Marangoni names new president, VP
Vittorio Marangoni has taken over as president of Marangoni SpA. His appointment to the position was confirmed at a meeting of the retreading and tyre machinery specialist’s Board of Directors late last month. The Board also named Giuseppe Marangoni the company’s new vice-president, while company founder Mario Marangoni received the title of honorary president as a mark of respect for his more than 60 years of commitment in leading the Marangoni Group.
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Michelin commencing aircraft tyre collaboration with Aviall
Boeing Company subsidiary Aviall and Michelin have announced plans to create a global strategic collaboration agreement. According to Michelin, the new agreement will align its aircraft tyre business with Aviall’s global distribution footprint and result in improved logistics and supply chain models. The tyre maker anticipates improved service to FBOs (field-base operators), MROs (maintenance, repair and operations) and fleet operators around the globe.
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Cinturato Winter: Pirelli aims for summer comfort, winter safety
By the time the cold months are upon us again, Pirelli will have introduced its new Cinturato Winter range. This aftermarket successor to the Snowcontrol Serie 3 is aimed at compact and mid-sized vehicles and, according to the tyre maker, is the beneficiary of a transfer that sees the technological innovations typically found in performance car tyres, especially those related to safety, introduced into standard tyres for medium-sized cars. The result? Upon unveiling the Cinturato Winter in June, Pirelli claimed to have produced a tyre that offers the “driving pleasure and comfort more normally associated with a summer tyre” while simultaneously ensuring “maximum safety under all conditions.”
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TRA Recycling Day 2016 pursues professional collective approach
Spokespeople from tyre industry, government agencies, external industry bodies gather to demonstrate broad-base discussions on ‘Meeting the Compliance Agenda’, including fire prevention and part-worn tyres The new president of the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), John Bramwell opened proceedings at May’s Ardencote Manor hosted Recycling Day 2016 by setting out the “need for strength” within the […]
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New location, more floorspace – CITExpo even more attractive in 2016
This year the China International Tire Expo returns to Shanghai for the 14th time, and 2016 is a significant year for the show as it represents the start of a new era.Instead of taking place at the Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Centre, where it has been held for the past decade, on 26 September CITExpo – arguably China’s most significant tyre industry fair – will open its doors at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center (SWEECC). The change of venue offers a substantial increase in available exhibitor floorspace, and visitors will benefit from modern, attractive facilities and easier transport connections.
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Continental buys Bandvulc
Continental Tyre Group has bought Bandvulc (B.V. Environmental Ltd.), one of only two substantially sized independent retreaders in the UK. Not only does the deal change the face of UK tyre retreading, it also has a significant impact on commercial vehicle tyre market shares owing to the fact that Continental can now count Bandvulcs strong fleet management, service provider and independent truck tyre retreader amongst its own. The takeover will establish 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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Automechanika motors into Birmingham
New show presents strong start, builds platform for Reifen UK in 2017 and beyond While the Automechanika name is well-known in the tyre and wider aftermarket business, the event hadn’t been held in the UK until this year. Between 6 and 8 June some 12,000 visitors attended the event at the NEC in Birmingham, viewing […]
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Hankook signs three-year global Real Madrid partnership
Hankook has signed a global partnership contract with Real Madrid CF. The contract starts from July 2016 and is set to last three seasons. By virtue of the deal, Hankook aims to add some 450 million Real Madrid fans from different global markets such as the Asian Pacific region including China, Latin America, and of course Europe. As well as perimeter advertising during all home games at the football club’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium, Hankook will have access to a range of further global marketing rights.
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Continental returning to agricultural radial production in 2017
Over a number of years, Czech tyre maker Mitas a.s. has distanced itself in steps from the Continental brand it’s produced under licence since 2004. Three years ago the company announced an extension of this licence until 2019, however recent events have spurred Continental AG to reclaim its agricultural tyre brand ahead of this date. Continental has now announced a €49.9 million investment in its own agricultural tyre business, and the company will begin producing agricultural radials next year.
