Sumitomo Rubber was visited by Lulama Smuts Ngonyama, the South African Ambassador to Japan, on Sept. 14. The day saw Ngonyama welcomed by a number of Sumitomo Rubber officials, including Chairman Ikuji Ikeda, President and CEO Satoru Yamamoto, and Senior Executive Officer Yasuaki Kuniyasu. The group used their time together to exchange ideas and opinions about business in South Africa,...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently announced that it has proposed the closure of the Port Elizabeth plant operated by group company Bridgestone South Africa Pty. Ltd. (BSAF), and that it has begun discussions with relevant parties. Launched in 1936, the Port Elizabeth plant serves to manufacture bias tires. But with global tire demand shifting away from bias tires and toward radial...
Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (TYO:5110) announced on Aug. 7 that it has established production facilities for truck and bus tires at its South Africa Factory, beginning production for this on July 19. Having invested approximately 970 million rand ($64.73 million) into the facilities, the company expects that production capacity will get up to 750 truck and bus tires per day...
