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Russia remains a Nokian strength

Nokian Tyres has released its 2012 annual report, and the Finnish manufacturer reports a 10.7 growth in net sales to 1.61 billion euros, 9.2 per cent rise in operating profit to 415.0 million euros and a 7.1 per cent increase in profit to 330.9 million euros. Russia proved a regional strength during the year and demand for Nokian’s passenger car tyres increased there, while demand “decreased clearly” in Central Europe. Combined output of the company’s plants in Nokia, Finland and Vsevolozhsk, Russia in 2012 was 15.7 million tyres, and the annualised capacity at year-end was 18 million pieces.

21st March 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

A new record for the fastest man, and tyre, on ice

Janne Laitinen is the fastest driver on ice….in the world. The Finnish test driver teamed up with Nokian Tyres to break the record on the ice covering the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea’s northerly cul-de-sac. For the record attempt on 9 March, Laitenen drove an Audi RS6 fitted with size 255/35R20 97 T XL Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 studded tyres. In freezing winter weather, Laitenen’s Nokian-shod car reached an eye watering 208.602 mph (335.713 km/h).

14th March 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Traction tread added to Nokian retreading range

Nokian Tyres has introduced a new product into its Noktop range of retreading materials. The Finnish manufacturer describes the new Noktop 86 traction tread as offering “never before seen reliability for demanding earthmoving applications.” Elaborating on this bold statement, Nokian says the rubber compound used in the Noktop 86 provides “excellent puncture and cut protection under demanding conditions in mines and gravel pits where quarried rock presents an ever-challenging working environment.”

18th February 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Despite shaky Q1, Nokian looks forward to 2013 growth

Upon reporting increased sales and profit in 2012, Finland’s Nokian Tyres shared its projection for replacement market growth this year in its main markets. Nokian anticipates demand for replacement passenger car tyres will grow one to two per cent in Europe, two per cent in Nordic countries and two to five per cent in Russia. Admittedly, the tyre maker concedes the pricing environment for all tyre categories will be “challenging” this year, although margins will be supported by a ten per cent year-on-year easing in raw material costs in the first quarter of 2013 and a four per cent easing over the entire year. Although Nokian expects to see growth in net sales and operating profit in 2013, it believes that first quarter performance will be “clearly weaker” than in 2012.

8th February 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian launches Hakkapeliitta R2 non-studded winter tyre

As the successor to a multi-test winning winter product, Nokian believes its new Hakkapeliitta R2 non-studded winter tyre exemplifies the company’s latest winter tyre innovations. Chief among these is the Nokian Cryo Crystal Concept compound, which has cystal-esque particles designed to “grab the icy driving surface” in order to improve grip. The cryo-silane based winter silica compound works across a wide temperature range, achieving better winter surface grip and improved wear resistance. It is also optimised for reduced rolling resistance.

6th February 2013/12,345 Comments/by Tyrepress Editors

Vianor and Wissol cooperating in Georgia

At the tail end of 2012, Nokian Tyres plc has signed a co-operation agreement with the Wissol Group conglomerate to expand its Vianor retail chain into Georgia. With this agreement, Wissol Group’s 15 existing “AutoExpress” retail outlets will be re-branded as Vianor. In the future, the chain will also be further developed and expanded under the Vianor brand.

22nd January 2013/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian renews winter tyre range

Three new products have been added to Nokian Tyres’ Hakkapeliitta winter tyre range for the Nordic market and two new winter tyres have also been introduced for the Central European and North American markets. Announcing the five new products, company president and CEO Kim Gran stated “this is the biggest launch in the history of our company as we renew most of our winter tyre range. The new generation of Hakkapeliitta tyres is a significant upgrade to our long line of test winning products. We are looking forward to introducing the finely tuned safety and handling properties to the consumers.”

21st January 2013/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Winter Driving School offers cold weather tips

As the manufacturer of more than 20 test-topping winter tyres in 2012 tests conducted by German car magazines “Auto Bild”, “Auto Motor Sport” and “AUTOStraßenverkehr”, Nokian knows a thing or two about winter driving. And to help its customers supplement their knowledge and skills the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta Winter Driving School is now online, available in English, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish.

16th January 2013/by Tyrepress Editors

Job losses, lay-offs at Nokian’s Finnish plant

The statutory negotiations Nokian Tyres commenced in early November wound up on 17 December and the tyre maker has announced the cuts it will implement at its plant in Nokia, Finland. Antti-Jussi Tähtinen, vice-president of marketing and communications for Nokian, reports the planned improvements in productivity and production adjustments will be mainly achieved via temporary lay-offs. In addition, 28 production workers and officials will be laid off permanently.

18th December 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian voices support for Swedish winter tyre rule

Sweden’s government has decided that from the start of 2013, trucks operating within the country must have tyres with at least 5 mm pattern depth and winter tyres on their drive axles between 1 December and 31 March, whenever winter conditions occur. This new requirement has been applauded by Nokian Tyres, which says it “can be expected to substantially increase road safety during the winter season.”

17th December 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian withdraws winter tyre label

International News, Legislation

Nokian Tyres withdrew its self-produced “winter grip label” on 21 November following pressure from European tyre manufacturer’s organisation ETRMA and some competitors. The company reports that the label had not been and was not planned to be distributed outside Nordic countries. The news is set against the backdrop of the introduction of mandatory tyre labelling on 1 November 2012.

23rd November 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

1,000th Vianor sales outlet in Germany opens

The Vianor tyre retail and car service chain opened its 1,000th sales outlet in Germany. The new outlet is situated in Friedrichshafenin southern Germany. Vianor is owned by Finnish manufacturer Nokian Tyres and currently operates in 24 countries. In addition to tyre services, the sales outlets also provide comprehensive car maintenance services.

19th November 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

ETRMA shuns Nokian ice and snow sticker

International News, Legislation

The ETRMA has called for action against one its own members after Nokian Tyres took the initiative of producing its own ice and snow label. The association is specifically asking authorities in Finland, Norway and Sweden to put an immediate end to the initiative. Nokian tyres, which specialises in winter tyres, appears to have devised its own additional labelling system in response to the fact that the new EU tyre label that became mandatory on 1 November 2012 doesn’t include snow and ice performance information. Furthermore, due to the fact that the EU label requires tests to be conducted at relatively high ambient temperatures, winter tyres in general have shown a tendency to appear to perform poorly on the EU label.

14th November 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Tyres announces 2013 “production adjustment” at Nokia plant

Nokian Tyres has informed stock exchanges that it will start statutory negotiations on 5 November 2012 to adjust production “to meet the market situation” at its Nokia plant. The company said it would aim to adjust the utilisation of the production capacity and create cost savings. The company said that the negotiations, which will affect 600 workers and staff in car tyre production, could amount to up to 45 job cuts.

30th October 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Surveillance and sustainability top priorities for ETRMA in 2013

The board of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has agreed that market surveillance should be the number one priority of the work of the organisation. The next priority of the board, which meets twice a year, emphasises that environmental as well as social and economic sustainability should remain a focus of the European tyre and rubber industry.

18th October 2012/by Tyrepress Editors