Tyres & Accessories – Russian petrochemicals group OAO Tatneft said it is set to expand its tyre manufacturing capacity with the commissioning of a 1.2 million tyre-per-year all-steel truck and bus radial plant near its existing Niznekamshskina plant in Niznekamsk.
The commissioning follows investment of around 17 billion rubles ($578 million) in line with a plan first conceived in 2006. Increasing demand in this part of the Russian market is said to be behind the move, with Tatarstan truck manufacturer KamAZ Auto Manufacturer lined up as a customer.
According to Tatneft such large-scale construction of a factory from scratch is “really unique in today’s Russia” and is part of a strategic investment programme scheduled to continue until 2013 – providing for the “further increase of the Kama-Euro type tyre production.”
Meanwhile, following earlier reports that Continental AG is considering producing some of its truck tyres in cooperation with Nizhnekamskshina, a spokesperson for Continental explained that the company is: “…not involved in either the construction or investment” of the proposed plant.
Continental’s representatives refuted rumours that the German manufacturer will establish its own manufacture of light commercial vehicle tyres in Russia after the subsequent close of its Hannover-Stöcken production site in Germany. “We are – as we have said – already providing technology and know-how. The decision as to whether tyres will be manufactured for us there is completely open. If we choose to produce there, it will be to secure a share in the growth of the Russian and CIS markets. We do not intend to produce for other markets,” he continued. The company made it clear that the Continental “technology” delivered to Nizhnekamsk will not be the used production equipment from the Stöcken plant.
OAO Tatneft said it has implemented major investment projects in this field during the past few years, such as organizing the production of Kama-Euro passenger cars and light truck tyres using Pirelli technology and the construction of a new rubber-mixing complex. The new plant, which Tatneft refers to as its “SSC Tire Factory” reportedly allows the company to produce tyres which offer 8 per cent more weight capacity and “significantly reduce fuel consumption.” In addition, SSC tyres can reportedly be retreaded up to three times, thus extending potential life up to 500,000 kilometres, says Tatneft.
Tatneft-Neftekhim Management Company made the factory commissioning announcement at a round table discussion on the problems of tyre manufacturing held in conjunction with OAO Sibur Russian Tire Co. The event, held in Moscow, discussed “the state and prospects of developing domestic tyre production, the problems associated with growing pressure from foreign competitors, as well as the issues of developing modern domestic technologies and training professionals for the tyre industry.”
