AB Svenskt Konstsilke (SKS), a Swedish global leader in single-end cords for tyres and MRG reinforcement, has acquired the assets from Mehler EP’s 153,500-square-foot Martinsville plant in SC, US.

The company anticipates increasing production capacity at its plants in China, Mexico and Estonia as a result of this acquisition, adding 3,000 tonnes of SEC capacity yearly. Several dipping lines, winders and twisting machines and a fully furnished laboratory are among the assets.

Urban Olsson, CEO, SKS, said, “This is a good step forward for SKS. By integrating these assets into our global operations, we’re not only increasing capacity but also improving flexibility and efficiency. It’s all about delivering the best solutions for our customers.”

Apollo Tyres Ltd has signed a strategic memorandum of association (MoU) with Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai) to nurture the next generation of manufacturing leaders, in line with its Apollo 2.0 strategy to enhance efficiency and productivity across the organisation.

The MoU aims at equipping the company’s employees with the skills and expertise to thrive in a highly dynamic industrial landscape leveraging IIM Mumbai’s expertise of more than 60 years in specialised technical education. The institute is well-known for its proficiency in supply chain management, industrial engineering, lean manufacturing and cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

The company has also partnered with top companies like DuPont and Toyota, as well as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to create and introduce a Manufacturing Leadership Development Programme (MLDP). A skilled group of 15 people, carefully chosen from across the company’s production plants, make up the first batch of MLDP.

The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) has released an official statement saying that it regrets the adoption of the amendments to the Proposal of the European Commission on the EU Deforestation Regulation by the Plenary of the European Parliament.

This brings a new phase of uncertainty when the industry actually needs predictability and action from the European Commission to bring further clarity and solve the remaining issues standing in the way of a full and fair implementation of the Regulation, says the association.

The association had already explained in its earlier statement that the whole natural rubber ecosystem needs certainty on the important issue, adding that the European tyre and rubber industry strongly favours the EUDR's objectives and is already working in the direction of ensuring sustainable sourcing of EUDR-compliant natural rubber.

The association had also emphasised that a fair and effective regulatory environment is the need of the hour reasserted that the tyre industry remains a key partner in the EU's broader environmental and deforestation mitigation efforts.

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) has announced strategic investments to the tune of approximately JPY 27 billion to expand capacity of its three passenger car tyre plants in Japan, namely the Hikone Plant, the Tosu Plant and the Tochigi Plant.

With this strategic investment, the overall production capacity across the Japanese plants is anticipated to rise by around 3,000 tyres per day, mostly for tyres that are 20 inches or bigger. These facilities serve as the primary production sites for premium passenger car high rim diameter (HRD) tyres. The expansion is scheduled to start from the beginning of 2025 and projected to be completed by the end of 2028.

Bridgestone is intensifying its efforts to strengthen its premium passenger car tyre business with Dan-Totsu products. It is intended to outfit ENLITEN, the company's foundational technology for product design, which it markets as ‘The New Premium in the EV Era’. This initiative also intends to increase and fortify its manufacturing of ultra HRD passenger car tyres worldwide.

This expansion is part of its strategic investment outlined in Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) and falls in line with the company’s corporate commitments of ‘Extension: Committed to nonstop mobility and innovation that keeps people and the world moving ahead’, and ‘Ease: Committed to bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life’ described in the ‘Bridgestone E8 Commitment’.

Japanese tyre major The Yokohama Rubber Co is supplying 507U rib-lug tyres for low-floor buses to Isuzu Motors for use as OE fitment in the Erga EV, a BEV (battery electric vehicle) flat-floor route bus, which was launched in May 2024.

The 507U tyre sports Yokohama Rubber’s proprietary ‘E+’ mark to indicate that it has special qualities suitable for electrified vehicles. The Erga EV is being equipped with 275/70R22.5 148/145J size tyres.

The tyre maker claims that the 507U provides enhanced durability and wear resistance when used on low-floor buses and increased ability to be retread will enhance its appeal for use on e-buses. In addition, it is said to provide high fuel efficiency and has quiet performance, along with superior wet braking performance at high levels.

Designed specifically for electric vehicles the tyres provide strength to withstand higher loads usually associated with heavy electric batteries and the electric motor’s high torque output. It also has to support the quietness that complements the lack of noise from the vehicle’s engine, all the while being energy efficient.

The Erga EV is the first BEV flat-floor route bus developed by Isuzu, which comes with a layout flexibility that allows for the elimination of steps at the rear of the bus, creating a fully flat-floor interior.