Linglong Guangxi rolls out first earthmover tire

Liuzhou, China – Guangxi Linglong Tire Co. Ltd has manufactured its first radial earthmover tire as part of a Yuan4 billion (€520 million) expansion programme, the company announced 21 May.

The wholly-owned subsidiary of Shandong Linglong Tire previously produced semi-steel tires and all-steel passenger and truck & bus tires at the plant.

Once fully operational, the expansion project will raise the plant’s total annual capacity to 20 million passenger car tires, 2 million all-steel radial truck tires and 60,000 units of speciality tires, Linglong said.

The plant is employing “world-class” equipment for tire production, using intelligent production systems such as SAP, MES and “vulcanisation group control,” added the Chinese-language statement.

Based in Liuzhou, southern China, the Guangxi plant is close to automotive manufacturers including FAW, Dongfeng and SAIC.

Linglong pursues a “5+3” global strategy involving five production plants in China and three overseas factories.

The company currently has two plants in its headquarters province of Shandong, one in Liuzhou, and one in Thailand, operational since 2014.

Last March, Linglong announced plans to build its fourth Chinese plant in Jingmen, Hubei province.

The company is also constructing a $1-billion production plant in Serbia and is investigating the option of building a facility in the US.