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Bucking the trend: how UK retreaders like Bandvulc are navigating market storms
In recent months we have heard much about the decline of retread demand and production at the same time that Chinese truck tyre prices have plumbed to new depths. Of course this paints a very negative picture for the retreading business in the UK – where low-costs imports have historically been more popular than the average European state – and also across the European tyre markets. The premium new tyre makers have suggested they will weather the storm by pointing out their uniquely strong position with regard to large fleet customers. Because they also produce their own retreads, these firms pointed out that their businesses will remain relatively sheltered by the low quality, oversupply problems facing other independent retreaders. However, such a reading of recent history relies on two premises: 1) that the market remains in undeniable decline and 2) that premium manufacturers with their own retreading options are best positioned to get over this particular bump in the road.
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The Brexit effect: certain uncertainty
Markets hate uncertainty. So it was no surprise that the pound fell to its lowest point in 30 years and the FTSE (as well as other European stock markets) took something of a beating in the immediate aftermath of the UK’s 23 June referendum decision to leave the European Union. But these were just the initial reactions. As we went to press (a few days after the Brexit vote), the FTSE has recovered, but not to pre-Brexit levels, while the pound remains at a 30-year low. A rally of this kind could be a sign of a return to stability. It could point to a new, upward trajectory. It could be the calm before the storm. But who knows? Now the British public has spoken, the question is: what does Brexit mean for tyres?
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Vacu-Lug manufacturing investment, contracts a way forward in contracted UK market
Vacu-Lug’s stand at the recent Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham provided a summary of the tripartite business of one of the UK’s largest retreaders. Featuring its Vacu-Lug Management System (VMS) for online fleet application; its UK exclusive distribution of ZC Rubber’s (or Hangzhou Zhongce’s) Westlake truck tyre product range. in partnership with global Westlake partner Zenises; and Vacu-Lug’s own retread range – including the latest “premium” Logistik drive LD01 and the Logistik trailer LT01 retreads, and Duramold tyres designed for a cross-section of heavy and light truck operations – the company showed its relatively recent evolution into more rounded service provision. In terms of its retreading activities, estimated by the company to account for just under a fifth of the UK market, the last year saw upgrades to the Lincolnshire business’ manufacturing, with a second 12-segment, high pressure (300psi) press installed, with which its Logistik brand products are produced, alongside further phases of its new conveyor system and other general upgrades designed to improve product flow, utilisation, productivity, efficiency, and housekeeping. Tyres & Accessories spoke with Vacu-Lug fleet sales director, Dave Alsop during the show, who explained how the company has reacted to the contraction of UK retreading and various other challenges in the market.
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Titan Steel Wheels: a market leader from the English countryside
The small village of Cookely, near Kidderminster, in the rolling Worcestershire countryside isn’t necessarily where you would expect to find a leading manufacturer, but this is exactly where leading OTR wheel supplier to the yellow goods market, Titan Steel Wheels, is based. The subsidiary of Titan International distributes its niche products mainly into Europe, meeting the specifications of end-users in the construction, industrial, mining and agricultural sectors with a wide variety of part numbers, largely comprising three- and five-piece wheels. Tyres & Accessories visited the facility, where Titan Europe managing director, wheels division, Chris Akers talked us through the history of the site, Titan’s current activities and future plans.
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David Cameron steps down following Brexit vote
This UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he would step down by October, following yesterday’s referendum result supporting a British exit – or Brexit – from the European Union. The markets responded with historically high level of volatility – especially in terms of sterling’s value against the dollar and at the FTSE 100. This in turn led to calming statements from Bank of England governor Mark Carney, who reassured investors of Britain’s financial capabilities and contingencies.
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Sterling crashes as UK votes for Brexit
The UK electorate has voted to leave the European union in a decision that is sending shockwaves through financial markets. It was only the third referendum in British history (two of which have related to the UK’s role in Europe).
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