Hankook got underway as exclusive tyre supplier to the DTM championship at the series’ 2011 season launch in Wiesbaden, Germany on April 10. The tyre maker says the start of its season as partner to the popular international touring car championship “marks the beginning of a new era in the company's dedication to international motor sport.” Prior to its DTM involvement, Hankook was primarily engaged in endurance racing.
The UK distributor for TSW replacement alloy wheels Yokohama HPT has announced that it has added four new styles to its 2011 UK range of wheels. Two of these wheels use TSW’s “Rotary Forging” manufacturing process to create wheels of higher strength than previous models but with lower weight. The technique involves introducing the molten metal to the mould under pressure, as the mould rotates at high speed. Because of the flow of metal, says Yokohama, the resulting wheel has higher inherent strength than a cast wheel while it can also be made with lower weight, assisting vehicles’ acceleration. Also, it helps to reduce the unsprung weight of the car, which in turn leads to more responsive suspension and hence, improved handling characteristics.
The issue of safety checks on commercial vehicle wheels achieved government attention at the end of March, as the Labour member of parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Paul Goggins sought to raise the concerns of his constituent John Ellis, managing director of Motor Wheel Service (which is keen to raise the profile of this safety issue), with the Department for Transport (DfT). On 29 March, Goggins formalised the discussions in a Private Members’ Debate at Westminster Hall in conversation with the Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead, Mike Penning, who is the current government minister for roads. MWS estimates that over 10,000 second hand and take-off wheels entered the market in 2009, of which the large majority were sold by companies who do not possess the technical abilities or examination procedures to ascertain the history and fatigue of a wheel.
Over the last two years Bandvulc has seen a consistent demand for its commercial retreads within Europe and especially Germany, but lately the pace of export growth has increased significantly. Not only have sales through existing partners increased by over 50 per cent in some countries, but new customers are reported to have been won – and in additional territories too. Key developments include distribution arrangements with agents as far away from South West England as Greece and Poland.
Available in various fitments for 18 and 19-inch diameter rim sizes in the UK and mainland Europe from March 28, 2011 is the Avon ZZ5 ultra high performance tyre, following high speed durability testing at the Nürburgring, among other places. The tyre has what manufacturer Cooper Avon terms an “Intelligent Asymmetric Tread Design” and “Optinoise” technology for a quieter ride. The company says the tyre’s development on European roads and racetracks have given it improved handling and grip capabilities. The tyre is aimed at the small-medium high performance sector, typified by such models as the Audi S4 and Lotus Evora.
Financial analysts from Deutsche Bank described Schaeffler’s decision to pay down debt and increase its direct ownership and free-float in Continetal as “good news”, pointing out that “the overhang is now over.” Crucially, these analysts wrote that these moves signify that “there will be no merger between Schaeffler and Continental.”
For its part Deutsche Bank said Schaeffler’s moves are good news because these bring the firm’s overhang – when market forces put downward pressure on stock prices due to the likelihood of a sale – is now said to be over. “After full-year 2010 results we and the consensus upgraded earnings per share by 20 per cent, [an] upgrade which had no impact on the share price (due to the overhang)…this disposal clarifies the structure of Schaeffler/Continental.”
Michael Andre has resigned from Giti Tire Europe for personal reasons. Andre, who was marketing director for passenger car tyres Europe and managing director of the company’s Giti Tire Germany GmbH German subsidiary, is said to have made his decision during the middle of March.
Bridgestone has confirmed its Potenza S001 is being supplied for original equipment fitment on Audi’s A1. Deliveries of the tyre in size 225/35 R18 87W began last September, the fourth OE supply deal for the Potenza S001 since its launch in February 2010. The Bridgestone tyre is also supplied to the Audi RS5, Aston Martin Rapide and Ferrari 458 Italia. Continental also supplies original equipment tyres for the Audi A1; in February 2011 it reported supply of its ContiSportContact 3 and the ContiPremiumContact 2 tyres in 15, 16 and 18-inch sizes.
On March 23, Delticom reported another “extremely successful year.” The online tyre retailer says its fiscal revenues increased 34.8 per cent year-on-year in 2010 to 419.6 million euros, while EBIT rose 60.1 per cent to 47.1 million euros. Furthermore, the company’s 11.2 per cent EBIT margin reveals further growth in profitability. Whole year revenues for Delticom’s E-Commerce division increased 36.2 per cent year-on-year to 403.7 million euros, while Wholesale division revenues grew 7.6 per cent to 15.9 million euros. Other operating income increased 33.3 per cent in 2010 in line with revenues to 5.8 million euros.
Having sponsored teams in several Brazilian motorsport categories, Brazil-based retreader Vipal has begun sponsorship of the Buggyra team in the 2011 European Truck Racing Championship. “Vipal and Car and Truck Racing have been shoulder in shoulder since the company´s foundation. For thirteen years we have sponsored the Formula Truck in Brazil, contributing to the success of the category in the country. Now, due to Vipal´s expansion in Europe, we have decided for this sponsorship. Furthermore, what’s even better is that we get started in this new phase together with the current champion of the category”, explains Maria Locatelli, Vipal sales and marketing director.
In 2010 the Rhein Chemie Group achieved a 40 per cent year-on-year growth in sales; the wholly owned Lanxess subsidiary says its 283 million euro sales for the year outstrip those of the “record” year 2008. “We can clearly see that the rigorous implementation of our growth strategy is bearing fruit,” stated Dr. Anno Borkowsky, CEO and president of Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH. “In Germany, we increased sales by 30 per cent while in Asia growth was even stronger.”
Within the next two years Hankook Tire intends to open Korea’s largest tyre research and development centre. The tyre maker has announced plans to shift its main R&D operations to a new 66,000 square metre centre in the city of Daejeon; company vice chairman and CEO Seung Hwa Suh and Daejeon Metropolitan City mayor Hong-Chul Yum have already placed their signatures on a contract covering the relocation. Construction work on the centre should be finished by 2013.
Continental’s Commercial Vehicle Tires division has a new head of global public relations. Dr. Christiane Pfeiffer, formerly in charge of international marketing communications for truck and bus tyres at Continental, has replaced Udo Brandes in this role. Brandes, aged 64, intends to retire in May after six years at Continental and until this time will work for the Commercial Vehicle Tires division in an advisory role.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe has announced the appointment of Nigel Hampson as its new sales and marketing director, which took effect at the beginning of this year. He had previously held the post of European major account manager, having worked for Cooper Tire since 1996, as an export sales executive. He became marketing services manager in 2004, before switching to subsidiary sales manager for France, Germany and Switzerland in 2006.
Brisa’s Lassa brand is presenting its Competus HP and Phenoma tyres at the 81st Geneva International Motor Show, on an 80sqm stand in Hall 7. The Competus HP is the latest edition to the Lassa Competus family, and the new sports tyre, Phenoma, have been tested and approved by Germany’s TÜV SÜD Automotive. The show continues until 13 March.
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