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Goodyear ‘starting up’ at Pulandian, China plant

During Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s March 22 investor day, Asia Pacific president Pierre Cohade reported that the company’s newest plant in China, its Pulandian facility, has commenced production. Speaking on the plant that in a couple of years will completely replace Goodyear’s existing Dalian factory, where maximum possible production capacity has already been reached, Cohade confirmed “the factory is just starting up, we made the first tyre last month.”

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Customer feedback is vital, says Hercules Tire International

Hercules boasts a long history in the tyre wholesaling business. First established in the 1950s, today the company sells tyres to more than a hundred countries through its Hercules Tire International division and offers its customers a well-established exclusive private brand. The firm is also active in North America through its own distribution companies there. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Rick Dorscht, managing director of Hercules Tire International’s European division, who shared the Hercules approach to long-term strength in the global wholesaling business.

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Crisis in Japan: USW Pitches In, Goodyear OK

The United Steelworkers in Canada have donated $20,000 toward earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan. Nearly 10,000 confirmed deaths occurred in the March 11 disaster. The donation came from the USW Canada’s Humanity Fund. The Steelworkers' contribution will be channeled through International Chemical Energy and Mining Unions Federation affiliates in Japan, and the Canadian Labour Congress.

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Asia Pacific management changes at Goodyear

Goodyear has announced a number of key personnel changes in the Asia Pacific region. On March 1, Mike Martens took charge of the tyre maker’s Melbourne-based Australia and New Zealand business, replacing Judith Swales, who, according to Goodyear’s Asia Pacific president Pierre Cohade, has “decided to leave Goodyear to pursue her interest of holding non executive board positions in Australia.” The 25-year Goodyear veteran will continue his role as vice president of Asia Pacific OTR.

23rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Rhein Chemie sales up 40% in 2010

In 2010 the Rhein Chemie Group achieved a 40 per cent year-on-year growth in sales; the wholly owned Lanxess subsidiary says its 283 million euro sales for the year outstrip those of the “record” year 2008. “We can clearly see that the rigorous implementation of our growth strategy is bearing fruit,” stated Dr. Anno Borkowsky, CEO and president of Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH. “In Germany, we increased sales by 30 per cent while in Asia growth was even stronger.”

21st March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Evonik net income tripled in 2010; silica capacity expansion underway

At Evonik Industries AG’s financial press conference on March 16, Executive Board chairman Klaus Engel stated 2010 was an “outstanding” year for the chemicals business and reiterated the company’s intention to increase its precipitated silica capacity in Asia and Europe 25 per cent by 2014. “Evonik is more profitable than ever before,” commented Engel as 2010 group sales of 13.3 billion euros were announced – a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent. Evonik notes that a “considerable upturn” in business in the second half of 2009 was followed by “momentum throughout 2010, driven principally by higher demand from Asia and Europe.”

18th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho donates to Japanese disaster relief

Kumho Asiana Group, parent company of Kumho Tires, has announced it will donate 60 million yen (£473,000) for Japan’s recovery from the earthquake and tsunami damages. The 60 million will be divided equally and given to the three areas in which the company’s Asiana Airlines operates its services, namely Miyaki, Ibaraki and Fukushima. The South Korean company reports that executives and employees of Kumho Asiana Group affiliates voluntarily raised funds to help the Japanese “overcome despair and accelerate the country’s recovery,” and these funds were supplemented by the Group itself.

18th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Lanxess net income up tenfold in 2010

Demand for synthetic rubbers from tyre industry customers proved a strong driver of growth for Lanxess last year. The German specialty chemicals company describes its 2010 results as “outstanding” and believes its performance was aided by the company’s strategic set-up and a general business recovery. Announcing the firm’s annual results at its annual press conference on March 17, Lanxess chief executive officer Axel C. Heitmann said the company’s “growth story is set to continue” following last year and an “excellent” start to 2011.

17th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Cabot China to build JV carbon black plant

Cabot (China) Ltd. has entered into a joint venture agreement with Risun Chemicals Company, Ltd. The wholly-owned Cabot Corporation subsidiary holds a 60 per cent equity interest in the joint venture, and on March 15 the two companies’ first shared undertaking was announced: Cabot and Risun are to erect a carbon black manufacturing facility in the Chinese city of Xingtai, some 250 miles south of Beijing. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in early 2013 and will produce approximately 130,000 tonnes of carbon black annually with the potential for expansion to 300,000 tonnes. Advanced emissions control technology and energy recapture will be utilised at the new facility, Cabot notes.

16th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres appointment to “strengthen Americas growth”

The world’s only specialist sircraft tyre manufacturer, Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has stated that the appointment of Ken Hutchins as technical sales manager will help to strengthen the company’s reach into North and South America. Hutchins has a wealth of experience in the aviation industry, having previously worked for aircraft wheels and brakes companies Goodrich and Messier-Bugatti. Based in Houston, Texas, and reporting to Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ sales and marketing director David Skepper, Hutchins will drive sales of the company’s products throughout North America and the fast-expanding South American markets.

7th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Van den Ban – ready for the next 40 years

In August 2009 Dutch wholesaler Van den Ban Autobanden opened its new ‘Logistic Tyre Centre’ in the town of Hellevoetsluis. Those seeking a detailed description of the hi-tech warehouse facility can find it in the March 2010 edition of Tyres & Accessories, yet it is definitely worth mentioning that the material handling system used is without parallel in the tyre industry and enables the fully automated and mechanised internal transport, sorting and order picking of all tyres housed within the 24,000 square metre building; last year it smoothly dispatched more than 5,0 million tyres to customers throughout the region. Back when the centre opened, construction work on Van den Ban’s new administrative headquarters was underway on an adjacent greenfield site; last October this new head office building officially opened, marking the conclusion of Van den Ban’s two-stage expansion project. The wholesaler says it is now fully equipped to take on the ever evolving market and any challenges it may bring.

4th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper acquires 100% share in Kunshan JV operation

By mid-March Cooper Tire & Rubber should be the proud 100 per cent owner of Cooper Kenda Tire. Upon finalisation of the US$116.5 million transaction the former 50 per cent Cooper owned joint venture operation will be renamed Cooper Kunshan Tire (contingent to government approval) in recognition of the city in China where it is headquartered. According to Cooper Tire, the transaction should be completed by March 15 through a wholly-owned company subsidiary.

4th March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to support ‘double-digit’ 2011 growth with increased investment

Following a 2010 in which set targets were “clearly surpassed”, Continental AG says it aims to achieve double-digit growth this year. At the company’s Annual Financial Press Conference, held on March 3 in the German city of Frankfurt, CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart reported a sales growth of almost 30 per cent, to 26 billion euros. This represents record sales for the automotive supplier, a personal best also matched by a record operating result.

3rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Deldo ready for the coming year

We’ve just emerged from a season that saw winter tyre sales go through the roof, and the word from many within the wholesale and retail industry is that if you couldn’t make a profit selling tyres during the winter of 2010/11, you really should find yourself a new vocation. Belgium based wholesaler Deldo Autobanden N.V. needn’t worry; it says that the winter season and 2010 in general was “very good” for the company – and not just because of its strong winter tyre sales. When speaking with Tyres & Accessories, Deldo international sales and marketing manager Rutger Veerman shared that last year the wholesaler built upon a recent pattern of growth, and is continuing to do so.

3rd March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster to distribute Primewell commercial vehicle tyres

ATS Euromaster is to supply the Giti Tire manufactured Primewell brand of truck. Primewell tyres are already sold in Asia, North America, South America and mainland Europe. Giti Tire is reportedly the fourth largest radial truck tyre manufacturer in the world.

Richard Lyons, Giti sales director – Europe, said: "We were looking for a large national company whose values reflected our own focus on quality, innovation and the environment, and ATS Euromaster ticked every box. Fleets of all sizes are using Primewell tyres around the world and have commented on the difference they are making to costs and performance levels. We have every faith that our partnership with ATS Euromaster will help us swiftly establish a similar reputation in the UK commercial vehicle sector."

1st March 2011/by Tyrepress Editors