Skip to main content

Breaking News

Breaking News
Cooper expects JV plant in Vietnam to be producing truck tires by ‘early 2020'
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Many lessons learned — and some under way — on electric vehicle battery safety
      ETRMA backs revised EU tire labeling text
      Rancho introduces 3-inch suspension system for 2014-20 Ford F-150s
      Don't be fooled by VW's long-running fan
    • Trelleborg launches major restructuring program; tire/wheel business unaffected
      Pirelli to cut costs, contain investments in 2020-22 period
      USTMA raises 2019 shipment forecast slightly on expected aftermarket gains
      Hankook to supply German touring car series' DTM Trophy ‘feeder series'
    • USTMA raises 2019 shipment forecast slightly on expected aftermarket gains
      Kal Tire opens OTR tire retread plant in Mexico
      Aeolus, Onyx discussing TBR joint venture in Sri Lanka
      Cooper expects JV plant in Vietnam to be producing truck tires by ‘early 2020'
    • S.C. targeting illegal tire dumps via 'See it/Report it' campaign
      USTMA calls on all stakeholders to help raise scrap tire recovery rate
      NFIB holding webinar Dec. 4 on new federal overtime rule
      ETRMA backs revised EU tire labeling text
    • Nexen donates meals, tires to Cityzens Giving soccer program
      Trelleborg launches major restructuring program; tire/wheel business unaffected
      Pirelli to cut costs, contain investments in 2020-22 period
      Hankook to supply German touring car series' DTM Trophy ‘feeder series'
    • Hankook to supply German touring car series' DTM Trophy ‘feeder series'
      Americas Rallycross folds after 2 seasons
      Australia's Supercars series renews tire supply deal with Goodyear/Dunlop through 2024
      BKT extends Monster Truck sponsorship deal through 2026
    • Sentury custom Jeep highlights Landsail Rogueblazer tires
      Yokohama adds winter fitment to grader tire line
      Rancho introduces 3-inch suspension system for 2014-20 Ford F-150s
      Nexen targets growing CUV/SUV market segment with Roadian GTX
    • Auto Plus gifts Mustang GT to 'Performance Promotion' winner
      Akebono names AAPEX 'guess the number' winners
      TECH Tire Repairs launches new e-commerce site
      Jack Hone, former publisher of Tire Review, dies at age 81
    • Many lessons learned — and some under way — on electric vehicle battery safety
      Auto Plus gifts Mustang GT to 'Performance Promotion' winner
      Akebono names AAPEX 'guess the number' winners
      TECH Tire Repairs launches new e-commerce site
    • Sentury custom Jeep highlights Landsail Rogueblazer tires
      view gallery
      25 photos
      Photos: A look back at 2019 SEMA, APPEX Shows
      Detore: Assessing the glitz, glamour of SEMA
      AAPEX eyes tire service as part of Repair Shop HQ at 2020 show
    • NFIB holding webinar Dec. 4 on new federal overtime rule
      Tennessee couple named Milex franchisees of the year
      Fight the battles to win the war
      Industry challenges stubbornly persist decades later
    • Sentury custom Jeep highlights Landsail Rogueblazer tires
      USTMA calls on all stakeholders to help raise scrap tire recovery rate
      Apollo enters Saudi Arabian market via tie-in with local distributor
      Nexen expanding outreach to U.S. veterans with Purple Heart pledge
  • Opinion
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
    • DIRECTORY
  • ADVERTISE
  • Classifieds
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 30, 1996 01:00 AM

INTERNATIONAL: CONTI TO CLOSE IRISH TIRE PLANT - BTR RESTRUCTURES TIRE UNITS

Bruce Davis
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    DUBLIN, Ireland-Continental AG has announced plans to close Semperit (Ireland) Ltd.'s passenger tire plant in suburban Dublin, phasing out production by year-end and eliminating 650 jobs. Conti has been trying to sell the plant for at least a year, and although the unit is still for sale, ``finding a buyer now seems unlikely,'' the company said.

    According to labor sources, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and Japan's Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. were involved in discussions with Conti, and South Korea's Hankook Tire Co. Ltd. and Kumho & Co. also had expressed an interest.

    Conti is negotiating a ``fair termination package'' with the plant's staff and said the closure will require the company to pay tens of millions of dollars in social costs.

    The plant, located in suburban Ballyfermot, opened in 1967. Since taking over Semperit in 1985, Continental has invested more than $80 million in the plant in modernization measures.

    However, despite ``real progress achieved in recent years,'' Conti said further study has shown that ``enormous additional resources would have to be invested and production at least doubled'' in order for the plant to compete profitably with producers in lower-cost locations.

    The plant produced 3.3 million passenger tires last year-a large percentage of which were sold domestically-for sales of $129.5 million and earnings of $6.2 million.

    The production being lost in Ireland likely will be replaced with capacity at other Conti or Conti affiliate plants in eastern Europe or Asia, as part of its overall plan to shift up to 40 percent of its manufacturing capacity to low-cost countries.-

    FINDLAY, Ohio-Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. has confirmed that it has had ``preliminary discussions'' with Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. of Taiwan regarding a possible joint venture to produce radial passenger tires in China.

    Additional meetings between the companies are being scheduled, a Cooper spokesman said, but nothing has yet been concluded.

    According to published reports citing information supplied by Kenda, the $50 million project would be 70-percent owned by Kenda and located in China's Jiangsu Province. Construction would begin by year-end, with completion set for 1998.

    LYDNEY, England-Watts Industrial Tyres officially opened a new plant for production of solid fork lift tires adjacent to its existing factory in Lydney.

    The $4.67 million plant features fully automated tire-building lines and a curing process 30 percent faster than traditional technology, Watts said. The new plant will boost the company's production by 50 percent, though actual numbers were not disclosed. Another $2.33 million investment to further increase capacity is possible over the next two years, Watts said.

    Much of the new plant's production will be targeted at export markets such as the United States, where Watts said it intends to double sales over the next three years. The company put its current U.S. sales at $5 million (65,000 units) annually.

    LONDON-As part of a general corporate restructuring, BTR p.l.c. is realigning its tire activities, with BTR-Dunlop Ltd. in South Africa taking control of Dunlop tire manufacturing units in Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as Dunlop International Technology Ltd. in the United Kingdom.

    This move also will allow BTR-Dunlop to strengthen technology and marketing ties with Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., the controller of the Dunlop brand name for tires.

    Also, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Ltd. now will be aligned with BTR's aerospace activities.

    On the corporate level, BTR is realigning its activities into five core business units, resulting in the divestiture of a number of operations and a charge against earnings of $966 million. BTR-Dunlop will fall within the ``Smaller Global & Regional Groups'' business unit.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Autoweek
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics & Rubber World
    • Plastics News Europe
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • LSR World
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Classified
    • Wholesale Tire Directory
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Ad Rates/Specs
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Clasified Rates
    • List Rental
    • Digital Edition
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Opinion
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
      • DIRECTORY
    • ADVERTISE
    • Classifieds
    • DIGITAL EDITION