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Good Performance For Bridgestone/Firestone Deutschland GmbH

In a difficult environment Bridgestone/Firestone was able to sell in the first half of 2001 more units than in the first half of the year 2000. Managing Director Günter Unterhauser confirmed that, in the first half of this year, his company sold 4 per cent more passenger car tyres and 6 per cent more truck tyres while the market in general fell by 2 per cent and 4 per cent respectively. The increases in motor cycle tyres (plus 29 per cent) and agricultural tyres (plus 29 per cent) were significantly higher. In the EM-Segment Bridgestone sold as many tyres as in the first half of 2000 while the market shrank by 10 per cent. Due to several good test results the management is very confident for the winter season and is convinced that turnover for the year as a whole will be at least 10 per cent higher than the previous year. Operating results are in line with expectations and the management said that it is quite satisfied.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

About the 4×4 Tyre Market

The market for off road vehicles is constantly changing; also the market for suitable tyres and wheels. In the 80s Japanese car makers Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Honda created this market with 4 wheel drive vehicles able to be used on rough terrain. Now the 4×4 cars have become more suitable for use on the streets and the term Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), replaces the former “Off Road Vehicle”. Car manufacturers like Ford, Chrysler, BMW and Mercedes have discovered that this has become more than just a niche market. Explorer, Cherokee, X5 and M-class are closer to luxury cars than those for use off the beaten track. Some tyre manufacturers have developed their off-road programme in this direction, whilst others have directly used the platform of existing passenger car tyres for this new generation of vehicles. The 4×4 tyre market will grow within the next few years as a lucrative market segment for the tyre industry, tyre dealers and also for the light alloy wheel business. Typical consumers in the 80s, with sparsely-equipped Suzukis, were not able to invest much money in tyres and wheels, but nowadays drivers of these cars are members of a more affluent society. The trends are very similar to passenger cars, with sizes becoming larger, faster, V, W, Y and Z speed ratings and higher load indices.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

The Financial Experts’ Favourite – Michelin

Reports from financial and industry analysts generally agree that the tyre industry, among others, is facing a difficult time with market conditions having worsened recently. Despite this, the Deutsche Bank AG, London is recommending Michelin shares as a “buy”, even though the organisation is downgrading its 2001 profits forecast for the French manufacturer by 3%.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

“Oxxynova” For Car Tyres

On January 1, 2001, Degussa-Hüls transferred its DMT (dimethyl terephthalate) business to a separate legal entity. The new company, Oxxynova, will initially operate as a marketing operation. Production of DMT, including two production facilities, employing 250, will be transferred to Oxxynova GmbH & Co KG (Marl, Germany) on April 1. DMT is a base product used in the manufacture of polyester. DMT based polyester uses include, for example, the reinforcement of car tyres. Oxxynova is the European market leader with total production capacity of 480,000 tons.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Two More Cement Plants Authorised To Burn Tyres

Disposal of scrap tyres in the UK has been boosted by the news that two more Blue Circle cement plants have received the official go-ahead to consume tyres. The factory at Dunbar in Scotland will take chipped tyres while the plant at Westbury, Wiltshire, will take whole car tyres. These plants join Blue Circle’s factory at Cauldon, which is already consuming chipped tyres.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyrexpo Europe 2001 Preview

It is exhibition time once again in the UK, with Tyrexpo Europe 2001 being held in the Grand Hall at Olympia from March 14th to 16th. In terms of space, this is the largest-ever show in the event’s 23-year history. The exhibitor list underlines the show’s growing internationalisation over recent years, with companies coming from (naturally, given the name of the show) western and eastern Europe, the USA and Canada and the Far East. Manufacturing tyres has become an increasingly global business, and so has wholesaling, with companies searching the globe for new sources of products and also for customers. Wholesalers are well represented at Tyrexpo. An industry not enjoying good times at the moment is that of retreading, especially for passenger car tyres. It is no surprise, therefore, that the number of retreaders taking space at the show is below that of previous events. However, the industry is not totally unrepresented, with machinery manufacturers and suppliers of consumables taking space. Two areas which are becoming more prominent are those of tyre recycling and internet trading. Legal moves such as the banning of tyres for landfill and the End of Life Vehicle Directive are concentrating industry minds on recycling, and there are tyre collectors and disposers among the exhibitors. Few doubt that the internet will have a growing effect on the tyre – and every other – business, and Tyrexpo Europe provides the opportunity for some of the companies offering internet trading to show what they can offer. Our preview gives a flavour of the variety of exhibitors by giving details of some of what is on show. TYRES & ACCESSORIES and our sister magazine NEUE REIFENZEITUNG, are sharing a stand and we look forward to seeing friends old and new.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

On The Way To Chassis Control

Conti Temic is present at IAA for the first time, along with Continental ISAD, ADC, ContiTeves and Continental Passenger Car Tyres. In addition to the latest in technology, the company is introducing several projects on the way to the intelligent chassis, for example, the much acclaimed “30-Metre Car”. Synergies between tyres and brakes are not the only aspect of Continental’s vision of the future. The steering, axle modules and air suspension systems will all be integrated into the system.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

