Apollo’s Schramm Keynote Speaker at Tyrexpo Africa’10 Conference

Georg Schramm, head of marketing and sales for Apollo Tyres South Africa (Pty) Limited, will be a keynote speaker at the inaugural Tyrexpo Africa Conference alongside next March’s Tyrexpo Africa’10. Schramm is responsible for all marketing and sales for the Dunlop brand in South Africa as well as Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. He will provide an expert insight into tyre manufacturing in the African market.

He will be joined at the conference by Dr Etienne Human, chief executive officer of SATRP, the South Africa Tyre Recycling Program. Dr Human will outline the work and remit of the not-for-profit organisation that was established to tackle the waste tyre problem in South Africa and support a sustainable waste tyre producer industry. Members of the body include Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop and Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Maxiprest and Trentyre.

“We are delighted with the support we’ve received from the industry in putting together the conference programme,” said ECI managing director Paul Farrant. “In Georg Schramm we have a senior figure from one of the country’s major tyre manufacturers, while Dr Human will provide an update on how the industry is responding to the challenge of dealing with the scrap tyre issue that affects all producers and distributors.”

Further speakers for the one-day conference that will run alongside the exhibition will be announced in the coming months.

Meanwhile, South African exhibitor Tubestone will be showing a new range at the exhibition for the first time, following the announcement by managing director Pieter Kruger that the company is set to distribute the well-known Taiwanese brand, Nankang. A full range should be available by the time of the show.

ECI has also confirmed that visitors and delegates can now use their online pre-registration service at www.eci-international.com to guarantee fast and hassle-free entry to the show. Exhibition hours have been structured to include late night opening on Friday until 8.00pm, allowing conference delegates and visitors to attend after business hours. The last day of the exhibition will be a Saturday, offering further incentive for those unable to attend during the working week.

By the beginning of September, floor space for Tyrexpo Africa 2010 was more than 65 per cent occupied and on track to meet targets set by the organisers. There is a current balance of 40 per cent national to 60 per cent international companies exhibiting, with strong representation from China, India, south east Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US.

Commenting on recent developments, Paul Farrant, said: “It’s clear from the response we’ve had from exhibitors that tyre businesses are taking a very positive approach to 2010, expecting that the worst of the economic squeeze will have passed. Despite the slow down, Southern Africa remains an attractive place to do business for international buyers and sellers.”

Tyrexpo Africa 2010 will provide trade visitors with direct access to tyre suppliers including Stamford, Infinity, BKT, Tandem, Techking, Tubestone and SA Tyre Distributors, while those involved in retreading will be able to do business with the likes of Elgi Rubber Company and Treadsdirect.

Garage and workshop equipment will be well represented by suppliers such as Leaderquip, Hofmann Megaplan, Rema Tip Top and Steinbichler Optotechnik, for optical measurement and sensor technology.