Today the Reifen show opens its door for the 30th time, and for first time ever the tyre trade fair is taking place outside of Essen (Germany). Reifen has relocated to Frankfurt and Automechanika, and this year’s new-format show has attracted around 160 exhibitors.
According to David Lewis, Mark Water Pumps Limited has always promoted OEM quality across its product range, and he considers the ’ProFlow’ range of automotive water pumps no exception. Mark Water Pumps acts as supplier to leading OEM manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin and Volvo; plant manager Lewis believes ProFlow products provide this “OEM quality and performance for the aftermarket.”
Maxion Wheels, the world’s largest wheel producer, has announced its participation in next month’s Reifen show. The company can be found in Hall 12.1, at Stand D24 during the exhibition, which will be held alongside Automechanika Frankfurt between 11 and 15 September.
A quarter of all truck tyres currently sold in Europe are imported, and as the manufacturers of these products don’t operate production facilities within the region, the tyres aren’t reported in Europool. The extreme nervousness these truck tyre imports are causing some corners of the market can be seen in the European Commission’s anti-dumping proceedings against bus and truck tyres originating in China, which began last summer. Usually the free trade-specialised EU favours other technical or qualitative restrictions to entry into the European market, such as the EU tyre label or other standards, yet as figures from the ETRMA frighteningly illustrate, such measures have no effect on the pressure placed upon European retreading by cheap Far Eastern tyres.
The 13th edition of Automechanika Shanghai opens its doors on 29 November 2017. This year exhibition space has increased by 9 per cent to 340,000 square metres, and for the first time ever will cover 15 halls of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.
Reifen China, which is described as “the trade fair for the Asian tyre market” is ready to run from 1 to 3 December 2016. The show is being held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in the Pudong area of the city.
Reifen China, which is organised by China United Rubber Corporation and Messe Essen will present wheels, tyres, repair material, valves, garage equipment and accessories amongst other products.
The NTDA Tyre Wholesale Group annual lunch saw greatly increased numbers alongside enhanced association support in its new position the day before the Tyre Industry Conference (5 October 2016), and location (the Hilton Birmingham Metropole adjacent to the NEC). The group chairman, Kirkby Tyres’ John Parker, presented his third – and potentially final – annual survey of the UK wholesale landscape. His topics included part-worn tyres, against which he joined the NTDA in taking a more radically oppositional stance, commented on the coming challenges and perhaps opportunities of Brexit, and the role of wholesalers in the e-commerce age.
Every other year since 1960 has been a ‘Reifen’ year, but 2016 was different. This year’s show not only marked the final time the world’s largest tyre trade fair took place as an independent event, it was also the last Reifen show to be held before a new and major rival enters the picture.
Vipal brand hot retreading products will be manufactured in Spain thanks to a new joint venture started by the South American market leader and Mezclas Caucho. Not only is this a first in Europe; the JV’s production line will be the first anywhere in the world for Vipal outside its domestic Brazilian market. The agreement was officially signed during Reifen 2016, the world’s largest tyre trade show, which was held in May in Essen, Germany. It adds to Vipal’s increased activities in Europe, marked by sustained expansion over recent years.
Automechanika Shanghai is said to be experiencing “sweeping growth” ahead of the 2016 show, which will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Puxi, Shanghai from 30 November – 3 December. The organisers are highlighting the show’s Connectivity and Electronics & Systems zones. However, in addition to the gains seen by the Electronics & Systems sector, for the first time the show’s West Hall will be housing the Wheel Rim/Tyre sectors.
Kumho made Reifen 2016 the occasion of its new UHP winter tyre’s world premiere, in addition to displaying its role in a project to optimise the fuel efficiency of existing diesel technology. The company’s 300sqm stand in Hall 3 also featured the company’s current portfolio of products for a wide variety of tyre segments, including electric and hybrid vehicles.
Maxxis exhibited at Reifen from a prominent Hall 3 stand commensurate with the brand’s global positioning, and increasingly with its focus on Europe. Robert Lo, chairman of Maxxis manufacturer Cheng Shin Rubber Ind Co and Derek McMartin, managing director of Maxxis International UK explained to Tyres & Accessories that the stand included a portfolio containing the brand’s first “dedicated European products”. The new M36+, launched at Reifen, is perhaps the most prominent example of this.
New show presents strong start, builds platform for Reifen UK in 2017 and beyond While the Automechanika name is well-known in the tyre and wider aftermarket business, the event hadn’t been held in the UK until this year. Between 6 and 8 June some 12,000 visitors attended the event at the NEC in Birmingham, viewing […]
Giti Tire launched its new tyre for the van markets, the GT Radial Maxmiler WT2, at Reifen 2016. The Maxmiler WT2 will be available from autumn 2016 in 20 SKUs in sizes between 14” and 16”, speed indices from Q-T, and load indices of 88/86 to 121/120. The tyre has achieved B-grade wet grip across the entire portfolio, and grades between C and E in rolling resistance. ECE 117-2 compliant, testing at Ivalo showed improved performance across wet and dry braking and handling against the existing product, the Maxmiler WT and two other leading manufacturer brands.
Sometimes tyre people are creatures of habit. They like what they know and they know what they like. So when change comes it can feel disorientating. But change is also the engine of progress. And standing still is virtually synonymous with going backwards.
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