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Vipal Aims to be Key Material Supplier to Arab Retreaders

Vipal, the Brazilian retread materials supplier, is betting on greater sales abroad and is specifically seeking to increase its presences in new markets in the Middle East and North Africa. At the end of last year, company representatives were in Saudi Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates and in Sudan. “In the three countries the results were positive and new partnerships were established,” vice president João Carlos Paludo, told the Brazil Arab News Agency.

25th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Full-Year Sales & Income up in 2007

In its 2007 financial results, published February 15, French tyre major Michelin has reported increased sales and a markedly higher net income than that of the previous year. The company recorded sales of 16.867 billion euros in the year to December 31, 2007, a 3 per cent rise over that of a year earlier. Sales volume increased by 3.2 per cent over the same period.

Prior to taking non-recurring income and expenses into account, operating income for the year was 1.645 billion euros, up 22.9 per cent on the year before. After deducting these factors operating income stood at 1.319 billion euros, an increase of 17.9 per cent. Net income shot up 34.7 per cent during the 2007 year, to 772 million euros. The company’s net debt also decreased by 464 million euros, 11.1 per cent of the total, and now stands at 3.714 billion euros.

15th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Announces Several New Innovations

The UK based subsidiary of Advanced ID Corporation, Pneu-Logic Ltd., has ventured further into the tyre industry through its signing of an initial contract to supply data capture tools to French firm Electronic Data Process (EDP). The initial 2008 contract, valued at US$150,000, will see the data capture tools integrated with EDP’s tyre management software in order to provide what Advanced ID is calling a “complete tyre management solution.”

EDP managing director, Mr. Jean-Luc Giusti, commented: “We continue to experience strong growth in European sales of our Fleet Check software solutions and Pneu-Logic tools. Based on this progress, we plan for EDP to expand its presence into the United States in 2008 in an effort to market our combined tyre products offering to the many large global tyre manufacturers and service providers located in the country.” Quoting statistics released by Tire Review magazine, Advanced ID reports that the US market for all medium and light trucks in 2006 was in excess of 77 million units. The total US and European market approaches $10 billion annually.

14th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

US Firm Anticipates $100m OTR Exports to Asia – With Govt Help

Returning to our news pages once again is American Tire Corporation (ATC), the company recently noted for announcing the construction of a half-billion dollar OTR tyre plant in the US, a substantial corporate acquisition offer from an anonymous party – which ATC turned down, and, most recently the announcement of no price increases for 2008. The latest news from the enigmatic manufacturer is that its Colorado brand OTR tyres have been introduced into the Asian market.

13th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Cut Production in France

Goodyear Tire & Rubber is planning to reduce tyre production at its two factories in Amiens, France. The production cuts will lead to a reduction of up to 500 employees at the plants and follows employees rejection (in October 2007) of company plans to modernize and renovate the plants. According to the company, the cuts are being made because costs are not competitive. Goodyear employs about 3,800 people in France, of which 2,700 are in the Amiens plants.

“We have communicated extensively with the trade unions, explaining the need for major changes. These changes would increase our competitiveness. Unfortunately, they have rejected the plan to improve competitiveness. Therefore, we have no choice but to reduce our costs as the plants are currently uncompetitive,” said Serge Lussier, Goodyear’s Europe, Middle East and Africa vice president of manufacturing. Goodyear said production of some tyres impacted by the move would be transferred to other, lower-cost factories in Europe and elsewhere. Some products will be eliminated. There have so far been no details of which lines will be eliminated or exactly where production will be transferred.

24th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

New Goodyear Senior VP & Chief Technical Officer Named

At the end of 2007 Goodyear named its replacement for Joseph M. Gringo, who has retired from Goodyear after 41 years of service. As of January 1 Jean-Claude Kihn, formerly general director of Goodyear’s Technical Center (GTC*A) in Akron, Ohio, has taken on the role of senior vice president and chief technical officer.

“Jean-Claude has demonstrated excellent leadership throughout the time I have known him and worked with him,” said Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer Robert J. Keegan upon announcing the appointment. “He has gained the trust of our business leaders in Europe, Latin America and North America through his recent assignments in those businesses.

7th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Hercules to Launch 3 New SUV Lines

Hercules Tire International president, Joe Recchia, has announced that the Canada-based company will use its Tyrexpo Africa exhibit to three new SUV lines. “We are kicking off 2008 with the announcement of three new SUV lines and an exciting new UHP tyre currently in development,” Joe Recchia told Tyres & Accessories. “Our Ironman Radial AP, Merit All Country AT & Hercules MR IV SUV tyres are all fantastic additions to our SUV line. It’s been an incredible year,” he continued, adding: “Hercules Tire International has never looked better!”

