Page 56 - TBN-2015-5

TYRE & RETREADING 轮胎与翻胎
Wang Feng, President of Shandong Linglong Tire
Linglong celebrated its 40th anniversary and the full com- missioning of Linglong International Thai (LLIT)’s Truck & Bus Radial Tyres (TBR) production line recently on 26th July. Approximately 400 guests around the world were invited to witness this milestone in the company’s growth and develop- ment in Rayong, Thailand.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was described as impressive: Wang Feng, President of Linglong; Fei Jian Hua of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand; Pornchai Tomkrajang, Chief Officer of Si Racha, Thailand and Chaiyos, Chairman of Thai Automo- bile Tyre Manufactures Association, cut the ribbon held by the trunks of two elephants standing opposite each other.
During his speech, Wang said LLIT was Linglong’s first overseas manufacturing plant outside China. Built on a 121-acre site in the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, it was set up under the ‘3+3’ strategy outlined in early 2011, which was part of Lin- glong’s long-term plan to open 3 factories in China and 3 abroad.
“It was about one-and-a-half years since the commissioning of LLIT’s production of semi-steel passenger car tyres in January 2014. With the great support from various industries, the com- missioning of LLIT’s TBR production line marked Linglong’s move towards a complete and rapid development level.”
The entire investment programme, Wang continued, achieved the company’s four objectives:
1) Rapid Construction
The two-and-a-half years Linglong took, from laying down the foundation of LLIT to the full commissioning of its product lines, were said to show ‘Linglong’s speed’ in the establishment of an overseas manufacturing plant. The first stage of construction, which saw the building of the semi-steel passenger car tyre production line, took about 11 months and 19 days, overcom- ing climate impact, cultural differences and construction material shortage to go full operation on 16th January, 2014. After one- and-a-half years, Linglong’s second stage of LLIT’s construction – the TBR tyre production line – was fully realised and put into operation, realising its rapid and efficient construction.
2) Advanced Equipment
The entire production line was said to be equipped with ad- vanced equipment, such as the imported cutting machine, one- step tyre building machine and hydraulic tyre curing press. This
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