Dubai-based Zafco, the only Dubai based company to exhibit at the Tyrexpo Asia 2011 held in Singapore last month, won the exhibition’s “gold award” for the most innovative stand design. Zafco’s premium brand Zeetex also participated, with all the categories of tyres including passenger, truck and bus. Visitors to the Zafco and Zeetex stands experienced interactive discussions, activities, multimedia advertisements and tyre patterns on display.
German specialty chemicals group Lanxess has founded a dedicated company for the Middle East, Lanxess Middle East GmbH. The company has its offices in Dubai and is being headed up by managing director Elie Saad, who has held a number of positions within the Lanxess group and was most recently the head of the global polymer additives business in within the company’s Functional Chemicals business unit.
Before you next gripe, Jeremy Clarkson-style, that the bus is a slow and cumbersome form of transport worthy of your finest sneer, you should take the time to acquaint yourself with the Superbus project. The 15 metre long, 23 seat vehicle is now under development and its Dutch builder claims a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) for the vehicle. The first Superbus prototype was presented in Dubai on the opening day of the World Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport on April 10, 2011, and project developer Superbus B.V. aims to have the high speed vehicle ready for commercial use in 2015. To keep the bus rolling at its anticipated top speed the company is drawing upon support in the tyre department from Apollo Vredestein.
Ceat Ltd announced on Friday 4 June that its Sri Lankan investment arm – Associated Ceat Holdings Company Pvt Ltd (ACHL) – has become a wholly-owned subsidiary after it bought the remaining 4.5 million shares in the company. Ceat previously held a 54.84 per cent stake in ACHL. ACHL holds a 50 per cent stake in CEAT Kelani Associated Holdings Pvt Ltd, a joint venture with Sri Lanka's Kelani Tyres.
Solideal USA has launched new “eco-friendly budget line.” According to the company, the Ecomatic range is “manufactured utilising European technology and has proven to provide long wear in general use operations.” Solideal’s Ecomatic e-smooth and e-traction press-on line is manufactured with a universal rubber compound and recycled steel base bands. The press-on lineup includes all the most common sizes and a lower price solution for press-on forklift applications.
In order to best meet growing demand for its tyres in the Middle East region, Indian manufacturer CEAT has established a new Dubai office. The operation is to be headed up by Pawan Rana.
Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) and the local Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) recently signed a contract with Al Dobowi Tyre to supply Hankook tyres to its fleet for two years in a deal worth 9 million dirhams (£1.525 million; 1.703 million euros; US$2.450 million). The contract was signed by DTC CEO Abdul Aziz Malik and Al Dobowi CEO Harjeev Singh Kandhari, in the presence of several directors and executives from both parties.
Al Dobowi was selected following a public tender attracting participation from several tyre specialist companies from across the globe. However, following analysis of offers made, Al Dobowi was nominated for submitting the best offer of 8,878,608 UAW dirhams. “…the company has a good record of experience and reputation in the field of tyres" commented Abdul Aziz Malik.
Yokohama Rubber has announced its participation in the Dubai International Motor Show 2009, which will run from December 15, Tuesday, through December 20, Sunday. A key product on display at the show will be Yokohama’s new “Advan dB”, which will be launched in Asian markets in July. The company says it will also exhibit “as reference products” a number of its latest offerings that have not been released in the Middle East market. A new corporate visual theme – "Samurai" – will also be unveiled for overseas markets during the show.
Talks between Continental AG and MAG, a Dubai-based potential buyer of the company’s tyre technology and passenger/light truck tyre manufacturing facility in Clairoix, France, have ended. According to Continental, the talks “mutually ceased” with no agreement reached. The parties held intensive discussions, but finally concluded that it was not possible to reach common ground on pursuing further negotiations.
“We would have liked to have become involved in the tyre manufacturing business as an extension to our value-chain activities which are strongly focused on the trade sector. Using the knowledge we have at present we shall continue to examine this approach. We specifically thank the French government for its commitment and support while we were deliberating on the matter, and we shall keep France in our minds as a key location for future business plans”, said Dr Fawaz Sabri vice chairman of MAG
Dr Bernhard Trilken, responsible for Continental`s global passenger and light truck tyre production, added: “It was not possible to enter into concrete negotiations on the basis of jointly defined framework conditions. The two parties reached the same conclusion and, at that point, agreed to terminate the sales talks.”
Situated in a prime location in Hall 20, the Infinity stand at the recent Autopromotec 2009 was, the company believes, one of the show’s busiest, displaying the general confidence and determination to push the brand forwards in Europe.
As well as showcasing two new products – the Infinity 059 and the Infinity 200 – there was a comprehensive series of distributor update meetings. All the main European and International Infinity distributors visited the stand and were welcomed by the Infinity team from Europe and Dubai.
Representatives from the custom, tuning and motorsports industry have met in Dubai to discuss the Barbican Turbo show, which will be held between the 8th and 10th October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Last year’s inaugural show was attended by more than 19,000 enthusiasts, a very respectable headcount for a first-time show. Critical to the show’s ongoing success, believes organiser United Business Media, is direct input from the industry about Barbican Turbo’s future development and how it can meet the needs of participating companies.
“We are especially pleased the organisers have decided to involve us and other companies in the event process as it allows them to produce an event that we actually want and need to support our businesses goals,” stated Foilacar managing director Swen Roters, who was present at the Dubai meeting.
Al Saeedi Middle East FZ Co. was recently named as Maitech Tyres’s Best Dealer 2008. The award was presented Ian Thomas, Maitech director international sales in a ceremony held at the Intermat show in Paris.
The Maitech range includes all-steel off road radials with sizes to suit many different types of construction equipment. The Maitech range of steel radial UM3/UM5 tyres covers 15.5R25, 17.5R25, 20.5R25, 23.5R25, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25. In particular Maitech tyres are said to be highly resistant to shoulder and tread cuts and hence enjoy a greatly extended life for maximum cost effectiveness. This extended life, combined with the Maitech’s ability to wear evenly, results in lower costs per kilometre and therefore reduced overall machine operating costs.
As of May 6 Continental AG reports that its talks with Dubai’s Moaffaq Al Gaddah (MAG) Group are ‘continuing’, with discussions centring on jointly defining the terms of a possible takeover proposal for Conti’s Clairoix plant. This meeting began the day after management from MAG visited the French factory, 24 hours later than originally planned – the visit was delayed for a day at the request of France’s Ministry for the Economy, Finances and Employment on safety grounds, the site having been closed temporarily following the destruction of fire prevention, alarm and surveillance systems.
Automechanika Middle East is the largest automotive aftermarket exhibition covering entire UAE, Gulf Countries, wider Middle East and Africa. Automechanika ME 2009 will be held from 31 May–2 June, 2009 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, UAE.
Some of the most lucrative export destinations can be reached through the ports of Dubai. Automechanika Middle East is the only platform for the Tyre related companies to target $1.1bn Tyre Industry.
For further information contact:
Jasmeet Bakshi
Show Manager
Automechanika Middle East
Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH
PO Box 26761
Dubai, UAE
Tel. +971 4 3380102
Fax. +971 4 3380041
Pirelli reports its 2009 motor sport season opened in the best possible way, with the securing of a decisive win in the 24 Hours of Dubai endurance race that took place on the weekend of January 10-11. After 24 hours of racing, the Land Motorsport Porsche 997GT3Cup, driven by Gabriel Abergel, Carsen Tilke, Niclas Kenberich and Andzej Dzikevic led home the other 58 finishers with a winning margin of half a lap.
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