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30,000 Part Worns Seized in Algeria

Officials within Algiers port customs department have seized 30,000 second hand tyres. According to local news reports, the old tyres were imported from unnamed countries in Europe under “fraudulent custom statements.” The latest operation was reportedly the most important this year. Sources within customs general direction told Algeria’s El Khabar newspaper that regional foreign customs services discovered four containers in the dry-port of Algiers each containing 2600 to 3000 tyres of varying brands and sizes.

13th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Alcoa Exclusively Selected for Lamborghini Murcielago Reventon

Alcoa Wheel Products has announced an exclusive supply agreement to provide all wheels for the new highly exotic Lamborghini Murcielago Reventòn. Lamborghini looked to Alcoa Wheels to provide speciality wheels with quick to market processes for this truly exotic vehicle. According to the wheel manufacturer, Lamborghini required Alcoa’s flexibility and manufacturing expertise to develop a unique wheel to compliment the unique appearance and performance of the ultra-exclusive Murcielago Reventòn.

Alcoa will supply directional-specific 18”x8.5” front and 18”x13” rear wheels, each forged from a single block of 6061-T6 aluminum. Each wheel is engraved with “Alcoa Forged”. It is rare to have such engravings in the wheel which highlights Lamborghini’s desire to offer their customers something new. All wheels are finished in Lamborghini Bright Black paint and fitted with carbon fibre “winglets” adding to the design of the wheel and complementing the overall appearance of the vehicle.

13th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

S.drive OE for Beefed up Smart

Yokohama’s S.drive tyres have been approved by smart-Brabus GmbH as OE for the new “smart fortwo Brabus” – just as similar tyres have been used since 2002 on the model it replaces. The current tyres are the latest additions to Yokohama’s sport-oriented S.drive series, and are being supplied in 175/50R16 77T for the front and 225/35R17 86Y (reinforced) for the rear. The “smart fortwo Brabus” was developed by smart-BRABUS GmbH, a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler AG and leading German tuner Brabus GmbH, on the basis of the already unique “smart fortwo”. The Brabus version, with its brand-new 98hp/72kW turbo engine, is the high-end model and combines outstanding driving dynamics and low fuel consumption. It will be available in Europe, Australia and Japan as of October 2007.

Yokohama, who has been in a technical partnership with Brabus GmbH since 2005, states it is proud to have met the high technical standards required in the process of development with smart-Brabus GmbH. The new generation fine-tuned S.drive tyres for smart-Brabus offer outstanding kinetic performance and improved wet grip.

7th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Net Sales, Net Loss Up for Hayes Lemmerz in Q2

Hayes Lemmerz reported on September 6 that its sales for the fiscal second quarter ended July 31, 2007 were US$570.3 million, up 19 per cent from $480.8 million in the corresponding quarter of 2006. The sales increase came from strong international steel and aluminium wheel sales, metals cost recovery and favourable currency fluctuations, the company said.

For the fiscal second quarter, the company reported adjusted EBITDA of $48.5 million, up $6.6 million from $41.9 million a year earlier, and a loss from operations of $4.8 million, compared with year earlier earnings from operations of $7.4 million. “We continue our strategy of restructuring our business, executing our operating plan, and extending the lead in our global wheel business,” said Curtis J. Clawson, president, CEO and chairman of the board.

As part of the company’s ongoing restructuring efforts, Hayes Lemmerz reached “important milestones” in the second quarter that it believes significantly improve its long-term outlook, while imposing one-time transaction costs. “We greatly strengthened our balance sheet by raising $193.1 million through an equity rights offering and a direct equity investment, and paying down $130.8 million of long term debt,” said Clawson. The balance sheet restructuring, which included the rights offering, new senior credit facilities totalling approximately $495 million, and 130 million euros of 8.25 per cent senior unsecured notes issued by a European subsidiary, “improved our liquidity by $80 million, will generate interest cost savings of approximately $24 million annually, and extends all significant debt maturities until 2013 or later.”

7th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin: European Tyre Volumes Strong in July

Passenger tyre demand increased by 7 per cent in Europe and by 9 per cent in North America, mostly driven by OE demand of +11 per cent and +21 per cent respectively. According to a Deutsche Bank report, July truck tyre demand remained strong in Europe, growing 9 per cent (a positive trend confirmed by truck OEMs who are trying to secure tyre deliveries for 2008) and in Brazil, where volumes rocketed 23 per cent. However, truck tyre demand remains extremely weak in North America (down 13 per cent). According to the analysts this was driven by the very weak OE – down 36 per cent – manufacturers had expected. However, overall July was reportedly a strong month especially for European companies.

