Statistics released by Germany’s Federal Tyre Trade and the Vulcanisers' Skilled Trade Association (BRV) show that while year-on-year fewer retreaded truck tyres were sold in this market during 2009, they gained market share at the expense of new tyres.
In March 2010 Beissbarth received the "2010 German National Award for Outstanding and Innovative Achievement in the Field of Trade" from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology for its ‘Easy 3D’ chassis alignment system. The Beissbarth system received the favourable attention of a panel of representatives from numerous German trade organisations on the basis of its speed, simplicity to operate and the small space required for its use. The award was presented to Silke Spitzer, head of technology at Beissbarth GmbH, during a trade fair on March 7.
Federal and Grouptyre, the Taiwanese brand’s exclusive UK distributor, have announced the winner of the second ‘Red Letter Day’ campaign prize draw. Keith Manders, manager of Hammond Group’s tyre department, won the top £500 Red Letter Day prize.
US based industrial tyre manufacturer Denman Tire Corporation has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Ohio, reports Tire Review. This action ends an almost two-year struggle to stay afloat in the face of a brutal economy and heavy pressure from imported tyres.
According to the latest report from Reifen 2010 organiser Messe Essen GmbH, more than 500 exhibitors have now confirmed their participation at the trade show. Firms from more than 40 nations will thus present their tyre related products and services when the doors open at the exhibition in Essen, Germany open on June 1. This year’s show, the 26th to be held, includes the Innovation Award, which honours pioneering new developments within the industry.
Federal Tires has debuted a new series of videos on YouTube. The Taiwanese manufacturer hopes to utilise what it calls “the social media communication approach” as a premier platform for the distribution of its “high quality footage of events in all forms of motorsports.” This is the beginning of a new marketing strategy for Federal in 2010, in which it seeks to increase its “presence in an increasingly competitive and crowded web space”. The tyre-maker says it will encourage visitors to interact with the brand either through submitting ideas to suggest product improvements, or spreading the word about Federal virally using self-generated content.
Two years after a school-owned van travelling without winter tyres fitted on all wheels collided with a truck in the snow, the New Brunswick government in Canada has made the fitment of these cold weather tyres upon its fleet of multi-function activity buses mandatory. Seven members of the Bathurst High School boys basketball team died in the January 2008 collision, and in the absence of official tests being conducted by the province into the safety of summer tyres in winter, the parents of three of the boys had arranged to have the tyre configurations currently used on activity buses in the province's schools privately tested in Michigan. The tests were scheduled to take place on February 24, the day after New Brunswick announced its new tyre rule.
Hammond Group’s tyre department manager Keith Manders is taking his wife on a shopping spree after winning a £500 Red Letter Day experience in the national promotion organised by Grouptyre, the UK’s leading independent tyre wholesaler and exclusive UK distributor Federal. Having signed up to take part in the promotion and purchased Federal tyres during the second phase, Hammond Tyres automatically received entries into the prize draw based on the tyres purchased.
Dutch tyre supplier Van den Ban has announced that it now offers the Federal semi-slick 595RS- Racing tyre, in addition to its portfolio of premium, exclusive, private and budget brands. “The quality of this tyres meets high standards and prices are more than competitive. It's a racing tyre to meet your need,” says Cyril Versteeg, commercial manager of Van den Ban Autobanden. The 595RS-R is available in 26 sizes from 195/50ZR15 up to 265/35ZZR18. Federal products have now part of Van den Ban's portfolio for 25 years, including its PCR, (ultra) high performance, 4×4/SUV, caravan, winter, light truck and van ranges.
Following the success of the programme it introduced early in 2008, Federal Tire has further developed its marketing plan for tyre dealers. In order to strengthen its market position, the company has released an “image corner” – a move it hopes will help consumers gain a better understanding of Federal. The company says it aims, through the introduction of these displays in its export markets, to create a presence that “established the essence of the Federal brand” and helps the company sustain a competitive edge while improving business.
The preliminary national data on miles traveled in November is good news for the aftermarket, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). November mileage reported an uptick following a dismal October, when the string of year-over-year positive monthly mileage reports for 2009 ended, according to the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Hero Tires has released corporate promotional videos for both the English and Chinese markets. The European film, presented in English, consists of a montage incorporating the manufacturing of various Hero tyre models and such aspirational imagery as a fashion show. Meanwhile the Chinese video draws on the history of the country in order to emphasise the heritage of the brand, which is manufactured in China.
The inauguration of Bekaert’s new steel cord facility in the Russian city of Lipetsk took place on January 20, and to mark the occasion Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev visited the plant. The Russian President and three Deputy Prime Ministers were accompanied by Bekaert CEO Bert De Graeve during their time at the site, which is located within the Lipetsk Special Economic Zone (SEZ), some 400 kilometres south of Moscow.
Federal Tyres representatives are celebrating the achievements of the UK drifiting drivers it supported in 2009. “[Federal] has aligned with the right teams; secured the most talented drivers and developed the fastest tyres on the track with the best overall performance throughout the 2009 season to capitalize on the growing enthusiasm for drifting in the UK,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories/tyrepress.com.
Federal-backed drivers include: Phil Morrison, Ben-Broke Smith (better known as Bon-bon), Dan Chapman and Richard Clarke – all of whom are experienced professionals. In 2009 they competed across the country’s three premier drifting series – European Drift Championship, Prodrift Super Series as well as JDM Allstars.
Grouptyre, the exclusive UK distributor of Federal brand tyres, has announced the prize winners of the first part of its 2009 Red Letter Day promotional campaign, in conjunction with the Taiwanese manufacturer. RIKFIT Tyres in Kings Norton, Birmingham, supplied by Grouptyre member Car Tyrestore was awarded first prize of a £500 Red Letter Day; Tyrecare of Kings Heath supplied by ETB and Top Tread of Rotherham supplied by NE Wholesale, claimed the runner-up prize of Red Letter Days to the value of £250 in the prize draw.
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