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The digital strategy employed by Michelin’s Agricultural Product Line is undergoing a few changes. Explaining the main reasons behind this, the business unit’s digital communication manager Guylaine Drolet shares that the rethink was prompted by two observations.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has discovered that more than 40 per cent of all motorway and major A road lane closures in England in 2014 were caused by vehicle breakdowns – and 122 unsupervised children caused them to be shut too. The information came from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the IAM, the biggest independent road safety charity in the UK, which asked for the number of incidences of lane closures on roads managed by Highways England’s in 2014.
With Autopromotec kicking off in just over a week, the organisers of the aftermarket show (which runs 20-24 May 2015) have confirmed “the success recorded in the halls devoted to tyres and tyre equipment”.
The Board of Directors of Apollo Tyres Ltd today approved the company’s audited financial results for the fourth quarter (January to March) and the entire 2014-15 financial year. At the same time, the Board recommended a dividend payout of 200 per cent, to be approved by the shareholders at the tyre maker’s Annual General Meeting later in the year.
On 31 March, Ruud Spuijbroek stepped down as secretary general of Vaco, the organisation representing the tyre and wheel industry in the Netherlands. Spuijbroek had served as general secretary for close to 20 years, and although he no longer holds the top position at Vaco the 63 year old remains secretary general of European retreading association Bipaver. A successor to Spuijbroek was named at Vaco’s general assembly in December 2014, and on 1 April Tim van der Rijken took over as the association’s secretary general.
One junction along the A500 from its UK headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent, the Michelin Training Centre is a point of reference for just about every point of the tyre industry. Offering a portfolio consisting of more than 100 training courses, the centre covers technical product training in the car, motorcycle, industrial, truck and agricultural tyre segments, as well as technical information for police and “tyre forensics”, and management and sales training appropriate for the industry. Many of the courses offered also include City & Guilds and REACT accreditation, giving attendees the backing of external qualifications on top of training coming from one of the few brands to achieve total recognition. Tyrepress toured the Stoke-on-Trent centre with its manager Charly Bailey, who explained the litany of tyre business knowledge available to those attending the MTC’s courses: “Sometimes when you’re really busy in a workshop you don’t get the chance to ask a question.”
The latest version of the Renault Espace will be equipped with Dunlop Sport Maxx RT tyres in size 235/55R19 101W. When it first launched in 1984, the Renault Espace revolutionised the automotive world as one of the first MPVs on the market. Today, the new Espace has evolved to become a crossover for the European market.
Indian OTR tyre manufacturer BKT estimates its global market share at “around six per cent” in the off-highway tyre segment, but following its appearances at major European trade shows Intermat and Sima in 2015, it stated that an increase in market share is one of BKT´s goals in terms of strategic growth. The company aims at a turnover of 2 billion US dollars by 2020; a challenging target based on a positive trend of growth of 30 per cent over the last five years corresponding to six per cent market share in the specialist segments for agriculture, earthmoving, mining, and industrial vehicles and machinery as well as port, ATV and gardening applications. The last financial year ending on March 31, 2014 closed with BKT's turnover at 780 million US dollars. The company employs more than 7,000 people and sells over 2,300 products in 130 countries worldwide.
One of the best-known firms in the UK’s 4×4 and SUV aftermarket is Silverline Wheels and Tyres. In addition to stocking major tyre brands and the Atturo SUV and 4×4 range, the Warwick-based company supplies rims designed for the finest British and European off-road vehicles and worn by ‘big iron’ imports from the USA. Silverline has created such a name for itself in this niche market that it’s hard to believe it began there by chance.
A leading UK distributor of OTR tyres has predicting sustained growth in the segment as the construction sector rallies with improved UK economy. Since the financial crash of 2008 the aftermarket OTR tyre sector has suffered from a severely contracted end-user market. House building, often seen as a barometer of the health of the sector, saw starts falling to record low levels and other major developments have been put on ice. Kings Road Tyres (KRT) says the upturn in domestic construction activity will support sales growth in its OTR tyre brands.
Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) achieved vindication for its wheel safety message at European level when the component was named as a “safety critical item” in European law within the Roadworthiness Package. The issue – in this case the potentially unchecked fatigue caused to commercial vehicle wheels by being fitted to unsuitable hubs – is not considered over now that provision has been made in European law. “It’s made changes – real changes – out there, there’s no doubt about it,” Motor Wheel Service Distribution (MWSD) managing director John Ellis tells Tyres & Accessories. “There’s a commercial side to everything, but there is a real debate going on now, and that hasn’t even started in Europe yet.”
German magazine Auto Bild Allrad has published a summer tyre test for compact SUVs. Ten size 235/55 R17H/V/W tyres were tested on a VW Tiguan, and what sets this test apart from others is that all candidates come from either the People’s Republic of China or Taiwan. While all tested tyres delivered performance below the Continental CrossContact UHP reference tyre, the Goodride SA-37 Sport, Infinity Enviro, Delinte Thunder D7, Sonar SX-9, Star Performer SUV-1 and Nankang NK Comfort NK 605 were all rated ‘satisfactory’.
Michelin chief operating officer, Florent Menegaux told Tyres & Accessories that the manufacturer would promote synergies with ATS Euromaster following its acquisition of Blackcircles.com. Speaking to Tyrepress following the announcement of its £50 million purchase, Michelin’s chief operating officer said that the UK’s biggest online tyre retail operation would gain “access to ATS Euromaster branches in the UK”, which numbered 343 in the recent T&A survey of the retail landscape.
Marangoni S.p.A. has acquired a 25 per cent share in South Africa’s Leader Rubber Co. S.A., the Italian company reports. It describes the signing of an agreement to this effect as the “culmination of a partnership that has been ongoing for several years,” and says the objective of taking a 25 per cent shareholding is to strengthen both companies’ presence in the South African market and throughout Africa.
The Marangoni Group, a recognised world leader in the retreading sector, is also an important supplier of earthmover retreads in Europe. The Italian company says that it is now offering a response to the need for efficiency and cost savings expressed in the OTR market.
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