BILATERAL RELATIONS USA - SLOVENIA

Sava, Rubber and Chemical Industry, d.d.

Goodyear Engineered Product Europe

Sava Tires, Tire Manufacturing Company, d.o.o.

tel.: +386 64 26 50
fax: +386 64 223 806
e-mail: info@sava.si
Internet site: http://www.sava.si

The Sava joint stock company, rubber and chemical industry, is among Slovenia's most successful companies. Its beginnings date back to 1920, when the Atlanta import-export company registered the manufacturing of rubber products in Kranj. Following modest beginnings when the company mainly produced moulded rubber products, its scope of operations was expanded after World War II. It started manufacturing conveyor belts and v-belts, automobile tires and inner tubes. In 1967, Sava concluded a license agreement for the production of diagonal tires with Semperit, followed in 1972 by the fruit of their successful co-operation, the Sava Semperit Tire Manufacturing Plant producing radial tires. After undergoing privatization, Sava was registered as a joint stock company with approx. 42,000 shareholders, thus becoming one of the largest joint stock companies in Slovenia.

A period of great change followed. Co-operation with the Semperit / Continental partner ceased in 1995 and talks began with the Goodyear corporation. After two years of negotiations, a long-term business partnership agreement was signed on 10 December 1997. Two joint ventures were established: Goodyear Engineered Products Europe, d.o.o., and Sava Tires, d.o.o. Sava transferred its air springs and v-belt product lines to the first company, which is 75% Goodyear-owned. The Sava Tires, Tire Manufacturing Company, d.o.o., where Goodyear is 60% owner, began its operations in mid 1998. This Agreement on Business Partnership constitutes the biggest American investment in Slovenia.

In its strategy, the Sava joint stock company is oriented toward excellence and high quality of its products and services. Its activities continue a wealth of tradition and experience in the field of rubber manufacturing and chemicals. It is stepping into the future with 21st century materials and products, high-quality rubber compounds, rubber technical and chemical products, as well as Siloxirane, an advanced material offering completely new possibilities. Sava's activities are complemented by high-end tourism.

In the coming century, the language of the global market will be the only universal tongue of the business world. That is why Sava develops and markets those products and services with which it is able to be globally competitive and meet demanding quality criteria. Their added value guarantees the satisfaction of its employees, shareholders and of the environment.

Sava manufactures and markets scooter and moped tires, bicycle tires, industrial vehicle tires, inner tubes, solid wheels, rubber compounds, conveyor belts, profiles, roller covers, civil engineering materials, medical products, offset printing blankets, environmental protection and rescue products, technical and chemical products, and the new Siloxirane material.

Siloxirane, a space-age material, is new to Sava's range of products. At the end of 1998, Sava signed an agreement with Advanced Polymer Sciences from Avon, Ohio, thus establishing a joint venture in majority Sava ownership. The company will be the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Siloxirane-based materials and products for Slovenia, the markets of the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, having access to other European and overseas markets as well.

Sava's operations are aimed at the world. It exports 70 percent of its production and has its own foreign trade companies in Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland.

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