Giti Tire sets up technical centres in Germany, the US

Giti Tire has announced the establishment of new technical centres in Germany and the US. The two sites will work in collaboration with the company’s MIRA-based UK facility as well as its centres located in Indonesia and China. Giti now employs more than 600 R&D personnel and describes the creation of a European and North American technical centre as marking a “significant development in the research and development capabilities of the company.”

Giti Tire has announced the establishment of new technical centres in Germany and the US. The two sites will work in collaboration with the company’s MIRA-based UK facility as well as its centres located in Indonesia and China. Giti now employs more than 600 R&D personnel and describes the creation of a European and North American technical centre as marking a “significant development in the research and development capabilities of the company.”

The German centre is based in Hanover and will employ tyre designers, compounders, chemists and physicists and will carry out work on passenger car, 4×4, van, light truck, heavy truck and bus tyres for all of the company’s brand portfolio. The North American centre in Akron, Ohio will perform this role for the North American market.

Former Hankook Tire ETC technical director Stefan Fischer was hired by Giti Tire in July 2013 and will serve as R&D director at the Hanover centre. Fischer will have matrix reporting to both Wai Yeen Phang, executive director, R&D for Giti Tire and Richard Lyons, managing director – Europe, Giti Tire.  Mr Fischer will sit on both the European and the global R&D leadership teams. The North American technical centre will be led by Hamid Aboutorabi; he will report to both Wai Yeen Phang and Herve Richert, president of Giti Tire (USA). Aboutorabi will also sit on both the North American and global R&D leadership teams.

Fischer has over 18 years experience in tyre industry R&D. He was employed as Hankook’s ETC technical director between January 2007 and June 2013, and prior to this served as a manager at Continental AG between January 1995 and December 2006, developing passenger car and van tyres before assuming responsibility for OE tyre development.

“The new facility will have a strong focus on customer requirements, especially OE, where no target is unachievable,” commented Fischer. “I am totally exalted by the vision to enhance Giti Tire’s position in Europe, and contributing my experience and passion in introducing high performing products quickly and efficiently.”

“This is not just a marker for our commitment to Europe, but to improving our products and credentials worldwide,” added Richard Lyons. “The two sites mark a significant investment, but as we strive to position all our brands as best-in-class in their various mid-tier positions, it is essential we continue to drive for excellence.”

Hamid Aboutorabi is a 23 year tyre industry veteran. With a PhD in mechanical engineering, Aboutorabi has overseen the development and application of advanced modelling techniques in tyre design across both OE and replacement markets, and has had several research papers published through the Tire Society, Inc.

“With the new Technical Centres we have created one global R&D team which brings in the very best people and technologies across the US, Europe, China and Indonesia, and in doing so we are becoming a strong technology driven partner of the automotive industry,” said Mr. Phang.

“The appointments of Stefan and Hamid clearly highlight the excellent worldwide reputation of the company and also its ambitions moving forward,” added Herve Richert, who also serves as executive director, sales and marketing (International), Giti Tire. “They are welcome additions to what is an already exceptional worldwide R&D team.”