As a founding member of the recently-launched Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. has turned its attention to the human and environmental issues related to the growth, harvesting and use of natural rubber. Its position has now been set out in the company’s ‘Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy.’
At the Board of Directors meeting held at its headquarters in Brussels yesterday, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association welcomed Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) as its newest member. SRI, whose affiliate subsidiary Falken Tyre Europe will be the association’s direct point of contact, will be counted as a member as of January 2019.
An additional investment is being made in the Sumitomo Rubber do Brasil factory in Fazenda Rio Grande, Brazil, which is scheduled to begin producing truck and bus tyres next March. This investment of BRL 153 million (£28.7 million, US$37.6 million) builds upon the BRL 312 million investment Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) announced in July 2016 for setting up bus and truck tyre production equipment in Fazenda Rio Grande. The extra investment will double the original starting capacity of 500 truck and bus tyres a day – SRI now plans for a daily capacity of 1,000 truck and bus tyres by October 2019.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries has begun supplying its Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S to Subaru Corporation as an original equipment tyre for its new Forester, which goes on sale this autumn. The Forester will be available with a factory-fitted size 225/55R18 98H version of the Ziex ZE001 A/S in North American and Chinese markets.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI), manufacturer of the Falken tyre brand as well as the Dunlop tyre brand for Japan and several other markets, has entered into a sponsorship agreement for the Australian Open. The agreement with Tennis Australia sees SRI become official supplier of tennis balls for the Australian Open starting in 2019, and official supplier for the Emirates Australian Open Series. As such, SRI is the first Japanese company to become an official ball supplier for a Grand Slam tournament.
China’s largest tyre manufacturer, Zhongce Rubber, has entered the global top ten, research published today by Tyrepress shows. Best known in Europe for its Westlake brand, the company has pushed up in the rankings past Giti Tire – manufacturer of GT Radial – which did not supply 2017 figures before the deadline, Toyo Tires, and Cooper Tire & Rubber, which fell three places. Competition in the lower quarter of the top ten places is fierce, with turnovers for tyres between 2.4 billion euros (Cooper in 13th) and 3.2 billion euros (Maxxis in ninth).
Production of truck and bus tyres began at the Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. factory in Ladysmith, South Africa on 19 July. The tyre maker invested 970 million rand (£55.8 million) to add commercial tyre capacity to the plant, thereby ending Sumitomo Rubber South Africa’s reliance upon imports to satisfy demand for its truck and bus tyres in Africa.
With a new 30,000 square metre facility, Sumitomo Rubber Europe GmbH and Dunlop Tech GmbH now have the capability to develop and test tyres, produce liquid latex and design tyre pressure monitoring systems. Following the start of operations in May, their ‘European Development Centre’ in Hanau-Steinheim, Germany officially opened yesterday.
Falken has produced a new video showcasing the 2018 ADAC Zurich 24h-Race at the Nürburgring. The video aims to give motorsport fans a sense of the challenges its Falken Motorsports team faced during the event. Read the full article to view the video.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ Falken brand has reached new levels of performance over the past few years, evinced by its latest range of high performance car tyres picking up magazine test plaudits against premium brand competition.
An award-winning AA accredited automotive centre in Cheadle, Staffordshire and Falken Tyres specialist dealer, AA Silencers has hosted an official UK visit from sixth largest global tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd (SRI), parent company of Falken. The SRI delegation visited the centre as part of an official UK trip with Micheldever Tyre Services. The visit included a tour of their premises, a meet and greet with staff, and the opportunity to discuss the impact the Falken brand has had upon AA Silencers business and their growing customer base.
After almost eight years, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) has won the lawsuit it filed against Italian manufacturer TEK Automotive S.r.l. concerning the infringement of SRI’s patents on emergency tyre puncture repair kit technology.
At a ceremony attended by Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Dr Miro Cerar, and other national and local dignitaries, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (SRI) broke ground on 17 May at its newest site. The plant project in Logatec, Slovenia focuses on non-tyre production, specifically the manufacture of rubber parts for medical applications, and builds upon the company’s acquisition of Lonstroff AG in 2015.
Falken Tyre will launch three new tyre models for three distinct applications from its stand (Hall 7, Area A) at The Tire Cologne (29 May – 1 June). The new tyres are the Euroall Season AS210 car tyre, the Euroall Season VAN11 for light trucks and vans, and the Wildpeak M/T01 4×4 tyre for off-road use.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) has finalised its motorsports schedule for 2018, and plans for this year will see it continue supplying its Falken and Dunlop brand tyres to various two-wheel and four-wheel race categories.
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