NIZHNEKAMSK, Russia (Oct. 15, 2009)—Russian petrochemicals group OAO Tatneft is planning to add capacity for steel radial truck tires at its Nizhnekamskshina manufacturing complex in a project valued at $575 million.
The group plans to add annual capacity of 1.2 million tires with technical support from Continental A.G. The first tires are expected to be produced in 2010, Tatneft said, but the plant—to be built on a greenfield site—won't be fully on stream until 2011.
Historically, Russian tire makers' truck radials have been made with textile reinforcement. The new plant, Tatneft said, will be the first all-steel radial plant in Russia's Tartarstan region. The company said demand for steel radial truck tires in Russia will reach 1.7 million units in 2010.
Tatneft's tire complex in Nizhnekamsk recently added a mixing room and increased capacity for car and light truck tires using Pirelli S.p.A. technology.