Middle East
In November, the largest tyre recycling plant in the United Arab Emirates officially opened. The facility, in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, was set up by Danish recycling machinery specialist Eldan Recycling and can process up to 8,000 kilograms of old tyres per hour and produces granulate between 0.5 and 4 millimetres.
On 1 January 2012, Tatsuo Mitsuhata will take over from Yashushi Takagi as president and CEO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.; Takagi, who has held this position at Toyo Tire U.S.A. since January 2009, will return to Japan as Toyo Tires’ general manager of corporate planning. This appointment is Mitsuhata’s second US-based position – he previously worked for Toyo Tire U.S.A., as the company’s coordination manager between 1994 and 1998.
Demand for tyres and tubes is set to grow by 12 per cent annually in Saudi Arabia according to a new report published by Research and Markets called "Automotive Tire Industry in Saudi Arabia". The largest market for tyres in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia still imports most of its demand, with the annual value of tyres needed to feed the market adding up to almost US$800 million. This equates to 13 million units every year and volumes are expected to keep on rising as consumer demand increases over the next few years.
Goodyear is introducing a new programme aimed at OTR tyre users. Called ‘Goodyear at Service’, the internet-based programme will be available to all off-road plant operators in the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. Goodyear says it will “ensure that each customer gets the best possible expert support when purchasing and operating Goodyear tyres.”
Dubai-based Zafco has announced that it has extended its distributorship of the Zeetex tyre brand to a global scale after “the acquisition” of the role from Netherlands based S&H Tyres. Prior to this, the rights to Zeetex, which encompasses over 600 product units including tyres, batteries and lubricants, were jointly held between the two companies.
The distribution change came following Zafco’s participation at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas in November 2011, where the company showcased its Zeetex, exclusive brand.
Michelin’s third quarter financial report for 2011 has shown total net sales of 5.1 billion euros and nine-month total sales of 15.2 billion euros, figures that represent positive changes of 10.6 per cent and 17.3 per cent for their respective periods. Sales volumes were up 9.3 per cent, allowing the French giant to proclaim its results “solid” and to reaffirm “that growth in sales volumes should trend towards eight per cent by year end.” The company noted the “slower momentum” of the third quarter, particularly noticeable in the passenger car and light truck tyres segment, which was up only 5.9 per cent to 2.7 billion euros in the quarter. Michelin also said its “pricing policy added 10 per cent to nine-month sales growth”, offsetting “the full-year impact of higher raw materials costs”.
Al Dobowi, one of the leading tyre companies in Dubai, has inaugurated the first Hankook Masters Shop in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Al Dobowi, the official distributor of Hankook tyres in the (UAE) cooperated with Hankook Tires, Dubai in the completion of this project. The first Hankook Masters UAE branch is located within the premises of Grand Service Station, Dubai.
Hankook Tire reported third quarter 2011 global sales of 1.69 trillion won a 23 per cent increase from the same period last year. The tyremaker’s third quarter operating profit came in a 129.9 billion won.
As reported yesterday, a new CEO and president is set to replace Makio (Mac) Ohashi at the helm of Bridgestone Europe (BSEU) at the start of January 2012. This change of top management will be accompanied by the creation of a new position within the company, that of chief operating officer. Bridgestone Europe has named Mitsuhira (Mike) Shimazaki as the first incumbent in this newly-created position. As COO, the current senior vice-president of Sales and Marketing at Bridgestone Europe will continue to manage the company’s Sales and Marketing organisations and additionally assume responsibility for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management.
As of 1 January, 2012, Makio “Mac” Ohashi will end his tenure as CEO and president of Bridgestone Europe NV/SA. He will be succeeded in this role by Franco Annunziato, who is now chief quality officer and senior vice-president – technology at Bridgestone Europe as well as managing director of Bridgestone Technical Center Europe S.p.A. After taking on Ohashi’s current duties, Annunziato will remain chief quality officer of Bridgestone Europe and managing director at the Technical Center Europe. Annunziato also serves as a vice-president and officer of Bridgestone Corporation.
Following the news that has announced plans to build a US$500 million passenger car tyre plant in the South Carolina between now and 2021, financial analysts have added their view on what the manufacturing plans means for the automotive supplier’s profitability.
September’s official launch of numerous additions to the Pirelli :01 Series presented Tyres & Accessories with the opportunity to visit the Italian manufacturer’s production site in Izmit, Turkey, where some of the range is produced alongside passenger car and motorsport tyres. It also gave us the chance to sit down with Ugo Forner, who has worldwide responsibility for Pirelli’s ‘Truck’ business unit, and listen to his views on Pirelli’s plans and the changing nature of the global commercial vehicle business.
The organiser of the Dubai International Motor Show has announced the signing on as Continental Tyres as “official tyre” for this November’s show. This is the first time the Middle East’s largest motoring event has had an official tyre sponsor.
Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority cites tyre related issues as a serious contributory factor to road accidents within the emirate, and in response the agency has launched a ‘Tire Soundness’ campaign, which will run until the end of August. According to the RTA, learner drivers and driving instructions are a particular focus for this campaign and will be targeted through driving schools, or driving institutes as they are known in Dubai. In particular, instructors at driving schools will be educated on the key points of tyre inspection and the factors contributing to tyre wear or failure.
Gareth Passmore has been appointed as marketing head for Apollo Tyres South Africa (Pty) Ltd, which manufactures the Dunlop brand in Southern Africa. The rapid expansion of Apollo Tyres internationally, with the acquisition of the European tyre manufacturer Vredestein Banden being the latest example, has necessitated the restructure and realignment of key positions and departments within the Apollo Tyres Group and the appointment of new personnel in order to achieve the company vision of dynamic growth into new markets.
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