![Nokian Tyres’ president resigns](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Lehtoranta-Ari_3-sml-1.jpg)
Nokian Tyres’ president resigns
Nokian Tyres’ president and CEO Ari Lehtoranta has resigned in order to “pursue new opportunities outside of Nokian Tyres”. According to the company, Lehtoranta will continue in his present position until the end of 2016. Lehtoranta only joined Nokian in May 2014 and will be remembered for his decision to own up to company’s magazine tyre test manipulation in February 2016.
Continue Reading![New brand identity for NGK](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Ignition-parts.jpg)
New brand identity for NGK
NGK, the original equipment supplier of spark plugs, glow plugs and NTK sensors, revealed a new brand identity at the recent Automechanika show in Frankfurt, Germany.
Continue Reading![New website from Brake Engineering](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Brake-website.jpg)
New website from Brake Engineering
Brake Engineering has launched a new, responsive website, designed to continue and develop the braking supplier’s Original Aftermarket initiative. The website provides exclusive information about the company, as well as regular updates from the braking brand, including new-to-range product introductions and events. Customers can also access Brake Engineering’s dedicated customer portal, where they can purchase […]
Continue Reading![ATS Euromaster and Blackcircles open second Pit Stop centre at Lakeside](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ats-lakeside-e1474908993270.jpg)
ATS Euromaster and Blackcircles open second Pit Stop centre at Lakeside
ATS Euromaster, in partnership with Blackcircles, has opened its second quick tyre change facility at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, following the success of the first Pit Stop location in Cambridge.
Continue Reading![Cooper regains global tyre social media crown](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/email-concept-1236473.jpg)
Cooper regains global tyre social media crown
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (@CooperTire) has regained first place in Tyres & Accessories’ annual global tyre social media ranking. The US-based tyre manufacturer topped the chart in 2014, with a score of 84. However, the company’s score decreased to 78.3 in 2015 and the firm fell back to third place. Nevertheless, this year’s score of 81.7 is enough to return Cooper to the top of the tree, with 9.65 points of clear water between it and last year’s winner Pirelli.
Continue ReadingDunlop leaps into the pole position in UK tyre social media ranking
Dunlop has topped Tyres & Accessories 2016 social branding table with a score of 81.55. Like our annual global tyre social branding survey, this aims to produce a meta-score based on existing social influence metrics (namely Klout and Kred), covering both contacts and interactions across the leading social media channels including - but not limited to - Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. The difference is that the UK table focuses on accounts managed in and for the UK tyre business.
Continue Reading![Ready for take-off: is Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd (DATL) up for sale?](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Dunlop-Aircraft-Tyres.jpg)
Ready for take-off: is Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd (DATL) up for sale?
While the vast majority of the UK’s tyre production and retreading capacity refers to trucks and a relatively small amount of car tyre retreading still takes place as well as some specialist earthmover retreading, one of the nation’s largest retreaders makes aircraft tyres. Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd or DATL as it is known has demonstrated strong growth in recent years and is majority-owned by private equity. Put the two together and it begs the question – is Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd (DATL) up for sale?
Continue Reading![Restructuring picks up pace at Rigdon](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Rigdon_1-sml.jpg)
Restructuring picks up pace at Rigdon
A number of changes and new developments have taken place since Reifen Ihle’s retreading operation began afresh as Rigdon GmbH at the end of 2014. The company, which is based in Günzburg, near the River Danube, remains the largest independent manufacturer of retreaded tyres in Germany, however Rigdon’s restructuring is by no means complete. While the new owner has made good progress implementing its “Rigdon 2020” growth strategy and corporate transformation programme so far, Rigdon GmbH managing director Ralf Schnelle shares with Tyres & Accessories that further significant changes are coming within the framework of the five-year programme, changes that – in spite of the many problems within the market – will help the company and its employees look forward to the future with confidence.
Continue ReadingMichelin establishes aircraft tyre firm in China
A new Michelin subsidiary has been set up to facilitate the expansion of the company’s activities within China’s aviation segment. Frank Moreau, president of Michelin Aircraft Tyre, describes the establishment of Michelin (Shanghai) Aircraft Tire Trading Co. Ltd (MSAT) as “an important step” for the Michelin’s aviation tyre business in China.
Continue Reading![Hankook now supplying tyres to third major European truck maker](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/hankook-scania-sml.jpg)
Hankook now supplying tyres to third major European truck maker
In addition to unveiling several new products, Hankook Tire’s big news from the IAA Commercial Vehicles show is its approval by Scania as an original equipment tyre supplier. As of November, Hankook Tire will supply 18 tyre dimensions to all Scania truck and bus models produced in Europe. According to Stefan Brückner, Hankook OE account manager Europe, 11 of these 22.5 inch dimensions will be for the important long haul segment, and the other seven for regional haul applications.
Continue ReadingCreditors to sell Kumho Tire shareholding
The creditors who hold a 42 per cent share in Kumho Tire are said to have begun the process of selling the tyre maker. Reuters reports a spokesperson for Korea Development Bank, the largest Kumho Tire shareholder, as giving November or thereabouts as the deadline for initial letters of interest, with main bids coming in or around January. Credit Suisse has been appointed to manage the deal.
Continue Reading![Manbat consolidated with European siblings to form Ecobat Battery Technologies](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ecobat.jpg)
Manbat consolidated with European siblings to form Ecobat Battery Technologies
Last week’s Automechanika Frankfurt show was the exhibition debut for a new name in the battery world – Ecobat Battery Technologies. The company was recently created through the consolidation of three independent businesses operating within the Ecobat group, a consortium which itself spawned from Ecobat Technologies, the world’s largest producer of lead and lead alloys. With this entirely new entity, Ecobat says it intends to “offer a unique and comprehensive battery service across Europe.”
Continue ReadingSymbio FCell welcomes Michelin as main shareholder, brings new investor on board
Michelin has become the majority shareholder in Symbio FCell in the latest round of fundraising conducted by the French hydrogen fuel cell technology company. This fundraising round also saw energy company Engie come on board as an investor. Symbio FCell states that the funds raised give it “the means to develop faster, particularly in the field of hydrogen mobility.”
Continue ReadingStapleton’s releases new TyreSurf e-commerce system
After years in the making, Stapleton’s is releasing TyreSurf – an e-commerce system designed to help tyre retailers boost profits – on a widespread basis. In short, TyreSurf acts as the retailer’s own bespoke branded, website specially created, maintained, and linked into Stapleton’s. Stapleton’s sees the latest development as “almost certainly the company’s greatest e-commerce innovation since the introduction of ProfitLink at the turn of the millennium”.
Continue Reading![Nokian Tyres to build test facility, technology centre in Spain](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/nokian-spain-1-sml.jpg)
Nokian Tyres to build test facility, technology centre in Spain
The Spanish municipality of Santa Cruz de la Zarza, some 50 miles southeast of Madrid, has been selected as the location of Nokian Tyres’ new technology centre for the testing of summer and winter tyres. The Finnish tyre maker will invest approximately €16 million to build the facility on a site of some 300 hectares. Construction work will begin early in 2017, and while the facility will not be finished until 2019 the first project stage is expected to be completed next year.
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