Unique tyre plant to be launched in Nizhnekamsk

JSC Tatneft will in the near future launch a plant in Nizhnekamsk, manufacturing solid metal cord tyres for trucks and buses.

The plant’s intended capacity is 1.2 million tyres a year. The project’s total cost is about 17 billion roubles. The strategic partner within the project is the German Continental who provides a newest know-how and ahs assumed the obligation to tend to the project for the next 10 years.

According to the JSC Tatneft Deputy General Director for petrochemical production, Director of Tatneft Neftekhim Zagit Sharafeyev, a construction “from scratch” like that in Russia today is unique. In 2001, the plant is to manufacture 200 thousand tyres and in 2011 will operate to capacity.

The decision to construct the solid metal cord tyre plant was made in 2006 in view of a trend of increasing demand for the type of tyres, including from the biggest customer, JSC Kamaz. The new production facility was included in the Tatneft Neftekhim holding, whose main task is to coordinate the entire chain from supply of raw material to sales of manufactured products. The plant is performing run-in tests and is about to complete building pressurisation.

The SMCT distinction is the use of rubber-coated steel metal cord in their frame (instead of textile) and bead rings of a special shape resistant to high load. The tyre’s design allows to increase auto vehicle’s elevating capacity by 8 percent, substantially decreasing fuel consumption, consequently reducing the emission of contaminants into the atmosphere. Besides, SMCT can be reconstructed up to 3 times, which prolongs their durability from 150 to500 thousand kilometres. SMCT are highly durable tyres with the best speed performance. According to expert estimates, in 2010 the demand for SMCT will reach 1.7 million pieces in Russia.

Over the recent years, the Tatneft tyre complex has implemented large investment projects including production of cars and light-duty tyres Kama Euro based on the Italian Pirelli’s technology, construction of a new rubber-mixing complex. An investment programme for Nizhnekamskshina’s strategic development until 2013 was devised and is being implemented. the programme provides for an increase in the Kama Euro production.