Hercules recently announced far reaching plans to become a global operation by opening a number of regional offices in strategic markets around the world. The first was opened at the end of last year and will serve the Latin American and Caribbean markets. Next up are offices in the Middle East, South East Asia and Europe.

4th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ME OTR Shortage Leads to 300% Price Hike in Two Years

Those buying OTR tyres in the Middle East are likely to encounter further price hikes of 20 to 30 per cent. According to an Emirates Business report, a tyre that cost £15,000 in 2005 cost as much as £45,000 2007. Now this is expected to increase by a further 20 to 30 per cent by the end of the first half of 2008.

As a result major tyre manufacturers including Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Pirelli have all increased product prices three times a year since 2005, the report continued. Bridgestone is likely to increase prices in the region by 10 per cent in January followed by another 10 per cent in June. Goodyear is also expected to increase prices between five and 15 per cent.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Al Dobowi Deepens its roots in Africa

The Al Dobowi Group has decided to increase its presence in Africa by opening offices, warehouses and service centres in Ethiopia to cover the Ethiopian, Djiboutian and Somalian markets. It will distribute tyres and batteries and will also have an OTR repair facility with Rema Tip Top. In addition it will also supply Gates Fleximak hoses and manufacture Serck Radiators. According to the company, these developments will also provide Al-Dobowi’s European partners that do not have a local African presence with more avenues to increase their business in some of the fastest growing markets in the world.

2nd January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bandag and Conti go their Separate Ways

At the end of this year, the ContiTread cold retreading partnership between Bandag Europe and the Continental AG will come to an end. In a message to Bandag partners in Europe Mike Tirona, Vice President and General Manager Bandag EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), explained that the decision was made jointly and in a friendly atmosphere. The question is who will now produce ContiTread treads? Will they be made in Continental’s factories or in partnership with another manufacturer? The latter certainly appears to be the case. While no details have yet been officially confirmed, Continental representatives told Tyres & Accessories that negotiations with “another international retread supplier” are already at an advanced stage and that these are expected to be completed in early 2008, with the first Conti-Tread strips to be produced outside of Bandag’s Belgian Lanklaar factory to follow in March 2008.

21st December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Multistrada to More than Double Capacity

Indonesian manufacturer PT Multistrada Arah Sarana has announced plans to increase its production capacity from 17,000 units per day to 40,000 during 2008. The company’s public relations manager, Prawita Hertika, said that this move was necessary to keep pace with demand, which at present is averaging 100,000 units per day.

Prawita said that the company, which produces the Multi Strada range of tyres, will expand the capacity of its factory in Cikarang, east of Jakarta to meet increasing export demand. Should market requirements necessitate still further expansion, Prawita added, Multistrada has sufficient vacant land at its factory site to accommodate additional development.

The tyremaker at present exports 85 per cent of its production, with the UK, the Middle East and the US three of its key markets.

12th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

EU to Form Part of Larger Goodyear Strategic Business Unit

Executives at Akron have redrawn the borders on Goodyear’s global map, combining its European Union (EU) region with that of Eastern Europe,
Middle East and Africa (EEMA). The new grouping, to be known as Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), will be the manufacturer’s second largest geographic region and second largest, after North America, in terms of annual sales revenue. In 2006 the combined annual sales revenue for the two former regions was US$6.5 billion. The amalgamation of the two regions takes effect on February 1, 2008.

11th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli to Raise Prices in Several Export Markets

Pirelli Tyre reports that price increases of up to 10 per cent are planned for all passenger car, SUV and truck tyre lines sold in Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific markets, effective as of January 1, 2008. The manufacturer states that the increases have been necessitated by continued increases in the cost of raw materials and energy.

5th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Rapid Growth the Hallmark of Yongsheng’s Short History

Exhibited at CITExpo with well-known distributor the Meir Group were products from the Shandong Yongsheng Rubber Co. This Qingdao based manufacturer has been in business for 21 years, originally producing bias tyres. However in 2003 the company invested in a new production facility for the manufacture of radial products. Known as the Shandong Santai Rubber Co., Ltd, this new factory possessed an initial capacity of 600,000 units per annum.

29th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Interstate Tyres On Show in Kuwait

Interstate Tires are to participate at the prestigious Kuwait Automobile exhibition. From November 28 to December 4, 2007 Interstate Tires will display the company’s complete range of tyres. The Middle East is fast growing market and, according to Theo de Vries Interstate Tires are very popular in “various” Gulf states. Furthermore Interstate Tires is approved and licensed to be used in the official dealer organizations of Volkswagen, Audi, Ford and Mazda. “You can find Interstate Tires in the main hall, next to Audi and Spijker cars,” company president Theo de Vries told Tyres & Acceessories.

28th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors