Brisa, the joint venture company of Bridgestone Corporation and Turkey’s Sabanci Holding operates plants in Izmit and Aksaray / Turkey and produces PSR, LT, TBR, AG and OTR group tyres under Bridgestone and Lassa brands. The Brisa footprint also includes an R&D center that delivers more than 100 new products a year. One of these is the Revola, a summer comfort tyre that is already leading the Lassa summer PSR line up.
Maxion Wheels, purportedly the world’s largest wheel manufacturer, introduced a line of “lightweight, corrosion-resistant forged aluminium” truck wheels at IAA Transportation 2024.
Nexen Tire has “restructured” the prices of its summer and all-weather tyres effective 1 September 2024. The move, which amounts to a price increase, will be implemented across the European market, including the United Kingdom and Turkey. It will apply to all goods ordered from that date onward.
Hope springs eternal, and this has been the case at the Superior wheel plant in Werdohl, Germany in the months since the company entered insolvency. At the beginning of July, a buyer emerged for the plant, BBS Autotechnik GmbH. But then last Friday, the buyer itself declared bankruptcy. But this may not matter, because the purchase agreement hasn’t yet been processed and the agreed purchase price hasn’t been paid. For employees at in Werdohl, the deal’s non-finalisation provides a glimmer of hope.
The Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) has awarded Petlas Tire Corporation its National Accreditation Certificate. This certification enables the company’s nationally accredited Tire Testing Laboratory to provide international compliance approval for aviation tyres.
With the opening of its California technical centre, Kordsa reports that it has established three technical centres on three continents within a year.
The rapid growth of a manufacturing base largely across Asia has seen a swift evolution in the source of truck tyre imports in the European Union and UK. A new analysis conducted by leading tyre market analyst Astutus Research for Tyres & Accessories shows that Thailand has soared into a leading position in this segment, accounting for 26.3 per cent of truck tyre imports in 2023. Turkey (20.6 per cent) and more recently Vietnam (15.0 per cent) have also overtaken the previously dominant China (14.5 per cent) as leading sources of truck tyres in Europe (defined as the EU27 plus UK).
An investor has been found for insolvent wheel manufacturer BBS Automotive GmbH. The insolvency administrator handling the case reports that a firm called ISHManagementServices GmbH is planning to extensively invest in the Schiltach, Germany-based business. ISH is backed by İş Global Teknik İnşaat A.S., a family-owned holding group from Turkey.
The war in Ukraine and the cost of energy plus general price inflation have replaced covid-19 as the principal threats to growth in trailer demand. Inflation rose to 10 per cent but is now moderating. Interest rates however are still relatively high but not increasing. That’s the view of analysts at Clear International who have published their first report on the Western Europe heavy trailer market since May 2022.
The Kordsa tyre reinforcement plant in Izmit, Turkey has gained ISCC (International Sustainability Carbon Certification) Plus certification. The Sabancı Holding subsidiary declares that this certification solidifies Kordsa’s “commitment to international sustainability standards” and specifically endorses the eco-friendly production of recycled polyester yarn, single cords, and cord fabrics within its product range.
Kordsa has obtained approval from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for its emission reduction commitments. By complying with the SBTi’s criteria and recommendations, Kordsa aims to reduce its emissions by 46.2 per cent by the year 2030, using 2019 as the base year.
Petlas’s new SnowMaster 2 Sport winter tyre seeks to “define excellence in winter tyre performance”, according to the Turkish tyremaker. Company representatives report that the latest offering is “a testament to Petlas’ dedication to innovation, safety, and performance…”
Petlas will invest $360 million in the construction of a new light vehicle tyre production facility adjacent to the Turkish company’s existing plant in Kırşehir. The new production line will produce 100,000 tons of tyres for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, increasing the manufacturer’s total capacity by 42 per cent, reaching 340,000 tons. It will create around 1,850 new roles. Petlas expects to break ground on the new factory in 2023, with completion slated for 2024-25.
Falken’s parent company, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. (SRI) and Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (SAT) will provide relief supplies worth a total of 10 million Yen (equivalent to approx. 70,000 Euro) to the victims and those who are affected by the devastating earthquake that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria. The relief supplies consist of tents, sleeping bags and blankets worth 5 million yen (equivalent approx. 35,000 Euro) from SRI and groceries worth 5 million yen (equivalent to approx. 35,000 Euro) from SAT.
Not so long ago the word ‘inflation’ typically drew thoughts to tyre pressure, at least in our line of work. But the other inflation has made an unwelcome comeback and is eating away at our purchasing power. Over in Turkey, the rate of inflation hit 72% in 2022 and made its presence known in Brisa’s financial results for the year. But against this backdrop of growing Turkish Lira weakness, the tyre maker had a good year.
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Prinx Chengshan
Kordsa
Petlas
Petlas