European Distribution Centre in Rotterdam Opened By Hankook

Hankook has in the past announced on more than one occasion its intention to improve capacity and focus chiefly on Europe. A concrete decision has not yet been made, Jung Rak Chey (Managing Director Europe Regional H.Q.) told the press in Rotterdam in March. He thinks that a factory in Europe seems most likely, but locations in North America or acquisitions in South East Asia are possibilities. Hankook could achieve further successes in European original equipment – the company is already a supplier for the Ford Transit – and Jung Rak Chey talks of negotiations with Volvo and Volkswagen. If a supplier does not have a factory near the customer, then the logistics have to be so efficient that it should seem that such a factory exists. The European Distribution Centre (EDC) opened in Rotterdam is impressive in size, and Hankook itself calls it a “milestone in the company’s history”. Capacity of the warehouse is 300,000 passenger car tyres, 20,000 light truck tyres, and 20,000 truck/bus tyres. Also, 250,000 car batteries are on storage, some of which were already filled in Korea but a filling station also exists in the EDC. Hankook’s target is to deliver its customers with three million tyres and one million batteries annually from the EDC. The EDC will supply 35 countries, from Finland to Portugal, from Iceland to Russia.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Improved Sales And Profit For Nokian

Nokian has released interim financial figures for the first nine months of this year. These show an increase in net sales of 7.4 per cent to 277.7 m Euro and an operating profit of 25.3 m Euro (11.9 m Euro for the same period last year). Net profit reached 9.1 m Euro (2.7 m in 2000). Nokian’s target for the year is to achieve a sales growth of around 10 per cent and improve on last year’s profitability.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Chinese JV Company “Will Make Warrior And Michelin” Tyres

The joint venture has been confirmed between Michelin and the Shanghai Tyre & Rubber Co. to make radial tyres, steel cord and compounds. The new company will be called Shanghai Michelin Warrior Tire Co. and the JV is worth US$200 million. Michelin has a 70 per cent stake and STRC 30 per cent. Reports from China say that the company will continue to produce Warrior brand tyres and, at some time in the future, Michelin group products.

30th November 2001/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Aims To Gain Market Shares In Brazil

Japanese tyre manufacturer, Bridgestone is going for more market shares, especially in the truck tyre segment. This could effect the market leader Michelin, who has about 30% of the market. Bridgestone is also increasing the prices in Brazil for the replacement market by 8% and the OE market by approximately 10%. The only option to the price increase is to walk away from a losing money business.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

“XL” Winter Tyre: The “ContiWinterContact TS 790 V”

In the context of summer passenger car tyres the “V” speed rating is a common application. However, in the last year V-rated winter tyres have also entered the market; a development that even quite recently was unthinkable. This year German tyre manufacturer Continental is launching a V-rated winter tyre – the “ContiWinterContact TS 790 V XL”. According to the press release it is the “first true V-rated winter tyre”, allowing for speeds of up to 240 kph. The “XL” stands for extra load, meaning that the new tyre has been developed with a higher load index than competitors’ products. This compensates for obligatory load reductions which usually mean a tyre with a normal load index is permitted to drive at up to 220 kph on a full load, or the wheel load has to be reduced by 9 % to allow it to run at 240 kph. With the higher load index on the Continental TS 790 V XL no compromise will be required, and the tyre may be run at 240 kph at full wheel load. The new tyre is available in ten sizes to cover 96 % of the market segment. Prices will be 11 % higher than the H-rated version of the TS 790. Find out more in the November issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Tyres Record Figures

Nokian Tyres’ turnover last year reached 322.6 m Euro (28% higher than 1998) and an operating profit of 42.1 Euro (1998 32.2 m Euro). Profit before tax was 35.5 m Euro (1998 29.9 m Euro) and net profit 25.7 m Euro (1998 21.6 m Euro). The company invested 85.7 m Euro (1998 72.7 m Euro), this was mainly in production (30 m Euro). There was also expansion in retail equity with the purchase of the Finnish company ISKO.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

MMP-Factory In Timisoara Opens

It was the biggest day in Timisoara since the revolution, and it will perhaps set off another – this time in the tyre industry. The new tyre production facility was opened 20th October by Continental president, Dr Kessel, and Romanian Prime Minister, Mugur Isarescu, the latter facing the possibility of losing office in the coming election. Amongst the 400 attending the opening were representatives from Continental’s key suppliers and selected customers, as well as German and Romanian journalists. When the factory has reached its final stage it will produce 8 million car tyres a year, employing about 1,000 people. The article in November’s TYRES & ACCESSORIES shows that the factory tour revealed little new; we were shown assorted Japanese vulcanising equipment and ancillary machinery, but the state-of-the-art tyre construction machines were still under wraps. The iron curtain may have fallen, but for now there is a rubber curtain round the new technology at Timosoara.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone/Firestone Price Increases

Similar to other tyre manufacturers, on 1st January 2000 Bridgestone/Firestone officially announced price increases of 3% for passenger car tyres and 2% for commercial tyres. The effects of this increase are now visible in the German replacement market.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors