Trelleborg to expand China farm tire plant

Trelleborg Wheel Systems S.p.A. is set to start a Phase III expansion project at its agricultural tire plant in Xingtai, starting next year, according to Paolo Pompei, president of agricultural and forestry tires at Trelleborg.

“Most of our top customers operate in the Asian market today,” Mr. Pompei said. “The facility provides proximity to Asian customers, but also support to our global customers in the local market.”

The expansion plan is being made on account of “the growing request for radial tires,” he added, although Trelleborg did not disclose the investment in the plant or its capacity.

Trelleborg started production of agricultural and forestry tires in mid-2012 at the renovated Xingtai plant it purchased in March 2011 from Maine Industrial Tire L.L.C.

The site produces both radial and bias-ply tires for farming, forestry and agro-industrial applications ranging from 18 to 42 inches in rim diameters. The plant is equipped to produce more than 200 tire sizes, Trelleborg said, providing tires for Chinese farm vehicle makers.

According to the company, tests conducted in the Chinese market show that using Trelleborg radial tires can save as much as $3,800 for farming an area of 815 acres.

“In terms of performance, the high quality and superior features of Trelleborg radial tires guarantee lower soil compaction, greater traction capacity and reduced fuel consumption, thereby increasing efficiency and improving crop yield,” Mr. Pompei claimed.