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European Growth on Cards for Bond International

In its almost 40 years of business York based Bond International has developed a strong nationwide wholesale distribution operation, and today the company sells an impressive three million tyres in the UK each year. At Reifen Essen T&A spoke with marketing director Richard Croft about the company’s brands and plans for the future.

News of particular significance is a shift in focus currently taking place at Bond International, a development announced for the first time during the Essen show. “We are increasing our export focus,” said Mr. Croft. “We are committed to establishing a presence in European markets.” The company has used the opportunity afforded by the massive exhibition to make new contacts on the continent, and Richard Croft expressed confidence on progressing with Bond International’s export plans as anticipated.

1st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Conti to End Argentina Licensing Partnership

International News

At the end of July Continental’s existing tyre production arrangement in Argentina comes to an end, and the company has plans to replace this current licensing deal with a direct subsidiary. Tyres sold in this market will henceforth be sourced from elsewhere.

1st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Installing New Presses to Increase Farm Radial Capacity

The growing demand for large radial agricultural tyres is behind Titan Tire’s decision to install ten new 130-inch cure presses. Plans are underway to install the equipment by the first quarter of 2009, and the company says that if demand is sufficient, and additional ten presses could be installed in the second quarter of 2009.

30th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MAM Software Relocating to Support Growth Plans

MAM Software is a company on the move, literally. The firm has announced it is relocating relocating its headquarters from Deepcar in Sheffield to new premises less than four miles away at Tankersley, just off J36 of the M1. The new office, comments MAM, will provide modern accommodation for the 92 employees currently based in Deepcar and will be furnished to the company’s specific requirements. The Tankersley site will incorporate a dedicated call centre for its Support Services department.

The new premises are integral in supporting MAM Software’s growth plans in the automotive and vertical markets. Managing director, Mike Jamieson, said: “MAM is committed to ensuring the move benefits both our employees and clients. These new premises are much better suited to our type of business. It will give us room for expansion and improvement, and provide a better working environment for all our staff.”

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin NA Introduces All-New Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Michelin North America reports that company engineers faced a taunting task when it came to enhancing the capabilities of the Pilot Sport All-Season Plus tyre, however by combining new technologies and the company’s ‘relentless obsession for innovation and excellence’, they believe they have achieved their aims. The end result, the all-new Pilot Sport A/S Plus, offers what Michelin states is the perfect combination of all-weather performance and extended tread life for high-end performance vehicles.

“The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre provides everything a driving enthusiast needs in a tyre,” said Nicolas Goubert, brand category manager, Michelin North America. “The improvements made on the new Pilot Sport A/S Plus tyre allows for greater performance in dry and wet conditions, while still maintaining its capabilities in snow.”

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sentaida Appoints Shannon as Credit Manager

Sentaida International, the North American marketing and sales headquarters of China’s Sentaida Group, has appointed Brian Shannon as their new Credit Manager. Shannon – who has previously held the positions of Credit Manager for TBC Wholesale Division and Director of Credit for Treadways Corporation – will be responsible for overseeing credit and collections.

After more than 12 years’ experience in the industry, Shannon has been excited by the prospects of Sentaida International, saying that the company “supplies quality products at competitive prices” and prides itself on “long term partnerships with customers.” The appointment comes in lieu of Sentaida’s expansion of operations in Los Angeles, California and Miami, in addition to the St. Louis headquarters.

24th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Facility Ensures Room for Growth at Inter-Sprint

The largest importer and exporter of passenger car tyres in Europe is Inter-Sprint. The Dutch company has approximately 250 permanent employees and growth in recent years had made the construction of a second premises in the town of Moerdijk necessary – the original site at Heinenoord, near Rotterdam, lacked sufficient space for adequate expansion. At the new site Inter-Sprint has the room it needs to develop a brand new 68,000 square metre facility, which it will do in phases. Significant extensions are planned for 2009.

Inter-Sprint is able to offer its customers a huge range of products that includes the major ‘A’ brands plus numerous private labels, including Milestone, Euro Tyfoon, Mastersteel, Roadhog and Meteor. The company also stocks a number of exclusive labels, amongst them the Viking brand of summer and winter pcr and lcv tyres, produced by Continental and exclusively distributed by Inter-Sprint in the Netherlands and several other European markets.

23rd June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Brembo Expands in US

Brembo will consolidate its corporate and technical groups from Northville, Farmington Hills and Costa Mesa, California at a new headquarters to be built in Novi, Michigan. The subsidiary of Bergamo, Italy-based Brembo S.p.A. will also expand capacity at its manufacturing facility in Homer (Calhoun County). The combined project is expected to retain and create 325 jobs for a total of 1,049 Michigan jobs for Brembo.

“The consolidation and expansion of our operations in Michigan, building on the skills of our workforce and competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities, create great opportunities for sustained growth in North America,” said Brembo North America general manager Adrian Smith.

