Hankook will continue as the exclusive supplier of DTM for the next four years, having signed an early extension to its partnership contract with DTM marketer ITR. The tyre maker has been involved in one of the most popular international touring car series as official partner and exclusive tyre supplier since 2011. The new contract means Hankook will become the longest-standing tyre supplier in the history of the international racing series.
When the doors for Autopromotec 2019 opened at the end of May, the show organisers were already reporting a 4.4 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors. More than 1,650 companies exhibited at Autopromotec 2019. 43 per cent were non-Italian companies from 53 different countries. It has undoubtedly become a large and influential international show, but how will this work in a post-Brexit environment?
Mention Brembo and the Italian manufacturer’s brightly coloured brake callipers immediately spring to mind. At the same time, the brand carries with it messages of premium quality, OE fitments on the best-known cars and top-flight motorsport credentials. During Autopromotec Tyres & Accessories Alfredo Albarella, Area Manager BU Aftermarket Brembo SpA and heard about how Brembo’s latest “Xtra” UHP brake range and “Expert” dealer both aim to offer customers something extra.
In 2016 Triangle Tyre completed its initial public offering (IPO) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Back then Triangle’s top management promised that the company would invest in expanding its position in key markets – including Europe. Sure enough, in 2017 a new European leadership team was appointment and shortly afterwards a new European headquarters was opened in Milan. But around the same time, European anti-Chinese truck tyre import duties were also introduced. For many companies this meant the end of Chinese truck tyre business in tariff areas. So how has Triangle faired in this adverse business climate? Nearly two years after their appointment, Tyres & Accessories caught up with Triangle executives Corrado Moglia, general manager – Europe; Angelo Giannangeli, European marketing director; and Mirco Spiniella, business development director Europe in order to answer that question.
Bridgestone is investing 36 million euros into the digitisation of its manufacturing operations. The company states this smart factory project will enable Bridgestone to respond faster and more flexibly to evolving customer demands, while enabling production to use less energy and produce less waste. The investment will also fund training fo4r Bridgestone employees to operate industry-leading digital technologies. The tyre manufacturer says this will subsequently help to improve resource efficiency and job satisfaction.
Apollo Vredestein’s UK operation has announced its partnership with British Jaguar E-Type specialist Eagle E-Types. The company’s range of handcrafted models, famous worldwide, run on Vredestein high performance tyres, which the tyre brand says reflects its classic car heritage and “sensitivity for that market’s unique demands…coupled with its focus on contemporary performance.”
The 2019 TRA annual forum day attracted record numbers of delegates to its annual day conference held at the Ardencote Manor Hotel on Tuesday 18 June. Numerous topics were covered during the day, but the TRA’s calls for government support in pursuit of its goals; details of the association’s recent tag technology trial details; and the launch of a tyre recovery industry-specific Fire Prevention Plan stood out. More than 90 delegates were in attendance.
The UK government is consulting on plans to ban old tyres for buses, coaches, lorries and minibuses and a new law could be introduced this year and come into force early 2020. Tyres aged 10 years and older would be banned from use on buses, coaches, lorries and minibuses under the new proposals. However, further clarity about precisely what the new rules will cover is needed.
Alliance Tire Group (ATG) has announced that, as of this month, Europa Tyres is its main wholesale distributor for the Galaxy tyre brand in mainland UK. Europa Tyres will distribute the complete Galaxy range, including radial OTR and solid tyres.
Following a successful public offer, Michelin now holds a 99.64 per cent shareholding in Indonesian tyre maker PT Multistrada Arah Sarana TBK. After acquiring an 87.59 per cent share of Multistrada on 8 March, Michelin launched a public offer for the remaining outstanding shares, at the same price per share as previously offered. The transaction enabled Michelin to acquire an additional 12.05 per cent in the company.
At the start of May, Zivojin Sekulic of GAJ d.o.o. gave a presentation on the digital transformation of the tyre industry at Guangrao Tyre Conference and Expo 2019. Shortly afterwards, he shared details of the presentation with Tyres & Accessories, which shows how digital data is affecting all parts of the distribution chain.
Key products in Triangle Tyre’s new generation range for Europe came to market in the last quarter, and Triangle sees their introduction as something of a brand relaunch within the region. The arrival of these new tyre lines is accompanied by a rebooting of how Triangle presents its range as well as the promise of […]
It’s almost eight months since the European Commission made its final decision regarding anti-dumping duties on new and retreaded truck and bus tyres manufactured in China, and Vipal Rubber is celebrating what it considers an “upturn in the tyre retreading market in Europe.”
Michelin is introducing a new generation of tyre for the earthmover market optimised for loaders, graders and articulated dump trucks. The new Michelin Xtra FlexLife range will be launched in July 2019 in 29.5 R25 and 875/65 R29 sizes for the original equipment and replacement markets, with an additional five sizes joining the line-up in 2020. The manufacturer states the tyre has been designed to extend tyre life, improve traction and deliver better comfort and stability versus the generation of products they replace.
Kwik Fit has “significantly expanded” its ‘Mobile7’ mobile tyre fitting operation and is executing plans for “further development in 2019 and beyond”. Kwik Fit launched ‘Mobile7’ inside the M25 in 2016 and has subsequently expanded the service into other regions across the UK. According to the company, ‘Mobile7’ is Kwik Fit’s response to delivering both increased tyre replacement capacity and flexibility. Kwik Fit ‘Mobile7’ runs in addition to the company’s 600-odd bricks and mortar retail units.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.