Thailand-based Stamford Sport Wheels (SSW) launched a new ‘euro technik’ alloy wheel line in 2013, which is exclusively manufactured for use in Europe. According to the company, SSW will be taking “a very active role at next month’s Reifen 2014” in Essen, Germany where the company will be displaying its euro technik range prominently on the Stamford Tyres stand.
The project to expand Evonik Industries’ production of precipitated silica at its facility in Thailand is complete and officially opened on 14 March. The company says it invested a ‘lower double-digit’ figure in the expansion project, and while it hasn’t indicated the new capacity at the Maptaphut (Rayong Province) site, Evonik’s global capacity for precipitated silica, fumed silica, and matting agents now stands at around 500,000 tonnes. As well as supplying the tyre and automotive industries, Evonik will ship its precipitated silica to customers in the food, animal feed and paint and coatings sectors.
The next Bangkok International Tire Expo will be held from 12 to 15 March 2014. Show organisers write that an “interesting conference programme” will be offered in addition to the classic fair trade fair. Tire Tech Industry 2014 sessions will be held between 11 and 12 March. Rubber Recycling 2014 follows on 14 March. Rubber Technology […]
As of early May, Shinichi Sato will step down as managing director of Thai Bridgestone Co., Ltd. Bridgestone Corporation has not yet named his successor. Sato will continue as president of Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, a role he has concurrently held alongside his Thai Bridgestone position since 1 July 2012.
Five weeks after its first high performance tyre was produced at the facility, Shandong Linglong Tyre Co. Ltd has inaugurated the initial phase of its ‘LLIT (Thailand) consumer tyre plant. The Chinese tyre maker’s first overseas project was opened on 22 February in the presence of approximately 500 guests from 180 countries. Upon the pressing of a ‘starting ball’ by Linglong Tyre president Wang Feng and six guests of honour, including Chinese ambassador to China Ning Fukui and Surender Singh Kandahari, president of the Al Dobowi Group, the production line stirred to life, marking the plant’s official entry into service.
Expansion work on Yokohama Rubber’s ‘TireTestCenter of Asia’ is complete. The company reported on 16 December that a ceremony marking the conclusion of related construction was held at the site on 9 October. The expansion adds four new test courses – a 2.5-kilometre dry-test course and a 1.5-kilometre wet-test course for handling tests, a skid pad and a corner hydroplaning test road. Yokohama says the proving ground expansion enables it to conduct complete tests of its tyres’ handling and vibration performance.
According to a report from market research and consulting company TechSci Research, three tyre majors account for more than 70 per cent of tyre sales in Thailand. Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear dominate a market that is expected to grow significantly in the next few years and generate revenues up to around US$17 billion by the end of 2018. However the report, titled ‘Thailand Tyre Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2018’, opines that companies such as Yokohama, Sumitomo and Continental tyres are providing these three with “tough competition”.
According to news reported by the Bangkok Post today, Yokohama Rubber intends to double capacity at its Rayong factory in Thailand; the stated reason for this increase is to equip the country as a base from where the ASEAN region can be supplied.
Maxxis International has announced Priorslee Motor Services in Telford as its 2013 winner of the Maxxis Extra Mile competition. Priorslee Motor Services were chosen as this year’s ‘Wildcard’ winners after hosting a family open day in conjunction with Maxxis and in aid of Severn Hospice, which UK managing director, Derek McMartin described as “a brilliant way of promoting the Maxxis brand.”
Natural rubber production in the region represented by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries – Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam – is expected to rise 3.0 per cent this year to 10.645 million tonnes.
Vredestein has been rewarded for its Ultrac Vorti tyre introduction film at the 4th Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, one of the world’s most important awards competitions honouring excellence in the corporate audio-visual industry. Apollo Tyres’ film comprised a music video shot with a Google 360 degrees camera, exclusive composed music and a game available in the Apple store with Facebook integration.
Six Michelin suppliers have been awarded for their “exceptional contribution” in 2011 and 2012. At an awards ceremony held on 25 September, the French firm saluted these companies’ contribution towards its growth and development, a contribution they said to be with a respect for Michelin’s values.
Myanmar’s automotive market is likely to grow to 95,300 units by 2010, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8 per cent (2013-2019). That’s the view of researchers at Frost & Sullivan who suggest that this will be driven by a growing economy, infrastructure development and increasing income as well as better integration with ASEAN nations. Their view is that real growth however is likely to start only after 2014.
Operations at Bridgestone Asia Pacific’s new technical centre are now underway following its official opening on 13 August. During the opening ceremony, Bridgestone’s senior vice-president Yoshiyuki Morimoto stated that the new Bridgestone Asia Pacific Technical Center – the Japanese company’s first in the region, excluding Japan and China – will provide technical support across the region and will enable Bridgestone to more quickly respond to customer needs.
Yokohama Rubber Corporation has appointed Koichi Tsuruno president of Yokohama Asia Co., Ltd. Tsuruno begins in this role on 1 August. He retains his position as corporate officer and president of Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which he commenced on 1 July.
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