Nokian Tyres
Susanna Tusa has been appointed general director and vice president of Nokian Tyres Romania Operations. She will also lead the Oradea, Romania factory project. The factory is scheduled to produce its first tyres in the second half of 2024. Commercial tyre production is set to start in early 2025.
According to Andrey Pantyukhov, who until last year headed the Russia and Asia business area for Nokian Tyres, tyres made in the Finnish firm’s former plant in Russia are, technically speaking, “exactly the same” as those produced under Nokian Tyres ownership. Pantyukhov, now chief executive officer of Tatneft-owned business Ikon Tyres, claims “the only difference is the name.”
Niko Haavisto will become the new Chief Financial Officer of Nokian Tyres and a member of the company’s Management team as of 1 October 2023, succeeding Teemu Kangas-Kärki. In this role, he will report to Jukka Moisio, President and Chief Executive Officer. Jari Huuhtanen, VP, Group Business Control, will continue in the interim position of SVP, Finance and Treasury, until the end of February 2024.
In April, a month after its acquisition by oil and gas company Tatneft, the former Nokian Tyres operation in Russia adopted the name Ikon Tyres. The business has now taken the next step in its rebranding with the unveiling of new product names.
Nokian Tyres has given word that Teemu Kangas-Kärki, CFO and Management Team member, has decided to leave the company. He will remain with Nokian Tyres until 30 November 2023. The recruitment process for his successor has started, and Jari Huuhtanen, VP, Group Business Control, will hold the interim role of SVP, Finance and Treasury, until a permanent replacement arrives.
Continental didn’t receive very much for its tyre factory in Russia, and S8 Capital is now one of the country’s top-three tyre makers. The investment company has four tyre brands in its portfolio at the moment, and additional, renamed brands will join these by the end of this year.
When announcing expansion plans for its North American plant in January 2023, Nokian Tyres said it would increase the workforce to 475 by hiring 75 new employees. The company has now completed the recruitment process, having hired 125 new workers for the Dayton, Tennessee factory as part of plans to double production at the facility by 2024.
Heuver Tyres is now a co-distributor of Nokian agricultural and industrial tyres in France. Nokian Heavy Tyres previously serviced the French market solely via wholesaler Sonamia, however Pierre Choubert, business manager at Nokian Tyres, explains that developments in the industrial tyre market and changes in the existing partner network mean Nokian could not remain with a single distribution model.
Nokian Heavy Tyres now has a second partner in the UK. RH Claydon Ltd. is distributing Nokian forestry and agricultural tyres from its warehouses after entering into an agreement with the tyre maker. RH Claydon reports that it now stocks these products in most popular tread patterns and sizes, with next-day availability in certain locations.
In spite of a steep year-on-year drop in operating profit during Q2 2023, Nokian Tyres believes it has made significant progress towards rebuilding the company following the decision to cut its ties with Russia. It expects a stronger second half to 2023 due to winter and all-season tyre sales and the contribution made by contract manufacturing.
Announcing the arrival of a new size 9.00-20 tyre, Nokian Tyres states that its Armor Gard 2 Mine “provides exceptional cut resistance, superb handling, and a prolonged service life,” making it an “ideal choice for drill rigs operating in demanding mining environments.” The 9.00-20 tyre joins a 10.00-20 size product in the range.
Nokian Tyres is taking part in a research project that aims to improve the quality and yield of recycled carbon black from end-of-life tyres, with the goal of using this material more extensively in tyre and rubber products. The two-year development project is coordinated by Windspace Group A/S and co-financed by government initiative the Danish Eco-Innovation Program.
Nokian Tyres has initiated work on its Oradea, Romania passenger car tyre factory, billed as the tyre industry’s first zero CO2 emission plant. An event marking the groundbreaking was attended by the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă. The President of the Bihor County Council, Ilie Bolojan, and other high-level Romanian and Finnish officials also participated along with the chair of Nokian Tyres’s board of directors Jukka Hienonen. The first tyres are estimated to be produced in the second half of 2024. Commercial tyre production is expected to start in early 2025.
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Nokian Tyres
Valokuvaaja/Nokian Tyres