to 200,000sqm – the number of employees by 500 to 3,500 in total, and its capacity. Initial estimates say the company plans to raise the current production figure of 8.5 million tyres per year to 10 million at the end of 2013 and 13 million by the end of 2017.
176 redundancies at taxi firm
NewsFollowing the London taxi manufacturer Manganese Bronze being put into Administration, the Administrators have made 176 staff redundant. Matthew Hammond, joint administrator and PwC partner, said:
"Regretfully, without financial support to overcome the Group's operational issues we have had to make staff redundancies. While the steering box recall remains, there is a voluntary suspension on vehicle sales, and we are now concentrating all resources on testing the solution to the steering fault. We have retained sufficient numbers of staff across the dealership, head office and production network to address the operational, technical and financial circumstances that the business faces."
Kortokrax named Cooper manufacturing VP
Career TracksPhil Kortokrax has been appointed vice president of manufacturing for North American tyre operations at Cooper Tire. Kortokrax joined Cooper more than 20 years ago, beginning in Information Technology and moving into manufacturing leadership roles at the company's Findlay plant. In 2000, he returned to Cooper corporate offices as manager, and then director, of internal auditing. Five years later, Kortokrax became general manager of Max-Trac Tyre Co. Inc. (Mickey Thompson), a subsidiary of Cooper. In 2008, he returned once again to Cooper's corporate offices as VP of dealer channel sales.
First phase of BKT’s Bhuj plant commissioned
NewsIndia’s Hindu Business Line reports that the first phase of Balkrishna Industries’ new Bhuj facility has been commissioned and production at the site has begun. First phase capacity is 25,000 tonnes, with approximately 60 per cent of total capacity dedicated to the manufacture of radials. When in full production it will have a capacity of 120,000 tonnes. The company will boast a total annual capacity of 270,000 tonnes when the project is ready in 2015.
Production starts at Michelin’s expanded Lexington plant
NewsMichelin North America reports that tyre manufacture on it Lexington passenger and light truck plant’s expanded production line began on 12 October, marking a key milestone in the completion of a US$200 million investment. Once fully implemented, this investment will add 270 workers to the Lexington plant.
Employees fear Goodyear plant slowdown means layoffs
NewsGoodyear is reducing production at its Fayetteville plant in the US for the second time in three months, reports Tire Review. The decision to decrease production is describes as a measure to “align production with inventory” in the slow North American tyre market.
Pirelli factory running again
News, UK NewsPirelli’s Carlisle passenger car and 4×4 tyre factory is back up and running again after managers halted production following the death of an employee. The BBC has named the deceased as George Falder, 48, from Carlisle, who was found dead at his work station on Sunday, according to the company.
Pirelli ‘deeply saddened’ following Carlisle fatality
News, UK NewsFollowing reports of a death at Pirelli’s Carlisle passenger car and 4×4 tyre production facility, the manufacturer has issued a statement confirming that a worker had been found dead in the factory. It also communicated how the company is “deeply saddened” to announce the news of the fatality and confirms that work at the factory has been suspended to “facilitate the investigation.”
