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‘Optimism Returning to the Market’

“It was fantastic to see optimism returning to the agricultural tyre market in 2007. Despite all the problems that farmers faced last year, the better wheat and milk prices seem to have steadied the ship,” comments Barry Coleman, Firestone’s marketing manager. According to Coleman the UK agricultural tyre market looks like it has turned a corner compared with the broader trend seen in recent years. “Over the past few years the market demand has been in steady decline, but in 2007 demand was about the same as the previous year. However, the market is changing with sales of the traditional standard 85 series tyres diminishing as sales of specialist agricultural tyres grow.”

“Firestone has a continuous stream of new products to meet these specialist demands. In November we launched Maxi Traction, a range of large tyres designed specifically for high horse power tractors,” Coleman continued, adding: “Maxi Traction is designed to operate at 2.4 bar which means the load carried is significantly higher than a normal tyre can carry. The main original equipment tractor manufacturers have already started to fit Maxi Traction as standard fitment to new machines.”

4th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

European Soil Like Home Turf for BKT

In less than 20 years Balkrishna Tyres (BKT) has developed a strong presence in the agricultural tyre segment and brought to market one of the widest ranges of agricultural (and other off highway) tyres currently available. It is only as recently as 1988 that the company’s first factory, in the West Indian district of Aurangabad, entered production with a modest annual production of 3,000 tonnes; today the company has an output in excess of 30 times that, and much of BKT’s annual production is destined for global markets, including our own.

According to information the company presented at November’s Agritechnika show in Hanover, Germany, exports now account for 95 per cent of BKT production. Of this amount, 70 per cent is exported to Europe (by comparison the next largest export market, North America, generates only 11 per cent of export sales), with 2006/07 sales in this region valued at approximately £58 million. Tyres for agricultural applications make up the bulk of European sales, BKT representatives added. In the UK and Northern Ireland the BKT range is exclusively marketed by RH Claydon Ltd.

13th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Rapid Growth the Hallmark of Yongsheng’s Short History

Exhibited at CITExpo with well-known distributor the Meir Group were products from the Shandong Yongsheng Rubber Co. This Qingdao based manufacturer has been in business for 21 years, originally producing bias tyres. However in 2003 the company invested in a new production facility for the manufacture of radial products. Known as the Shandong Santai Rubber Co., Ltd, this new factory possessed an initial capacity of 600,000 units per annum.

29th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Trelleborg TM800 Line Now “D-Rated”

Trelleborg Wheel system’s Research & Development department has announced that its TM800 line is now D rated, allowing the agricultural tyres to be driven at speeds of up to 65km/h. In addition the TM800 range is said to offers increased productivity compared with its main competitors, resulting in “consistent savings for agricultural professionals.”

According to the company, ploughing tests show that, under the same conditions and using the same size, Trelleborg tyres proved to reduce slippage and working time per hectare compared with unnamed “main competitors.” After a week of tests in medium-high severity conditions, the TM800 (in 650/65R38 – the most popular size in the segment) fitted to a 165 horsepower tractor with three ploughshare reported: up to 4.2 per cent more traction fuel consumption. According to the company this factor alone, at an average working cost per hour of 50 euros and a fuel cost of 0.85 euros per litre, saved between up to 120 euros compared with other leading brands.

23rd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyremakers Get Earthy at Agritechnica

The Agritechnica exhibition, held in Hanover, Germany between November 13 and 17 provided a platform for European and international tyre manufacturers to display their latest products. In the home town of Continental Tyre the Conti brand name was prevalent at the show. These days, of course, all Continental brand tyres are produced under licence by the Czech Republic based company Mitas a.s., and Mitas promoted its premium Continental range extensively during the show, along with its Mitas brand and, to a lesser extent, Semperit. Products showcased included the Continental SuperVolumeTyre (SVT), a ‘D’ speed designation tyre that is approved for speeds up to 70 kilometres (43 miles) per hour. The tyre was designed for machines with an output of more than 180hp, and as the name suggests each tyre contains a very large volume of air – ensuring gentle ground handling with high load capacities and the lowest possible tyre pressure. The tyre’s large ground contact patch ensures a good level of traction.

