Category: Industry News

Zeon delays Singapore SSBR plant by 2 months

According to news reports, Japan’s Zeon Chemicals will delay the start-up of its already completed US$240 million SSBR plant in Singapore from July to September. However, the firm has said it will run the Singapore plant “flat-out” upon its starting…

Trelleborg acquires composites firm

Swedish engineered polymer group Trelleborg has acquired a niche UK-based composites company thus strengthening its position in offshore oil & gas. Trelleborg has, through its business area Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, signed an agreement and finalised the acquisition of Ambler…

KKR to acquire Indian Alliance Tire

American private equity company KohlbergKravis Roberts (KKR) is set to purchase a 90% stake in specialised tyre maker Alliance Tire Group from rival private equity fund Warburg Pincus and owner Yogesh Kumar Mahansaria for US$650 million, including a debt of…

Kultevat and KeyGene work on dandelion rubber

US-based biotech company Kultevat and KeyGene, a biotech company from the Netherlands, have entered into collaboration for production of rubber based on the Russian dandelion. This plant has demonstrated potential as a domesticated crop for the US and Europe; the…

Bridgestone Michelin leaders in branding

According to UK brand valuation and marketing firm Brand Finance, Bridgestone is the world’s most valuable tyre brand, followed closely by Michelin. Brand Finance puts the global value of the Bridgestone brand at US$4.45 billion and that of the Michelin…

Yokohama’s tyre plant in China receives government aid

Japanese tyre maker Yokohama Rubber’s  tyre production unit in China, Hangzhou Yokohama Tire, has received grants-in-aid totalling RMB13.47 million for the period from December 2012 to March 2013 from Hangzhou City and the Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone (HEDA).…

Michelin expects Indian output by mid-2013

Having delayed its plant launch in India from 2012 to 2013, French tyre maker Michelin says it expects to roll out truck radial tyres “some time” during the middle of 2013. “Production will start during the middle of this year.…