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Ansteel-Bekaert JV Steel Cord Plant Opens

Last May Belgium’s Bekaert and Chinese steel producer Ansteel established a strategic partnership, and several months later set up a 50/50 joint venture called Bekaert Ansteel Tire Cord (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. Almost a year after the partnership was first announced, the companies have celebrated the official opening of their 150 million euro joint steel cord production plant in Chongqing, China.

The new facility is intended to meet rising local tyre industry demand for steel cord, and at present 130 people are employed at the site. This number, says Ansteel and Bekaert, will grow in line with market demand and the realisation of further investment phases.

8th April 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Sales Top 4 billion Euros in 2008

Bekaert, supplier of steel cord to the tyre industry, has reported consolidated 2008 sales of 2.66 billion euros and combined sales of 4.01 billion euros, and increase of 22.5 per cent and 17.3 per cent respectively. Growth in consolidated sales stemmed 17.7 per cent from organic growth, largely driven by passed on raw material price increases, and 5.8 per cent from the company’s acquisitions in Vicson (Venezuela) and in Proalco (Colombia). Fluctuations in several exchange rates largely compensated each other with a net negative impact of 1.0 per cent. Even in the fourth quarter of 2008, the economic downturn notwithstanding and compared with a strong last quarter of 2007, Bekaert posted consolidated growth of 5 per cent.

23rd February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Schwing Recommends Michelin X One

Thanks to Michelin X One tyres, concrete mixer trucks operated by Schwing-Stetter in the US can now hold an additional 560 pounds (254 kilogrammes) of concrete with each load. A single X One tyre can replace dual tyres on a commercial vehicle, thus reducing the vehicle’s overall weight.

“With Michelin X One tyres, our customers can realise a savings of more than 500 pounds of vehicle weight,” said Bill Bigot, director of Schwing America’s Mixer Division. “This will allow them to deliver more concrete on the truck, making them more productive and more profitable. Customers are thrilled with the fact they can carry that last half yard of concrete essentially for free with the use of the X One tyres and our light-weight drum.”

4th February 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Government to Turn Down Corus Wage Subsidy Request

It appears highly likely that the Government will turn down a request from steel and tyre cord manufacturer Corus for wage subsidies of up to 75 per cent to retain staff in active employment. The request here in the UK comes a month after the company made a similar request in the Netherlands.

21st January 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Trials Show Michelin X One Maxitrailer Kinder on Rural Roads

Trials held over the last year are working towards developing a tyre system that can lesson the impact of timber trailers on rural and forest roads, thus reducing the need for road maintenance. To help reach this objective, timber haulier James Jones & Sons Ltd has been working with Michelin in Scotland, operating specially adapted Dennison and SDC trailers equipped with Tireboss central tyre inflation systems and Michelin X One MaxiTrailer tyres. The use of this combination equipment, reports Michelin, increases the tyres’ footprint, and in doing so reduces soil erosion and damage to roads and forestry land.

12th December 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Comings and Goings

On May 24, 2008 tyre industry steel cord producer Bekaert and China’s Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corporation (Ansteel), one of the world’s leading steel producers, signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the terms of a close future partnership between the two companies. As part of the arrangement both firms agreed to explore strategic cooperation projects in order to better address the growing demand for advanced wire products on the Chinese market.

27th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert to Build Second Steel Cord Factory in Slovakia

Bekaert is said to be gearing up to build a second steel cord manufacturing facility in Slovakia. The plant will most likely be located in the vicinity of the existing facility, in the industrial zone outside Sladkovicovo, in the country’s southwest. According to reports, the 15 million euro project will get underway in 2009.

27th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Temporarily Closing Romanian Factories

Michelin has notified Romanian media that it will temporarily close its factories in that country until further notice in response to a greatly reduced demand for tyres. In a press release sent to national press agency Agerpres, Michelin management said that the demand for tyres in the European Union has decreased, forcing the company to “adjust production.”

25th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert and Angang Steel Establish Steel Cord Joint Venture

Belgium’s Bekaert Group and China’s Angang Steel Company are reported to have formerly established a joint venture company on October 30. Called Angang Bekaert Tire Cord Co, the new venture is situated in Chongqing’s Shuangqiao Industrial Park and will engage in wire rod processing and the production of tyre cord for the domestic market.

4th November 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Boughey Distribution Chooses Michelin

Michelin’s X One MaxiTrailer tyre has been chosen by Wardle-based Boughey Distribution to be fitted exclusively across 100 Montracon and 30 Schmitz Cargobull tri-axle trailers. The trailers are currently being delivered to the company, becoming a significant proportion of Boughey’s fleet.

Designed to deliver up to 50 per cent more mileage than standard 385/65 R 22.5 XTE2, each new 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyre benefits from Infinicoil architecture, one of the key innovations of Michelin Durable Technologies. The Infinicoil consists of a single, 400 m-long steel cord wrapped around the crown, delivering unrivalled robustness, greater longevity and very even wear. Compared to a 385/65 R 22.5, the tread band is also 120 millimetres wider and has 35 per cent more rubber in the compound, the feature which allows the tyre to claim such an advantage over the XTE2.

4th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Americas Appoints First Female Plant Manager

Bridgestone Metalpha U.S.A., Inc. (BMU), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., announced on August 11 that Donna Bright has been promoted to plant manager of the BMU radial steel cord manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee. With the promotion, effective August 16, Bright becomes the first female plant manager at any Bridgestone Americas facility.

12th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert Warns of Price Increases

Steel cord and wire manufacturer Bekaert has stated that anticipated increased raw material costs would lead to price increases for its products, including those employed in the tyre production process. These increases are expected to be implemented before the end of 2008.

Chief executive Bert de Graeve told a news conference on August 1 that “Price increases will have to be passed on to customers,”

1st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Seek Consolidation in Turkish Buyout

Pirelli has begun to negotiate the buying out of minority shareholders in its Turkish units Turk Pirelli Lastikleri – which supplies commercial and passenger car tyres – and Celikord, a steel cord manufacturer. The Italian tyre giant owns 69 per cent and 51 per cent of the companies respectively and is looking to consolidate in the growing, strategically-important Turkish market through full ownership. Pirelli has been present within the nation for 50 years.

Financial news sources report that Pirelli is yet to release a statement on the matter, or of any details of the performance of the firms subject to buyout bids.

18th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Romania 2007 Turnover up 10.8%

Michelin Romania has posted a 2007 turnover of 340 million euros, a 10.8 per cent increase over the sales of 306.8 million euros reported a year earlier. This growth rate is, however, lower than in previous years – at its peak Michelin Romania’s annual turnover surged by around 35 to 40 per cent.

24th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Start Russian Tyre Plant Negotiations

Pirelli & C. SpA and has signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations for the construction of a car, light truck and heavy truck tyre plant in Russia. The letter was sent to the Russian State Corporation for Assistance to Development, Production and Export of Advanced Technology Industrial Product (also known as Russian Technologies). The new facility will also produce steel cord tyre reinforcements and automotive filters.

Russian Technologies and Pirelli have agreed on an exclusivity period for the negotiation of the final agreements, until 30 September 2008. Upon its establishment, the two partners would jointly control the Joint Venture, while Pirelli would be responsible for the development of the business strategy and running operations of the Joint Venture, which would be carried out under the Pirelli brand name.

4th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors