Reasons Behind Nigeria Pullout – Michelin
Michelin has given more details of their decision to quit tyre production in Nigeria. At a press briefing the Corporate Affairs manager for Michelin Nigeria Limited, Ojo-Osagie, passed on details of the factors contributing to the decision and the measures the company plans to undertake in the coming months.
Continue ReadingMichelin to Close Nigerian Factory
Michelin has announced that it is ceasing tyre production at its factory in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The tyremaker informed the Nigerian government of its decision on January 16 and, according to Michelin, both parties have agreed to work together to find a buyer.
Continue ReadingTrayal Sold to a Bulgarian Power Supplier
Serbia’s second largest tyre manufacturer, Trayal Corp., is soon to be sold and therefore privatised. According to reports, the privatisation agency in Serbia has announced a public tender to bid for the traditional state-owned company. The Bulgarian power supplier Brikel EAD has now made the highest offer and will soon start to negotiate the details of the deal with the agency, local media sources wrote. The bid was £8.2 million for a majority share plus modernisation investments of up to £16.9 million.
Continue Reading1012 bhp Bristol Fighter-T Runs on Michelin Tyres
Kensington-based luxury carmaker, Bristol, has announced that it has produced a record braking variation of its Bristol Fighter model. Seen as something of a Bugati (Veyron) beater, the Fighter T’s twin turbocharged and intercooled 8-litre V10 engine is capable of producing 1012 bhp and a top speed of 270 mph, which has been electronically limited to 225 mph.
Continue ReadingGoodtyre Presses Forward Into Europe
Although the domestic Chinese tyre market is growing at an enormous rate, export markets are also offering an ever more tempting business opportunity for tyre manufacturers from China. In light of major production over-capacities in particular in the PC tyre segment European and American tyre markets almost assure profitable and relatively easy growth perspectives to Chinese tyre companies. The Yinbao Tyre Group for example is one company that is currently adjusting its own growth strategy towards a more international standing. The company is based in the city of Shouguang in Shandong province. Export manager Sino He explains that the company, which was founded in 1994 has sold its truck, OTR and industrial tyres on the domestic market until very recently. It is offering the tyre brands Goodtyre, Yinbao and Huibao.
Continue ReadingLassa, Brisa, Bridgestone and Sabanci – tyres from Turkey to the world
With unit sales of 7.06 million expected for 2006, a domestic replacement market share of 26 per cent and thriving export sales, no wonder Lassa producer Brisa is expanding its manufacturing and warehousing headquarters. As Brisa (Bridgestone Sabanci Tyre Manufacturing and Trading Inc) continues the $176 million production expansion programme it started at its Izmit plant in Turkey in 2004, Tyres & Accessories went to see how the plans are developing and visit some of the company’s retail outlets in Istanbul.
Continue ReadingGPX Expands, Buys Starbright Tyre Factory in China
Bryan Ganz, president and co-CEO of GPX adds: “Starbright significantly expands GPX’s presence in the Asian market and allows us to directly service our growing international markets”. In addition to the acquisition of Starbright, GPX is pleased to announce the hiring of Phil FitzGerald as the managing director of the Hebei Starbright factory. FitzGerald will assume the responsibility of plant modernization and refurbishment with the goal of transforming the Starbright factory into a world-class production facility focused on the manufacture of work-tyres.
Continue ReadingNorth Korean Leader Visits Automated Factory
Kim Jong Il has visited the newly built Pyongyang Taesong Tyre Factory, in Pyongyang, North Korea. The factory has a total floor space of more than 2,000 square metres and all its production processes are automated.
Continue ReadingLast Workers Leave Dunlop Factory
The last shift at Dunlop’s Washington UK plant clocked off ahead of schedule on 14 June. The Early April announcement that Dunlop would close the plant came as a “body blow,” to workers, the Sunderland Echo reported, as it followed a similar announcement at nearby Stag Furniture. Dunlop said it is continuing to work alongside Sunderland Council and One North East to help the workers find new employment through the JobCentre.
Continue ReadingShanghai Baolong: Getting Down to Brass Tacks
Many of the conversations on the Shanghai Baolong Industries Company Limited stand at Essen concerned the rising costs of raw materials and the effect that this has had on Shanghai Baolong and its products; notably brass valves and wheel balancing weights. Since 2003, says the company, the price of copper has risen continually. By March 2006, most people thought that the copper price had reached its peak because it was at an unprecedented level after rising for such a long time. As it was, the price of copper was set to increase way beyond what most people had imagined.
Continue ReadingUAE Tyre Rental Racket
Some unscrupulous dealers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have allegedly been running a tyre rental racket. According to the Gulf news report, drivers are able to hire tyres at a fraction of the cost of buying a new set in order to gain MOT-style certification. This deal is said to cost as little as 40 dirhams (around £5.90) to customers who use popular cars such as Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Local police have publicly condemned the trade and warned that those involved will be prosecuted. Gulf News reported that 20 per cent of road accidents in the region are attributed to faulty or badly maintained tyres.
Continue ReadingQuiet Performer? Goodyear India
(India/Rubber Asia) Goodyear India is quietly getting into the news again. After years of lack-lustre performance, the company is making rapid strides in select segments and is charting out aggressive growth strategies. Antonio M.Capellini, chairman and managing director of Goodyear India, has reason to be happy. Despite severe competition from multinational and local brands, the company has carved out a niche market for itself. In the OTR tyre segment it’s the market leader in the country. With an 18 per cent market share in the passenger car radial segment, it is the only tyre company in the country approved by all car manufacturers for OEM supplies.
Continue ReadingThe 6th International Exhibition on Tyres and Rubber Technology
China’s leading rubber exhibition - Tyres & RubberTech China 2006 (organized by China United Rubber Group Corporation) will take place from 20-22 November 2006 at INTEX Shanghai. The trade fair will occupy an exhibition area of 12,000 square metres, signifying a growth of 100 per cent from the 2005 event. More 400 exhibitors and about 8,000 trade visitors are expected to meet at the exhibition.
Continue ReadingNigerian Government Joins IRSG
The International Rubber Study Group has announced that the Government of Nigeria is now a member of the Group. “Rubber production [in Nigeria] has been established on a significant scale since the 1940s. Rubber area increased in the early stage, but due mainly to the higher oil price, the area has been declining recently. Despite declining, Nigeria may still have the largest area under rubber in Africa at an estimated 145,000 hectares and hence a high potential for the future. NR consumption is relatively small and stable at about 16,000 tonnes a year, while SR consumption is about 5,000 tonnes per year,” the IRSG reported in a membership statement.
Continue ReadingSpotlight on the Chinese Alloy Wheel Market
To some of his competitors Derek Zhang is known as the “godfather” of the aluminium wheel business in China. He has been dubbed with this moniker in appreciation of the rapid development of the China Wheel, which he leads as CEO, and his deep knowledge of the competitive situation in the enormous People’s Republic. At the moment there are about 200(!) different producers in the country. Some are so small that they are liable to disappear from the map, or have already been forced to cut production. Zhang expects a large consolidation wave, whereby the capacities of the smaller companies are taken only partially from the market; many will be absorbed by the larger players.
Continue Reading
