Conti to Double Czech TBR Capacity
The Continental truck and bus tire factory in Otrokovice, Czech Republic will be significantly expanded, the tiremaker announced today. A total of €165 million will be invested over a period of five years to ultimately double truck and bus radial production capacity at plant to close on 1.5 million units per annum. More than 300
Tereos Partners with BioButterful, Duo Signs with Michelin
The world’s fourth-largest sugar producer, Tereos, has joined the French BioButterfly project to develop and roll out a process for producing bio-butadiene. The company has signed a partnership agreement with Groupe Michelin that focuses on the industrial transformation of agricultural raw materials; this partnership aims to strengthen the upstream phase of the BioButterfly project. Under
Maxion Wheels Invests in Ostrava, Czech Facility
Maxion Wheels recently announced a new investment program at its aluminum wheel production facility in Ostrava, Czech Republic. "We are excited about this major next step forward for our Czech aluminum wheel plant,” said Pieter Klinkers, president for Maxion Wheels in Europe, Africa and Asia. “The Czech team has made significant improvements and now is the right time to further
Terex Selling Truck Business to Volvo
Terex Corporation has agreed to sell its truck business to Volvo Construction Equipment for approximately $160 million.
Federal Takes Sponsorship of Euro Drift Series
Taiwan’s Federal Tire Corp. has signed up as title sponsor of the ‘King of Europe’ drift series. The tiremaker will give its brand name to the King of Europe Street Legal and the Queen of Europe Ladies League for the 2014 season and will also be the official tire sponsor. The King of Europe drift
Petlas Adds to Winter Tire Offering
Turkish tiremaker Petlas Tire Industry & Trade Co. has expanded its winter tire range with new sizes and a new tire targeting SUVs. Petlas added 10 new sizes – 17- and 18-inch wheel diameter – to its Snowmaster E601 and Snowmaster W651 lines. Those two tires, Petlas said, now cover 70 sizes over 13- through
Omni Recognized in Singapore 2013 Enterprise 50 Awards
Tire marketer Omni United was recently presented with the Singapore 2013 Enterprise 50 Award, which recognizes local and privately-held companies that have contributed to economic development in Singapore and abroad. The company, represented by G.S. Sareen, founder, CEO and president of Omni United, received the award from Singapore minister Tan Chuan-Jin. The award presentation and
Bridgestone Shows Second Gen Airless Tire
Bridgestone Corp. has revealed its second generation air-free concept tire. The manufacturer said the new model features improved load-bearing capabilities, environmental design and driving performance. The tire is “one step closer to a viable, commercially available air-free tire,” Bridgestone stated. The spokes of the tire – made of thermoplastic resin – stretch along the inner
Bridgestone, Toyo, Nexen Win Japan Good Design Awards
Three tires have been given a Good Design Award by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) this year. These are the Bridgestone Blizzak VRX, the Toyo M929 TBR tire and the Nexen N9000 semi street racing tire. Nexen is the first Korean tiremaker to win a Good Design Award, and considers the Japanese accolade
Toyo Names New European Business Leader
Tamotsu Sakuramoto will swap his European responsibilities for Japan-based roles as of Jan. 2014, reports Toyo Tire & Rubber. Sakuramoto will be replaced as general manager of Toyo Tire & Rubber’s Europe business unit by Takashi Shimizu, who is currently general manager of Toyo’s Tire Planning division and Tire Administration department; Shimizu will continue in
Apollo Closes Deal With SRI
Sumitomo Rubber Industries will take over Apollo Tyres South Africa as result of a transaction between SRI and Apollo Tyres. The deal, which recently closed, gives SRI Apollo’s Ladysmith passenger tire plant and its rights to the Dunlap brand in 32 African countries for just $60 million. Apollo will keep its TBR and off road
Cooper Opens Distribution Center in Serbia
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has announced its plan to open a 6,800-square-meter distribution center in conjunction with logistics expert, Milsped, in Belgrade, Serbia. The facility will be located alongside Milsped’s corporate headquarters in the Krnjesevci area of Belgrade. Due to open in December, the center will have a storage capacity of up to 400,000