Starco enters the tractor radial market

Today, at the opening day of Reifen 2012 tyre show in Germany, Starco announced its entry into the tractor radial tyre market. The company describes its entry into this area, which centres on a new distribution agreement with the tyre manufacturer ATG, as “a move that breaks with the past and indicates the shape of things to come.” Under the agreement, Starco will now distribute ATG’s Galaxy tractor tyre range in Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany and the Benelux countries.

“As a manufacturer and supplier of special wheels, Starco has already made the commitment to the agricultural market with flotation wheels, implement wheel, dual wheel systems from Schaad, wheels and tyres for industrial machinery and trailers,” commented Starco Group marketing manager Brian Lorentzen. “As a serious supplier to the agricultural market, not least from our steel wheel factory in Croatia and the special wheel factory in Switzerland, the addition of tractor radial tyres to our product portfolio is the next logical step.”

The partnership with ATG is described as being “perfect timing” for Starco. Bolstered by a capital injection from an investment fund, ATG recently established a US$100 million tyre factory in India, which amongst other products manufactures the Galaxy agricultural tyre range, a line-up said to match around 80 per cent of the market’s requirements for radial tyres for both two and four-wheel drive tractors – at, the Danish company points out, very competitive prices. “It was essential for Starco to enter into an agreement with a manufacturer who has the design and production capacity to deliver a radial tyre product that is well-engineered and already proven in the field”, Lorentzen added. “With a track-record of launching a new tyre every third day, Alliance fits that bill perfectly.”

This new addition to the Starco product range, which initially targets aftermarket customers in selected countries within the Starco West region, is enjoying its public debut at Reifen 2012. A further expansion of the product range is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2012; this will see the 70 profile joining the programme. Together with the Galaxy Radial range, Starco will also start promoting the Galaxy Primex non-agri programme in 2012.