European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Form New Association

European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers have held the first meeting of the newly formed European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association or ETRMA. The new association will replace BLIC (Bureau de Liaison des Industries du Caoutchouc). Francesco Gori of Pirelli was elected as president, and Groupe Michelin’s Eric de CromiÈres Michelin was named vice president. Fazilet Cinaralp was appointed secretary general.

The association is made up of representatives from Bridgestone Europe, Continental AG, Cooper, Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe, Marangoni, Groupe Michelin, Nokian Tyres, Pirelli SpA, Amtel-Vredestein N.V. National associations representing general rubber goods manufacturers in Belgium (Febelplast), Finland (RMAF), France (SNCP), Germany (WDK), Italy (Federazione Gomma Plastica), Netherlands (NVR), Portugal (APIB), Spain (Consorcio), and Sweden (SGI) are also represented by the group.

BLIC was founded in 1959, as a trade association representing the rubber manufacturing industries in the Member States. It devoted itself to advocating the sector interests with the European Union Institutions.

The industry faced increasing institutional, regulatory and market challenges over the past decade initiated an assessment leading to re-shaping the governance within its European structure. ETRMA, an international non-profit organisation, is designed to promote and defend the interests of the tyre and general rubber good manufacturers with the European Union Institutions and a variety of other organizations on a pan-European and international level.

ETRMA held its first Board meeting 11 May in Brussels. The members are the tyre manufacturers having an industrial plant in Europe, and the national associations representing their General Rubber Goods manufacturers.