Shanghai Baolong: Getting Down to Brass Tacks
Many of the conversations on the Shanghai Baolong Industries Company Limited stand at Essen concerned the rising costs of raw materials and the effect that this has had on Shanghai Baolong and its products; notably brass valves and wheel balancing weights. Since 2003, says the company, the price of copper has risen continually. By March 2006, most people thought that the copper price had reached its peak because it was at an unprecedented level after rising for such a long time. As it was, the price of copper was set to increase way beyond what most people had imagined.
Continue ReadingUAE Tyre Rental Racket
Some unscrupulous dealers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have allegedly been running a tyre rental racket. According to the Gulf news report, drivers are able to hire tyres at a fraction of the cost of buying a new set in order to gain MOT-style certification. This deal is said to cost as little as 40 dirhams (around £5.90) to customers who use popular cars such as Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Local police have publicly condemned the trade and warned that those involved will be prosecuted. Gulf News reported that 20 per cent of road accidents in the region are attributed to faulty or badly maintained tyres.
Continue ReadingQuiet Performer? Goodyear India
(India/Rubber Asia) Goodyear India is quietly getting into the news again. After years of lack-lustre performance, the company is making rapid strides in select segments and is charting out aggressive growth strategies. Antonio M.Capellini, chairman and managing director of Goodyear India, has reason to be happy. Despite severe competition from multinational and local brands, the company has carved out a niche market for itself. In the OTR tyre segment it’s the market leader in the country. With an 18 per cent market share in the passenger car radial segment, it is the only tyre company in the country approved by all car manufacturers for OEM supplies.
Continue ReadingThe 6th International Exhibition on Tyres and Rubber Technology
China’s leading rubber exhibition - Tyres & RubberTech China 2006 (organized by China United Rubber Group Corporation) will take place from 20-22 November 2006 at INTEX Shanghai. The trade fair will occupy an exhibition area of 12,000 square metres, signifying a growth of 100 per cent from the 2005 event. More 400 exhibitors and about 8,000 trade visitors are expected to meet at the exhibition.
Continue ReadingNigerian Government Joins IRSG
The International Rubber Study Group has announced that the Government of Nigeria is now a member of the Group. “Rubber production [in Nigeria] has been established on a significant scale since the 1940s. Rubber area increased in the early stage, but due mainly to the higher oil price, the area has been declining recently. Despite declining, Nigeria may still have the largest area under rubber in Africa at an estimated 145,000 hectares and hence a high potential for the future. NR consumption is relatively small and stable at about 16,000 tonnes a year, while SR consumption is about 5,000 tonnes per year,” the IRSG reported in a membership statement.
Continue ReadingSpotlight on the Chinese Alloy Wheel Market
To some of his competitors Derek Zhang is known as the “godfather” of the aluminium wheel business in China. He has been dubbed with this moniker in appreciation of the rapid development of the China Wheel, which he leads as CEO, and his deep knowledge of the competitive situation in the enormous People’s Republic. At the moment there are about 200(!) different producers in the country. Some are so small that they are liable to disappear from the map, or have already been forced to cut production. Zhang expects a large consolidation wave, whereby the capacities of the smaller companies are taken only partially from the market; many will be absorbed by the larger players.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to shut UK tyre plant in cost-cut move
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on Wednesday said it plans to close an automobile tyre plant in the United Kingdom and a bicycle tyre plant in Poland (Debica) in order to achieve combined annual savings of up to $50 million. The largest U.S. tyre company, which is based in Akron, Ohio, said it has begun discussions with union employees as a step toward shutting its Goodyear Dunlop United Kingdom passenger tyre factory in Washington, northeast England. This action is expected to create annual savings of approximately $20 million and result in charges of between $75 million and $85 million ($55 million to $65 million after-tax). The cash portion of this charge is estimated to be $35 million to $40 million.
Continue ReadingKumho Vietnamese Plant – Latest
It seems that the announcement by Kumho that it is to spend US$155 million on building a factory at Binh Duong in Vietnam (30th April) is only part of the whole story.
Continue ReadingManagement Changes at Nokian Tyres
Nokian has announced a number of changes at senior management level. Vice President, Purchases and Logistics, Mr. Kari-Pekka Laaksonen is appointed Vice President, Sales and Logistics as of 1 February 2006. Vice President, Nokian Car and Van Tyres, Mr. Antero Juopperi is appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy as of 1 March 2006. He is responsible for all Russian business activities, R&D and Corporate Development of the Nokian Tyres Group. Vice President, Finance and Control, Mr. Rami Helminen is appointed Vice President, Car and Van Tyres as of 1 March 2006.
Continue ReadingStanding Out From the Crowd
Fate SAICI is something of an anomaly in South America. While the tyre markets in every other country in South America are led by the regional wings of multinational corporations, Fate is Argentina’s largest tyre producer ahead of Bridgestone Firestone Argentina and Pirelli Neumaticos. Tyres & Accessories asked Fate’s Walter Hack what it is that sets the company apart and learnt of some developments within the company’s product portfolio.
Continue ReadingAnother Record Year for B-Quik
2005 was another record year for B-Quik, the Thailand based tyre and car services retailer. The company serviced over 200,000 customers through its total of 42 centres, four of which were new stores, opened during 2005. Despite the slightly declining aftermarket for passenger car tyres in Thailand (-1.2 per cent), B-Quik posted a 16 per cent increase in tyre unit sales. Total revenue increased by 19 per cent to a record amount of 826 million baht (£11.97 million or 17.5 million euros).
Continue ReadingApollo Acquires Dunlop International – Update
Further details of Apollo Tyres’ acquisition of Dunlop International (also known as Dunlop South Africa) have emerged. Firstly Dunlop Nigeria (estimated turnover of $65 million, £40 million) is not included in the sale. Apollo representatives gave no reason for this. Furthermore, the Indian company confirmed it would keep the troubled Dunlop Zimbabwe business. “Dunlop is the only tyre manufacturer in Zimbabwe and it is a profitable operation,” Apollo spokesperson Kankana Das told Tyres & Accessories. However in light of inflation rates as high as 800 per cent any profitability must be difficult to maintain. “Any operation can be profitable as long it is able to pass on price increases to cover the cost push. The Zimbabwe operations have been able to do this,” Das added.
Continue ReadingJax and Quick Fit Merge
(Brisbane/Australian Tyre Dealer) Two of the best-known names in Australian tyre retailing and associated services have joined forces to become a major power in the business. JAX Tyres was established in 1949 and Quick Fit Tyre Service in 1995, both proudly Australian owned. Combined, they have a current annual turnover of around $100 million.
Continue ReadingB-Quik – Tyre retail service Thai style
Here’s a question for you – which tyre retailer has 42 outlets in the capital and in November opened the 43rd on a Tesco hypermarket, making this the 10th centre on a Tesco forecourt? The answer is B-Quik, of Thailand and the capital city is, of course, Bangkok. For many people in Europe, the first they heard of the name was during the period when the Ford Motor Company was going through its “showroom to scrapyard” phase and it bought Kwik-Fit in Europe and B-Quik in Thailand.
Continue ReadingKazakstan President Visits InterKomShina
The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has visited InterKomShina JSC in Shymkent, South Kazakhstan. This company is engaged in the production of tyres for light vehicles and road freighters, agricultural machines and special equipment. InterKomShina claims to be the only tyre manufacturer in central asia.
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