Japanese Tyre Machinery Manufacturer Forms Indian JV

Japan’s Kobe Steel has formed a joint venture with India’s Larsen & Toubro Limited to manufacture and sell tyre production machinery in India. Called L&T Kobelco Machinery Private Ltd., the joint venture will make rubber mixers and twin-screw rollerhead extruders used in manufacturing tyres. Plans call for construction of the plant to begin in February 2011 and production to begin in October 2011. Approximately 500 million rupees (900 million yen) will be invested in the facility.

L&T Kobelco is 51 per cent owned by Larsen & Toubro and 49 per cent by Kobe Steel, and the company will be managed by a board of directors comprising nominees from Kobe and L&T.

Kobe Steel currently manufactures tyre and rubber machinery in three countries. In addition to Japan, the other manufacturing centers are Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc., which makes mainly rubber mixers and twin-screw extruders in Ohio, USA; and Yiyang Yishen Rubber Machinery Co. Ltd., which makes tyre curing presses in Hunan Province, China.  (Tire Review)