Russian petrochemicals group OAO Tatneft is expanding its tyre manufacturing capacity with the imminent launch of a new plant in the industrial city of Nizhnekamsk.
Its subsidiary, Tatneft-Neftekhim Management Company is preparing to commission the solid steel cord (SSC) tyre facility which will produce a range of tyres for trucks and buses. It will have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million tyres.
The plant, involving investment totalling around 17 billion rubles, was first conceived in 2006 and is required to meet increasing demand for this type of tyre in Russia. Its largest customer will be the Tatarstan truck manufacturer KamAZ Auto Manufacturer.
The SSC design allows vehicle carrying capacity to be increased by 8%, significantly reduce fuel consumption and limit the emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. In addition, SSC tyres can be reformed up to three times through re-capping tread that extends the tyre life up to 500,000 kms, according to Tatneft.
The group already manufactures tyres in the region at its large Nizhnekamskshina also in Nizhnekamsk. There, it has launched a strategic investment programme covering the years up to 2013 which provides for expansion of its Kama-Euro tyres.
