Now one of the largest tyre-producing countries in the world, China has an indisputable influence on the direction of global tyre trade. The home of both fast-growing up-and-coming brands as well as a burgeoning domestic market, this tag chronicles China’s involvement with the tyre business.
The sale of China Enterprises Limited’s share in Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company to CZ Tire Holdings Limited for RMB600,000,000 or approximately US$94.41 million has been closed, China Enterprises reports.
European supplies of Federal Tyres’ Formoza AZ01 are expected to begin in December when long-time Federal customer, Van den Ban Autobanden, receives the first Europe-bound container load. Federal reports the Netherlands-based wholesaler’s first order of size 225/50R17 98W XL and 225/55R17 101W XL Formoza AZ01 tyres has been dispatched from its Jiangxii plant in Nanchang, China.
The ears of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association must have been rather warm as Ashley Croft, chairman of the Tyre Wholesalers Group of the NTDA, gave his speech at the group's annual lunch. Around 75 people – customers and suppliers – attended the event on 22 November at the National Motorcycle Museum and, as well as lunch, there was plenty of food for thought, particularly for manufacturers of premium brands.
The number of visitors attending the first day of this year's Reifen China exhibition in Shanghai is said to have set a new record, with around 5 per cent more attending the show than in 2010. According to exhibition organisers Messe Essen, combined initial figures for both Reifen China and RubberTech, which is run in parallel in neighbouring halls, show that 5512 visitors attended the opening day of the show compared with 4300 in 2010. More than a fifth were said to have been “international” visitors.
Reifen China 2011 opened its doors today to increased exhibitor numbers over the 2010 edition, with the exhibition's space records reportedly having been broken back in May. Exhibits appear to be mainly dominated by large and medium sized Chinese and Taiwan-based tyre manufacturers with the addition of relatively small tyremakers, wheel firms and equipment manufacturers also in attendance. Some well known names in attendance include: Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd., Double Coin Holdings, Shandong Linglong, Cooper Chengshan Shangdong Co., Ltd., Nankang Rubber Tire Corp, Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre, Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd and Shandong Hengfeng Rubber & Plastics Co., Ltd to name but a few.
On 21 November, Hong Kong-based Bermuda corporation China Enterprises Limited announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its share in tyre maker Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company to a company called CZ Tire Holdings Limited. According to China Enterprises, CZ Tire Holdings will pay RMB 600,000,000 (£59.6 million) for the 26 per cent share in Hangzhou Zhongce.
The management of Pneumatic Components Limited, or PCL, reports that Germany’s HORN GmbH & Co.KG (Horn Tecalemit) has acquired all shares in the Sheffield-based business for an undisclosed sum. This deal took effect on 1 October 2011 and although the two companies will continue to trade independently, PCL and Horn Tecalemit say the acquisition will give both firms “access to a wider range of complementary products” and benefit customers, suppliers and company employees.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Daniel L. Smytka as president of the company’s Asia Pacific business. He replaces Pierre Cohade who has decided to leave Goodyear and move to a new opportunity that will be announced at a later date. Cohade will remain with the company through the end of the year to assist with the transition.
Smytka, who has more than 25 years of leadership experience, takes the role after successfully running Goodyear's Asia consumer business and subsequently leading the relocation and expansion of the company’s factory in China.
As Hankook Tire’s vice president, Pae Ho-youl, recently said, green tyres will be a tyre industry “keyword” in the coming years. It is thus no surprise that the company unveiled a new product at the SEMA show in the US. During the trade fair Hankook Tire America unveiled the second-generation enfren eco, a product it says was “specifically designed for fuel efficient and hybrid vehicles and offers consumers an energy saving, low rolling resistance replacement tyre with all-season performance.”
The expansion work at Rhodia’s Chicago Heights dispersible silica production facility in the US state of Illinois is now complete and the enhanced site has been officially inaugurated. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony the company, along with customers, key business partners and public officials, celebrated the addition of an additional 16,000 tons to Rhodia’s North American output, a quantity that lifts capacity in the region by a third.
In recent years agricultural implement manufacturers have developed a range of modern implements and tractors that often demand wheels and tyres specifically designed and manufactured for the application. Starco recognised this trend some years ago and has focused on providing a comprehensive range of wheel and tyre solutions, including its own tyre brand. It has also strengthened its position within the sector through acquisitions of and strategic partnerships with specialist manufacturing companies.
On 1 January 2012, Tatsuo Mitsuhata will take over from Yashushi Takagi as president and CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.; Takagi, who has held this position at Toyo Tire U.S.A. since January 2009, will return to Japan as Toyo Tires’ general manager of corporate planning. This appointment is Mitsuhata’s second US-based position – he previously worked for Toyo Tire U.S.A., as the company’s coordination manager between 1994 and 1998.
On 11 October 2011, Hou Yifan, member of Linglong Tyre chess team was awarded “Non-olympic Athlete of the Year” at the 10th China Laurens Prize ceremony was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The award was the second grand prize she won after a prizegiving by state television – “CCTV non-olympic athlete” – at the beginning of this year.
Tire Review reports that China’s Qingdao Doublestar Industrial Co. Ltd. is opening its first warehouse and distribution center in the US, with an assist by Del-Nat Tire Corp. Executives from both companies were in the city of Memphis on November 5 to sign an agreement whereby Qingdao Doublestar will warehouse and distribute Doublestar brand medium radial truck tires from Del-Nat’s facility in South Memphis.
Although Continental merged its Passenger & Light Truck Tires and Commercial Vehicle Tires divisions into a single unit, the Tires division, on August 1 this year, both remain as business units within the combined division. At the start of next year management of the Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit will be handed over to Dr. Andreas Esser, who is currently responsible for Continental’s passenger car and van tyre replacement business in the Asia-Pacific region. In his new role, the 52-year old will report directly to Tire division chief Nikolai Setzer.
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