Coker Group acquisition completed
Irving Place Capital has confirmed the completion of its acquisition of the Coker Group, in partnership with Coker president and CEO, Wade Kawasaki, and the current Coker Group leadership team. The Coker Group consists of the Coker Tire, Wheel Vintiques, Universal Vintage Tire, Phoenix Race Tires, Specialty Wheel and Roadster Wire Wheel brands. Tennessee-based Coker Tire Company is the world’s largest manufacturer/supplier of collector vehicle tyres and motorcycle tyres, with distributors in more than 30 countries.
Continue Reading![Ex-Triangle and Goodyear Tire executive Cohade joins Johnson Controls](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/PC.jpg)
Ex-Triangle and Goodyear Tire executive Cohade joins Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls International plc has appointed Pierre E. Cohade as a director. Cohade served as chief executive officer of Triangle Tyre from 2015 to May 2016. Before this, Cohade was president of Asia Pacific Tire, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
Continue Reading![Marangoni and Vipal announce partnership](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Marangoni-and-Vipal-logos_web.jpg)
Marangoni and Vipal announce partnership
Marangoni Spa and Borrachas Vipal SA have announced that the two retreading material suppliers have entered into a partnership agreement aimed at “increasing the synergies and productivity, strengthening the industrial and commercial organisation of both groups”. Details of precisely what this means are still scarce but, according to a statement issued by Marangoni, this will lead to the creation of “the largest global independent player in the tyre retreading sector”.
Continue ReadingEU names Fiege as an Open Innovation Challenger
Startup Europe Partnership (SEP), an initiative of the European Commission, has distinguished Fiege – which has developed a tyre logistics specialism during the last 10 years – as an Open Innovation Challenger. 24 corporate partners are listed in this annual ranking, including multinationals like Amazon, Dell or Google.
Continue Reading![Cabot plant celebrates 75 years](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/image003.jpg)
Cabot plant celebrates 75 years
On 25 November, Cabot Corporation’s Ville Platte, Louisiana carbon black manufacturing facility celebrated 75 years in operation. Established in 1943, Cabot Ville Platte is the oldest plant in Cabot’s network, and today operates four manufacturing units that produce 11 different grades of carbon black, primarily sold to customers throughout North America for rubber reinforcement applications.
Continue ReadingKesoram to spin off Birla Tyres
On 4 December Kesoram Industries Ltd (part of the BK Birla Group of Companies) announced its intention to demerge its Birla Tyres Ltd business. As a result, Birla Tyres will become a listed company with its own shareholders. The demerger is scheduled for 1 January 2019.
Continue Reading![Oriente Tire USA names David R J Halldane Petlas Tire US sales director](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/d-halldane-oriente-usa.jpg)
Oriente Tire USA names David R J Halldane Petlas Tire US sales director
Oriente Tire USA has named David R J Halldane as its US sales director for Petlas. Halldane will be responsible for market and sales development of Petlas Tire’s PCR/LTR and SUV tyre lines in the US.
Continue Reading![Chinese tyre manufacturers aim to increase OE supply](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_7958.jpg)
Chinese tyre manufacturers aim to increase OE supply
When you look at Tire+’s deliberate proximity to a premium car show such as Auto Guangzhou, the first thing that comes to mind is original equipment (OE). If we take a comparable European equivalent event such as the Geneva Motor Show as an example, most of the leading global tyre players as well as some of the larger up-and-coming brands use Geneva as a way of showcasing new technologies and products in order to generate additional OE tyre sales as well as the benefit of the enhanced ongoing tyre replacement sales that come with the so-called OE pull-through effect. While it is not as linear and transactional an equation as investment in a motor show equals OE contracts, it clearly is an important part of the corporate courtship ritual. Surprisingly, things are a little different in China.
Continue Reading![Tire+ 2018 returns](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_7905.jpg)
Tire+ 2018 returns
Of course, the earlier shows (including the first edition of Tire+) were held in Shanghai. This time, the 2018 event saw the Tire+ exhibition move to Guangzhou. According to the organisers the goal of the exhibition was “not only to continue the mature model of 2017, but also leverage the resources of the exhibition”. In practice this means leveraging the show’s ability to operate in both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer realms, specifically “the automobile industry chain, which is suitable for the post-automobile market consumption upgrade and individualized demand” as well as “tyres and aftermarket enterprises”.
Continue ReadingMichelin acquires Tablet
Michelin has bought Tablet, an online travel agency specializing in boutique and luxury hotels. Headquartered in New York, Tablet was founded in 2000 by Laurent Vernhes and Michael Davis to provide a high-quality selection of unique hotel experiences to millions of travellers, and an associated booking platform. The purchase of The Tablet follows Michelin’s earlier purchase of Bookatable.com in January 2016 and Restaurantes.com in December 2016.
Continue ReadingEU requiring TPMS compliance on SUVs and light trucks
The European Union is advancing plans to broader the coverage of type approval provisions that mandate the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in new vehicles. For some time the type approval rules have required that TPMS is fitted in new passenger cars, but some arguably borderline vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks have been exempt from the rules.
Continue Reading![Vacu-Lug supporting Midland Doctors](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MDC.jpg)
Vacu-Lug supporting Midland Doctors
Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Ltd has pledged its support to The Midland Doctors Charity, with a donation to the organisation, which was set up to help the community of Pakistan following the devastating earthquake of 2005. Midland Doctors is led by NHS doctors, senior consultants and business leaders, who provide medical care.
Continue ReadingToyo investing US$138 million in US plant expansion
Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. is set to create more than 150 jobs when it invests over US$138 million in its manufacturing operation in Cartersville, Georgia. According to an official announcement, new jobs will include positions in production, support and administration.
Continue Reading![Doublestar car tyres on-sale in Carrefour Spain](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/DS-Carrefour.jpg)
Doublestar car tyres on-sale in Carrefour Spain
Doublestar Tyres, the new majority shareholder of Kumho, recently announced that its tyres are on-sale alongside premium brands at Carrefour supermarkets in Spain. According to Doublestar, which compared Carrefour founded in 1959 to Walmart in the USA, the supermarket chain is Europes favourite. Having pioneered the so-called hypermarket approach in Europe Carrefour has developed into the largest retailer in Europe and the second largest international retail chain group in the world, with business scope covering more than 40 countries and regions. Carrefour owns 17 large chain stores in Spain, which covers the Iberian area and radiates to the whole pan-European region. With an annual population of 400 million, Carrefour is a perfect channel for product sales and a perfect platform for brand exposure.
Continue Reading![Suretrac embedding RFID in truck tyres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/rfid-label.png)
Suretrac embedding RFID in truck tyres
The Suretrac brand, which is manufactured in China by Beijing-based Staridge Inc, reports that it is now embedding radio frequency identification (RFID) chips inside commercial truck tyres and retreads, enabling fleets to better manage their tyre assets throughout the full life cycle.
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