5th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Laugfs to Enter Solid Tyre Market

The island state of Sri Lanka, long one of the world’s major rubber producers, also holds the distinction of being the world’s largest producer and exporter of solid tyres. This sizable industry is one that Laugfs Corporation Rubber, a subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s Laugfs Holdings, intends to enjoy a share of, and the company thus is investing in a new facility for the production of solid tyres.

A 2.43 hectare site for the new operation has been owned by the company for two years, reports CEO Ananda Hadunge. The installation of equipment is expected to begin in early November, with the facility ready for commercial production in the first part of 2008. Hadunge adds that the facility will initially produce 12 tonnes of tyres per day, with this capacity increasing to 25 tonnes within six months.

Export markets have been viewed as a priority from the onset, and the CEO apparently has his eye on the USA, Canada and Western Europe as key target markets for the new plant’s products. According to Hadunge, Laugfs Holdings is reportedly also planning to invest in a solid tyre production facility in Australia that will produce tyres for industrial and construction vehicles. The CEO did not elaborate further regarding this project, however.

3rd September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Urges ‘School Run Mums’ to Think Before You Drive

With the new school year upon us many mums are gearing up for the term time school run. But a survey conducted by Bridgestone UK indicates that a disturbing number of women could be putting themselves and their children in danger every time they head out on the road. The survey revealed women to be the worst offenders when it comes to tyre safety, with many not even carrying out basic yet potentially life-saving tyre checks.

More than half of all female respondents (54.1 per cent) have not checked their tyre tread depth in over a month – including 21.5 per cent who have never checked it. More than three quarters of the women surveyed were unsure of the legal safety requirements for tread depth, and 84 per cent did not know that they could face fines of up to £2,500 and lose three points from their licence for each tyre with insufficient tread.

The survey was conducted as part of Bridgestone’s Think Before You Drive campaign, run in association with the RAC Foundation and FIA Foundation. Some worrying statistics highlighted by the study include:

31st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Special: China – Tyre market without equal

Since November 2004, when Tyres & Accessories introduced China as “a market emerging from the haze”, the country and its tyre business has continued to develop at a dramatic speed. This is not only because Chinese tyre manufacturers have turned their attention towards European markets but also because Western manufacturers are pushing forward into China. This is where they want to produce tyres that are then sold either domestically or on export markets in Europe or North America. Today, China and the Chinese tyre market is no longer hiding in the haze but basking in bright sunlight. In China alone about 330 million tyres are produced annually, 235 million of which are radial tyres, and of this 180 million are passenger and light truck radials. And it goes without saying that the Chinese tyre market is bound to grow.

The growth of the Chinese tyre market is first of all a growth of the international tyre majors. It is some time since these companies began to carve out their territories in China. In doing so they have benefited from their superior brands, technologies and distribution structures. And often they have deeper pockets than most of their Chinese competitors, who cannot all keep up. The Chinese tyre market stands at the threshold of full integration into global economic structures.

With this new edition of our bilingual supplement on the Chinese tyre market the two sister publications Tyres & Accessories and Neue Reifenzeitung are again taking a close look at what’s taking place behind the Chinese wall.

The bilingual supplement “China – Tyre market without equal“ can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.

29th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

US Environmental Group Attacks Car, Weight Makers

(Akron/Tire Review) The Center for Environmental Health filed suit to end the sale of lead-based wheel weights in California. Citing the state’s safe drinking water law, the group claims wheel weights that come off of vehicles threaten to pollute waterways. Specifically notified, according to the group, were Chrysler and several makers of lead-based wheel weights.

“Lead from wheel weights poses a threat to safe, clean drinking water in California,” said Caroline Cox, research director for the Center for Environmental Health. “Since affordable, effective alternatives exist, there is no excuse for the continued use of lead that can end up as a water hazard to people and the environment.”

“Many automakers have eliminated or are phasing-out the use of lead wheel weights, but most tyres in the US are still balanced with toxic lead,” said Jeff Gearhart, campaign director of the Ecology Center Clean Car Campaign. “In Europe and Asia, lead wheel weights have been replaced to protect people and the environment from unnecessary lead exposures. There’s no reason we should have lesser standards for protecting Americans from lead pollution.”

28th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin and BFGoodrich take the Long Way Down

Drawing on their success in gruelling events such as the Dakar Rally, Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman and their team chose Michelin and BFGoodrich tyres to support their recently completed ‘Long Way Down’ adventure through Europe and Africa. Travelling from John O’Groats to Cape Town via Western Europe and East Africa, the epic journey took in everything from tarmac roads to deserts and supported the Unicef, CHAS and Riders for Health charities.

