ZC Rubber opens first Westlake store in Brunei
ZC Rubber has opened its first Westlake store in Brunei. It is also the first one in Southeast Asia and comes as part of an expansion strategy targeting Southeast Asia.
Continue ReadingGoodyear: Number of vehicles using FleetOnlineSolutions up 75%
The number of commercial vehicles serviced using Goodyear’s FleetOnlineSolutions (FOS) internet-based tyre management programme is about to hit 350,000. According to the company, this is a 75 per cent increase in just three years and a new milestone for Goodyear.
Continue ReadingStrength in numbers: 5 German tyre wholesalers announce cooperation
Regional European tyre wholesalers have faced several tough years, and perhaps none more so than those based in Germany. The level of transparency within this market, strong competition from online operators and low shipping costs have conspired against German tyre wholesalers and devoured turnover. We saw the country’s largest wholesaler, Reifen Ihle Baden Baden, snapped up by Michelin in 2014, and the following year the French tyre manufacturer also acquired another struggling independent wholesaler, Meyer Lissendorf. Business remains tough for independent players, and five regional wholesalers are now joining forces to take advantage of synergies and maximise their chances of survival.
Continue ReadingCooper Tire’s acquisition of Chinese tyre maker to close by year’s end
At the start of the year, Cooper Tire & Rubber confirmed its intention to acquire a majority interest in Chinese truck and bus radial manufacturer Qingdao Ge Rui Da Rubber Co., Ltd (GRT); the plan is to initially purchase a 51.86 per cent equity interest in the joint venture company from Qingdao Yiyuan Investment Co., Ltd., with Cooper Tire Holding Company obtaining a further 4.32 per cent; the registered capital in GRT will then be increased from RMB 350,000,000 to RMB 438,236,991, the result being that Cooper Tire & Rubber’s share will rise to 60 per cent share and Cooper Tire Holding Company’s to five per cent.
Continue ReadingConti launches third generation truck tyres in Malaysia
On 1 August Continental Tyre PJ Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CTM) launched its Generation 3 truck tyres; the Conti Hybrid HS3, the Conti Hybrid HT3 and the ContiUrban HA3, each individually designed to suit different axles and developed with the unique Asian road conditions in mind.
Continue ReadingLaufenn brand launched in Australia and NZ
Following on from its debut in almost 50 markets since the start of 2015, including its European premiere at the IAA motor show, the rollout of Hankook Tire’s Laufenn brand continues. Hankook Tire has stated an aim to sell Laufenn tyres in 70 countries by the end of this year, and the latest markets to receive the range are Australia and New Zealand. A total of seven Laufenn summer and all-season lines will be sold in these two countries.
Continue ReadingSentury Tire looking to erect US plant at Tennessee ‘Megasite’
When Tyrepress.com visited Qingdao Sentury Tire Co., Ltd in China late last year, newly-appointed executive vice-president Rami Helminen shared details about the US factory project he’d been hired to head. He disclosed that “hundreds of millions of US dollars” would be invested in a factory, and that a search for a suitable site was already underway. It appears the tyre maker has decided upon a location in the state of Tennessee.
Continue ReadingBack in the Americas: Continental offering OTR tyres again
After a decade’s absence, Continental is reintroducing its OTR and earthmover tyre ranges to the Americas. Beginning this month, the company is re-establishing its sales and product lines in all of North America as well as Brazil and the Andean markets. Continental states that the decision to return to these markets was based upon several factors, including demand from dealers for Continental products.
Continue ReadingPSI invests in aerodynamic technology
Pressure Systems International (PSI), a market leader in automatic tyre inflation systems for commercial vehicles, has invested in a new aerodynamic technology and entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Plasma Stream Technologies.
Continue ReadingAgreement gives Continental room to expand tyre plant in Hefei, China
At a ceremony held at Continental’s headquarters in Hannover, Germany yesterday, the tyre maker signed a long-term option for acquiring additional land adjacent to its plant in Hefei, China. The deal almost doubles the space available for further expansion at the site.
Continue Reading3D printing firm using recycled tyre materials
San Francisco-based 3D printing and consulting company Emerging Objects is using waste tyres as a source material. According to local news reports, the firm says the same characteristics that make waste tyres problematic (namely, their cheap availability, bulk and resilience) make them attractive.
Continue ReadingLatin America’s first OTR tyre recycling plant opened
Colombian mining company Carbones del Cerrejon Ltd. has inaugurated Latin Americas first OTR tyre recycling plant, according to local news agency EFE. The plant aims to export part of its production to other countries in the region and to Asia. Commercial contacts have reportedly already been made for exporting the crumb rubber to South Korea, Chile and Brazil.
Continue ReadingConti opens training centre in Hefei, China
Continental has opened its first training centre in the APAC region in Hefei, Anhui province in China. The facility is located in Anhui Province, in the Hefei Hi-tech Industry Development Zone, beside the company’s tyre plant and R&D test centre.
Continue ReadingUK manufacturing shrinks significantly
According to the IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), UK manufacturing fell to its lowest level since February 2013 in July. At 48.2 in July, the metric was down from 52.4 in June. This is only the second time since early 2013 that the PMI has fell to a sub-50.0 level. The move was reportedly the steepest decline since October 2012.
Continue ReadingNew tyre plant: Conti talking incentives with Thailand
Continental’s interest in setting up a tyre factory in Thailand has been the subject of rumour for years, and once again the topic is on the table. Bangkok-based newspaper The Nation shares that Sirivan Koo-Amphorn, general manager of Continental Tyres Thailand, is meeting with government representatives this week to discuss incentives and other support that may persuade Continental to select Thailand ahead of rivals such as China. A decision on the location of Continental’s new factory is expected to be taken by the end of this year.
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