22nd November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Taking Soil Compaction Out of the Equation

Those of use who didn’t grow up in agricultural families may be unaware of just how important soil quality is to arable farming. And as the size of farms grows and the agricultural industry becomes an increasingly professional business, so the use of modern machinery is also increasing. That’s why Michelin invited journalists to a farm in Leicestershire to learn about how products like its Axiobib tractor tyre prevent the problems that are associated with soil compaction.

We’ve all driven past fields with water-logged tyre tracks running across them. But did you know this can be a sign that poor tyre choice has led to lower levels of soil being compacted, which in turn hinders drainage and reduces crop yield? Neither did we, so it was a good job Michelin had invited the Soil Management Initiative’s (SMI) resident soil expert, Dr Alistair Leake, along to explain the science behind the theory. (The SMI is a non-profit making, independent organisation dedicated to promoting the adoption of systems designed to protect and enhance soil quality, resulting in agronomic and economic benefits for farmers. The Environment Agency, John Deere and Michelin are just three of the 22 SMI members.)

1st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Balkrishna Tyres: World’s Widest Off-Highway Range

Founded in 1995, Balkrishna Tyres (BKT) claims to have the world’s widest product range of off-highway tyres, with more than 1,700 stock units of designs, patterns and sizes. This extensive range has seen BKT’s global market share expand rapidly in a short time and BKT tyres are available for agricultural, construction, industrial, earthmover, ATV and turf care applications.
BKT has three tyre factories and one mould-manufacturing plant and the company has the capability to develop 150 new sizes a year, with an extremely fast product development time of eight to 10 weeks. India is renowned for having a qualified and technically expert workforce at a low cost and BKT has the capacity to change 25 moulds a day, which the company says is five times that of its competitors, allowing it to make 150 different types of tyre. Precise and complex planning is the key here. BKT spends between five and six per cent of its revenue on research and development and developed its own radial tyre technology in-house.

Around 65 per cent of BKT’s products are sold in Europe, with other major markets being the USA, Middle and South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Agricultural tyres constitute the largest chunk of production at BKT and the company has recently entered the tractor radial segment, with its new ‘Agrimax’ range, available in 85, 70 and 65 series aspect ratios and 95 series row crop tyres.

6th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese Pioneer Still Going Strong

Double Coin tyres are produced by Shanghai Tyre & Rubber Co. Ltd., the oldest tyre manufacturer in China – the company was established in Shanghai in the early 1930s as a manufacturer of rubber products and tyres. In its current form the company was established in 1992 when two tyre factories based in Shanghai were merged (Shanghai Ta Chung Hua Rubber Factory and Shanghai Tsen Tai Rubber Factory). This 75 per cent state-owned company, located on the outskirts of Shanghai, mainly manufactures all-steel radial truck tyres, bias-ply truck tyres, radial as well as diagonal light truck tyres and agricultural tyres.

According to the manufacturer approximately 350 different tyre specifications are available. Products are marketed in 80 different countries and are DOT- and E-marked for export markets; they also carry a CCC mark (China Compulsory Certification) for the local market. The two brands the tyre manufacturer is primarily known for are Double Coin and Warrior. These brands are well received on both European and Chinese tyre markets.

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Birla Tyre Planning Greenfield Project

B K Birla Group chairman Basant Kumar Birla has announced plans for an £85 million greenfield tyre factory in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. The plant, to be built near the city of Haridwar, where the company has already acquired a 42 hectare site, will have a production capacity of 1.7 million passenger car tyres per year. The plant is anticipated to be ready within the next two years and is to be funded through internal accruals and loans.

Birla Tyres entered the Indian market in 1991 and today is India’s fifth largest tyremaker, with production facilities in the eastern state of Orissa. The plant in Balasore, Orissa was set up with technical assistance from Pirelli UK, and has an annual production capacity of 1.5 million tyres, including passenger car and light commercial radials as well as bias car, truck and agricultural tyres. Birla Tyres states that its products are exported to 43 countries.

