Industrial Tyres
Michelin is set to raise prices on its replacement tyres in the USA by up to seven per cent, from March 3rd. The increase will apply to Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal and associated passenger and light truck brands. The company also plans a three per cent price increase on earthmover and industrial tyres in the USA and Mexico, effective February 1st.
Marangoni Industrial Tyres recently invested in the production of superelastic tyres in Sri Lanka, mainly for use on fork lift trucks but also for other equipment, such as: loading platforms, loaders and other industrial and commercial machinery. Company representatives did not give details of the investment that took place.
Division president, and group vice-president Mr Giovanni Marangoni stated: “This investment, part of the division’s development plans, is aimed at increasing the company’s production capacity, expanding the current customer base and -in general- increasing market share. We already have a significant presence in Europe, given the large number of customers and important partnerships with specialists in the distribution and servicing of industrial tyres. Nonetheless, we are convinced that our expertise, the superior quality of our products, and an increasingly solid industrial base will allow us to achieve even better results in the coming years”.
“The rising price of natural rubber will present one of the major challenges that all industrial tyre manufacturers face in 2008” stated Jean-Paul Mindermann, Chief Executive Officer of Watts Tyre Group, at his Q3 Business Review Conference. The facts are startling; after 2006’s wild fluctuations the price of RSS3 has risen sharply and steadily in 2007. In January this year the price per kilo was 197 US cents, ten months later it sits at 255, with market analysts predicting that the price will soon hit 300 cents per kg. Over the last 12 months the price has risen by more than 60 per cent.
Trelleborg’s acquisition of the privately owned Australian special tyre distributor Solid Service Group, which employs approximately 40 staff and generates annual sales of around £4.97 million, has been finalised. Solid Service Group, whose head office is located just outside of Melbourne, is one of the largest distributors of solid industrial tyres in Australia. The Group has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Tasmania. The operation focuses on specialised service for industrial customers, including fixed pressing units and mobile pressing units for onsite fitting of all types of industrial tyres, primarily for various types of forklift.
It appears that Tyrexpo Asia – like other leading international tyre shows – represents a must-do for wholesalers from Europe. At a minimum members of these companies’ top management come to Tyrexpo Asia as visitors, but many companies each year book floor space in the Singapore Expo Centre for Tyrexpo Asia. Counted amongst the latter is the commercial tyre specialist Heuver Banden from the Netherlands, which displayed its products together with the manufacturer of the new “Maitech“ OTR tyre brand. The distribution rights of this brand have been granted to Heuver Banden for major parts of Europe by Uzmai International from Verona, Italy – however, the tyres are produced in Turkey, as Oskar Snijders, director wholesale with the Dutch distributor, explained.
The Watts Tyres acquisition of Mobile Industrial Tyres Limited, first announced on October 22, will bolster the company’s operations in Southeast England. The Essex based industrial tyre and wheel specialist will be integrated into Watts’ existing regional operation, with Mobile Industrial Tyres’ managing director Edward Woolley becoming the managing director of Watts Industrial Tyre Services.
Jean-Paul Mindermann, chief executive of Watts Tyres Plc, commented: “This enhances our presence and service offering in the Southeast, in line with our aim of continually improving customer satisfaction. Edward Woolley brings a vast amount of experience in the industrial tyre market with him and will focus on further developing our UK service operation. This acquisition reinforces our position as a business that is focused on and dedicated to the materials handling industry.”
(Akron/Tire Review) The UK’s Watts Tyres plc has acquired Mobile Industrial Tyres Ltd., a UK industrial tyre and wheel specialist. Mobile Industrial Tyres will be integrated into Watts’ existing regional operation, the company said.
The sixth Tyrexpo Asia, held in Singapore in September, left no hint of a doubt as to the importance of the regional tyre market and of the show itself in comparison with other regions and events. The organisers of the biannual Tyrexpo Asia, the UK’s ECI International, have again been proud to present the show’s final figures, which show an exhibitor increase of about 30 per cent compared to the 2005 show: this year 125 companies from 25 different countries booked floor space in the Singapore Expo Center. In terms of booked floor space this year’s show has developed equally well: about 6,500 m² was covered which, representing a growth of 25 per cent. However, this success is not completely untarnished as the number of visitors might be expected to have grown on par – something that would been justified by the quality of exhibitors – if there had not been a clash of dates with the CITExpo tyre show in Shanghai, China. At the end ECI International reported a growth of nine per cent up to 3,219 registered visitors from 88 different countries.
Premier Tyres has decided to relocate its tyre manufacturing unit at Kalamassery to another location in Kerala, according to local news sources. The move is expected to allow the company to increase its production capacity, through additional staff and new machinery. The company will reportedly also consider various options for development of the present site at Kalamassery. Premier Tyres, Ltd. manufactures products including bus and industrial tyres, tubes and conveyor belting. The company, formerly known as PTL Enterprises, Ltd., was founded in 1959 and is based in Kochi, India.
Through almost 60 years of trading, the company, a major player in the UK Tyre Wholesale sector, has experienced many changes in this ever-evolving industry, from the early days of crossply tyres, to the now, commonplace radial tyre. Coupled with this the extensive development of the varying aspect ratios now required to meet the many needs and applications of not only road transport, but for all pneumatic tyre equipped vehicles, such as agricultural, industrial, construction, earthmover, open space management, plant & machinery and much more.
In meeting the present day requirements R H Claydon offers tyres for all these requirements and being solely a wholesaler, with no retail outlets, there is no conflict with its customer base. The exclusive brand, BKT, manufactured in India, forms the greater part of this supply for all products outside Car, Van, 4X4 & Truck, The range could be stated as meeting all needs pneumatic, indeed this is signified in BKT’s own advertising strapline “Off-Highway Tyre Solutions”. In this year, there have been many additions to the BKT Range including, 70/65/90&95 Agrimax Radial Tractor, Tele Handler sizes in 460/70R24 (17.5R24) and 19.5R24. BKT Armaturf KV Tyres for the professional ride-on mower, now offer an estimated 90 per cent protection from punctures. The year has also seen the growth in earthmover units; in this sector sizes such as 1800-25 40pr & 1800-33 40pr Rock Grip E4, both sizes also produced for Port & Terminal operations. The BKT range fully justifies Claydon’s own slogan “All- Season All- Reason Agricultural & Industrial Tyres”.
Trelleborg has signed an agreement to acquire the privately owned Australian specialty tyre distributor Solid Service Group, which has about 40 employees and annual sales of approximately £5 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter 2007.
Through almost 60 years of trading, the company, a major player in the UK Tyre Wholesale sector, has experienced many changes in this ever-evolving industry, from the early days of crossply tyres, to the now, commonplace radial tyre. Coupled with this the extensive development of the varying aspect ratios now required to meet the many needs and applications of not only road transport, but for all pneumatic tyre equipped vehicles, such as agricultural, industrial, construction, earthmover, open space management, plant & machinery and much more. In meeting the present day requirements R H Claydon offers tyres for all these requirements and being solely a wholesaler, with no retail outlets, there is no conflict with its customer base.
The exclusive brand, BKT, manufactured in India, forms the greater part of this supply for all products outside Car, Van, 4X4 & Truck, The range could be stated as meeting all needs pneumatic, indeed this is signified in BKT’s own advertising strapline “Off-Highway Tyre Solutions”. In this year, there have been many additions to the BKT Range including, 70/65/90&95 Agrimax Radial Tractor, Tele Handler sizes in 460/70R24 (17.5R24) and 19.5R24. BKT Armaturf KV Tyres for the professional ride-on mower, now offer an estimated 90 per cent protection from punctures. The year has also seen the growth in earthmover units; in this sector sizes such as 1800-25 40pr & 1800-33 40pr Rock Grip E4, both sizes also produced for Port & Terminal operations. The BKT range fully justifies Claydon’s own slogan “All- Season All- Reason Agricultural & Industrial Tyres”.
Continental continues its market leading OE position with a different type of vehicle. The latest success story for the Continental Industrial Tyres team is the skiers’ best friend, Kaessbohrers ski-slope preparation vehicle.
Continental’s CSE tyres will spring into action at the start of the skiing season preparing the slopes removing bumps and ruts at popular ski resorts across Europe. For many years, Continental Industrial Tyres have supplied the tensioning wheels and tyres for this application. The most recent win was negotiated between Kaessbohrer, the ski slope vehicle manufacturer, Continental and their rim supplier Lemmerz. Continental has now boosted its tensioning wheel market share from 60 per cent to 100 per cent.
In 2006 Summit celebrated 20 years in business at Coventry. And after two decades the company is continuing to expand, with 2007 marking the opening of another depot in East Anglia. This new facility is expected to further improve the level of service Summit provides customers in the region.
Summit was founded in 1986 by Peter Summers, a man who had already spent the majority of his career in the tyre industry. Seeking a location at the heart of the country, Summers selected Coventry as the site for his new firm. The business specialised in industrial tyres and wheels to the fork truck and skid steer replacement and original equipment markets. Operating in a niche market, Summit quickly established itself as a leader in its field for product and advice in this specialist area. Furthermore, Summit ensured that it held stock of products that other wholesalers and distributors didn’t, thus building a reputation that is still enjoyed today – if the tyre or application is unusual, the likelihood is that Summit has got it.
Indian manufacturer of tyres for two and three wheeled vehicles as well as agricultural and industrial tyres, TVS Tyres, will soon begin a Rs 350,000,000 (£4.3 million) expansion of its factory in the southern city of Madurai. This investment will boost tyre and inner tube production capacity by approximately 12 per cent, giving the company a greater ability to extend its focus upon exports to South East Asia.
TVS presently has the capacity to produce 11 million tyres per annum and a similar quantity of tubes. During the 2007/08 fiscal year the company is placing an emphasis on exports, and expects to see the value of its exports increase from Rs 750,000,000 (£9.1 million) in the 2006/07 year to Rs 1,000,000,000 (£12.2 million) in 2007/08. Exports account for some 16 per cent of the company’s revenues, and TVS enjoys sales to more than 60 countries, including the UK.
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