The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. and its employee-backed Yokohama Magokoro Fund is giving a total of ¥1 million (¥500,000 each from the company and the Fund) to the Japanese Red Cross Society in support of relief efforts in the earthquake-stricken parts of Turkey and Syria.
Bridgestone is donating 1 million euros to efforts to offer relief to those struck by the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Writing in a statement released on 14 February, company officials said:
A freshly-signed agreement sees Micheldever Tyre Services (MTS) become the exclusive UK distributor for Petlas passenger car, 4×4 and light truck tyres. Petlas is the third exclusive brand MTS has taken on since its acquisition by Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2017
The European passenger car and light truck tyre (PCLT) import market recovered substantially from its bout of Long Covid in the second half of 2022 as the benefits of local versus remote production took an unexpected hit. A perfect storm of significantly lower freight costs and high European energy costs nudged the dial on the relative competitiveness of imports and domestic PCLT tyre production in the second half of 2022. Looking at the European PCLT tyre market through the prism of imports, leading sector analyst Astutus Research shares with Tyres & Accessories its data demonstrating the effects of a rapidly changing market context. The latest Astutus Research briefing, ‘Supply Dynamics in the European PCLT Tire Industry to 2028’, priced at £995 is available now on Tyrepress.
Turkish tyre curing press and mould specialist Uzer Makina has opened a new sales office in the USA. The Florida-based operation, Uzer Americas Trading Inc., will serve as the firm’s sales and project management centre for the entire American continent. Uzer Makina states that it will continue investing in this region in order to establish fast contact with its customers in America and to provide fast solutions to their needs.
The truck steel wheel plant that Maxion Wheels and Inci Holding have jointly built in Turkey is ready to open, and during last week’s IAA Transportation show the two companies additionally announced plans to set up a facility for manufacturing aluminium commercial vehicle wheels. Maxion Wheels says adding forged aluminium commercial vehicle wheels “rounds out” its globally leading steel wheels portfolio, making Maxion a “one-stop option for truck and trailer manufacturers.”
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) intends to raise production capacities at a number of its facilities around the world, but at the same time will remove some products from its portfolio in order to address rising costs. It will also aim for more “flexible” production allocation in response to changes in the business environment.
The Association of European Wheel Manufacturers (EUWA) welcomes Döktaş Dökümcülük Ticaret ve San. A.Ş. (Döktas Wheel Systems) as its newest member. The Güriş Industrial Group company is one of Turkey’s leading specialists in the manufacture of grey iron and aluminium goods for the automotive industry as well as for commercial and agricultural vehicles.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) reports that its tyre factory in Turkey has gained ISO 50001:2018 certification for its energy management system. The Sumitomo Rubber AKO Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. facility in Çankırı, which produces passenger and light commercial vehicle tyres under the Falken and Dunlop brand names, is the third factory in the Sumitomo Rubber Group to obtain ISO 50001 certification, following the previous certification of factories in China (Changshu) and Brazil.
Goodyear Farm Tires will provide a significant boost to UK and European farmers in 2022 by offering an enhanced supply of radial tyres. These will come from production in Turkey, a site that has traditionally made cross-ply tyres but is now about to benefit from a new plant. From early 2022, Goodyear will source radial agricultural tyres there too, initially offering the UK and European markets 20 key radial sizes. This figure should double by the end of the year.
Brisa, the joint venture between Bridgestone Corporation and Sabancı Holding that holds a leadership position in Turkey’s tyre market, has acquired 88.89 per cent capital shares of Turkish fleet telematics company Arvento Mobile Systems (Arvento) for a consideration of TRY 291 million (£15 million). The transfer price will be subject to some adjustments, taking into account the net debt and working capital levels of Arvento at the closing date.
Goodyear tyre factories in France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Turkey will soon adopt 100 per cent renewable energy in the first step of a multiple-phase plan to solely procure renewable energy in all Goodyear facilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa by the end of 2022. The tyre maker will review other locations, such as Goodyear in South Africa and Cooper Tire plants in Serbia and UK, in a second phase.
Prometeon Tyre Group has opened its largest global dedicated R&D Centre at its plant in Kocaeli, Turkey. The opening ceremony was held in the presence of Mustafa Varank, Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkey. Representing Prometeon were Roberto Righi, deputy general manager of Prometeon Tyre Group, Alexandre Bregantim, global chief technical officer of Prometeon Tyre Group, Lale Cander, chairwoman of Prometeon Turkey, and the entire management team of Prometeon Turkey. The event was held with a limited number of guests, in line with the ongoing pandemic measures.
Maxion Wheels reports that construction and infrastructure work for its new Maxion Jantaş commercial vehicle (CV) steel wheel plant in Manisa, Turkey is now complete. The wheel manufacturer and local partner Inci Holding anticipate that the 21,000 square metre facility will be complete in the first quarter of 2022 and will increase Maxion Jantaş’ total production capacity to up to three million CV steel wheels a year.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed ex-Brisa and Bridgestone executive Hakan Bayman as president of Goodyear’s consumer tyre business in Europe, effective 1 July 2020. Bayman will be based in Brussels and report directly to Chris Delaney, president Goodyear EMEA.
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Astutus Research