4th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Discontinues Bias-Ply Agricultural Tyres in North America

Michelin Agricultural Tires has decided to discontinue the supply of BFGoodrich brand bias-ply agricultural tyres to North America. The company’s decision to market a radial only range comes at a time when radial tyres make up more than 30 per cent of the overall North American agricultural tyre market, and the benefits of radials to agricultural users, such as greater load carrying capacity and reduced soil compaction, ensure this proportion will continue to increase.

“Since Michelin acquired the BFGoodrich brand in 1989, we have seen tremendous change in the agricultural industry,” said Bill Schafer, vice president of marketing and sales for Michelin North America Agricultural Tires. “Farming operations have increased in size and tractors, harvesters and sprayers have grown larger and more powerful as a result. More than ever, these machines need the durability and performance advantages that radial technology delivers compared to bias-ply construction.

3rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alliance Reports $45.6 million First Quarter Sales

Alliance, an international tyre manufacturer based in Hadera, Israel, reported a 23 per cent growth in sales for the first quarter of 2007. First-quarter sales reached US$45.6 million, compared to $37.1 million in the parallel quarter of 2006. In addition, Alliance sales to the export market, representing 78.7 per cent of the company’s total sales, amounted to $35.9 million in the first quarter, compared to $29.4 million in the first quarter of 2006, a growth of 22.3 per cent.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

GPX Appoints New Head of Supply Chain

GPX International Tire Corporation has announced the appointment of Glenn D. Booth to the position of global director of supply chain management, a role he commenced on June 4. He joins the company from Coca-Cola Enterprises, where he served as a regional director of logistics.

“GPX is delighted that Glenn has joined our growing team and we look forward to harnessing his supply chain, logistics and consulting experience to foster and enhance our supply chain and logistics operations” stated Bryan S. Ganz, chairman of GPX. “Through Glenn’s extensive background, he will help GPX to facilitate and implement a positive solution to our current and future supply chain management challenges.”

11th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Announces Truck Tyre Price Increases

Michelin has announced a price increase of up to 4 per cent for its truck tyres in the US. The increase will take effect on 1 June. In addition from 1 July prices of agricultural tyres sold under the Michelin, BFGoodrich, Kleber and Taurus brands will rise by an average of 3 per cent in the US and Canada, the group said.

Referring to the truck tyre price increase, Deutsche Bank analysts said: “We believe that only a small portion will stick. However, this small portion will go directly to the bottom line since natural rubber price (primary used in truck tyres) is now more or less stable since the beginning of February. So far the reporting season of the industry has highlighted a very strong price/mix effect.”

4th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bringing China to the World

Beijing-based Best Choice International Trade Co. Ltd (BCIT) has served as a dealer for numerous Chinese tyre manufacturers since 1995. In the 12 years since the company’s establishment BCIT has expanded considerably, and today represents Chinese tyremakers in over 100 countries around the world, generating an annual turnover of more than US$40 million and annual export volume exceeding US$20 million.

In addition to its passenger, high performance and commercial vehicle tyre ranges, BCIT is able to source a wide variety of OTR, industrial forklift, solid and agricultural tyres. According to BCIT’s Europe representative Andro Yan, the company can source many Chinese brands, including Triangle, Chengshan ,Aeolus(Henan), Jinglun and Linglong, and are also able to organise private brand tyres to a customer’s own specifications. Mr. Yan and BCIT can be contacted through the company’s website www.chinese-tyres.com or via the address and phone details provided on the site

26th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Revenues and Profits Up – SRT

Sibur-Russian Tyres report that during 2006 the company increased their consolidated revenues by 17 per cent to 21.1 billion roubles (£409 million), up from 18 billion roubles (£349 million) a year earlier.

The tyremaker’s pre-tax net profit (EBIT) reached 486 million roubles (£9.4 million), starkly contrasting with its 498 million rouble (£9.7 million) loss in 2005. This positive trend has been attributed to the company’s large-scale restructuring and modernisation, as well as product portfolio optimisation and price increases.

20th April 2007/by Tyrepress Editors