While French tyre maker Michelin may see its European market dwindling, it is expanding its Asian tyre plants. The European manufacturing giant recently announced a US$67 million investment to establish a new passenger car radial (PCR) tyre facility at its Gummidipoondi, Chennai site.…
Category: Industry News
Freudenberg moves sealing plants to new location in India
Germany-based sealing firm Freudenberg Group recently inaugurated two advanced manufacturing facilities in Morinda, Punjab, India, covering a total built-up area of 40,700 sq m. These plants are operated by Freudenberg-NOK India Pvt. Ltd. (FNI) and Vibracoustic India. The strategic move…
Sumitomo Rubber facility accorded recognition for sustainability
Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) says its 50-year old Shirakawa factory in Japan has been recognised nationally as a “sustainably managed natural site” by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. The facility, which began operations in 1974, has engaged in a…
Yokohama Rubber joins research project on use of natural rubber seeds
Yokohama Rubber Co. has announced that it is participating as an official partner in an international joint research project on the utilisation of discarded rubber seeds, which aims to solve environmental problems through the effective use of natural rubber seeds.…
Sailun to build US$110 mn industrial park in Cambodia
Chinese tyre manufacturer Sailun has announced it is building an industrial park in Cambodia called the “Cambodia Kampot Special Economic Zone Project”, according to a report in the Khmer Times. Furthermore, Sailun said that it is preparing to set up…
South Korean tyre makers report mixed performances
Amidst higher costs and lower demand, South Korea’s top three tyre manufacturers: Hankook Tire, Kumho Tire and Nexen Tire, have reported mixed financial performances in the third quarter. While Hankook and Kumho managed to post strong profits, Nexen struggled amid…
Michelin to downsize; shuttering plants in France
Against the back of a challenging automotive sector in Europe, French tyre maker Michelin (plans to close two of its French factories, affecting 1,254 workers. The 135-year company cited high costs, worsening competitiveness of Europe, notably due to inflation and…
Birla Carbon to build US$1 bn graphite anode plant in US
India’s Birla Carbon, a unit of Indian multinational company Aditya Birla Group, is investing US$1 billion to construct a plant in South Carolina, US, to produce graphite anode materials, according to a statement by state Governor Henry McMaster. “Birla Carbon’s…
Lotte to liquidate PBR jv in Malaysia
South Korean petrochemical firm Lotte Chemical Corp. says it plans to liquidate its rubber joint venture in Malaysia to scale back its basic chemicals business while selling stakes in its overseas units to raise nearly US$1 billion to cut debt. Lotte Chemical has…
Betolar/Hycamite to test carbon nanofibres as additive for concrete
Finland’s Betolar Oyj and Hycamite TCD Technologies Oy have signed a commercial agreement to assess the applicability of carbon nanofibres for enhancing the strength properties of concrete and reducing its carbon footprint. The usability of Hycamite’s low-carbon carbon nanofibers as…