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Roadrunner Tyres Invest £5000 in Refurbishing its Reception Area

Roadrunner Tyres, part of Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships, has invested over £5000 on the refurbishment of its reception area. The refurbishment of the site, which is based in Cabus near Preston, follows a recent expansion into servicing for cars, vans and 4x4s. These add to the facilities already on offer which include brake, suspension and exhaust repairs.

The depot has also taken advantage of the Toyota Aygo courtesy car scheme, which is available to high performing First Stop dealerships. The vehicle can be used by Roadrunner employees to go to and from work, as a courtesy car or as a general run-around for collecting parts.

Andrew Hodgkinson, managing director at Roadrunner Tyres commented: “Although our customers have always been our number one priority, these recent developments allow us to provide new and existing customers with an even better experience when visiting Roadrunner Tyres.

16th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

RPG Investing in CEAT, Philips Carbon Black

India’s RPG group recently outlined plans to invest Rs 30 billion (£357 million) in its tyre and carbon black subsidiaries over the next two years. In late May company chairman Rama Prasad Goenka told media that this investment was part of the group’s expansion programme, and that from the disclosed total, Rs 20 billion would be directed towards the Ceat Tyres operation and Rs 10 billion to Philips Carbon Black.

The investment was necessary if the company was to remain competitive following the government’s liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation policies, he said. The group was, he added, aiming to increase productivity, quality and facilities to workers by the expansion.

12th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

India’s Tyre Output Growth Falls Short of Forecasts

Growth in India’s tyre production is likely to fall short of forecast results, with output levels hampered by dumped Chinese tyres and high manufacturing costs. According to Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) director general Rajiv Budhraja, in an interview with Reuters, these factors mean domestic manufacturers will remain under pressure in the short term.

The ATMA previously forecasted growth in 2008 to increase by 2 to 3 percentage points to about 12 or 13 per cent. According to Budhraja, however, “a steady, subdued growth” is now expected in place of this. “Fuel price is going to be a major dampener,” he added, referring to a recent state-ordained 10 per cent increase in the cost of fuel, the greatest price rise in more than a decade. He added that a drop in mileage covered by private vehicles would lead to a fall in demand for tyres in both the OE and replacement markets.

11th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Fleet Awards for Michelin and Kwik-Fit

Michelin and Kwik-Fit were among the companies who picked up awards at the 2008 Van Fleet World Honours ceremony, held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, in mid May. These annual awards are presented to those companies, individuals and organisations that are judged to have achieved “the highest possible level of excellence” in the opinion of the judging panel – a panel made up industry professionals.

Van Fleet World editor John Kendall presented Michelin with the Environment Award for the tyre manufacturer’s latest Agilis van tyre, for light CVs between 2800 and 3500kg. He said that most drivers view their tyres as “round, black and not very interesting, but fitting the right tyre can have a notable impact on a fleet’s carbon footprint.”

5th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Apollo Discusses Wider Capacity Expansion Plans

Apollo Tyres has already discussed plans to increase capacity at its Gujarat and Kerala factories, and these projects are part of a wider plan to invest Rs 20 billion (£236.6 million) enhancing domestic and international production capacities. In addition to these expansions, the company will set up a new facility in Chennai.

According to Apollo Tyres chief of India Operations Satish Sharma, the company shall invest this sum over next three years, more than half of which, 200 million euros, would go towards its facility in Hungary. As part of the domestic capacity expansion, Apollo Tyre’s Vadodara plant will see its capacity of passenger car tyre go up from the existing 10,000 tyres a day to 15,000 tyres a day, by around mid-2009. The company will also enhance its truck and bus radial tyres capacity at Vadodara from the existing 300 tyres a day to around 1,100 tyres a day over the same timeframe.

27th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TGI Opens New Panama Office

Tire Group International (TGI) has opened a new sales office in Panama City, Panama. Heading the new office will be Augusto Terracciano. Mr. Terracciano comes to TGI with a vast knowledge of the local Panamanian market and a background in international commerce; two essential elements to be successful in a country that is a crossroads for international trade.

“Establishing a local presence in Panama at this time fits into our growth strategy. Panama is a country that is experiencing a construction boom in addition to the current Panama Canal expansion project. This makes Panama a country where TGI wants to be involved. There is also the future opportunity of opening a distribution centre in the free zone area, this can only further enhance TGI’s distribution capabilities in the region,” said Tony Gonzalez, Tire Group International’s Chief Executive Officer.

16th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Birla Expansion to Add Radial Capacity

India’s Business Standard newspaper has reported on plans for Kesoram Industries to invest Rs 8.4 billion (£103.4 million) expanding its Birla Tyre factory in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Plans for the facility include a radial tyre plant with a 100 ton per day capacity, to be built with a capital outlay of Rs 4.95 billion (£60.9 million) and a 125 ton per day capacity truck and agricultural vehicle bias tyre factory, to be built with an investment of Rs 3.45 billion (£42.5 million). The expansion has an anticipated completion date of December 2009.

12th May 2008/by Tyrepress Editors