ZC Rubber adds TBR to Thai plant

Rayong, Thailand – China’s Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. has launched radial truck/bus tire production at its factory in Rayong just six months after announcing it would add capacity there.

The first radial truck tires at Zhongce Rubber (Thailand) Co. Ltd.’s Rayong plant were produced shortly before Christmas, the company said, with output projected to reach 700,000 units this year.

Zhongce Rubber, which goes to market with the Arisun, Chaoyang, Goodride, Trazano and Westlake brands, inaugurated the 6.1 million-sq.ft. plant in late June. The plant employs 2,500 and is rated at 5 million car tires a year.

All the radial truck/bus tires producing in ZC Thailand are intended for sale in Southeast Asia, the company said.

“ZC Thailand plays an important role on the road to further globalization for ZC Rubber,” the company said, noting that it saving energy and protecting the environment are key elements of its investment in Thailand.

ZC Rubber has not disclosed investment details of the plant, its first outside of China.

ZC Rubber is represented in the US by ZC Rubber Americas Inc. in Norwalk, California, which concentrates on the firm’s Arisun premium truck radial brand. Tireco Inc. handles Westlake-brand car and light truck tires.