At the end of January certain shipping companies indicated that they are considering what is known as “super slow-steaming” on the Asia-Europe route. This news, which potentially extends the already long time it takes for Far Eastern tyres to go from “on the water” to “in the warehouse,” serves to highlight the complicated business of getting tyres produced on the other side of the world from A to B.
EW Swiers and Grainger, the York-based tyre recycler has invested £62,845 in recycling equipment including a pre-shredder. The company made the investment last October after it was awarded £25,000 of funding from Resource Efficiency Yorkshire (REY), which is now known as CO2 Sense Yorkshire and European Regional Development fund (ERDF).
Production of truck and bus radials is scheduled to begin at Bridgestone’s factory in Indore, India. Company subsidiary Bridgestone India Private Limited has announced that, in response to increasing domestic demand, approximately 3.3 billion yen (₤22.9 million) will be invested in preparing for the start of TBR tyre production in the first half of 2011. Production capacity is expected to reach approximately 400 units per day by the second half of 2012.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. has announced it will invest $9.8 million to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary company at Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, China, to manufacture passenger and light truck tyres.
Continental is setting up a management structure in its home market with a stronger gearing towards customer and regional demands. The company says its Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH operation will “step up its exploitation of the experience gained in the passenger tyre industry and trade business, with the aim of more fully satisfying the needs of business partners.” Several new key appointments will facilitate the company’s plans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the three lands serviced by Continental Reifen Deutschland.
The sandbags outside one of the lobbies to the hotel served as an oddly timed metaphor for the 2010 Kumho Tire USA Dealer Meeting last week in Desert Palms, California, Tire Review reports. An unrelenting rain that caused floods across much of Southern California had pounded the area for a week. Its parent company in financial turmoil, Kumho Tire USA has been flooded by a rising tide of questions from media, dealers and suppliers, and the company used the meeting to address its future.
Yuong Nam Byun is to be appointed the new president and managing director of Kumho Tire Europe GmbH. Byun, who studied business administration at Ohio State University in the US, has held various positions at Kumho. Most recently he was managing director, sales for Central and South America, and in this capacity also was responsible for the most important emerging markets worldwide.
Dunlop Tyres’ control tyre supply to the Australian Superbike Championship has been extended for a further three seasons. The tyre maker has already served in this capacity for the past two years. “We at Dunlop are excited with this announcement and are proud to be appointed this tender,” said Dunlop’s motorcycle and motorsports National Manager Ken Wieden. "This was an important contract for us and our distributors to win.
Qingdao, China based Fullrun Tyre Corp., Ltd. specialises primarily in the production and export of tyres for passenger vehicles, trucks and off-road vehicles. In addition to its own four brands – Fullrun, Antyre, Fullway and Clear (all of which, says Fullrun Tyre, have passed various certifications, including Dot, ECE and S-Mark) – the company acts as an agent for more than 100 brands from 56 Chinese factories. In 2009 the company achieved a turnover of US$150 million.
Following the launch of the Maxxis Rewards national promotion last year, which the tyre manufacturer says was “highly successful”, 2010’s prizes have been rolled out in conjunction with Grouptyre – the exclusive Maxxis distributor in the UK. The 2010 programme once again features a VIP trip as the main prize. Based on the volume of Maxxis car, van and 4×4 tyres they buy within the promotional period, the top 15 dealers will win a holiday in Shanghai, China’s largest city and the world’s largest cargo port, which will include an exclusive tour of the Maxxis factory in Kunshan.
Indonesian tyre exports hold a market share of around 30 per cent in Egypt, and according to the Jakarta Post, tyre makers have retained their confidence about this market despite the announcement of plans late last year to refurbish an idle plant their and turn it into the Middle East’s largest tyre manufacturer.
The production of Dunlop brand tyres in India has recommenced, and according to parent company the Ruia Group, the brand expected to generate revenues of Rs 6 billion (£80.6 million) by the next financial year. Before the two facilities ceased operations in 2008 Dunlop India turnover stood at Rs 900 million (£12.1 million).
After an exciting ACU British Short Track Championship season, which saw Pete Boast take the victor’s spoils, some of motorcycle racing’s most famous names headed to Essex for the final event of 2009, the Braintree Bonanza on 27 December. Manufacturer Maxxis began its association with Short Track UK four years ago when Triple A Racing, the Manchester-based Maxxis tyre distributor, supplied tyres to a number of competitors. In 2009 all riders used the Maxxis DTR-1 flat track tyre, thanks to an agreement between the organisers and Triple A Racing, who jointly sponsored the series.
Parts distribution company FPS has opened a new warehouse branch at the Blochairn Industrial Estate in Glasgow to serve Scotland. The new FPS facility officially opened its doors on the 28 September, although the full stocking process took another month to complete. This included the addition of Klarius type-approved exhaust and CAT systems, including over 2,500 exhaust references and 600 CAT references. The additional warehousing has allowed FPS to add these popular, but typically bulky products to the same-day delivery service offered throughout the UK.
Some Rs 8 billion (£109.7 million) are to be invested in a new JK Tyre & Industries greenfield facility and the construction of a new research and development facility. The new plant will reportedly produce passenger car and truck and bus radials for both the domestic and export markets, however no specific information on plant capacity has yet been made. The southern Indian state of Karnataka appears to be the most likely location for the new development, a decision that may have been influenced by the regional government’s offer of incentives.
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