India
Czech Republic-based firm CODA Development is seeking licensees within the tyre industry for its patented Self Inflating Tire (SIT). The company says it will “immediately offer licenses to interested parties wanting to integrate SIT into their production lines.”
For three decades, Harvey Brodsky was first employed by and later managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau – until the day that he wasn’t. In 5 October 2010, one month shy of Brodsky’s 30th anniversary with TRIB, he received a phone call from the bureau’s president and members of the board informing him that his services were no longer required, effective immediately. Many in this situation would be tempted to call it quits, however Brodsky showed that a dedicated retreading advocate doesn’t stay down for long. Almost three years after TRIB and its former managing director parted ways, Tyres & Accessories speaks with Harvey Brodsky about the success of his new retreading organisation, the Retread Tire Association.
The manufacturer, Westlake and one of its global distributors, the Al Dobowi Group have launched the new Westlake Wishes foundation. Ge Guorong, the CEO of Westlake, was joined by Al Dobowi’s Harjeev Kandhari and 30 European Westlake distributor partners as the foundation’s first initiative was announced.
Don-Bur, the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of commercial vehicle trailer bodies has taken delivery of more than 450 xlite super single forged aluminium wheels from exclusive distributor Motor Wheel Service Distribution. The wheel, which has a reduced weight and increased load index, has been fitted for several clients on the company’s innovative, aerodynamic Teardrop trailer range during its first six months on the market.
Pirelli may have brought two slick compounds to India, but with the medium compound P Zero White performing far better than the soft P Zero Yellow, the Formula One tyre supplier was quick to suggest that getting the required stint on the latter briefly and early in the race was the quickest way to navigate the Buddh International Circuit. The race winner, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel followed this advice and was duly crowned winner of both the grand prix and F1 Drivers’ Championship, making him the youngest ever four-time world champion.
India’s Ceat Limited has reported a nine per cent growth in year-on-year revenues for the quarter ending 30 September 2013. On a standalone basis, revenues in this second quarter of the company’s financial year rose to Rs 12.63 billion (£127.6 million). Pre-tax profit rose from Rs 41 million in the second quarter of 2012 to Rs 1.1 billion (£11.1 million) in the most recent quarter. EBITDA for the second quarter of the 2014 financial year stood at 13.1 per cent, compared with 6.7 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
JK Tyre & Industries is not the only Indian tyre maker that has announced it will invest to increase production capacity; RPG company Ceat Limited says it will expand radio production at its Halol plant in GujaratState. A total of Rs 6.5 billion (£65.7 million) will be invested in the project.
At its board meeting on 24 October, the directors of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd approved a RS 14.3 billion (£144.5 million) expansion of its Chennai factory in eastern India.
Natural rubber production in the region represented by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries – Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam – is expected to rise 3.0 per cent this year to 10.645 million tonnes.
Sri Lanka is one of Apollo Tyres’ fastest growing export markets – the company says sales there have increased more than 50 per cent year-on-year since the brand’s introduction into Sri Lanka in June 2011. The Indian tyre maker has now opened its first branded retail outlet within the country.
Following a multi-agency pitch process, Apollo Tyres has appointed The Brooklyn Brothers its global creative agency. The agency’s London office will service the account and help build the Apollo brand via print, electronic and digital mediums.
JK Tyre & Industries is reportedly planning to start its 1,000-crore rupees expansion plan at its Chennai plant within the next two to three months doubling the tyremaker’s capacity at the plant, according to the Business Standard.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has filed a legal complaint against the company that has agreed to buy it in a friendly takeover, Apollo Tyres. Cooper filed a complaint on 4 October in Delaware Chancery Court asking that “subsidiaries of Apollo Tyres Ltd be required to expeditiously close the pending merger between the two tyre companies in accordance with the terms of the definitive merger agreement”.
Cooper Tire & Rubber has announced that its stockholders voted to approve its pending merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of India’s Apollo Tyres, with more than 74 per cent of Cooper’s outstanding common shares voted in favor of the transaction. Approximately 78 per cent of Cooper’s outstanding common shares were voted, with more than 48 million shares voted in favor of the merger, representing approximately 96 per cent of Cooper’s voted shares.
Indian tyre maker MRF Ltd intends to double capacity at its plant near Hyderabad in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
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