![Michelin buffs away loss-making Laurent pre-cure business in Germany](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Laurent-Fuhrpark.jpg)
Michelin buffs away loss-making Laurent pre-cure business in Germany
Weak demand and aggressive competition has led to seven-figure losses at the Laurent Reifen retreading plant in Germany, and in response the Michelin-owned company has decided to close its pre-cure retreading operations and lay off almost a quarter of its workforce. But it is questionable whether this measure will suffice to halt the flow of red ink required to write the firm’s balance sheet in recent years; apparently the complete closure of the Laurent Reifen site near Berlin has already been internally discussed.
Continue Reading![Same time, different place – concurrent dates for ‘Reifen’ and ‘Tire Cologne’](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Reifen-2018.jpg)
Same time, different place – concurrent dates for ‘Reifen’ and ‘Tire Cologne’
Anyone thinking about taking in a tyre show in Germany four years from now will need to schedule their itinerary very carefully. It’s already been reported that current ‘Reifen’ show sponsor the BRV (the German Federal Association of the Tyre Trade and the Vulcanisers’ Skilled Trade) will, come 2018, trade its long-term partner for a new exhibition some 40 miles from the Essen exhibition centre. But what’s only now become clear is that Germany will not only host two tyre shows in the same general vicinity – both will also be held at exactly the same time.
Continue ReadingDenso to expand TPMS range at AAPEX
Japanese automotive supplier Denso reports that it is will launch a new “unique aftermarket product” and expand its TPMS range at November’s AAPEX show, which will be held at the Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas from 4-6 November.
Continue Reading![Point S to lose 12 outlets in Germany through Reifen Ihle sale](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ihle.jpg)
Point S to lose 12 outlets in Germany through Reifen Ihle sale
A week ago, Tyres & Accessories reported that German tyre firm the Reifen Ihle Group faced being broken up for sale some eight months after filing for insolvency. It has now been officially confirmed that the 12 Reifen Ihle outlets, which operate as part of the German Point S network, have been sold to Reifen Müller KG, a tyre business that operates 30 outlets in central Germany. Klaus Müller told our sister publication Neue Reifenzeitung that the 12 Reifen Ihle outlets “pass perfectly” to Reifen Müller. But while the outlets’ future is now secure, their days as part of the Point S network are numbered.
Continue Reading![Official opening for Bridgestone’s Vietnam plant](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/vietnam.jpg)
Official opening for Bridgestone’s Vietnam plant
A ceremony has been held to mark the official opening of Bridgestone’s latest tyre factory. The grand opening of the Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing Vietnam Limited Liability Company (BTMV) plant in Hai Phong City, Vietnam comes half a year after production of passenger car radials began there. The opening ceremony was attended by guests from the Vietnam government, Hai Phong City, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, and representatives of companies from the automotive sector.
Continue Reading![Fleet Symposium brings stakeholders together](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_3082-e1414497519857.jpg)
Fleet Symposium brings stakeholders together
Just over six months since the last time Tyres & Accessories met Michel Rzonzef at the Geneva Motor Show, the Goodyear executive has switched segments. When we met before he was vice president of the Consumer Tire Business at Goodyear EMEA. Now he is vice president of Commercial Tires EMEA. So, with the move from consumer to commercial still relatively fresh, T&A took the opportunity to discuss the development and direction of the truck and fleet tyre business with Rzonzef during the course of the recent Goodyear Fleet Symposium in Brussels on 14 October. Henk van Tuyl, Goodyear’s director of regional technology - Heavy Tires EMEA, also joined in with the conversation.
Continue Reading![Giti’s European R&D centre ready for growing OE business](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/hartwig.jpg)
Giti’s European R&D centre ready for growing OE business
It’s been a year since Tyres & Accessories first met the recently-appointed head of Giti Tire’s new R&D Centre Europe. At the time, R&D director Stefan Fischer shared the tyre maker’s plans and showed off the still largely-empty premises where specialists would soon be hard at work. A lot has changed in 12 months: Upon returning to the Hannover, Germany-based facility, we saw it was well and truly up and running and, in the important area of original equipment development, even further established than originally planned.
