Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has held an official opening ceremony for the group’s new tyre factory in Cankiri, Turkey, named Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (SAT). The Falken brand manufacturer will use the new facility to supply both the local Turkish market, which is benefitting from the country’s steady economic growth, and the geographically adjacent EMEA regions.
USA-based Sumitomo Rubber Industries subsidiary Falken Tire Corporation has entered into a multi-year marketing agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB). This partnership is Falken Tire Corporation’s first deal with a professional sports league; for the past 30 years it has focused on motorsports marketing.
A number of tyre makers have recently shown interest in Taraxicum kok-saghya (TKS), or Russian dandelion, as an alternative source of natural rubber – one manufacturer is even looking to launch tyres containing this raw material within the next five to ten years. Now Sumitomo Rubber Industries has added its name to the list of tyre firms examining the potential of TKS as a replacement for rubber from the Hevea tree; the Japanese manufacturer has commenced joint research with emerging US-based biotech company Kultevat and is working to find practical applications for natural rubber derived from the yellow-flowered plant.
On 1 July, Stephan Cimbal took over as Falken Tyre’s head of marketing for the European region. He reports to Markus Bögner, marketing director Europe at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH.
Singapore-based Stamford Tyres Corporation Limited recently celebrated its 40th anniversary of partnership with Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI).
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is to pay Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) US$271 million to end its global joint venture with the Japanese firm. Goodyear expects to increase annual income as a result of the deal, while SRI will take on expanded use of the Dunlop name around the world. This largely means Russia, Africa and Asia, but not Europe.
The reasoning behind the dissolution? According to SRI, the North American and European joint ventures did not perform as initially expected. Furthermore there was decreasing technology exchange between the two companies – all of which led both parties to “dissolve the alliance in a constructive manner”. This led to the arbitration filing and subsequent dissolution talks in January and February 2014 respectively.
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