Africa
(Tire Review – Akron, Ohio)
by Mary Aichlmayr
Robert H. Oudshoorn has been CEO of Vredestein Banden BV since 1994. Prior to that, he was director of commercial operations at a Michelin-Okamoto joint venture in Tokyo and also worked as representative director for Groupe Michelin in South Africa.
Bridgestone South Africa’s Firestone range scooped the coveted ‘Best Tyre’ award at the inaugural FOCUS on Excellence awards evening, held in Johannesburg in November. Candidates for this top honour were chosen by four hundred owners and managers of road transport fleets operating more than 10 vehicles, selected at random from 22,000 records on a fleet owners’ database.
Headquartered in Johnstown, Ohio and founded in 1939, Tech International is a family business that describes itself as the world’s leading producer of tyre and tube repairs and wheel service solutions. According to the official literature, the company markets more than 5,000 products into over 110 countries throughout the world and is recognized as one of the top exporters in the United States.
Only a day after reports slamming the endemic practice of re-selling worn out tyres in South Africa comes news of a potential remedy to this life threatening state of affairs.
Sibur-Russian Tyres (SRT) is a large manufacturer in a large country. As Russia’s largest producer of agricultural tyres, SRT claims to supply 70 per cent of the vast domestic market. But domestic supply is only part of the SRT story. In recent years the volume of OTR tyres exported has also increased to upwards of half a million units, and the company predicts that for 2006 OTR exports will account for 50 per cent of production.
The sale of unsafe second-hand tyres has become a major contributor towards road fatalities in South Africa, according to the body representing South Africa’s tyre manufacturers, the South African Tyre Manufacturing Conference (SATMC).
UK and international Novex dealers were recently given first-hand insight into the production of and technical knowledge behind the tyres they sell. In a visit to the Dunlop Tyres International facility in Durban, South Africa, a selected group of retailers were taken through the stages of manufacture that go into each Novex car and light commercial tyre.
Established in 2002, Lawlyn Vulcanising Systems are a growing company that specialise in the manufacture of vulcanising systems for the repair of radial and cross ply earth mover tyres in sizes between 24 and 63 inches.
After several attempts they have now finally succeeded: Bandag Corporation heir, Martin Carver, has sold his and his mother’s majority stake in the company to Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone. It was probably high time for the American retreading specialist to make such a move, as in recent years they have been operating in a seemingly unfavourable environment. If Bridgestone had also chosen to go down the same path as Goodyear and Michelin, establishing its own equity retreading businesses, Bandag’s market environment could have been set to become even more unfavourable.
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After several attempts they have now finally succeeded: Bandag Corporation heir, Martin Carver, has sold his and his mother’s majority stake in the company to Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone. It was probably high time for the American retreading specialist to make such a move, as in recent years they have been operating in a seemingly unfavourable environment. If Bridgestone had also chosen to go down the same path as Goodyear and Michelin, establishing its own equity retreading businesses, Bandag’s market environment could have been set to become even more unfavourable.
Subscribers can read the entire article and download it as a PDF by clicking the more link.
Teco Srl is a leading manufacturer of hand truck tyre changers, electronic wheel balancers and pneumatic platform lifts. Based in Correggio, Italy, Teco is a relatively young company, but is already well-known in its field. The company began life in 1985, albeit under a different name, and at that time specialised in the production of components for automotive equipment. However the company’s management had other ambitions. They wanted to introduce a new line of machinery to trade, a line that was completely designed and manufactured in-house.
Singaporean wholesaler Evergreen Global has announced the extension of its United brand truck and bus radial range. Produced in what the company describes as a “premium manufacturing plant” in China, the products have reportedly increased in popularity in the European markets because of their consistency and quality and performance.
“These Tyres prove their durability even in the extreme conditions of the Middle East and Africa,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories, adding: “Evergreen is keen to increase its presence in the European markets and looks forward to having new partners.”
Airtec Corporation Asia announced the release of a new Core Retracting Inflation Tool. The new transparent body allows the user to see the retracted core, supposedly eliminating guesswork. Concurrently released last month at both Automechanika Frankfurt and Tyrexpo Africa, industry response has been overwhelming. According to Airtec’s GM for sales and marketing, MC Loh, the New Tool speeds up the inflation and deflation process of the tyres and the inflation time is cut by half, and as the core can be viewed through the transparent body, it’s easy to use.
Netherlands-based international wholesaler, Van den Ban, prides itself on being able to provide a comprehensive range of competitively priced tyres and, furthermore, describes itself as a leading player within the highly competitive UK market. In November VDB launched a new e-commerce site which is said to provide clients with an even more user friendly system that constantly updates prices.
Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) sa/nv in Frameries is expanding capacity to keep pace with increased aircraft production worldwide from Airbus and Boeing. A reinvigorated European aviation market and soaring demand from new and existing Middle Eastern fleets is a major influence in projected growth. According to the company, Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (Europe) is market leader with a share of around 50 per cent. “So far we have retreaded some 2 million tyres which is equal to the tyre supply of Lufthansa Airlines for some 120 years,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories.
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