Continue Reading![Chicago Pneumatic to debut cordless range at SEMA](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/CPT3210-CP-Cordless-Range.jpg)
Chicago Pneumatic to debut cordless range at SEMA
Chicago Pneumatic has announced plans to premier new range of cordless tools for the vehicle service industry at SEMA 2014. Visitors to the booth will be able to try the tools and see first-hand just how powerful and easy to use they are. The company is also previewing its workshop equipment range, which will be available in 2015, as well as showcasing new tools in its pneumatic range of impact wrenches.
Continue ReadingTMG finds new home
Netherlands-based Techno Marketing Group (TMG) has moved to new premises. Earlier this year TMG relocated its base and associated distribution centre to a new all purpose site in Roosendaal. According to the company, the new site incorporates a carefully planned and spacious office area with an adjacent product showroom specially designed to also act as a customer training centre.
Continue Reading![Trelleborg, Tractor Girl and Massey Fergusson prepare for South Pole expedition](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/trelleborg-south-pole.jpg)
Trelleborg, Tractor Girl and Massey Fergusson prepare for South Pole expedition
Most farmers are unlikely to ever operate their tractors in Antarctic conditions, but should the need arise it’s reassuring to know they can. Massey Ferguson is heading to the South Pole next month with Manon Ossevoort – the Dutch woman popularly known as ‘The Tractor Girl’ – who will drive a MF 5600 tractor to the bottom of the world. Trelleborg has been selected as official partner for the 1,460 mile/2,350 kilometre ‘Antarctica2’ expedition that sets off on 21 November, and has developed a special multi-purpose tyre and wheel set for the journey.
Continue ReadingGoodyear HQ wins environmental design award
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Companys global headquarters building in Akron has earned a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating from the US Green Building Council. At 639,000 square feet, it is among the largest LEED Gold certified buildings in Ohio. The LEED green building program ensures buildings conserve energy, water and other resources and are safer and healthier for occupants. Gold certification indicates Goodyears high level of investment in best-in-class building strategies and practices.
Continue Reading![Gaither Europe relocates](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/RechtzaadLR-Gaither-Europe-Photo.jpeg)
Gaither Europe relocates
It is now over two decades since US-based Gaither Tool Company launched a European division. Back in the 1990s Gaither offered just two products whilst currently there are up to 30 pieces of equipment available in the companys brand portfolio, underlining the growth of the company’s product portfolio.
Continue Reading![Andy Baron joins SD-International, Toledo range introduced](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSCN3824.jpg)
Andy Baron joins SD-International, Toledo range introduced
Shanghai-based contract tyre manufacturer SD-International recently reinforced its European sales team with the appointment of Andy Baron as sales manager (Northern Europe). Both this and the introduction of the company’s new Toledo range took place during October’s Britytrex exhibition in Manchester.
Continue ReadingNew Zealand introduces ‘Energywise’ tyre fuel efficiency standard
On 5 October transport authorities in New Zealand introduced the EnergyWise approval mark to help identify fuel efficient tyres and to help encourage consumers to ask for Energywise-approved tyres. The mark is also designed to give reassurance about the performance of the wet braking performance of tyres.
Continue Reading![Alliance’s Mahansaria named Forbes India’s 2014 NextGen Entrepreneur](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/forbes.jpg)
Alliance’s Mahansaria named Forbes India’s 2014 NextGen Entrepreneur
The founder and CEO of the Alliance Tire Group has been honoured in Forbes India’s Leadership Awards 2014. Yogesh Mahansaria was one of nine Indian entrepreneurs selected by the publication as being outstanding in a particular field. Forbes India gave Mahansaria the ‘NextGen Entrepreneur’ award for “harnessing the competitive advantages of Indian and Israeli assets, and scaling up a niche B2B business globally by paying close attention to end users across geographies.”
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