![Conti anticipating minor tyre market growth in 2014](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/np-degenhart.jpg)
Conti anticipating minor tyre market growth in 2014
This year, Continental expects to sell a total of 11 million more tyres in the European and the NAFTA replacement markets than in 2013. Speaking at the company’s press day in Hannover, Germany today, Continental CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart stated that the tyre maker anticipates an increase of two per cent in these two regions, markets he said were “very important to our tyre replacement business”. He added that together with further growth effects in Asia and South America, Continental is looking forward to its global replacement tyre business rising three per cent this year. In regards to the original equipment segment, the CEO said Continental expects global production of passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles to increase by about two per cent.
Continue Reading![Toyo joins TyreSafe](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Toyo-logo.jpg)
Toyo joins TyreSafe
Toyo Tires has become the latest tyre manufacturer to join TyreSafe. The manufacturer said that it would campaign alongside TyreSafe’s other members from a wide variety of sectors, including councils and insurers as well as companies within the tyre industry, to help raise awareness about the dangers associated with illegal and defective tyres. The manufacturer added that it would seek to enhance its tyre safety message with TyreSafe’s help.
Continue ReadingVredestein has sights on OE market
At the opening of a new mixer at its factory in Enschede, The Netherlands last week, Apollo Tyres chairman Onkar Kanwar stated that marketing will be the driver of the company’s planned growth in Europe and he spoke of the “big challenges” awaiting Apollo Vredestein director of marketing Jaap van Wessum and his team. A week later, van Wessum further expounded upon Apollo Vredestein’s strategy for Europe at the Geneva Motor Show.
Continue ReadingLong awaited Cooper 2013 3Q report reveals Apollo, Chengshan damage
Cooper Tire has released its 2013 third quarter financial report, carrying with it the scars of the failed Apollo Tyre deal and the linked issues with the Cooper Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company (CCT) joint venture. Cooper could not report before now as a result of unrest and lack of cooperation at CCT’s Rongcheng facility in reaction to Apollo’s attempted acquisition. The company said that it will produce Q4 and full 2013 financial reports later in March.
Continue Reading![Hankook UK sales director Barrie Horrocks passes away](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Barrie-Horrocks-UK-Sales-Director.jpeg)
Hankook UK sales director Barrie Horrocks passes away
Hankook Tyre UK sales director Barrie Horrocks passed away on 19 February, following a battle with cancer. The company with whom Horrocks worked for the last 12 years released a statement recognising his “significant contribution to the growth of the company”. Hankook added that he would be deeply missed by all at company and by […]
Continue Reading![Stirred up for growth – Apollo Vredestein prepares for a greater European presence with new tandem mixer](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/np-button-push.jpg)
Stirred up for growth – Apollo Vredestein prepares for a greater European presence with new tandem mixer
Yesterday, Apollo Vredestein introduced an addition to its Enschede factory that will save energy and costs and at the same time enable the company to manufacture the products it plans to introduce in coming years. The new ‘Mixer 8’ tandem mixer was officially brought into operation by Apollo Tyres’ chairman Onkar Kanwar together with Drs Theo W. Rietkerk, who is responsible for economy, energy and innovation within the government of Overijssel Province in The Netherlands.
Continue ReadingBekaert takes on Pirelli steel cord business for €255 million
Pirelli & C. SpA has signed an agreement with Bekaert to sell 100 per cent of its steel cord activities to the Belgium-based steel wire company for an enterprise value of €255 million. At the same time, the two firms have entered into a long-term agreement for Bekaert to supply Pirelli with tyre cord. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the second half of the year.
Continue Reading![Hankook, Lanxess join forces for synthetic rubber development](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/np-mou.jpg)
Hankook, Lanxess join forces for synthetic rubber development
Hankook Tire and German specialty chemicals firm Lanxess will work together on the development of synthetic rubber technologies for use in high performance tyres. The details of the two companies’ collaboration were laid out in a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 26 February. Under the agreement, Hankook and Lanxess will jointly work to expedite the development of synthetic rubber grades for high performance tyres. Lanxess says the MoU builds on the ties it has maintained with Hankook since 2008, when the tyre maker awarded it a long-term contract to supply solution styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) and neodymium performance butadiene rubber (Nd-PBR).
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Wheel Systems posts positive 2013 results
Depending on whether you prefer the figure for continuing operations or the total consolidated result, Trelleborg Group net sales either rose 1.0 per cent – or declined 14.9 per cent – to SEK 21,262 million (£1.96 billion) in the 2013 fiscal year. The consolidated result was down from SEK 25,237 million in 2012 and includes the impact felt from the formation of TrelleborgVibracoustic, the joint venture formed with Freudenberg in 2012. Operating profit for 2013 came to SEK 2,815 million (£259.47 million).
Continue ReadingAnalysts: Goodyear break-up is bad news for Sumitomo
While the news that Goodyear is looking to exit its international joint venture with Sumitomo Rubber partly precipitated a 10 per cent intra-day leap in Goodyear’s share price, commentary on the latest financials published by Sumitomo suggest that the JV break-up the two companies are currently in arbitration over could be bad news for the Japanese tyre maker.
Continue Reading![Conti dandelion rubber nominated for GreenTech award](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/np-dandelion.jpg)
Conti dandelion rubber nominated for GreenTech award
Together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Continental has gained a nomination at the GreenTec Awards 2014 for the joint “Rubin” project. The project, which focuses on the industrialisation of rubber sourced from dandelions, is one of three nominees in the ‘Automobility’ category, one of 14 awards categories. On 25 February, the awards jury will decide on the podium positions for the three finalists in each category, and the awards will be given out on 4 May at the start of IFAT, the worlds leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste, and raw materials management.
Continue Reading![UK car production down 0.3%](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/X-20140220123057163134.png)
UK car production down 0.3%
Analysts are expecting growth in UK car output during 2014 and beyond as newly introduced models move to full-scale production. This all comes despite a 0.3 per cent dip in output during the January 2014 compared with January 2013. Exports are also said to be showing signs of recovery, with around 50 per cent of exports go to EU.
Continue Reading![Nexen makes little progress in 2013](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Nexen-Tire-FY2013_tb-800x596.jpg)
Nexen makes little progress in 2013
In the previous financial year, Nexen Tire only managed to slightly increase its global turnover. The third-largest Korean tyre maker reported a 2013 turnover of KRW 1.73 trillion (£973.38 million), just 1.3 per cent higher than in 2012. Income also came under pressure. While operating profit amounted to KRW 177 billion (£99.38 million) and lay 1.9 per cent below the previous year’s result, net profit decreased 7.8 per cent to KRW 124 billion (£69.63 million).
Continue ReadingSRI net income up 26.4% in 2013
Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries has reported net sales of ¥780,608 billion (€4.57 billion) for the 2013 financial year, 9.9 per cent higher than in 2012. Annual operating income amounted to ¥77,055 billion (£450.74 million), up 10.5 per cent year-on-year. Net income, at ¥44,794 billion (£262.03 million), was 26.4 per cent higher than in 2012. Net income per share was ¥170.75 (£1.00).
Continue Reading![Paraguay presidential meeting a prelude to Pirelli presence](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/paraguay.jpg)
Paraguay presidential meeting a prelude to Pirelli presence
Pirelli intends to establish an office in Paraguay, and may use this as a starting point for establishing a greater presence within the country. The official website of the President of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes, reports that the head of state met with Pirelli Latin America executive president Paolo Dal Pino at the Government Palace in Asunción yesterday. Dal Pino was accompanied by Italy’s ambassador to Paraguay, Antonella Cavallari.
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