International News
Hella promotes intelligent mobility infrastructure in Beijing
Hella, the lighting and electronics specialist is participating in a consortium initiated by the Chinese automobile manufacturer BAIC to develop an intelligent mobility infrastructure in Beijing. This includes communication between vehicles and their environment, via traffic lights equipped with sensor technologies, for example. A total of thirteen international and Chinese technology companies are involved in the non-exclusive cooperation.
USA price increase for Pirelli car/light truck tyres
Prices for Pirelli car and light truck tyres sold in the US market will rise from 1 January 2019. Pirelli says the increase will be up to six per cent on average; it says it is implementing the new pricing in response to higher raw materials prices and “growing investment in the development of new technologically advanced products.”
EU publishes definitive anti-subsidy and updated anti-dumping rates
The European Union has published its definitive decision relating to anti-subsidy duties imposed on Chinese-produced truck tyres imported into the continent. This follows the EU’s final decision on anti-dumping duties, which was released on 18 October 2018. In short, the latest document (which runs to well over 120 pages) demonstrates how large subsidies have supported some Chinese tyre makers. However, it doesn’t mean the overall per tyre rate importers have to pay will change.
Construction begins on Ronal innovation centre
Work on a new Ronal innovation centre is now under way. Alloy wheel manufacturer the Ronal Group broke ground at the site of its future facility in Forst, Germany in late September, and on 12 October founded Ronal Technologie GmbH, the company that will take responsibility for the centre’s functions.
Canada: Group Touchette acquires Atlas Tire Wholesale
Canadian tyre wholesaler Groupe Touchette Inc. has extended its market coverage in that country by acquiring Atlas Tire Wholesale Inc., a distributor with a strong presence in the Ontario region. According to Groupe Touchette, it does not intend to reorganise the businesses apart from “a few adjustments that may be necessary.” The plan is for the two companies to gradually integrate the Ontario market over the next year.
US market receives first Magna OTR tyre production from Thailand
One way of avoiding anti-dumping duties applicable to tyres imported from China is not to import tyres from China. This is what Magna Tyre Group is now doing in the USA – the company is meeting increased demand for OTR tyres in this market by expanding its production capacity in Thailand. Tyres made in this facility, comments Magna, are don’t attract tariffs in the USA and thus offer the opportunity for the company to “massively increase our presence on American market.”
Apollo Tyres’ Onkar Kanwar receives Japanese Imperial honour
In its 2018 Autumn Imperial Decorations, the Government of Japan has conferred upon Onkar S Kanwar the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. The chairman of Apollo Tyres Ltd. received this recognition for his contributions towards strengthening the economic relations between Japan and India, and for promoting Japanese company’s entry into the Indian market.
Increased capacity, exports: Prometeon investing $115 million in Turkey
Capacity at the Prometeon Tyre Group plant in İzmit, Turkey will increase by 75 per cent by 2020 in order to accommodate plans to almost double exports from the facility. This project will be funded by a US$115 million investment announced by the company on Tuesday.
SSE debut for new Sailun Group ticker symbol
As of today, Sailun’s ticker symbol on the Shanghai Stock Exchange has changed from ‘Sailun Jinyu Group Co., Ltd.’ to ‘Sailun Group Co., Ltd.’. The tyre maker’s securities code remains 601058.
BKT outlaying up to $100 million to build US tyre plant
Balkrishna Industries (BKT) has provided further details regarding its plans to build a factory in the USA. With a capital outlay of up to US$100 million, funded by investments and local debt, the tyre maker intends to establish a greenfield facility with an annual capacity of 20,000 tonnes.
Michelin closing Dundee tyre factory
Two months after the tyre manufacturer began a restructuring programme at its factory in Dundee, Michelin is set to close the plant at the cost of about 850 jobs. Michelin, which has run the Dundee site since 1971, says it plans to leave the city by 2020.
Kordsa wins Platin Global 100 award
Kordsa has been named as one of the Global 100 enterprises. According to a study conducted by Platin magazine in association with IPSOS. Platin also gave Kordsa the Industry 4.0 award in the textile category.
Multistrada Achilles tyres recalled in the US
In the USA, Multistrada is recalling 6,318 Achilles Desert Hawk A/P LT in size LT215/85 R16 115/112R 10PR. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) recall notice, the tyres have the DOT date code range 1915 to 3618.
Coker Tire acquires European distributor
Via its acquisition of German tyre distributor Münchner Oldtimer Reifen GmbH (MOR), the Coker Group expects to gain greater access to the growing European market for vintage and classic tyres. The Holzkirchen, Germany-based firm will continue to be led by managing partner Valentin Schaal, who founded MOR in 1983, and the distributor’s existing management team.
Eastman experts to discuss sulphur dispersion in high severity service heavy tyres
Sulphur dispersion and formulation insights for high-severity service in heavy tyres will be the focus of work shared by two Eastman Tire Additives scientists at the KHK 13th Fall Rubber Colloquium in Hannover, Germany 6-8 November, 2018. The technical presentation by Dr. Dominica Wong will explore why the tensile dispersion test provides valuable insights into sulphur dispersion and how this approach guided the development of innovations such as Eastman Crystex Cure Pro insoluble sulphur. A poster by Dr. Leandro Forciniti will examine how polymers and other additives influence formulations for high-severity service in heavy tyres, including Eastman Impera performance resins.