July 26, 2010
Produce or lose
Double Coin increases manufacturing capacity in China
By: Bob Ulrich
What’s next? Passenger tires
Rick Stewart, president of Action Tire Co. in Forest Park, Ga., was one of eight dealers invited to Shanghai. He said he checked out the Double Coin brand a few years ago, “but they didn't have production."
In the last three years, Double Coin has more than doubled radial truck tire manufacturing capacity at its Rugao plant, with more to come. And it added a third plant in 2008 (see "Plant number three" below). By next year, the company will be able to produce 6.5 million truck tires a year, plus large and small radial OTR tires and rear radial farm tires.
All that’s left is passenger tire production, which company officials insist is on the way. CMA President Mike Yang estimated it will take two or three years.
As to where the tires will be manufactured, Yang said Double Coin has a lot of options. “It depends on efficiencies.”
Jing said it won’t be in Shanghai: “No room.” ■
Plant number three
Double Coin Holdings Ltd. has three plants in China. During a recent trip to Shanghai, tire dealers visited two (see story).
The third, in Chong Qing, opened in 2008. It is located some 1,000 miles from Shanghai.
According to Double Coin, the plant has the capacity to produce 300,000 radial truck and bus tires annually. By the end of the year, however, that number will be increased to more than 900,000, said Mike Yang, president of China Manufacturers Alliance LLC, a subsidiary of Double Coin.
Sign up for our Enews and receive the latest news, trends, and product information right in your e-mail inbox.