A consortium led by South Korean construction materials maker KCC Corporation is looking at acquiring Momentive Performance Materials, a US-based silicone manufacturer, in a deal that could be valued at US$1.8 billion, according to a report in a local South…
Continental buys Australian tyre service firm
Germany’s Continental is to purchase Australia’s Kmart Tyre and Auto Service (KTAS) from its current owner, Wesfarmers Limited, for A$350 million. KTAS has around 258 outlets employing more than 1,200 staff in the country. The core business of KTAS comprises…
Marangoni launches India’s first Ringtread franchisee in Cochin
Italy’s tyre maker Marangoni’s joint venture company in India for commercial vehicle retreading, Marangoni GRP Private Limited (MGPL), has launched its first full service Ringread franchisee in India at Cochin, Kerala – Autobahn Retreading – part of Autobahn Trucking Corporation…
Yokohama terminates technology tie-up with Kumho Tires
Japan’s Yokohama Rubber says that it has terminated its four-year old technology tie-up with Kumho Tire Co., effective July, after China’s Qingdao Doublestar bought a 45% stake in Kumho this year, becoming its largest shareholder. Yokohama Rubber and Kumho Tire…
Vibracoustic invests EUR4 mn in expansion of Polish plant
Vibracoustic, a provider of vibration control solutions for the automotive industry, is expanding its Polish plant Sroda Slaska I with an investment of around EUR4 million. With this, the company says it seeks to expand its leading market position and…
Bridgestone investing EUR160 mn in Polish tyre plant
Bridgestone, the world’s largest tyre manufacturer, plans to invest around EUR 164.24 million in its plant in Pozna?, Western Poland, by 2022, to boost its capacity by 30%, the company said recently. The planned investments include the purchase of modern…
India’s NR output drop a cause for concern
India’s output of natural rubber (NR) dropped to a six-year low of 1.26 lakh tonnes in the first quarter of 2018/19, with consumption at a high of 3.02 lakh tonnes. The production-consumption gap widened to 58% of consumption in Q1…
Lanxess to sell remaining 50% stake in Arlanxeo jv to Saudi Aramco
Specialty chemicals group Lanxess plans to sell its remaining 50% stake in Arlanxeo to its joint venture partner Saudi Aramco. The two companies, that founded Arlanxeo in 2016 as a 50:50 joint venture for synthetic rubber, have signed a respective…
Arlanxeo investing in rubber sites in Brazil and France
Netherlands-headquartered synthetic rubber firm Arlanxeo says it is strengthening its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of synthetic rubber with an investment in EUR mid double-digit million to modernise its production sites in Triunfo, Brazil and La Wantzenau, France. In…
Continental partners with AI research to speed up neural networks in cars
German technology company Continental says that it is expanding its international network for artificial intelligence (AI) in US’s Silicon Valley. “We are joining forces with the world’s leading AI researchers,” said Demetrio Aiello, Head of Continental’s Corporate Artificial Intelligence and…






