Reliance-Sibur JV to set up halogenated butyl unit
Reliance Sibur Elastomers Private Limited (RSEPL), a joint venture between Russian gas and petrochemicals company Sibur and India’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has announced plans to establish southern Asia’s first halogenated butyl rubber unit at RIL’s integrated petrochemical facility in Jamnagar, India. Halogenated butyl is a key ingredient in the manufacture of tubless tyre inner liners.
Continue ReadingUK to leave European single market
Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated that Britain is headed for what might be called a hard Brexit in her most direct speech on the subject since the EU referendum on 23 June 2016. She also announced that Parliament would vote on the final Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU.
Continue ReadingFootball: Kumho Tire’s Schalke 04 sponsorship extended
Kumho Tire’s sponsorship of German football club FC Schalke 04 has been extended until 30 June 2018. The tyre maker and Bundesliga protagonist first announced their collaboration at the beginning of 2015, and since then Kumho has been represented on LED signage at the club’s home stadium, Veltins Arena, and utilised other advertising options both in the stadium and in team-related publications. These advertising opportunities continue under the extended deal.
Continue ReadingNexen Tire begins Japan joint venture
Travis (Ho-chan) Kang, chief executive officer of Nexen Tire, has taken part in the official inauguration of a new joint venture company set up to sell the Nexen and Roadstone tyre brands in Japan. The joint venture is called Nexen Tire Japan Inc. and is 51 per cent owned by Nexen Tire, with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the Toyota Group’s trading arm, holding the remaining 49 per cent share.
Continue ReadingSales up 45% in 2016 – Rosava
Rosava reports selling 3.9 million tyres last year, a 45 per cent year-on-year increase on 2015. The Ukrainian tyre maker says the greatest rate of growth was witnessed in the agricultural tyre segment, where sales were up 57.6 per cent compared with 2015. Car tyre sales rose 47.3 per cent year-on-year, while sales of light commercial vehicle and truck tyres increased by 25 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.
Continue ReadingTitan International board becomes NACD Full Board Member
Titan International reports that its board recently became a Full Board Member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), a non-profit membership organisation for corporate board members,
Continue ReadingATG’s Constellation truck tyre brand not coming to Europe, for now
Shortly after its acquisition by Yogesh Mahansaria and private equity company Warburg Pincus in 2007, the Alliance Tire Group (ATG) exited the car and truck tyre market and began building up a strong reputation as an off-road tyre specialist. A decade later and the company is revisiting one of these former businesses; this year, the Yokohama Rubber subsidiary is releasing a new brand of truck tyre. ATG is currently restricting availability of its new Constellation range to the US market, however it hasn’t ruled out introducing it into other regions at a later date.
Continue ReadingMRF Motorsport Europe profile continues to rise
A year after leading Indian tyre manufacturer MRF Tyres launched its MRF Motorsport business at the Autosport Show in Birmingham this time last year, progress is said to be going well. The latest addition to the European motorsport division’s portfolio is the Honda Civic Cup.
Continue ReadingBlack Donuts to consult on Philippines rubber project
A 50 hectare rubber plantation and processing plant will be established on the Philippines island of Mindanao at a reported investment cost of US$200 million, and Finnish firm Black Donuts Engineering Inc. will serve as a consultant for coordinating the project.
Continue ReadingNew Marangoni partner in Spain
Marangoni Retreading Systems has expanded its business in Spain through a new partnership with regional retreader Recauchutados Fidel. The company, which has been in the business since 1982 and operates a retreading plant and three dealers in Salamanca province, has selected Marangoni products and technology for its customers.
Continue ReadingNew factory: MRF signs agreement with regional government
News of MRF Ltd.’s plan to set up a new factory in India’s Gujarat state first circulated towards the end of 2015, and now the tyre maker reports signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government that sets out its in-principle intention to erect a manufacturing facility there.
Continue ReadingToyo Tire expanding R&D capabilities at US plant site
Throughout the course of this year, Toyo Tire & Rubber’s manufacturing operation in North America will expand its research and development capabilities in order to expedite the development of both original equipment and replacement market tyres. The company has not disclosed the level of investment being made in the Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing facility, however it will result in a 50 per cent increase in the size of the research and development team.
Continue ReadingWAI appoints marketing and communications manager
WAI has appointed Christine Smith to the role of marketing and communications manager. Based in Florida, as part of WAI’s US division, Smith joins from a sales and technology background, having worked previously in marketing, operations & management roles with API, Gatekeeper Business Solutions, Universal Health Services (UHS), Fine Lions, & Direct Office Interiors.
Continue ReadingBridgestone taking on India’s two-wheel market with Neurun tyre brand
The two-wheeler segment dominates India’s vehicle market and is said to be growing at a CAGR of 8.5 per cent. With an estimated 150 million two-wheel vehicles on the country’s roads, demand for replacement tyres is high. Bridgestone Corporation is now competing for a piece of this market with a new brand of motorcycle and scooter tyres, Neurun. The rollout of the Neurun product portfolio began in August 2016 with the introduction of five sizes and nine SKUs, a range that caters to around 70 per cent of market demand in India.
Continue ReadingContinental to cut ties with Pakistan’s General Tyre and Rubber
Continental intends to divest its shareholding in General Tyre and Rubber Company of Pakistan Ltd. The company owns a 9.78 per cent share in Pakistan’s largest tyre maker through Continental Global Holding Netherlands B.V., and according a notification sent by General Tyre and Rubber to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Continental Global Holding Netherlands intends to sell its entire shareholding “as soon as practically and economically feasible.”
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