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Conti Private Equity Acquisition Unlikely, Say DB Analysts

Shares in Continental AG have apparently declined again after rising by more than seven per cent on June 25, the result, say traders, of renewed market talk of interest in a private equity bid. The German financial newspaper named Boersen-Zeitung, Banco Santander SA, ING Groep NV and Deutsche Bank AG as the favoured contenders for bidding. The company has, however, declined to offer any information on the issue. “We don’t comment on speculation,” said Conti spokesman Hannes Boekhoff.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Heuver Continues Spectacular Growth

Established in 1966 by Mans Heuver, Heuver Bandengroothandel has expanded from a small business (for which Mr. Heuver personally made tyre deliveries on his motorcycle) into a global organisation with a wholesale business for industry clients and a number of outlets – the Profile Tyrecenters – for both business and retail customers. Today the Netherlands based business is run by Mr. Heuver senior’s two sons, Bertus and Jan, and the growth continues.

To facilitate an expanding business base, two years ago the company opened a new 12,000 square metre facility in its hometown of Hardenberg. Now, reports Bertus Heuver, the company is looking at the need to build another 12,000 square metre premises. “Since we completed the new buildings in 2006, we’ve seen that the choices we make today enable us to accelerate our expansion plans,” he said. “In other words, we’re ahead of our goals. At the end of this year, we’ll be taking the next step in our development strategy and doubling our warehouse inventory.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vipal Opens New Warehouse in Hamburg

Less than three weeks before the Essen show, Brazilian retreading material supplier, Borrachas Vipal demonstrated just how much the company developed its export business. The news was that the company that had long been market leader in Brazil had chosen Mexico as the site for its first non-domestic production plant. At the time Vipal’s International Business Director, Maria Locatelli, explained that Mexico was chosen because it is an “entrance door” to the US. However, during an interview with Tyres & Accessories at the recent Reifen exhibition, Maria Locatelli explained that increased production in Mexico would also benefit European customers, both economically and due to shorter delivery times.

The main strategy behind the investment is to make use of Mexico’s North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ties. However, the company also intends to capitalise on the production cost benefits available in the petrochemical producing country, with a view to passing a saving onto consumers in export markets like Europe. “This is not the main target, but there will be possibilities to supply [Europe],” said Maria Locatelli.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Advanced ID Opens Asian Office

RFID-maker Advanced ID Corporation has gained approval for the incorporation of a subsidiary in Hong Kong, Advanced ID Asia Pacific Company Limited. The decision took effect on 20 June 2008, meaning Advanced ID has already opened its offices in Hong Kong led by its newly appointed managing director Cherry Lim.

Lim, 42, has spent her entire career working with companies that have innovative technology applications. With positions as chief executive officer and other executive management roles, she has concentrated in the fields of information technology, wireless technologies and integrated circuits. A Hong Kong native fluent in three dialects of Chinese and English, Lim was educated in the United States and received a Bachelors of Science from the University of South Florida, which was followed by an Executive MBA received from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Temporarily Closes Canadian Plant

Goodyear’s Napanee plant between Belleville and Kingston in Ontario, Canada is to close for a week as the manufacturer continues to react against a stagnating marketplace. The closure, which has an impact on up to 760 jobs, will take place between 30 June and 7 July.

Company spokesman Tom Hogeboom told local journalists that the closure’s timing made relative sense, coming as it does in the week that contains Canada Day and the United States’ Independence Day, which has a predictable effect on production rates. Hogeboom stated that “it’s not a decision we make lightly but the marketplace is telling us it’s something we have to do,” adding “all of our North American plants are doing it.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

ADL Releases Catalogue, Receives ISO Certification

ADL S.A., France’s leading designer and manufacturer of theft protection devices for automobile wheels has been awarded with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO/TS 16949 certification. The company is part of Germany’s ABC Umformtechnik – a division of The Altenloh, Brinck & Co Group – which specialises in fastening systems for the automotive industry.

The company, based in Lagny to the north of Paris, has also announced the release of its new catalogues for the forthcoming year. The catalogues detail the appropriate fixing systems by car manufacturer and model. ADL’s brands include Simbolz, Blocky and Fixa.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Shares Slump

Following Goodyear’s announcements yesterday concerning the company’s closure of its Melbourne plant and its plans to invest further in Brazil and China and to refurbish four of its American facilities, NYSE shares in the organisation fell by a steep 11.2 per cent. The drop sees the company’s stocks fall to their lowest value since December 2006.

Reports suggest that the dip has been caused by a variety of factors compounded by the manufacturer’s strategic announcements. The decline in the market for replacement tyres, especially within the heavy vehicle sector, and perpetually rising fuel and raw material costs have led both to Goodyear’s aggressive – and developing-market regarding – approach and the company’s slump in the stock market.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone to Raise Japan Market Tyre Prices

As of September 1 prices for Bridgestone tyres, tubes and flaps sold in the Japan replacement market will increase, the company announced on June 26. The new pricing structure applies to both summer and winter tyres. Bridgestone adds that it will also ask original equipment manufacturers for significant increases in their tyre prices.

Specific replacement market price increases include five per cent for passenger car and light truck tyres, seven per cent for truck and bus tyres, per cent for OTR tyres, between seven and ten per cent for industrial vehicle tyres, three to ten per cent for motorcycle tyres, seven per cent for other kinds of tyres, and ten per cent for tubes and flaps.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

BTC Wins 3 Year Hill Hire Agreement

BTC, the management arm of the Bandvulc Group, has secured a three-year commercial tyre management agreement with Hill Hire plc, the hire and leasing specialists owned by the Bank of Scotland. With a value in excess of £20 million over its term, the agreement places management of Hill Hire’s tyre provision in the hands of BTC. Bandvulc reports that several value added factors played a role in its securing of the deal, including the provision of 24/7/365 coverage through BTC and the management of all activity in-house rather than via a third party call centre. The new tyres delivered under the terms of the agreement, Bandvulc adds, will be Continental products.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nokian Tyres to Increase Presence in Ukraine

Nokian Tyres is reportedly partnering with Immo Industry Group and Aladdin Group to develop its distribution operation in Ukraine. The move forms part of Nokian’s plan to “rapidly” increase its presence in the Ukraine through its Vianor retail chain this year. The location suggested by Immo Industry Group and Aladdin group is called the IIG-Aladdin Group Industrial Park Kiev V and is said to cover 11,500 square metres.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Ray Darcy Retires After 37 Years in Tyres

After 37 years in the family business, Ray Darcy is handing over the reins to a non-family member. Ray Darcy has been with the company firstly on a part time basis, then as full time manager, since his parents set up North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts in 1971, and is now retiring from the position of Retail Director. Roger Griggs, who brings with him 27 years experience in the industry, takes up the role with immediate effect.

The company, originally known as Melbourne Tyre and Exhausts was based in Brotton but expanded quickly and today boasts 11 bases across the retail and warehouse sectors, across the entire North of England. Having run the Marske and Brotton outlets for 23 years, Ray then took over the entire retail operation and took up the reigns of chairman in 1997.

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Australia Expresses Regret over Goodyear Closure

Bridgestone Australia Ltd has expressed its regret that rival manufacturer Goodyear is ceasing tyre manufacturing in the country, a decision that leaves Bridgestone as the only tyre manufacturer operating in the Australia/New Zealand region.

“We understand the increasing challenges to Australian manufacturing,” said Mac Ohashi, Bridgestone Australia chairman and CEO. “However, Bridgestone remains committed to local tyre manufacturing and we are proud of providing quality Australian-made tyres to our customers.”

27th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

30 Years of Turbocharger Production in Bradford

BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems has just celebrated the 30th anniversary of the opening of its commercial vehicle turbocharger factory in the city of Bradford. Only recently, the plant underwent extensive modernisation to ensure that it can optimally meet the ever-increasing demand for turbocharged commercial vehicle engines. In the past ten years alone, output in Bradford has more than doubled to over 400,000 units a year. The main customers include Renault/Volvo, Daimler and above all Deutz, who equips all engines with turbochargers from BorgWarner.
The commercial vehicle industry has been booming for years and new markets in Eastern Europe and Asia promise further growth. Environmentally friendly technologies are required to ensure that manufacturers continue to benefit from the current positive situation. As the market leader in the commercial vehicle sector and with many years of experience, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems makes a major contribution to guaranteeing that even the strictest emissions standards can be met without any loss of driving performance.

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MAM Software Relocating to Support Growth Plans

MAM Software is a company on the move, literally. The firm has announced it is relocating relocating its headquarters from Deepcar in Sheffield to new premises less than four miles away at Tankersley, just off J36 of the M1. The new office, comments MAM, will provide modern accommodation for the 92 employees currently based in Deepcar and will be furnished to the company’s specific requirements. The Tankersley site will incorporate a dedicated call centre for its Support Services department.

