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More managers are leaving Viborg-Group in Germany

The Viborg-Group, which bought first Stinnes Reifendienst and later Gummi Meyer and now has more than 400 depots in Germany, is facing more departures by Managers. The relatively young managers Scharwenka, Rudolph, Roth and Lemle do not see their future within the group any longer and are leaving. As far as business in general for the Viborg-group in Germany is concerned we hear very different opinions. Viborg is asking for the deepest price and in addition to that for an overhead of 10 %, giving them a real advantage over all competitors. Strategic partners at the moment are Michelin, Pirelli and Dunlop. It is not clear whether all of them are paying the extra price of 10 %. Other tyre manufacturers can see how difficult it is for the Viborg Group to fulfil their promises despite the fact that all the warehouses are completely full. There will be a long article in a future issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG. Furthermore, Viborg’s management is not willing to talk to the press and is urging employees not to talk to the press otherwise their jobs will be in jeopardy.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Preserving Precious Resources: Goodyear Presents Eagle NCT 5

The new Eagle NCT 5, introduced to the trade press at Goodyear’s own South of France test track in Mireval in mid-February, is a high-performance tyre in speed categories from H (up to 210 km/h) to Y (up to 300 km/h) with the emphasis on comfort. The manufacturer claims that the new type of tyre, immediately available in more than 20 sizes, is an improvement on its predecessor, the NCT 3 – sometimes to a very considerable extent – in braking on dry and wet roads or aquaplaning both in straight-line driving or cornering. The new product is aimed at an interesting growth market. 52 million tyres of speed index H and faster are currently sold in Europe per year, and this segment already covers 28 p.c. of the market (186 million tyres). The market share of high-performance tyres in Germany is about 35 p.c. at the moment, but still rising strongly. In the new NCT 5 Goodyear’s tyre developers had ecological qualities especially in mind. Compared with its predecessor the newly developed tyre can boast rolling resistance reduced by 20 p.c. and optimised tyre noise. In addition to the reduced rolling resistance which, according to the manufacturer, saves up to 5 p.c. in fuel, the NCT 5’s mileage is said to be improved by up to 25 p.c. In naming this new tyre Goodyear quite deliberately skipped the number 4, since the Far East, one of the target markets for the NCT 5, regards the number 4 as a symbol of impending disaster.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Best-Ever Result for Dunlop Germany

Deutsche Dunlop GmbH, part of the Goodyear Dunlop Tire Group (Western Europe), has announced a record turnover in 1999 of 835 million Euro and a net profit of 63.3 million Euro. The operating profit was 12.5% of turnover. Dunlop Germany invested 68.5 million Euro, which represents 8% of turnover. The company has capital of 300 million Euro. Whilst employment in the rubber and tyre industry in Germany has decreased over the last ten years by 30%, Dunlop has increased its number of employees by 21% over the same period to 5,176 at 31st December 1999. The income of the four directors was excellent, averaging 2.9 million marks each as recognition of delivering outstanding results. From a German standpoint it is worth noting that the management have boosted “location Germany”. They showed the business world that it is possible to achieve excellent results in a German environment. The management remains optimistic for the future. Finance director, Dr. Volker Wingefeld, said that Dunlop expect to achieve results for this year comparable to those of 1999. The work of marketing director Dieter Seibert should also be mentioned. The Dunlop brand is stronger than ever before in Germany. The willingness to buy Dunlop is increasing significantly. Until last year the management held a press conference every year in Frankfurt, close to Hanau. Now, as part of a much bigger group, they are calling it a “press-breakfast” to get their message across.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Germany Increased Investments By 50 %

In 1999, Michelin increased its investments to 128 million DM (1998: 87 million DM). Sales grew to 3.215 bn DM (3.115 bn in 1998), and employment numbers (6,747) were stable. Earnings before income and taxes fell to 69 million DM (87 million DM).

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Price Increase From Pirelli Germany

Pirelli has announced a price increase for commercial tyres of 2.5%, effective 1st September 2000. A company statement attributed this to the increasing costs of raw material.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

3.8 Million New Car Registrations

The association VDA has calculated that 3.8 million new cars were registered 1999 in Germany; 2% more than in 1998. The association is expecting a decline in registrations for the year 2000 of between 2 and 5%.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

First Quarter Results Of Michelin Better Than Expected

Michelin’s Q1 sales rose by 14.8% to 3.59 bn Euro; 464 m Euro more than for the same period last year. The EBIT level is, as expected, in the region of 10% of turnover.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

