Asia
Reports indicate Cooper Tire & Rubber wishes to increase the share of its global sales generated in China from 25 to 30 per cent in the next three years. "That's our minimum target,” said Allen Tsaur, general manager for Cooper Tire's Asia operations during an interview with Reuters. “The Chinese domestic market is explosive and the pie is expanding. We have to grow fast to keep up the pace.”
Continental has entered into an agreement to increase its stake in Continental Automotive Corporation (CAC), the Japanese joint venture it operates with Nisshinbo Holdings Inc., from 51 to 60 per cent in 2010. This increase in shareholding will allow Continental's Chassis & Safety Division to integrate its airbag systems and sensorics business.
Following an all-expenses paid trip to Thailand, courtesy of the Maxxis Rewards Scheme, Grouptyre sales director Paul Hollows gave a vote of thanks to the brand, which is sold exclusively through Grouptyre wholesalers in the UK: “I know from conversations during our week away and since that the retailers who went to Thailand with Maxxis got a great deal out of the trip, especially the visit to the Maxxis Rayong factory, which helped them really appreciate the commitment Maxxis makes to manufacturing quality products. Congratulations to Maxxis on an excellent initiative and here’s to continued success in 2010.” Hollows accompanied the retailers on their journey through the country from November 21-28, during which they spent time in the beach resort of Pattaya and the bustling capital city of Bangkok.
Whether the attention Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Asia Pacific gained at Reifen China was a result of the tyres on display or the bus loads of dancers performing on the exhibition stand each hour, you cannot ignore that the company has embarked on a slick and high profile marketing campaign and is increasingly making an impact on the domestic Chinese market in both the passenger car and truck tyre sectors. With this in mind, Tyres & Accessories interviewed vice president and general manager Asia operations, Allen Tsaur, and senior PR manager Jojo Tang.
Cooper’s ongoing region-specific marketing push aims to invest in the future of China’s fast growing automotive business by reaching more consumers and particularly the young driver audience. Car ownership in general has shot up in recent years, but Tang reports that ownership in the 23 – 35 age group has “boomed.” And this explains the “Charlie’s Angels” meets “Kill Bill” styling of the Cooper Angels customer-facing marketing concept.
According to Yokohama Rubber, its Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) passenger car and truck and bus tyre facility has achieved “zero emissions”; in other words, less than one per cent of its total waste volume is now subject to direct landfill disposal. In order to confirm this result the Japanese company conducted on-site investigations of all contractors commissioned to dispose of waste from the plant.
Singapore-based online tyre retailer Tyrepac announced the official launch of Tyrepac China (www.tyrepac.com.cn) on 8 December. Like the many similar services operating across European and World markets, upon purchase and payment online, consumers can select from a list of appointed retailers to have their tyres changed, or have them delivered to a location of their choice. The difference is that this service is based in the key production and emerging replacement market of China.
Alliance Tire Group has selected the Netherlands town of Halsteren as the location for Alliance Europe BV’s new office, commenting that the site positions it well to ensure improved responsiveness and to serve the market in a quick and reliable manner. The company adds that the move to a new office “facilitates the group’s ability to provide excellent customer support and sales services to its European business partners.”
Malaysia’s national news agency reports that as of next year permits will be required for the importation of regrooved tyres. According to Bernama, Deputy Transport minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said this change was occurring to ensure imported regrooved tyres were safe for use in Malaysia. "The ministry has made new legal provisions for motor vehicles which will be gazetted and implemented in 2010 to control the entry of regrooved tyres from other countries," he said.
Guangdong Greatoo Molds Inc’s global appeal has increased since gaining ISO9001-2001 International Quality Certification, with company representatives describing the company’s current products as “the gold standard.” Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com met with the company’s senior technical consultant RNK Krishnan at November’s Reifen China show and asked what makes this Chinese mould making operation stand out?
What is different about Greatoo is the fact that, unlike some competitors, the company offers three kinds of mould manufacturing – CNC direct engraving, aluminium precision casting and Electric Discharge Machine (EDM) technology. The latter was obtained from aluminium casting experts at German firm AZ Mould. As a result the company reports it is now capable of producing “high quality aluminium moulds including winter moulds.” Their philosophy is that moulds are “critical parts in tyre manufacturing and require precision in all stages…their maintenance plays a vital role in ensuring the consistency of the tyre.”
Petrol pumps are evil, so thank goodness then that we have a white, rotund hero prepared to do battle against this malevolent force. This dramatic scene, part of Michelin’s new global advertising campaign, is now appearing on a larger than life scale on the sides of buildings in New York and Los Angeles. The giant posters portray, in Michelin’s words, the “Michelin Man fighting an evil gas pump and coming to the aid of motorists in trouble.” In doing so, the Michelin Man – Bibendum to his friends – demonstrates that ‘the right tyre can change everything’.
Demand for butyl rubber is growing in the Asia-Pacific, and in order to better serve customers in this region, Lanxess AG intends to relocate its Butyl Rubber business unit headquarters there next year. The company made an announcement to this effect on November 9, and as of 2010 the headquarters will thus leave Fribourg in Switzerland and join the Singapore based Southeast Asian businesses of Lanxess’ 13 business units.
Thailand-based P.C. Products International is a leading manufacturer of wheel balancing weights in Asia, with 20 years' experience of supplying original equipment to an impressive list of major automobile clients, including Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Isuzu, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Kawasaki and Suzuki. The company has invested heavily in R&D, as well as quality control and engineering design, working closely with vehicle manufacturers to tailor products towards specific OE requirements. The quality assurance department has access to a full facility testing laboratory which includes high-tech testing equipment such as the grain inspection machine and pull-force clip testing meter. Products are manufactured strictly to the OEM's own specifications and the JASO standard for general markets. P.C. Products International exports to Europe, America and the Middle East, as well as Asian markets.
As part of its drive to increase localisation and provide better technical support to customers in the Chinese market, Continental AG has opened its new Asia headquarters and research and development centre in Shanghai’s Yangpu district. The new 16-floor 15,000 square metre facility currently houses around 700 employees from Conti’s Automotive Group, and a further 200 will relocate there by early 2010. The site will function, says Continental, as its Asia headquarters as well as an “important technical centre for the design and development of vehicle electronics”. The new R&D centre is the second Conti has opened in Shanghai; the company’s Continental Automotive Tech Centre in Jiading focuses on vehicle application development and systems testing for electronic brake systems, hydraulic brake systems, and engine management and system control. Some 60 million euros have been invested in both sites.
In recent times Guangdong Greatoo Molds Inc, the only tyre mould maker listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchance, has increased its reach far beyond its native China. After expanding in India, where Greatoo has gained supply agreements with virtually all the leading tyre makers (including Apollo, Birla, CEAT, JK Tyre, MRF and BKT), this fast growing company is now aiming to become a truly global player after gaining some key contracts in Europe.
Speaking to senior technical consultant RNK Krishnan at November’s Reifen China show in Shanghai, Tyres & Accessories learnt that increased outsourcing amongst the world’s top ten tyremakers has led the company to build “good ties” with the majority of European tyre makers including Michelin, Continental, Pirelli and Marangoni.
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has opened its new retread and distribution facility in China. The facility, operating as Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres Company Limited, is a joint venture with Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) (28 per cent) and Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (TAECO) (9 per cent). Based in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, the operation has full site and product approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The site has also received full repair-station approval from EASA. In addition to the retreading of aircraft tyres, the facility will support customers in Asia Pacific by distributing new tyres that have been made at Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ manufacturing site in Birmingham, UK.
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