RubberNetwork Moves Forward

RubberNetwork.com, the electronic global purchasing marketplace set up by six tyre manufacturers, has taken a step forward. Transactions are due to begin in April and Bob Webster has been appointed as vice president of operations.

A chief executive officer will be appointed at a later date. The organisation has also launched its own website. Webster believes that RubberNetwork.

com will lead to fundamental changes in the purchasing and procurement processes of its members, which will in turn be of benefit to customers. And not only purchasing, as it is planned to offer a complete range of services over time, including e-catalogues, auctions, reverse auctions, requests for proposals and quotes and supply chain management. Confidentiality is assured for all customers and RubberNetwork recently gained approval from the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt), giving the go-ahead to the establishment of the marketplace and commencement of operations.

RubberNetwork is fully funded by its six members (Continental, Cooper, Goodyear, Pirelli, Michelin and Sumitomo) and Webster says that he is actively seeking other members from the tyre and rubber industries – the marketplace will be open to all tyre and rubber manufacturers and suppliers. It is estimated that total purchases for the global tyre industry on raw materials, equipment, goods and services add up to 50 billion US Dollars a year..