| The
Tyre Industry
The tyre industry is characterized by the dominance of
a few large companies: at present, the three largest are
Goodyear (based in the USA); Michelin (based in France)
and Bridgestone/Firestone (headquarters in Japan). All are
global, but have strengths/weaknesses in various significant
markets. There is a further group of about four major tyre
companies which are regional, rather than global.
Tyres may be divided into:
- truck tyres (very significant market for natural rubber)
- passenger tyres
- aircraft tyres [a highly demanding sector which consumes
considerable quantities of natural rubber: most airliner
tyres are reconditioned several (6 or more) times]
- earthmover [tyres have to be able to survive in a very
hostile environment and employ large qualtities of natural
rubber)
- agricultural
- other
- radial ply construction (requires more natural rubber
than:)
- crossply construction
- original equipment (that is for new cars and trucks,
etc)
- replacement
- retreads
Retreading is very important, especially with the truck
and aircraft industries.
The Non-Tyre Industry
The non-tyre sector can be sub-divided into automotive
and industrial sectors. It is expected that the former will
be subject to considerable rationalization to meet the needs
of the automotive industry which is demanding global supply
and the out-sourcing of R & D activities to its suppliers.
The USA currently dominates corporate activity within this
sector, but Japanese and South Korean firms are also very
active. Suppliers to the automotive industry can be categorized
by being global in character, highly involved in R &
D, manufacture products of accredited quality, and are highly
cost effective.
Manufacturers within the industrial sector focus on the
application of knowledge, have the ability to achieve global
distribution and offer a package of products.
Products include conveyor belting, power transmission belting
(as used to drive car alternators), hose, extruded profiles
for the white goods market (refrigerators/washing machines,
etc), flooring, footwear (especially high quality, sports
and waterproof), electrical insulation (cables), medical
goods, etc. Footwear tends to be manufactured in natural
rubber producing countries.
From the standpoint of natural rubber, an especially important
sector is the manufacture of engineering components for
use in sound and vibration control in structures, aircraft,
rocket motors, locomotives, ships, docks, flood control
barriers, etc.
Info :
|
