Ready for take-off: is Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd (DATL) up for sale?
While the vast majority of the UK’s tyre production and retreading capacity refers to trucks and a relatively small amount of car tyre retreading still takes place as well as some specialist earthmover retreading, one of the nation’s largest retreaders makes aircraft tyres. Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd or DATL as it is known has demonstrated strong growth in recent years and is majority-owned by private equity. Put the two together and it begs the question – is Dunlop Aircraft Tyre Ltd (DATL) up for sale?
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Nokian Tyres to build test facility, technology centre in Spain
The Spanish municipality of Santa Cruz de la Zarza, some 50 miles southeast of Madrid, has been selected as the location of Nokian Tyres’ new technology centre for the testing of summer and winter tyres. The Finnish tyre maker will invest approximately €16 million to build the facility on a site of some 300 hectares. Construction work will begin early in 2017, and while the facility will not be finished until 2019 the first project stage is expected to be completed next year.
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General Tire launches new Grabber AT3 and Grabber X3 tyres
General Tire, which is part of the Continental group of brands has launched two new 4x4 tyres. The Grabber AT3 and Grabber X3 tyres are aimed at the on/off road all-terrain segment and out-and-out off-road segments respectively and both offer significant improvements in performance compared with their predecessor products.
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Another retail acquisition for Bridgestone in France
Bridgestone has taken a minority shareholding in French tyre retailer Pneus à bas prix. Details of the exact stake the tyre maker has acquired or how much it paid have not been released, however Bridgestone states that the new arrangement reinforces its presence in France and complements the company’s First Stop and Speedy retail operations.
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Giti Tire launches Giti PCR brand in Germany, debut at Automechanika Frankfurt
Following up the European launch of Giti branded truck tyres at Reifen 2016, Giti Tire has now launched a new flagship Giti branded passenger car and SUV summer portfolio for the German market. The range, which consists of four “premium performance” tyres, has been developed and tested exclusively throughout Europe by the company’s Hannover-based R&D Centre. Giti stated that there were “no plans to replace the GT Radial brand”, previously positioned as its global flagship, in Europe when the commercial range was launched. According to the manufacturer, this remains the case, with the Giti PCR range designed to complement its existing GT Radial, Primewell and Runway brands; Giti will offer selected sizes aimed at specific vehicle segments.
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Liberty Media Corporation to purchase Formula One
Liberty Media Corporation and CVC Capital Partners have announced that Liberty Media has agreed to acquire Formula One, the iconic global motorsports business, from a consortium of sellers led by CVC. Liberty Media owns interests in a broad range of media, communications and entertainment businesses. The consideration comprises cash and newly issued shares in the Liberty Media Group tracking stock (LMCK) and a debt instrument exchangeable into shares of LMCK. The transaction price represents an enterprise value for Formula One of $8.0 billion and an equity value of $4.4 billion.
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Georgia selected as location for $500 million Sentury Tire US factory
Sentury Tire has selected a plot of land just outside LaGrange, Georgia as the location for its US$500 million US tyre factory, according to various local news sources. Reports in local US newspapers suggest that the decision was made on Thursday 1 September – at which point the choice was between the shortlist of the reportedly successful Georgia location and the Memphis Regional Megasite in Tennessee.
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Giti Tire appoints Torsten Gehrmann as new senior managing director – Europe
Giti Tire has appointed Torsten Gehrmann (45) to the new position of senior managing director – Europe. Confirming the departure of former managing director – Europe Corrado Moglia, Gehrmann said, “we thank Corrado for the work he performed for the company.” Since September 2015 Moglia had split the European MD role with Stefan Fischer following the resignation of Richard Lyons. Fischer will continue in his existing position as managing director - Europe for Product Technology and R&D Centre Europe.
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Tariff time again, but will they make a difference?
It’s tariff time again. The US government has imposed trade sanctions on US-produced OTR and industrial tyres before. They have done so with car tyres twice before. This time it’s truck tyres. But are they effective? Will they halt the rise of Chinese tyre manufacturers in general? And what does it mean for those doing business with truck tyres in the UK and Europe?
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Hankook signs global partnership with Real Madrid
Hankook has signed a three-season global partnership contract with Real Madrid. The deal, which began in July 2016, was marked by a contract signing at the globally famous team’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium, where Hankook’s advertising has been visible on perimeter hoardings in 2016/17 season home games. Hankook Tire worldwide president and CEO Hyun Shick Cho and Real Madrid CF president Florentino Pérez were joined by members of the first team squad for the occasion. The Korean manufacturer said the partnership adds 450 million Real Madrid fans from different global markets, allowing Hankook to strengthen its engagement and reach out to consumers around the world.
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Conti’s Bandvulc purchase results in UK market remoulding
On the 4 July, as the USA began to celebrate its independence day, Continental AG’s UK subsidiary (Continental Tyre Group) announced it had bought Bandvulc (B.V. Environmental Ltd.), one of only two substantially sized independent retreaders left in the UK. Legally, the takeover establishes Bandvulc as a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental UK Group Holdings Limited. T&A understands Bandvulc’s existing management team are to continue to lead the business.
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Goodyear helps Volvo Trucks break two world speed records
Volvo Trucks vehicle “The Iron Knight” has broken two world speed records for trucks on Goodyear tyres. The company’s rubber helped the 4.5 tonne, 2,400 horsepower truck achieve an average speed of 169.09 km/h (105 mph) in a time of 21.29 seconds, over 1,000 meters from a standing start. The Iron Knight also beat the record for the 500 metre distance, at 131.29 km/h (81.6 mph) in 13.71 seconds from a standing start. During the record runs The Iron Knight reached a top speed of 276 km/h (171.5 mph).
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MWSD expanding into Germany with forged aluminium truck wheels
Motor Wheel Service has been active in the wheel industry for more than eight decades and a distributor of commercial vehicle wheels under the name Motor Wheels Service Distribution (MWSD) for the past 35 years. The MWSD board of directors has now decided to establish a new company in Germany at the start of next year in order to enable it to significantly expand its aftermarket distribution in continental Europe and then use this in the mid-term to establish original equipment partnerships with truck trailer manufacturers.
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Dmack takes win, while Pirelli claims 4 of top 5 spots in ‘wet and wild’ Ulster Rally
Dmack drivers Elfyn Evans and Craig Parry were crowned 2016 MSA British Rally champions after sealing their fourth overall victory on a difficult Ulster Rally. It was the Welsh pair’s fourth overall rally win from five finishes, moving them into an unbeatable position in the series with one round still remaining. Evans, from Dolgellau in mid-Wales, followed in the footsteps of his father Gwyndaf – who won the British Rally Championship exactly 20 years ago. Using Dmack’s range of recently launched tarmac rally tyres, he and Parry finished over a minute ahead of the competition after winning half of the 14 demanding special stages.
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Dunlop, Honda pit Isle of Man TT legend against double BTCC champion: video
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden has taken on 23-time Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness on each other’s race-winning machinery. Hosted by Dunlop and Honda, the head-to-head took place at Scotland’s Knockhill circuit on Monday. Shedden swapped his race-winning Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R for McGuinness’ Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP for 30 laps of the Scottish track. (See full article for the video.)
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