Michelin Tweel factory opens
Michelin’s Tweel factory has opened in Piedmont, South Carolina, USA, manufacturing airless tyres for commercial applications. From Piedmont, Michelin will boost output of its X Tweel SSL skid-steer tyres and begin production of the new X Tweel Turf as original equipment for John Deere’s Ztrak 900 Series line-up of zero-turn commercial mowers. The 135,000sqft facility is Michelin’s 10th in the state, and 16th in the US. The company said it would invest about $50 million in the new plant.
Continue ReadingSports Direct acquires Dunlop sporting goods rights for Australia, New Zealand
UK-based sports retail group Sports Direct plc has bought the rights for the Dunlop brand name in Australia and New Zealand. This deal does not affect the Dunlop tyre brand, which in the region is owned by Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
Continue ReadingApollo to establish Singapore base, redesignates Sarkar as chief business officer
Asia is an enticing part of the world for many tyre makers, including Apollo Tyres, which has stated its desire to make inroads there. A small but significant step it has taken into the region is the relocation of incumbent president and chief financial officer Sunam Sarkar to Singapore. Sarkar’s arrival will likely be followed by the establishment of an office in the city state, and – although Apollo hasn’t yet made any official announcement to this effect – he seems the logical choice to oversee the operation set up there. A secondary function of Apollo’s new presence in Singapore will be to aid its sourcing of raw materials in Asia; the subject of rubber is a high profile one for tyre makers in India, and despite the higher duty affixed to natural rubber compared to finished tyres, manufacturers rely heavily on imports of this raw material.
Continue ReadingStarco receives Croatian “Business Fly” award
Starco’s Croatia-based rim manufacturing operation, Starco Beli Manastir, has been voted the best mid-size company in Eastern Croatia and as such honoured with a “Business Fly” award. The company was nominated for the award by the Croatian Ministry of Economy based upon its track record in recent years, including growth of turnover, number of employees, operating profit and export achievement. Starco BM managing director Mario Biscan received the accolade on behalf of the company from the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, at a ceremony in the regional capital, Osijek. The operation will compete for the national title of best “Business Fly” company in a couple of weeks’ time.
Continue ReadingTIP Trailer Services extends Goodyear tyre contract
TIP Trailer Services has extended its truck tyre contract supply contract with Goodyear until the end of 2016, at which point the two companies will celebrate 10 years of working together. With more than 50,000 vehicles, TIP Trailer Services is one of Europes leading equipment services providers, specialising in the leasing and rental of trailers, tankers and other equipment. The contract, which covers the supply, service and management of tyres for TIP Trailer Services, commenced in 2006.
Continue ReadingGrand opening held for Bridgestone’s US giant tyre plant
Bridgestone Americas has opened its giant off-road radial tyre facility in Aiken County, South Carolina. Kazuhisa Nishigai, COO and board Member of Bridgestone Corporation, and Gary Garfield, president and CEO of Bridgestone Americas, were joined at a grand opening ceremony for the 140,000 square metre (1.5 million square feet) plant by state and local dignitaries.
Continue ReadingOctober – Warmer weather chokes winter tyre sales; OE truck market weakness continues
Mild weather is responsible for far fewer winter tyres being sold in the European market in October, reports Michelin. Statistics released by the tyre maker show a seven per cent year-on-year decline in replacement market passenger car and light truck tyres in Europe (including Russia and Turkey). This drop in sales follows year-on-year growth of one per cent in the third quarter of the 2014 and was not reflected in the original equipment market, which enjoyed a three per cent year-on-year increase in November. Between the start of the year and 31 October, the original equipment and replacement markets are respectively four per cent and two per cent higher year-on-year.
Continue ReadingJK Tyre profits rise 18% in July-September quarter
India’s JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has reported consolidated net profit of Rs 755.9 million (£7.8 million) for the three months to 30 September 2014, the second quarter of the company’s current financial year. This result represents a year-on-year increase of 18.1 per cent. The company achieved a consolidated turnover of Rs 18.7 billion (£193.5 million), up 3.6 per cent from the second quarter of the previous financial year.
Continue ReadingLinglong opens US office, planning new tyre plants and European tech centre
Shandong Linglong is opening an office for its new US company, Linglong Americas in Ohio. The site in Medina was formally announced by Wang Feng, CEO and president of Linglong Tire during an event at the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas. According to at least two online news sources, the establishment of Linglong Tire’s US company forms part of a broader expansion plan.
Continue ReadingChinese contingent view potential Thai rubber sources
A group of “leading rubber processors from China” are set to visit Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar to survey sites to establish rubber plants in the next week or so. Thailand’s The Nation reports that about 10 rubber processors from Shandong province and representatives from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade are scheduled to visit Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand between 19 and 25 November. The group reportedly consists of around 50 representatives from both companies and government agencies. It will reach Thailand on 23 November where it will stay for two to three days with a view to considering “opportunities to invest in the South and Northeast, the countrys major rubber tree growing areas”.
Continue ReadingTriangle set to expand North American distribution
Triangle Tire is planning to expand its role in the North American market through a distribution partnership. The news came as part of a presentation given at the company’s annual meeting, which was held in parallel with the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The company also highlighted two new product launches Tyres & Accessories’ […]
Continue ReadingInnoson General Tyres Nigeria executives seek to reopen plant
Executives are moving to re-open the former General Tyres and Tubes factory in Nigeria, according to local news sources. The bid to reopen General Tyres and Tubes Company, Emene, Enugu, a subsidiary of Innoson Group, the Bank of Industry (BOI) sees executives promise to meet the relevant stakeholders with a view towards resolving lingering problems between the company and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Continue ReadingMichelin to open Tweel factory this week
We’ve heard surprisingly little about Michelin’s Tweel in the decade since the airless tyre and wheel combination debuted at the Paris Motor Show 2004. After eight further years of development, the Tweel made its commercial debut in 2012, and Michelin recently announced the first original equipment Tweel deal, with John Deere. But while the Tweel has maintained a low profile, Michelin clearly has confidence in the product’s future, and on 20 November is opening a plant in the US that will be dedicated to Tweel production. The tyre maker hasn’t yet disclosed how much it has invested in the new Tweel facility in Piedmont, South Carolina, or the plant’s production capacity.
Continue ReadingUS agency to hold tyre safety symposium
US agency the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will convene a symposium next month to highlight the important role tyres play in overall vehicle safety. The event will take place in Washington D.C. on 9 and 10 December and be chaired by NTSB board member Earl Weener. Invited subject matter experts will present on such safety issues as vehicle handling and dynamics after tyre disablement, the identification and analysis of tyre disablement-related crashes, tyre registration and recall, tyre aging and service life, recent advances in tyre technology, tyre maintenance, and consumer awareness. Presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer period to allow NTSB staff to follow up on points made during the presentations and take other tyre safety topics into consideration.
Continue ReadingMesnac names Zheng Jiangjia as new president
Mesnac Co., Ltd. has promoted Zheng Jiangjia into the role of president of the company, effective on 27 October 2014. Zheng Jiangjia joined Mesnac in May 1998 and served as the general manager of MESNAC Dosing System Division, assistant president and executive vice president.
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