Euro-zone debt crisis hitting trailer market
The uncertain economic outlook in Europe looks set to hit sales of heavy trailers in 2012. Demand for new trailers is now forecast to fall below the level of 2011, according to some market analysts. As a consequence the sales figure for 2012 will be 10,000 trailers less than was forecast in May this year.
Continue ReadingETRMA ‘surprised’ by TWG speech
Following the publication of Tyres & Accessories’ report on the recent NTDA Tyre Wholesalers Group annual lunch, ETRMA secretary general Fazilet Cinaralp has written an open letter stating her association’s surprise at the issues raised in TWG chairman Ashley Croft’s keynote speech. During the speech, Croft referred to testing, lobbying and the relative importance of the implementation of current tread depth legislation. As our coverage explains, no-one was available to attend the event on behalf of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers association, so here is the association’s response in full:
Continue ReadingMESNAC buys Wyko Tire Technology
Qingdao, China based tyre manufacturing equipment maker MESNAC Co. has taken a 100 per cent equity position in US firm Wyko Tire Technology. In its relatively short history MESNAC has rapidly grown to the number four position in its field and speaking to Tyres & Accessories in China at the end of November, company executives hinted that the next phase of growth would be both outside its native China and would include acquisitions such as the latest Wyko purchase. MESNAC has indicated it will retain the Wyko brand and continue to provide normal service and support to customers, with no disruption in business.
Continue ReadingEuropean Commission publishes updated labelling regulation
Just under a year before its mandatory introduction, the European Commission has published its second regulation (1235/2011) paving the way for the implementation of tyre labelling requirements. Regulation 1222/2009 introduces labelling requirements detailing the display of information on fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise of tyres. According to the ETRMA, which has been involved in consultation on the legislation, the regulation aims to “increase the safety and the environmental and economic efficiency of road transport by promoting fuel-efficient and safe tyres with low noise levels.”
Continue ReadingWholesalers Group chair outlines concerns with ETRMA
The ears of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association must have been rather warm as Ashley Croft, chairman of the Tyre Wholesalers Group of the NTDA, gave his speech at the group's annual lunch. Around 75 people – customers and suppliers – attended the event on 22 November at the National Motorcycle Museum and, as well as lunch, there was plenty of food for thought, particularly for manufacturers of premium brands.
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres South Africa settles price fixing case
South Africa’s Competition Commission has settled its price fixing case with Apollo Tyres South Africa. Under the terms of the deal struck between the tyre maker and the government body, Apollo will pay a 45 million rand (£3.5 million) fine and admit to its prior participation in the tyre manufacturers’ pricing cartel that also allegedly included the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (Pty) Ltd (SATMC), Goodyear South Africa, Continental Tyre South Africa and Bridgestone South Africa. The penalty Apollo Tyres South Africa is required to pay represents 4.75 per cent of its total 2008 turnover.
Continue ReadingPCL acquired by Horn Tecalemit
The management of Pneumatic Components Limited, or PCL, reports that Germany’s HORN GmbH & Co.KG (Horn Tecalemit) has acquired all shares in the Sheffield-based business for an undisclosed sum. This deal took effect on 1 October 2011 and although the two companies will continue to trade independently, PCL and Horn Tecalemit say the acquisition will give both firms “access to a wider range of complementary products” and benefit customers, suppliers and company employees.
Continue ReadingFiege extends Bridgestone European Logistics
German company the Fiege Group, who handles logistics for Bridgestone in several European countries, reports it has begun supplying the Swiss market via cross-border distribution from its facility in Lahr, in southwest Germany. The assumption of Swiss distribution logistics has transformed the Fiege facility in Lahr from a national distribution warehouse into an internationally-operating distribution centre, the company adds. In co-operation with Bridgestone and the respective national customs authorities, Fiege says it has come up with a distribution solution than enables the daily supply of tyres within a standard transit time of 24 hours, as well as the organisation of the entire customs clearance for the transport of the goods from Germany to Switzerland.
Continue ReadingMitas aims for greater prominence after UK name change
Mitas is aiming to raise the profile of the company and better communicate the strength of its products and recent sales performance in the market following the official rebranding of the UK company as Mitas Tyres Limited. With an impressive number of OE contracts under its belt, Mitas is aiming to grow market share in both the OE and replacement markets and solidify its position as “the UK’s leading off-road tyre specialist”, according to the company. And despite the fact that company is well-known for producing Continental branded agricultural tyres under licence, as you might imagine, a key part of this strategy is to highlight the Mitas name in the UK and beyond.
Continue ReadingNigerian action aimed at encouraging local tyre manufacture
Nigeria’s official body in charge of standards, certification and inspection says it hopes that the seizure and destruction of used and substandard tyres will encourage major manufacturers to resume tyre production within the country. Benin City-based newspaper the Sunday Observer reported on November 6 that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had destroyed more than 60 truckloads of these tyres, and SON director of enforcement Louis Njoku told the newspaper the action was taken to encourage companies such as Dunlop and Michelin to relocate their industries back to Nigeria.
Continue ReadingMichelin’s Lepercq and Continental’s Koetz elected ETRMA president, VP
After two consecutive terms as ETRMA president Pirelli CEO Dr. Francesco Gori is making way for Michelin’s Patrick Lepercq for a three-year presidential mandate set to run from 2012 to 2014. The news follows Lepercq’s election to the role by ETRMA’s board of directors who also appointed Contiental’s Christian Koetz vice–president for the same period.
Continue ReadingZafco takes on global Zeetex distributorship
Dubai-based Zafco has announced that it has extended its distributorship of the Zeetex tyre brand to a global scale after “the acquisition” of the role from Netherlands based S&H Tyres. Prior to this, the rights to Zeetex, which encompasses over 600 product units including tyres, batteries and lubricants, were jointly held between the two companies. The distribution change came following Zafco’s participation at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas in November 2011, where the company showcased its Zeetex, exclusive brand.
Continue ReadingNokian to expand Vianor Industrial network
Nokian Tyres has announced it will open four new Vianor Industrial outlets in Sweden at the start of next year, and the company says it also plans to expand the concept into Russian and Kazakhstan. At present 34 Vianor Industrial outlets are in operation; Norway is the currently the largest single Vianor Industrial market, with 16 outlets, followed by Sweden, with 12 outlets. The Ukraine and Nokian’s home market of Finland each boast three Vianor Industrial outlets.
Continue ReadingHankook establishes new subsidiary in Poland
Hankook Tire has established an additional subsidiary in Europe. The opening of the company’s Polish branch in Warsaw is in keeping with the growing demand for Hankook tyres in the European markets. “Thanks to our new subsidiary in Poland we are now also able to provide full service to our partners and customers in the 6th largest tyre market in the European Union. This is in-line with Hankook’s strategy of close market and customer proximity to provide optimal tyre solutions, developed and produced with the very latest in market-specific and innovative technologies, to meet regional requirements and demands,” explains Hee-Se Ahn, vice president for marketing and sales Hankook Tire Europe.
Continue ReadingNew trade deal will aid US doing tyre business with South Korea
TIA says that the renewed free trade deal with South Korea is a good deal for the U.S. tyre market. President Obama signed the renewal of the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which was part of a trade pact originally agreed to between the U.S. and South Korea in 2007 – Korean-United States Free Trade Agreement.
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