Mechel, Marubeni sign Bridgestone supply deal
Russian mining and metals company Mechel OAO has announced the signing of five-year contracts for supplies of extra-size Bridgestone tyres with Japan's Marubeni Corporation. These agreements were signed by several Mechel group enterprises – Yakutugol Holding Company OAO, Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO and Korshunov Mining Plant OAO –on the sidelines of the official visit of the Russian Federation's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov to Japan. The deals cover the supply of Bridgestone off-road tyres for heavy dump trucks. The contracts cover the delivery of more than 5,000 tyres.
Continue ReadingMaxxis unveils $150m Shanghai proving ground
Maxxis International has held a grand opening ceremony attended by nearly 400 domestic dignitaries and overseas partners for its new Maxxis Proving Ground in Kunshan City, directly adjacent to the company’s Shanghai manufacturing plant. The 860,000sqm comprehensive testing facility is estimated to have cost more than US$150 million, and is thought to be the first proving ground on such a large and all-encompassing scale in China. Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co., Ltd., doing business as Maxxis International, calls its new testing facility the country’s “first international standard proving ground”. Backing up this claim, Tyres & Accessories/Tyrepress.com was informed at the opening that at least one European original equipment manufacturer – Mercedes – had given Maxxis input into the facilities required at the proving ground to continue to build its OE supply, while a construction firm from Japan was consulted, though it was built by the Chinese.
Continue ReadingFullrun, Autogrip displaying new tyres, talks label controversy
Qingdao's Fullrun Tyre Corp is spending its time at Reifen China 2012 introducing new models to its range of tyres, some of which are distributed in the UK through Micheldever, Kings Road Tyres and Malvern Tyres' King David Tyres. The latest Fullrun-branded products on the stand are the F6000 passenger car high performance tyre, which it says it plans to distribute to King David, and the new TB1000 truck pattern. Autogrip also has the AG66 PCR, which Fullrun says will be distributed by Micheldever in the UK. According to the company's representatives, 90 per cent of its Fullrun tyres are rated "either EC or CE".
Continue ReadingETRMA shuns Nokian ice and snow sticker
The ETRMA has called for action against one its own members after Nokian Tyres took the initiative of producing its own ice and snow label. The association is specifically asking authorities in Finland, Norway and Sweden to put an immediate end to the initiative. Nokian tyres, which specialises in winter tyres, appears to have devised its own additional labelling system in response to the fact that the new EU tyre label that became mandatory on 1 November 2012 doesn’t include snow and ice performance information. Furthermore, due to the fact that the EU label requires tests to be conducted at relatively high ambient temperatures, winter tyres in general have shown a tendency to appear to perform poorly on the EU label.
Continue ReadingLinglong booth raided at SEMA
On 29 October Federal Marshals raided Chinese tyre manufacturer Shandong Linglong’s stand at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, according to a variety of news sources originating from reports by US magazine Tire Business. In what must be a first, even for the characteristically glitzy Las Vegas event, government officials confiscated the contents of the company’s exhibit as partial repayment of a $26 million court judgment against the company made in 2010.
Continue ReadingEstonians fitting cast-off Finnish tyres
Many used tyres that are being sold in Estonia are actually tyres that Finns have thrown away, according to the Estonian daily newspaper Õhtuleht. The paper quoted a Finnish mechanic who works at a garage who said that he often sees Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, but also Poles going through the container of used tyres behind the garage because most of the tyres there can still be used for a season or two.
Continue ReadingLabelling has landed
After years of planning, debating and discussing, tyre labelling is finally with us. From today every new passenger car and truck tyre must be sold with a European label of some kind (like the one opposite) and those doing the selling must tell their customers about it. Of course with only small numbers of retailers prepared before today's deadline, no clear enforcement mechanism in place and with 70 per cent of consumers unaware of the new rules it is unlikely to be plain sailing for everyone's favourite sticker.
Continue ReadingMichelin demand data highlights serious demand challenges in mature markets
As part of its third quarter/nine month financial results, global tyre manufacturer Michelin also published its latest tyre demand details, which give a view on how markets are performing in different segments in various parts of the world. The figures are broken down by region and segment and are then split by OE and replacement market demand.
Continue ReadingPossible EU legislation on winter tyres?
Szabolcs Schmidt, head of the European Commission's road safety unit, said he agrees that winter tyres could improve road safety. He announced there will be a 2013 EU study to evaluate the role that tyres could have in increasing road safety. Schmidt spoke at a policy breakfast at the European Parliament hosted by German MEP Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, who is vice chairman of the body's transport committee. The event was organised by Mobivia Groupe with the support of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association.
Continue ReadingGiTi appoints new Portuguese distribution structure
GiTi Tire (Europe) reports that it is aiming to increase market share in Portugal with a new distribution structure for the GT Radial brand. From this month Tiresur, which already controls the brand’s Spanish distribution, will be responsible for the passenger car, 4x4 and light truck tyres, while SEA will continue to control the commercial vehicle segment including medium and heavy truck and bus tyres.
Continue ReadingFrench go easy on breathalyser offenders
Fines for drivers of all motor vehicles - including motorcyclists, - who are caught without a breathalyser kit, will be implemented in France from March 2013, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists. The fines were due to be enforced from 1 November 2012.
Continue ReadingKwik Fit name heading to Russia
Japan’s Itochu Corporation, which purchased Kwik Fit Group for £637 million early last year, reportedly plans to adopt the fast-fit network’s name for its Russian operation – a business that may significantly expand. In an interview with The Telegraph, Kwik Fit managing director Kenji Murai explained that Itochu already has a presence in Russia’s tyre retail and wholesale sectors and operates its business there under different brand names. These will adopt the British fast-fit network’s brand name as “Kwik Fit is an Itochu leader brand now.” Murai added that Itochu currently has 15 outlets in Russia but the firm intends to grow this; the company’s network there “could easily” hit the 200 to 250 mark, he said.
Continue ReadingHow direct TPMS manufacturers are preparing for the mass market
Everyone’s talking about the introduction of tyre labelling in November. But we should also be aware that at the same time that the so-called fridge labels are being mandatorily applied to tyres, another rule stipulating that all new cars must fit TPMS is being implemented. The law stipulates that all models homologated since July 2012 have to be manufactured with an appropriate Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). From 2014 it will be broadened to include all cars being sold into the market in order to cover any cars not yet mandated. What both dates mean is that there are going to be lots of TPMS equipped cars on the road very soon and tyre retailers need to be ready to service them professionally and take advantage of this business opportunities this provides. It also means that direct TPMS manufacturers are ramping up production in order to meet increased demand from both the OE and replacement markets.
Continue ReadingSailun details Kapodistrias Cyprus partnership
Sailun Tyres appointed Chr. Kapodistrias & Sons Limited as its sole distributor of passenger car and radial truck tyres in Cyprus earlier in the year. The company is the largest automotive parts company in Cyprus. Sailun says the companies will pursue a number of brand awareness and marketing communication initiatives to stimulate sales and growth for Sailun in Cyprus. These will include radio commercials; press advertisements; leaflet distribution; participation in a local automotive exhibition; an appearance on rally and racing cars and events; and an event evening in Nicosia with a joint presentation and cocktail party for key, existing and potential new customers.
Continue ReadingAnalysts: US wholesalers de-stocking ahead of Chinese import tariff end
The latest figures from the US light vehicle replacement tyre wholesale markets suggest shipments declined 1.9 per cent in August, according to the RMA. However, financial analysts from Deutsche Bank believe there are “several factors contributing to temporary weakness in the market” and that wholesalers are currently inclined towards de-stocking (due to recent raw material cost declines, and the nearing end of Chinese tyre import tariffs. As a result many anticipate lower prices in the months ahead.
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