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European Commission Approves Brose Acquisition of Conti Units

The European Commission has approved the purchase of Continental’s electric motor device and cooling fan businesses by German company Brose. The electric motor device business was acquired by Conti when it purchased the Siemens VDO unit, and its purchase by Brose was agreed upon in mid-December. The business specialises in electric motors for window regulators, anti-lock braking systems, heating/ventilation, engine cooling and electric power steering.

11th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Relaunches ContiNetwork CV Tyre Retail Business

Continental has relaunched its ContiNetwork UK commercial vehicle tyre retail operation. The new-look ContiNetwork numbers 55 members, covering 75 specific territories across the UK. 12 members were lost during the transition period, being replaced by a further 12. According to Continental Tyre Group commercial vehicle sales and marketing director Arthur Gregg, the updated network offers a more balanced offering for dealer partners; and allows the flexibility for dealers to custom-make partner arrangements.

27th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Deal Signed – Kumho Coming to America

In ceremonies yesterday, Kumho Tire Co. formally signed an agreement to build a US$225 million tyre manufacturing facility on a 127-acre site in Sofkee Industrial Park in Macon, Georgia. Attending the signing ceremony were Sae Chul Oh, Kumho’s CEO and president; Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue; Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development; Macon Mayor Robert Reichert; and Charlie Bishop, chairman of the Bibb County Board of Commissioners.

The first phase of the greenfield plant, said Kumho, will cost $165 million with an annual production capacity of 2.1 million passenger and light truck/SUV tyres, destined for both OE and replacement markets in North America. The second phase will cost $60 million and will raise annual capacity to 3.1 million tyres. The 5.5 million-square-foot plant will feature Kumho’s automated APU manufacturing system, and will eventually employ 450 people.

31st January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Laugfs to Enter Pneumatic Tyre Market – Reports

Laugfs Gas Holdings will reportedly invest 800 million rupees (£10.4 million) to enter the international pneumatic tyre market in 2008. The first product in the Sri Lanka-based company’s pneumatic tyre portfolio was a Laugfs Colt, a 4.00×8 small pneumatic tyre with flexible sidewalls designed and manufactured for three-wheelers. “This has proved to be a major success and we command a high market share,” Laugfs chairman and managing director W. A. Wegapitiya was quoted as saying.

9th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Double Digit Growth For Indian Tyre Industry?

A Study by the Indian credit agency Credit Analysis & Research (CARE) Ltd. expects the Indian tyre industry to register a tonnage growth of 9-10 per cent in the next five years to the end of 2012, say reports. Truck and bus and LCV tyre categories are expected to record increases of 8 per cent and 14 per cent respectively during this period.

According to CARE, in 2007 the Indian tyre industry produced 73.6 million units, or 1.1 million tons, earning Rs 190 billion (3.280 billion euros) last year. MRF Ltd. was the market leader (22 per cent market share), followed closely by Apollo Tyres Ltd. (21 per cent), with JK Tyres & Industries Ltd. (18 per cent) and Ceat Ltd. (13 per cent).

8th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vietnam to Export Tyres to EU in 2008

Vietnam’s Southern Rubber Industry Company (Casumina) has signed an European export deal with Continental AG at the company’s Asian office in Malaysia on November 7. Casumina will export the first batch of motorbike and truck tyres that result from the five-year agreement in 2008, according to various Vietnamese news agency reports.

Under the contract, Continental AG will import at least 170,000 truck tyres and 600,000 motorbike tyres made by Casumina at a total value of US$12.9 million worth of e-marked tyres a year. Casumina exports to 36 countries worldwide.

20th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Chief Executive for National Tyres and Autocare

Tony Neill, formerly Managing Director of National Tyres and Autocare, has been promoted to the post of Chief Executive Officer. Neil has worked with National for the past 24 years in a variety of operational and senior management positions including, Operations Director, Purchasing Director and most recently as Managing Director for National’s 200+ retail operation.

Neil’s appointment follows the recent strategic business review headed by Price Waterhouse Coopers, which led to speculation of a takeover. Big names such as Kwik-Fit and Bridgestone had been linked to a possible deal. However, talk of this subject has now gone quiet and officially the company is now saying the review and the appointment “signals the start of a new strategic plan for the business going forward.”

19th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Two Trelleborg Execs Plead Guilty to Price Fixing Charges

Two executives from Trelleborg Industrie S.A.S in France have pleaded guilty to participating in a marine hose price fixing conspiracy. On November 6 a one-count felony charge was filed in the US District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida against Christian Caleca, president of Trelleborg’s Industrial Fluid Systems business unit, and Jacques Cognard, the company’s product area manager for oil and marine products.

Plea agreements have been worked out for both men, subject to court approval, and under the terms of these each will serve 14 months in prison – and will provide their full cooperation in the US Department of Justice’s ongoing investigation. Additionally, Caleca has agreed to pay a US$75,000 fine and Cognard a $100,000 fine.

8th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New R&D Centre Making Konstrukta’s Ideas Reality

An essential part of the development and production of any item of tyre manufacturing equipment is the availability of a suitable testing centre, a facility that permits engineers not only to test the functionality of their equipment but also to solve and whenever possible prevent technological problems during the production process. This fact has not been lost on Konstrukta–Industry, a Slovakia-based manufacturer of machines and equipment for the tyre industry. In recent years the company has grown considerably in terms of product range, customer base and market share, and these last two factors have prompted Konstrukta to engage in the construction of its own new research and development centre.

The centre’s main focus, says Konstrukta, is the development and examination, by means of simulation, of new functional components for extrusion devices and lines. A major initial project for the centre is a 120 mm-diameter extrusion testing machine equipped with additional sensors that are not fitted to standard machines. These sensors allow for detailed monitoring of the extrusion. The company has also mounted a feeding conveyor, temperature control units, shrinkage conveyor and other accessories to the machine, and further plans to add a new type of cooling equipment to the machine – a spiral drum –cooling device – a product of centre’s own R&D technicians, are now under way.

25th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Report: Chinese PC Market Accelerates With Government Backing

According to a new analysis from Frost & Sullivan the Chinese passenger car sales volumes have jumped from about 1.2 million in 2001 to over 5.17 million in 2006. Moreover, China has overtaken Japan to be the second largest automotive consumer in the world in 2006. Reduced tariffs are expected enable foreign companies to slash the prices of their cars and compete with the products of domestic OEMs. Meanwhile, new rules on the qualification evaluation of car dealership will ensure the elimination of car dealers without authentic authorisation, aiding fair competition in the market.

“Policies have also been drafted to improve the quality of car parts and components to guarantee the safety of passengers,” says Frost & Sullivan Industry Manager Cecilia Yuan. “The move to promote the consumption of low-cylinder volume cars will not only improve their effect on the environment, but also raise the prices of luxury cars.”

22nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Industrial Dominate Tensioning Wheel Market Share

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.

14th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Nankang’s Sonar PF-1: Good for Winter, Good for the Environment

Nankang Rubber Tire has introduced a new winter tyre range for its house brand, Sonar. The Taiwanese tyremaker’s latest cold weather offering, the Sonar Polar Fox (PF-1) studless winter tyre will be available on the market in time for the 2007 northern hemisphere winter.

According to Nankang, the launch of the PF-1 represents a new era for the Sonar brand, and the company highlights the steps towards an environmentally responsible approach it has taken with the design of the PF-1 – the tread compound used in the entire series contains no carcinogenic high aromatic oils, eliminating a potentially serious health risk to both humans and the ecosystem.

The PF-1 features a unidirectional tread pattern with 3-Dimensional sipes reduce tread block stiffness, thereby improving performance on icy roads. The central tread’s arrow pattern and zigzag grooves enhance snow and ice surface traction, as do the mutli-sipe tread blocks in the central tread area.

16th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis on Interbrand List for Fifth Year

(Akron/Tire Review) For the fifth consecutive year, Maxxis has made the top 10 of Interbrand’s list of Taiwan’s top global brands. Maxxis ranked eighth on the list. Maxxis is the only tyre manufacturer to make Interbrand’s list, which has been expanded this year to include 20 companies.

In comments that accompanied the award, Interbrand said: “Ranked 12th in the global tyre market and the Taiwan market leader, Maxxis has had a strong year, with growing market share and a sustained price premium. The brand maintains its exposure through international sponsorship deals; its adoption by General Motors as a major supplier also strengthens its brand reputation. Further, Maxxis has plans to set up hundreds of ‘Centres of Excellence’ service centres in the UK to boost its brand image.”

30th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

JV Partner Sought for India’s TCI

The Indian government’s wholly owned and ailing tyremaker, Tyre Corporation of India (TCI) is looking for a joint venture partner to help revive its fortunes. India’s Economic Times newspaper has reported that the government plans to attract a partner that can provide both the latest global technology and pan-India product marketing support.

An official from India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries told the Economic Times: “The matter now lies with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry for a final approval, after a bill (the Disinvestment of Ownership Bill, 2007), was introduced in parliament in May. As and when it is passed, we would move ahead with the revival of the sick unit, through the disinvestment route.”

20th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Car Registrations up in June

New car registrations in the UK rose slightly during the month of June, with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) recording 222,863 passenger cars registered during the month. This is 1.5 per cent more than the June 2006 figure of 219,497. Europe-wide results varied, with registrations in newer EU member states increasing by double-digit amounts – the greatest increase was recorded in Slovakia, where registrations were 56.1 per cent higher in June 2007 than June 2006, at 32,679 units. Germany, on the other hand, experienced a 7 per cent drop in registrations compared with a year earlier, the result of January’s increase in VAT. Vehicles from the VW Group – Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda – continued to be the biggest sellers in Western Europe, selling 276,498 units and taking 19.3 per cent of total market share.

13th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors