Hankook Tire is expanding its Laufenn portfolio with the LF95, a trailer tyre it has designed to deliver “impressive mileage” in regional haul applications and various road conditions. This latest product from Hankook’s second-line brand is available in a regroovable size 385/65R22.5.
Thanks to the deployment of a “comprehensive technology package,” Hankook Tire states that its latest generation of drive, steer and all-position truck tyres deliver “considerably less rolling resistance” than their predecessors. These new tyres are the Hankook SmartLine AL50 and SmartLine DL50.
Hankook Tire Europe’s intensive expansion of its original equipment truck tyres business over the last half-decade hit significant headwinds at the end of 2021. As a result, the manufacturer made the decision to largely discontinue corresponding deliveries at the start of 2022. Speaking to Tyres & Accessories’ sister magazine in Germany, Neue Reifenzeitung (NRZ), representatives from Hankook’s European headquarters in Neu-Isenburg were clear that the company had not withdrawn from original equipment, but that there has been an interruption, which will be followed by a “restart” in the next two years. This raises the question of how this strategic decision will be received in a shrinking market, while many in the aftermarket are wondering why such a drastic move was necessary in the first place.
Hankook Tire has marketed its Alphatread range of mould cure or ‘hot’ retreaded tyres for almost a decade now, and today satisfies demand for these products from plants in the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. The last of these is the former Reifen Müller facility in Hammelburg, some 60 miles east of Frankfurt am Main. Hankook recently expanded its Alphatread operation at this site by setting up a separate mould cure retreading operation, significantly increasing capacity.
Hankook has signed a five-year agreement to produce Hankook Alphatread retreaded tyres in the UK. The tyre manufacturer wants to expand the Alphatread brand as part of its commercial vehicle tyre strategy. Vaculug is one of Europe’s largest independent retread producers, and first became Hankook’s retreading partner in the UK in 2018. The retreader will also work with Hankook products as a premium fitment for all its fleets.
Hankook Tire has introduced a new generation of regional to long-distance truck tyres into its SmartFlex Series. It premiered the SmartFlex AH51 steer axle and SmartFlex DH51 drive axle tyres at the CV Show in Birmingham today, and reports that the first six dimensions will be available in selected European markets from November.
Hankook’s global launch of Laufenn brand commercial vehicle tyres, targeting the segment’s second tier, represents a substantial development for the company’s commercial vehicle tyre business. For the UK market in which Hankook is a leader in terms of sales, the initial nine Laufenn patterns cover more than 85 per cent of tyres in the market for goods and people transportation, as well as construction truck tyres. Most sizes also offer the three peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) marking for use in winter conditions. The Laufenn range was due to be presented in the UK at the Commercial Vehicle Show, before the Birmingham NEC event was cancelled due to the pandemic. Tyres & Accessories took the opportunity of the launch to speak to Guy Heywood, Hankook’s European marketing and strategy director for its truck and bus business, and UK sales director Paul Emery about the addition of Laufenn to the manufacturer’s European commercial vehicle tyre portfolio, Hankook’s position as a leading player in the segment, and its response to the coronavirus crisis and the financial headwinds emanating from the pandemic.
Transaid ambassadors Guy Heywood (Hankook) and Marcio Bonifacio (Z Tech Control Systems) are determined to raise vital funds for the charity despite the pandemic-enforced postponement of two major cycling events. The pair will complete the planned 507km route of the 2020 Transaid Malawi Challenge virtually between Wednesday 9 and Sunday 13 September. They will use SMART bike trainers and the Zwift cycling app from their homes in Frankfurt and Cambridge to simulate 10km of climbing and between 15 and 18 hours of riding. Heywood told Tyres & Accessories that the pair are trying to raise enough in sponsorship to buy two cycle ambulances or to fund a health care worker in Africa for one year. Thanks to the technology, Heywood assured T&A that the riders would “suffer suitably to justify any support given!” Click here to support Guy and Marcio in helping Transaid to continue its mobility and new health projects in Sub Saharan Africa, including new initiatives focusing on Covid-19, gender-based violence and malaria.
The launch of the second-line Laufenn brand onto the European commercial vehicle tyre market has rounded out Hankook’s offer to fleet customers. Offering a second tier brand – alongside a growing retreading programme via its Alphatread range – can both allow the manufacturer a more extensive product range to cater to each customer’s entire fleet, and also allow Hankook to capitalise on the growing interest in more value-oriented products. The new tyres, which give Laufenn itself impressive market coverage, also help to emphasise one of Hankook’s competitive advantages; the proportion of products under three years old in its TBR portfolio. The timing of the launch could also help to address the economic strife felt by the logistics sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Featured in the September issue of Tyres & Accessories, we spoke with Guy Heywood, Hankook’s European marketing and strategy director for its truck and bus business, and UK sales director Paul Emery about how the introduction of Laufenn will help to develop the tyre manufacturer’s commercial business in the UK and Europe.
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Hankook Tire Europe has appointed Guy Heywood as the new marketing and strategy director for its European truck and bus business. Heywood has 20 years of experience in the tyre industry in leadership positions, most recently active as the commercial director for Michelin UK and Truck, Bus and Service director for the company’s North Europe area. Heywood is taking over from Seok Yun Kim who relocated to Hankook’s organisation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he has become managing director.
At present, BFGoodrich commercial vehicle tyres are available in all markets around the world except for Europe, and sales of these tyres exceeds 1.6 million units per year. The brand is set to go global at the start of next year with the introduction of a BFGoodrich range of tuck and bus tyres in the UK and Ireland, as well as in the wider European market.
Michelin Tyre has been contracted as the exclusive supplier of retreaded tyres to Direct Tyre Management (DTM), and under a four-year agreement will supply around 20,000 truck brand tyres per annum. The Encore-brand tyres will be retreaded in Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent factory.
Michelin’s UK’s Guy Heywood, has been appointed as commercial director for the well-known tyremaker in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Heywood has been commercial director Truck – UK & ROI since since 2012.
Michelin’s Guy Heywood is back in the UK after scaling Mount Kilimanjaro – a feat that raised more than £2,500 for charity – but he isn’t putting his feet up and taking it easy now. The truck and bus tyre division commercial director plans to return there next year with three colleagues from Michelin and burn calories again for a good cause.
A Michelin employee and his family are preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise vital funds for international development charity Transaid. Guy Heywood, commercial director of Michelin’s UK truck and bus tyre division, will be joined by his wife Helen and sons Max and Joe on the six day climb. At only 11 years and 11 months old, Joe would be the youngest ever Briton to reach the summit of the mountain, making the trip extra special for the family.
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