Rumours are flying in Shandong, ahead of the Spring Break. Two key rumours suggest more factory closures. First, Jia Cheng Rubber Industry Co., Ltd. (佳程橡胶工业有限公司) is reportedly facing bankruptcy. The company, also known as Cascen rubber makes tires and tubes for two-wheelers and employs more than 500 at its factory in Zaozhuang City. The boss
You have probably read about Goodyear’s two main concept tires shown at the Geneva motor show (See images above). They generated a massive amount of publicity in the automotive and general press and on websites around the world. I think this demonstrates – despite widespread opposition to the idea – that many people in the
Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein unit are developing a new brand strategy and making structural changes to their European operations. Speaking exclusively to Tire Industry Research at the Geneva Motor show, Apollo CEO, Neeraj Kanwar said the company is changing its brand strategy. The change is driven partly by a drive to build OE contracts
Last week, Nokian implicitly admitted that it rigged magazine tests of tires. In this column I want to look at how and why it might have done that and then look at some of the implications of the admission. Nokian admits rigging tests First, the facts as we know them. Finnish newspaper Kauppalehti last week
In the evening (US time) of 29 January, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) formally announced its decision to investigate allegations of dumping of China-made truck tires and a separate allegation of unfair subsidies. These could result in anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties respectively. Late last night in the US, the ITC posted a timetable
A survey by Tire World reveals the state of concern among China’s tire makers. 65% of respondents expect that ‘a large number’ of tire makers will cease operations in 2016. Around 31% said only a few would go bankrupt and just 4% said there would be very little restructuring and consolidation. Qualitative responses suggested that
Tianjin Hi-Tech Environmental Protection Technology Development Co., Ltd (天津海泰环保科技发展有限公司) claims to have capacity to recycle up to 6m tonnes annually of end-of-life tires. It operates 8 facilities and claims 47 patents as well as recognition by 8 Provincial and Ministerial authorities. It is setting up a pyrolysis scheme and hopes to profit through carbon trading
Just ahead of the New year, Wanli has moved its headquarters from Wanli Road, outside Guangzhou. It will move departments progressively to its new production base in Panyu during the year. Source: Panyu Daily Location of old headquarters
The heart of Shandong province – the area around Qingdao, Weifang and Yantai – has traditionally focussed on the three black industries: tire manufacture, machinery castings and machining graphite for electrodes. On a press trip, journalists were taken to see some of these industries, including Geruida Tire (青岛 的 格锐达 轮 胎股份有限公司), in which Cooper
In 2015, China imported a total of 278,000 tons of butadiene, worth $21.6m, and 29,000 tons in December, down 10.5%. Exports for 2015 amounted to 2864 tonnes, but none in December. Source: Tire World
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