Michelin supplied its Anakee tyres for the BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycles ridden by Ewan and Charley, and BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A tyres for the two Nissan Patrol support vehicles. The two men were impressed by the combination of wet and dry grip, mileage, handling and comfort, combined with some off-road ability offered by the Michelin Anakee, the same tyre they used in the US leg of their previous trip, the Long Way Round.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Revenue and Net Income up at Delticom

Delticom AG, Europe’s leading Internet tyre retailer, has published its consolidated interim report for the first six months of 2007. The company recorded revenue growth of around 35.2 per cent in the first six months compared to the first six months of 2006, with the total rising to 102.0 million euros (H1 2006: 75.4 million euros). EBIT increased from 3.7 million euros in H1 2006 to 5.4 million euros. At the same time, net income for the period increased to 3.7 million euros (compared to H1 2006: 2.2 million euros).

Revenues in the key eCommerce segment were up 41.7 per cent in H1 2007 to 94.1 million euros from 66.4 million euros in H1 2006. The number of registered customers in the eCommerce segment – the customers who have purchased at least once from Delticom in the past (including the current fiscal year) increased from 974,000 at the end of the second quarter of 2006 to 1,555,000 one year later. Delticom acquired 306,000 new eCommerce customers in H1 2007, with 112,000 registered customers making a repeat purchase from Delticom in the period under review.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

A Compound to Suit Your Winter

Since its inception in 1972 Interstate Tires has expanded rapidly and now represents a group of five companies, selling tyres under its own ‘Interstate’ brand name. Headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands, Interstate offers worldwide distribution and operates warehouses both in Europe and China, simplifying the delivery process for their customers as much as possible. Tyres can be shipped to every major port, with from the port truck or train transport also arranged by Interstate if required. A sign of the company’s popularity as a tyre supplier can be witnessed by the company’s positive sales figures, growth Interstate claims consistently outpaces that of the tyre market.

Interstate’s range of exclusive brand winter tyres for the 2007 season is called the Interstate Winter IWT-2. Produced in China to a European design and intended for European conditions, each tyre in the Winter IWT-2 line-up is E-marked, ISO certified, ETRTO, TüV and DOT approved. To maximise the range’s Europe-wide appeal Interstate will release the Winter IWT-2 in two silica compound variations, a softer compound for Nordic regions and a firmer ‘West European’ compound more suited to UK driving.

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

RFID Solution Fights Counterfeit Tyres

(Akron/Tire Review – RFID Update) A new RFID system by Advanced ID and SkyeTek is being touted as a potential solution to counterfeit and grey market tyres.

SkyeTek’s UHF RFID reader modules used in Advanced ID readers can capture tyre tag identification data for authentication. The readers integrate with the company’s software to provide tyre performance data and other information to help manufacturers, distributors, and fleet operators manage tyre inventories.

“We think maybe one out of five tyres is counterfeit or came from the grey market, and is not manufactured to the standards of the world’s top manufacturers,” Advanced ID CEO Dan Finch. “It’s a big problem that the industry doesn’t talk about a lot, in part because it has traditionally required expensive identification and tracking solutions.”

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Winter Tyre Test Specialist Appoints New MD

Test World, the independent winter tyre testing facility located in the brisk northerly reaches of Ivalo in Finnish Lapland, has a new managing director. Following the retirement of incumbent managing director Timo Mäkelä on August 1, deputy managing director Harri Eskelinen has filled his snow shoes.

The company performs an invaluable service for Europe’s tyre manufacturers. Tyre World’s extreme northerly location ensures frigid weather for a large chunk of the year – the test season begins in late October and runs until the end of April – making Ivalo a much sought after location for putting winter tyres through their paces. The testing specialist has developed track maintenance techniques that permit invariable conditions for the duration of tyre tests, and can conduct tests in all conditions likely to be encountered, including snow, slush, wet and dry surfaces. During 2007 the company is also launching a brand new indoors test facility that will be used for performing approval tests conforming to ECE norms.

20th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conferences to Help Business with an Eye on Eastern Europe

It is no secret that Russia and Eastern Europe hold much potential for global automakers, and also for those in the tyre and related industries. However it is essential that overseas operators enter these markets with their eyes open, and sometimes businesses need all the help they can get to fully grasp the intricacies of doing business in an environment so different from their home market. Conferences and forums provide a valuable venue in which to obtain this much needed information.

The third annual AutoRussia conference, an international forum for companies participating in the automotive business in Russia or globally, is scheduled to take place on December 4 and 5 at the Astoria Hotel in St Petersburg. More than 300 senior representatives; leading figures in Russia’s automotive manufacturing sector, including leading OEM projects in the St Petersburg area, as well as senior representatives from auto OEMs and T1s around the world, will meet at the conference to discuss their current projects and future plans.

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors