BKT investing in infrastructure, staff in North America
To accommodate its growing presence in the North and Central American markets, BKT Tires Inc. recently opened a new premises dedicated to the OTR sector and has extended its team with two key appointments. The Balkrishna Industries company has also opened two new warehouses.
Continue ReadingGoodyear relocating Latin America HQ to Akron
According to a report emanating from Goodyear’s hometown, the tyre maker intends to bring its regional headquarters for Latin America back to company headquarters in Akron (Ohio, US) next year. The Akron Beacon Journal wrote on 16 December that efforts to relocate the headquarters in São Paulo, Brazil will begin early in 2015 with the transfer of senior management to Akron. Goodyear will spend several months evaluating which other positions it will move from São Paulo to the US, the Akron Beacon Journal added. The headquarters has been based in São Paulo since 2005, after it was moved from Akron.
Continue ReadingOn the buses – Hankook wins second award for Blue Bird supply
It’s now two years since Hankook Tire began supplying AH12 steer and Z35A drive axle tyres to bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation for original equipment fitment on its school buses, and the US-based company has recognised Hankook’s efforts by bestowing it one of ten 2014 Outstanding Supplier Awards; Hankook award success was in the Polymer category. This is the second year in a row Hankook has received the award; the tyre maker says its back to back wins underscore the commitment shown in its original equipment activities with Blue Bird Corporation.
Continue ReadingIndia’s rubber growers propose boycotting local tyre makers
Call it tit for tat or levelling the playing field, but rubber growers in India are threatening to hit back at the country’s tyre makers over what many view as a betrayal by the tyre industry. The Indian Rubber Growers Association (IRGA) has requested local tyre manufacturers purchase rubber from them at the cost they’d pay for imported rubber, and have threatened to boycott tyre makers that decline to do so. In addition, the IRGA has suggested that growers may importing and supplying the Indian market with cheap tyres.
Continue ReadingEastern light vehicle markets set to grow, says Frost & Sullivan
A new study from Frost & Sullivan says that Eastern Europe and Central Asia offer very interesting opportunities for the light vehicles sector which includes passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The study analyses this market in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, and finds that by 2021 the annual light vehicle sales volume in these eight countries is expected to reach nearly one million.
Continue ReadingBridgestone reaches 300 retail outlets in Australia
Three hundred and not out – Bridgestone Australia reports its retail network recently scored its third century, with 300 franchise and license stores now operating in the country under the Bridgestone name. The company’s franchise business began in Australia with Bridgestone Tyre Centres in 1986 and expanded in 2006 with the launch of Bridgestone Select franchised stores and licensed Bridgestone Service Centres.
Continue ReadingFootball & tyres: Linglong Tire partnering with VfL Wolfsburg
As of 1 January 2015, Shandong Linglong Tire will become an international partner to German Bundesliga and Europa League football club VfL Wolfsburg. The multi-year deal sees the tyre maker become a sponsorship partner to the Wolfsburg men’s team in markets outside of Germany. The partnership includes a commitment with Wolfsburg United, the international sporting project from VfL Wolfsburg, and will subsequently support respective Unicef projects and the VfL football school.
Continue ReadingCeat lays foundation stone for new tyre factory
On 11 December 2014, Indian tyre maker Ceat Ltd laid the foundation stone for its new manufacturing facility in Buti Bori near Nagpur, Maharashtra state. The stone laying follows the 30 October approval by Ceat’s Board of Directors to invest Rs 4.2 billion (£42.4 million) to set up a plant producing tyres for two and three-wheeled vehicles. The facility’s planned capacity is 120 tonnes per day.
Continue ReadingBridgestone tyre factory gains two Wildlife Habitat Council certifications
The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) has granted Bridgestone Americas’ Monterrey tyre factory in Mexico Corporate Lands for Learning and Wildlife at Work certification. The passenger car and light truck tyre manufacturing facility thus becomes the first Bridgestone plant outside the US to receive these two certifications. In addition, the Monterrey plant was a runner-up for the Corporate Lands for Learning 2014 Rookie of the Year award.
Continue ReadingPort congestion sees shipping rates increase – MCS
Increases in freight rates during the last quarter of the year happened earlier than expected, according to Maritime Cargo Services’ Rob Shelley. The freight forwarding company said that the market, led by supply and demand, had seen rates harden due to increased demand for shipping space “earlier than expected”. This ahead of schedule peak season combined with “higher than forecast import volumes” to increase both rates – “in some cases by 150 per cent” – and dockside waiting times.
Continue ReadingThai government propping up rubber prices with US$183 milion of support
The Thai government is buying rubber from the market via a 6 billion baht (US$183 million) buffer fund to support prices. According to a Reuters report, a private fund has also been set up to support domestic rubber futures.
Continue ReadingNew owner for insolvent Reifen Ihle’s retreading operation
The retreading business belonging to insolvent German tyre company the Reifen Ihle Group now has a new owner. The sales contract was signed late last Friday, and follows the divestment of the firm’s 12 Point S tyre retail centres to regional retailer Reifen Müller at the end of October. R-I-G Technische Produkte GmbH has been acquired by Frankfurt am Main-based holding company Prolimity Capital Partners and will now be operated under a new entity, Rigdon GmbH.
Continue ReadingTyres & Basketball: Continental’s latest sponsorship engagement
A new multi-year deal signed by Continental in the US will give it a brand presence at a total of 381 college basketball games per season. Continental Tire the Americas has entered into a partnership with International Management Group (IMG) property schools and Learfield property schools, and becomes the ‘Official Partner of Basketball’ for schools in six high-profile conferences. The tyre maker will be visible both courtside and during televised games.
Continue ReadingRMA proposes tyre registration, TIA ‘disappointed’ in legislative solution
Tire Industry Association has promised to fight a proposal by the US Rubber Manufacturers Association to reinstate a mandatory tyre registration programme, US journal Tire Review reports. During a panel on tyre registration and recalls at the Passenger Vehicle Tire Safety Symposium held by the National Transportation Safety Board, the RMA cited low registration rates of tyres sold by independent retailers as the reason behind the proposal. RMA reported that overall fewer than 20 per cent of all tyres are registered.
Continue Reading103,000km on a single set of General Grabbers
One Cape Town driver is reporting an astonishing 103,000 km on a single set of Grabber 4x4 tyres. Lodi van Deventer from Brackenfell, Cape Town, reached this milestone after three years with the General Grabber AW 265/70 R16 tyres fitted on his Toyota Fortuner. Most people find it hard to believe that I have covered over 100,000 km on the General Grabbers, Van Deventer says. The majority of the driving was on tar in both urban and rural environments, but I also did quite a bit of gravel driving in the Stilbaai area during holidays.
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