With Reifen Gundlach to the Homeland of GT-Radial

In February Reifen Gundlach GmbH organised the “GT-Radial Tour 2000”, a trip to GT-Radial’s country of origin. The name is a brand of radial tyres (car summer/winter, van, light truck, off-road) produced by the Indonesian tyre manufacturer Gajah Tunggal. Under the brand name “Gajah Tunggal” the company also produces cross-ply tyres for trucks and buses as well as industrial tyres and motorcycle tyres under brand names “Nitto Tyre” and “IRC”. In Germany GT-Radial tyres have been sold exclusively by wholesaler Reifen Gundlach (part of the Japanese Itochu group) for about six years. During the event the tyre manufacturer presented (among others) two new tyres, “Preciro” (available from May, eleven sizes, series 60 and 65) and “Classiro” (QIII/2000, seven sizes, series 70). The current range of products has also been enlarged by new sizes/versions and the Indonesians also become increasingly interested in the small transporter and van segment. When Gajah Tunggal speaks of the intention to enter the radial truck tyre business, the company is probably taking the long view. Further volume growth in the winter car tyre segment is targeted, too. Especially in Germany, one of the most important markets for the company anyway. The export business (80 to 90 p.c.) in GT-Radial tyres is (more than) vital for the manufacturer, since sales figures in the non-radial tyre segment have fallen sharply due to the Asian crisis.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

MIRS Tyres Produced In Milan

The first production line utilising MIRS technology (Modular Integrated Robotized System), was unveiled by Pirelli chief Marco Tronchetti Provera at an international press conference on 11 July at the company’s Bicocca factory. The MIRS process is managed entirely on-line. In the next three years, four more MIRS plants will be opened in Germany, the UK, the USA and the Far East, representing an investment of 500 million Euro (excluding building and servicing costs). Total production capacity will be 10 million HP and UHP tyres a year.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Phoenix Ambitious

Former tyre producer Phoenix (Germany) wants to double sales by 2005 (1999: EURO 859.7 million). Core businesses (now accounting for 86% of turnover) are car vibrations and acoustics, conveyors and hose systems.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

New Exhibitor Record For Automechanika

Automechanika – the International Trade Fair for Car Workshop and Service Station Equipment, Automobile Spare Parts Accessories – has set a new exhibitor record: 3,909 exhibitors occupied all of the approx. 300,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space to present their latest products and technical innovations. The almost three percent increase in exhibitor numbers was the result of growth in the number of German exhibitors. 67 percent of all exhibitors came from outside Germany. The top five exhibitor nations were Germany and Italy, followed by Taiwan, the USA and Great Britain. The exhibition ran from 6 to 10 September 2000 and Messe Frankfurt welcomed around 150,000 trade visitors from all over the world during the five days of the fair, where exhibitors took many orders and transacted a lot of business. In contrast to this positive attitude at the trade fair, the background situation of the market does not look that good: The car boom of previous years came to a sudden end this year. The EU-Commission in Brussels is thinking about ending the exclusive distributor networks of car retailers. Parallel to this the car manufacturers – especially Ford and Mercedes-Benz – are restructuring their distributor networks, which means that they are reducing the number of their retailers. The pressure on the suppliers exerted by the car producers continues to increase and as a result they are showing a stronger interest in the aftermarket business. Furthermore Goodyear/Dunlop’s daughter company Pneumant was the fist tyre producer for several years to have a booth at the Automechanika. However, it is doubtful that this is the first example of a growing trend, as the “Reifen” exhibition, central event of the European tyre world, was held just a few months ago and it is to be considered that – in contrast to the alloy wheel business – the target audience of the tyre manufacturers is most probably not those who attend the Automechanika. In NEUE REIFENZEITUNG 10/2000 we review the show.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Carlyle wants to aquire Beru

After procuring 26.25 percent of Beru’s shares, the Carlyle Group has now made a buyout offer. Carlyle offered 30 Euros per share but Beru has rejected this take-over attempt, which Carlyle calls. Beru management believes this undervalues the company and has quoted 40 Euros as a realistic share offer for a company worth around 500 million Euros. Some months ago Beru AG, of Ludwigsburg, Germany, acquired AMI Doduco, Europe’s leading company in tyre pressure control systems.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho To Compete In OE Business

Kumho Tire is seeking OE business in Europe and North America. The company has announced expansion of production in Asia, for example in the Nanjing factory.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

Speedline As An Aftermarket Brand

Speedline is a well-known producer of light alloy wheels for original equipment. However, the Italians want to improve their position in the aftermarket and thus a sales company has been formed for Germany in Ravensburg: SL Corse.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors

“Snowprox S950” – Toyo’s New Winter Tyre

In the autumn “Snowprox S950” will be available in 55/50/45/40-series. According to Toyo, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in Germany this year, the new winter tyre has (compared with its predecessor “M+S 920”) improved its performance dramatically.

7th December 2000/by Tyrepress Editors