American Goodyear Tire & Rubber (Goodyear) is closely following a plan to restructure its operations to reduce low-value/high-cost capacity in the US and bring about improved business competitiveness, similar to a reorganisation program in Germany that is expected to generate…
Category: Industry News
Toyo Tires to establish first European R&D centre in Germany
Japanese tyre manufacturer Toyo Tires (Toyo) is to build its first European research and development (R&D) centre in Willich, Germany, by the end of the year to strengthen product development, which goes in hand with next-generation mobility. The new centre…
Asahi Kasei starts up ASEAN headquarters in Thailand
The Asahi Kasei Corporation (Asahi Kasei) has begun operations from Asahi Kasei Asia Pacific (AKAP), its newly-formed ASEAN regional headquarters, as of August 2019. The Japanese chemical giant currently has 16 entities across five ASEAN countries – including Singapore and…
Nexen Tire to hold opening ceremony for Czech Republic plant
South Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen Tire (Nexen) is making headway into the European market with the official opening of its new plant in Zatec, Czech Republic, come August 28, 2019. The ceremony will commemorate the next stage of Nexen’s global…
IRSG ties up with sustainable natural rubber platform to build up NR sector
Singapore-headquartered International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) and the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the aim of consolidating, developing and detailing the cooperation between the two organisations. It will also contribute…
BST Eltromat to expand facilities in Germany
With the approaching fifth anniversary of the merger of quality assurance system supplier BST and eltromat, Germany-based BST eltromat International is set to expand its facilities. The company has acquired a 22,000 sq m plot of land in Bielefeld-Altenhagen, Germany,…
GRI breaks ground on new Sri Lankan mixing facility
Specialty tyre manufacturer GRI is to open a new mixing plant in the Mirigama Export Processing Zone (MEPZ), Sri Lanka, to support its future expansion and simultaneously enhance the nation’s exports. GRI’s Managing Director, Prabhash Subasinghe, said that the new…
Celebrating 75 years: IRSG builds up Asia’s rubber market competitiveness
Rubber’s diverse application, ranging from automotive parts and tyres to rubber gloves and chewing gum makes it an indispensable material in modern society. Demand for the two main rubber types, latex -derived natural rubber and chemicals-synthesised synthetic rubber are driving…
Michelin’s margins drop despite price hikes/cost-cutting efforts
French tyre-maker Michelin’s profitability suffered in early 2019 despite its first-half revenue and operating earnings – net income fell 8% to US$940 million; operating margin fell to 12.2% from 12.5%; and sales of the car/light-truck tyres fell by 7.9%, further…
Continental’s Portugal plant produces 15 millionth tyre
Tyre manufacturer Continental has reached its 15 millionth ContiSeal passenger tyre production in Lousado, Portugal – specifically a 255/45-R19 ContiSportContact-5 SUV tyre designed for a Volkswagen. The milestone comes after the corporation’s investment efforts in June 2019. ContiSeal tyres have…