Zafco aiming for US$1 billion by 2012
Following a successful Tyrexpo Asia earlier this year, Zafco, the Dubai based tyre distributor of tyres, batteries and lubricants, opted for a second high profile exhibition stand at Automechanika Middle East. Tyres & Accessories was on-hand in Dubai to find out more.
Continue ReadingMapping the Middle Eastern markets
One collaboration Tyres & Accessories experienced the benefit of during Automechanika Middle East was that of Auto Strategies and CIP Development Services. The two companies work together to produce insights in the automotive markets of some of the lesser reported markets, including many in the Middle East. As well as annual vehicle sales, which are relatively easy to get hold of, the companies reports also look at the car parcs of the markets covered. And data that looks at what vehicles are currently on the market wearing out tyres is obviously of great interest to tyre companies too.
Continue Reading‘There are no bad tyres’
Al Dobowi Group chairman Surender Singh Kandhari’s spoke on “the emergence of budget tyres” at the recent Automechanika Middle East his argument that there is no such thing as a bad tyre may have raised some eyebrows, but it certainly got the audience thinking. Highlighting that the combination of ambitious manufacturers based in emerging markets and increasingly tough legislation has seen so-called budget brands rapidly increase sales volumes and standards, his most memorable comment came when he posited: "There are no bad tyres; only good ones and better ones.”
Continue ReadingCooper refuses comment on Trayal investment reports
Cooper has refused to comment on multiple Serbian news reports quoting Serbian finance secretary Miodrag Djidic as saying that Cooper Tire is interested in acquiring Trayal’s automobile tyre plant. When questioned on the subject, a Cooper Tire Europe spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that’ the company’s “corporate policy is not to comment on rumour or speculation.”
Continue ReadingDeruibao Tire seeks distribution partners
Shandong Deruibao Tire Co., Ltd., produces passenger car radial tyres under two Chinese brands plus the slightly more anglicized Deruibo international export moniker. Deruibao is currently looking for international distribution partners having embarked on an export programme last March. Initially things began with the export of the firm’s truck and bus radials, but moving forward, the company hopes to do the same with passenger car radials in 2012. The company currently manufactures 3 million all-steel tyres a year across 100 stock keeping units (SKUs), but the company began building a 24 million unit a year plant a couple of years ago. The firm already produces 13 patterns and 13 sizes of truck and bus radials.
Continue ReadingTherapy for Bruno the tyre chomper
New Zealand’s 3 News has reported the antics of Bruno, a seven-year old mastiff cross with a tyre phobia. Following a mini-rampage in which Bruno disabled three vehicles, including two police cars, by sinking his teeth into their radials, the tyre hating canine ended up in the doghouse – literally. However every dog is said to have its day, and after making an appearance on the evening news Bruno is having his, courtesy of New Zealand’s first pet hotel and day spa.
Continue ReadingPakistan sales champion Panther aiming to improve exports
Under the leadership of Mian Iftikhar Ahmed, the dedicated team Mian Tyre & Rubber Company Limited (MTRCL), which sells the Panther brand of tyres, has won the Pakistan export trophy for the last eight consecutive years. Now, the flagship business of Iftikhar Group of Companies, a leading tyre and tube manufacturing group in Pakistan is aiming to increase exports still further. According to the company, the Panther trade name has developed a reputation of “excellence in domestic and export marketplace.” The firm supplies tyres and tubes for tractors, threshers, fork lifts, jeeps, motorcycles, scooters, rickshaws, cycles and trolleys.
Continue ReadingVoith Industrial Services planning growth in wheel and tyre assembly operations
Voith Industrial Services has appointed Jack Callaghan in a bid to further expand the company’s business in wheel and tyre assembly operations throughout the UK and mainland Europe. Callaghan, who has more than 20 years’ experience in wheel and tyre operations in the automotive sector, has been appointed business development manager based at Voith Industrial Services’ UK headquarters in Warwick.
Continue ReadingHard surface tyre added to Michelin BibSteel range
Promising “even higher productivity on North American construction sites and work sites,” Michelin North America has launched the latest addition to its radial skid steer range, the BibSteel Hard-Surface tyre. This new product, which replaces the Michelin Stabil’XZSL radial, is said to deliver increased traction and durability plus a better ride than its cross-ply counterparts.
Continue ReadingTyres dominate Automechanika Academy in Dubai
Following a successful opening day, with a steady stream of visitors in attendance, Automechanika Middle East 2011 continued today with a series of tyre-related seminars dominating the day’s Automechanika Academy sessions.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to invest in Costa Rica production and services
Two planned investments will increase Bridgestone’s presence in Costa Rica: The local subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO), Bridgestone de Costa Rica, has announced the company’s new Financial Shared Services Center for the Latin American Region is to be located in the Central American country. Bridgestone also confirmed it will invest US$70 million in its La Ribera de Belen tyre factory in Heredia province over the next five years.
Continue ReadingJaxQuickfit tweaks website in response to changing consumer requirements
Australian fast fit chain JAXQuickfit Tyres has introduced a new section on its jaxquickfit.com.au website dedicated to informing potential customers about eco-friendly tyres and identifying suitable products for their vehicles. The company introduced this new website section after observing a shift in customer tyre requirements in recent times. JaxQuickfit CEO Jeff Board explains: “No longer are they primarily focusing on safety and cost-effectiveness aspects of tyres, many are now also seeking tyres that possess environmentally friendly features also.” Eco tyres are identified on the JAXQuickfit Tyres website by a green leaf symbol.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop names new German plant managers
A new plant manager has taken charge of Goodyear Dunlop’s factory in Philippsburg, Germany. As of May 1, Klaus Happ has taken over the role from Bruno Kihm, who is now plant manager of the company’s Riesa passenger car tyre factory in the country’s east. Kihm in turn has replaced Dr. Christian Paech, who retired on May 1 after a career with the tyre maker spanning 33 years.
Continue ReadingDecade of Action gets underway – Michelin signs on
On May 11, 2011 – a date that coincides with the official global launch of the World Health Organization and FIA Foundation’s ‘Decade of Action’ – Michelin Group managing partner Jean-Dominique Senard added his signature to the Global Road Safety Commitment to support the Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020, a United Nations supported and promoted initiative. By signing the declaration, Michelin says it has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing and further expanding its initiatives to improve road safety.
Continue ReadingMarangoni highlights complete forklift range, German service arm at CeMAT 2011
The Marangoni Group presented its forklift range at one of the world’s most important intralogistics exhibitions, CeMAT 2011, at the Hanover Exhibition Centre between 2 and 6 May. Following the recession in the industrial goods handling business in 2009, last year average monthly European production of forklift trucks again exceeded the 20,000 mark. This recovery in Europe has led German forklift truck manufacturers to present a new generation of technologically evolved forklifts, so as to satisfy current and future demands in terms of safety and energy savings. For Marangoni, already an OEM supplier to leading European brands, this has meant the development of a series of tyres that match the technology applied to these new vehicles.
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