Wheel manufacturer BBS applied for bankruptcy protection at the district court in Rottweil, Germany on Monday 13 July 2020. It is the third time in the past 15 years BBS has done so. There were also bankruptcies in 2007 and 2011, our German group publication Neue ReifenZeitung (reifenpresse.de) reported.
MWheels has launched the next generation of its Xlite and Xbrite forged aluminium 11.75 x 22.5” 120 offset wheels. The exclusive distributor said the size is one of the most popular and versatile sizes in the UK market. Suitable for 385/65R22.5 tyres, it is widely used on numerous truck and trailer applications across all industry sectors.
Alcoa aluminium wheels is now a Howmet Aerospace brand. On 1 April, Howmet Aerospace Inc. launched as a standalone company following the completion of Arconic Inc.’s separation into two firms. Howmet Aerospace is active in the aerospace, defence and space, and commercial transportation sectors and is made up of engine products, fastening systems, engineered structures and forged wheels businesses that in 2019 generated more than US$7 billion in revenue.
Almost every sporty and upmarket vehicle has them – wheels made of aluminium. However, very few people know that the very first car to wear these wheels was a Bugatti. Some 95 years ago, French vehicle producer Ettore Bugatti fitted aluminium wheels for the very first time on a Type 35.
Don’t Touch Racing Team win the last race of the recent Truck Racing Championship event at the Hungaroring. The winning vehicle was equipped with Speedline Truck wheels. Speedline Truck, Ronal Group’s truck wheel brand, is the official sponsor of the Berlin-based “Don’t Touch Racing” team in the current FIA European Truck Racing Championship season.
Maxion Wheels and new joint venture partner, Dongfeng Motor Parts and Components Group, have held a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of their 22,000 square metre aluminium wheel plant in Suizhou, China. The ceremony took place on 6 June and was attended by government officials and company dignitaries, customers, suppliers and associates.
During the first half of 2019, Manchester-based commercial wheel services company MWheels has been implementing an evolutionary process to change its target. The company has sought to position itself differently within its markets; from a UK wheel distributor campaigning for legislative input on wheel safety, to a European provider of wheels and wheel services designed to make commercial operators more aware of the safety and business implications of fitting and maintaining the most suitable products for their fleets. “The last four months,” chief executive officer Matthew Mardle tells Tyres & Accessories, “have been a big success in following through on the strategies” implemented since the changes in leadership at the helm of the company in January – Mardle was appointed CEO, while company founder John Ellis took up a new position as chairman – and, in the longer term, since the company opened its European operation, MWheels GmbH, in Germany.
The European Commission reports that applying anti-dumping duties to truck and bus tyres manufactured in China is having the desired effect. According to EC figures, dumped or subsidised imports were 81 per cent lower six months after the measures were imposed than during the investigation period.
Aluminium wheel manufacturer Superior Industries International, Inc. has appointed a permanent successor to Don Stebbins, who retired as the company’s president and chief executive officer at the end of last year. Majdi B. Abulaban will start in both roles on 15 May 2019, taking over from executive chairman, Timothy McQuay, who assumed all Stebbins’ duties once the latter’s departure was announced.
MWheels has launched a new generation of 9.00×22.5 Xlite and Xbrite forged aluminium wheels. The wheels are available in two ten-stud variations, designed for 295/60R22.5, 315/60R22.5, 315/70R22.5 and 315/80R22.5 tyres. Both have a load capacity of 4,125kg, have been TÜV tested, and gained KBA approval. The 26mm stud hole variant weighs 25.9kg and the 32mm 25.7kg. Like all Xlite and Xbrite wheels the new models carry a five-year warranty.
Commercial vehicle wheel distributor, MWheels has appointed Robert Koutny, formerly of Hankook and Giti, as European sales and marketing director. Koutny will be responsible for creating and delivering all strategic sales and marketing functions in the UK and through the business’s German-based European operation, MWheels GmbH. MWheels is the exclusive distributor of Xlite and Xbrite forged aluminium wheels and the Xsteel range through its agreement with Wheel India. It also distributes other wheel manufacturers’ products and a comprehensive range of accessories.
MWheels has promoted Matthew Mardle to chief executive officer (CEO), a role in which he takes responsibility for financial results and all day-to-day operations of the business. John Ellis, who originally founded the business over 30 year ago, takes the role of chairman, having been chief executive, and continues to be involved in the company’s leadership function.
EVO Corse and Arcasting, two Treviso, Italy-based companies specializing in the manufacturing and sale of alloy wheels, have signed a technical and commercial agreement for the production and management of the race line of Arcasting wheels. The agreement is effective 1 January 2019.
Earlier this year, MWheels established an operation in Germany to spearhead the company’s push into mainland Europe. MWheels GmbH opened for business on 1 February, with the plan being to build up a team over the following 12 to 18 months. This team has now been strengthened with the appointment of Stefan Kantz as European office coordinator.
Record unit shipments and net sales were the headline news upon the release of Superior Industries International Inc.’s financial results for the second quarter of 2018 – a performance resulting from the company’s acquisition of Uniwheels last year. The company has also slightly raised its income and EBITDA projections for the entire year.
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