The new premises are integral in supporting MAM Software’s growth plans in the automotive and vertical markets. Managing director, Mike Jamieson, said: “MAM is committed to ensuring the move benefits both our employees and clients. These new premises are much better suited to our type of business. It will give us room for expansion and improvement, and provide a better working environment for all our staff.”

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Techking Tires: New Products, Technology and Services in 2008

OTR tyre specialist Techking Tires came to the Reifen Essen show armed not only with new products, such as the 335/80R20 MPT (Multiple Purpose Tire) – the Chinese company brought news of impressive growth and numerous new programmes it is introducing. Techking marketing specialist Benjamin Zhang reported the latest developments to T&A.

“We have set up six private meeting rooms for existing and new customers at our stand,” he said. “For the whole week they are always busy.” This is hardly surprising considering Techking’s explosive growth during the past few years. Evidence of this can be seen from the fact that in 2006 Techking had 5 tyre specifications. Today it has 140, in 20 individual patterns. All tyres are manufactured at the company’s 35,000 square metre Dongying, Shandong Province factory, which was built in 1994.

Amongst Techking’s new offerings for 2008 are combined tyre and rim combination packages. “This has come as a result of customer feedback,” explains Mr. Zhang. “Customers asked for a tyre/rim package. It is easier for us to choose the right rim for a particular tyre.” The Techking marketing specialist reported that the building of a new 330,000 square metre factory for manufacturing OTR and TBR rims is currently in progress, The facility is due to be completed at the start of 2009 and within three years a capacity of 50,000 to 70,000 pieces per annum is planned.

Also new is Tire Watch, Techking’s TPMS project initiated last year. Testing for the Tire Watch project will continue until July and its market introduction is not far off. Tire Watch, Mr. Zhang explains, offers real time monitoring of tyre pressure. A third new product from Techking, introduced this year, is Tire Armor, protective chains for loader tyres, that can be easily damaged on rocks. “New items such as Tire Armor show we not only provide products; we also provide solutions,” said Mr. Zhang.

Yet another significant development for Techking is the introduction of the TSC – the Techking Service Center – Techking is building showrooms in conjunction with local partners in key markets and will provide training to local dealers. The TSCs will offer maintenance services and advice on correct tyre choice, while enhancing the Techking brand image in various local markets. “We have chosen Europe, Africa and Australia as the markets in which to begin rolling out the TSC concept, as in these regions we have stronger partnerships with local dealers,” Mr. Zhang added. The first TSC is scheduled to open in July 2008, and in addition to these centres the company continues to visit its global partners on site. In 2007 Techking representatives visited 50 such partners in various countries.

Techking tyres are sold in approximately 55 markets around the world, with Europe, South Africa and Australia the strongest. European sales account for 25 per cent of the total, Mr. Zhang comments, and currently South Africa is the market undergoing the fastest growth. A new market for Techking is Russia, and it is one that, says Mr. Zhang, presents its own challenges: “It is a different situation from our traditional key customers. The market in Russia is mostly for bias tyres, radials are only being introduced. In Russia we provide potential customers with our ‘Fuel Save Technology’ programme, which includes statistics on the fuel saving benefits of radial tyres.”

On the topic of world markets, much has been said recently about the US decision to impose duties upon Chinese manufactured OTR tyres. While Mr. Zhang confirms the duties charged on Techking products are not as high as for some other Chinese based manufacturers, he admits the US remains a smaller market for the company.

After conquering numerous world markets, Techking is now making itself at home, in its home market. In a situation that is completely in reverse to most Chinese manufacturers, Techking, a traditionally strong exporter of radial products, has only very recently launched its products onto the domestic Chinese market. “Most Chinese mining companies still use bias tyres,” Benjamin Zhang explains. “Most sales in China are for overseas brand equipment. We hope this situation will change soon but realise it takes time to adopt radial technology.” Even more amazingly, in April 2008 the company that has for so long embraced radial technology launched a range of bias OTR tyres. “The first tyres produced after heavy involvement from Techking will serve OE manufacturers in the domestic market,” stated company president Tech Wang in a Techking newsletter. A company representative further comments on the decision to introduce this older technology. “We are not in pursuit of high volume. We feel that giant bias OTR is a necessary supplement to the market at the moment.”

The testing of such new giant OTR tyres, like all the Techking range, can be performed on the company’s drum test machine, which can test up to 63-inch tyres; Techking is the only Chinese manufacturer to have such a machine. And in terms of tyre development, the process at Techking is very customer centred, adds Mr. Zhang: “Techking collects research and development feedback from different markets, and develops custom products for key markets, such as the 29.5R29 ETNT for Canada or 35/65R33 ETNT for Australia.”

26th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors