General Rubbers, the manufacturer of Midas brand of tyre retreading materials, has recently been certified as a Star Export House by the Ministry of Trade and Finance. This was in recognition of the excellent growth in sales of its products in international markets over the past few years.
Apollo Tyres has launched a new range of DuraTread retreading materials for commercial vehicles in Southern India. The range, which Apollo says shows it is a step closer to being a complete tyre solution provider, will be produced at Apollo’s Kalamassery plant near Cochin. DuraTreads will subsequently be available across the country by leveraging Apollo’s operations network.
Focusing attention on maximum possible productivity becomes vital in difficult economic times in order to boost competitiveness. Besides high-quality retreading materials, Kraiburg Austria also provides its customers with expertise and business services, aimed at boosting their productivity.
(Akron/Tire Review) China has been reshaping the tyre world in the recent years, with most of the world’s leading brands either launching or expanding their manufacturing bases and sales networks in China. But even there, the key players need a trade show to effectively meet the needs of distributors, suppliers and manufacturers.
The third annual China International Tire Expo (CITExpo), to be held in Shanghai from 14-16 December aims to link the professionals from the worldwide tyre industry. According to the organisers of CITExpo, thousands of buyers from over 66 countries attended last year’s event, and hundreds more are expected this year. Exhibitors were satisfied with the results and found that it was much easier for them to close the trade leads and obtain buyer information at CITExpo, according to organisers.
ECI International has announced record figures for the fifth edition of Tyrexpo Asia, which took place at the Singapore Expo Centre from 13-15 September, 2005. Just under 3,000 tyre industry specialists visited the exhibition, as did 100 exhibitors, occupying 5,000 sq.m of stand space and displaying a wide range of products including tyres, tubes, garage equipment, retreading materials and equipment as well as a variety of ancillary products and accessories. Overall Tyrexpo Asia 2005 achieved a growth rate of 20 per cent compared to the previous event in 2003.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bandag Inc is increasing prices on “most of its retreading materials” for North America, the company has announced. According to Bandag, all tread rubber products in the US will increase by a per-pound weighted average of 12 cents (US). In Canada, the increase will be 17 cents (Canada). Both increases take effect on 1 May. Bandag officials said that increasing raw material costs cannot be offset by increased efficiencies or productivity.
Nokian has purchased the Eurobandag retreading plant, situated in St. Petersburg, Russia. Last year, net sales at the plant totalled 0.5 million Euros and the factory retreaded 2,000 truck tyres. Nokian is also re-arranging its retreading materials operations, bringing together the personnel employed at its Vianor retreading plants in Finland, Sweden and Norway under one profit centre.
Nokian’s 3Q net sales were up 11.1 per cent at 117.9 million Euros, but higher fixed costs affected operating profit, which was 15.2 million Euros (3Q 2001: 18.6 m). 51 per cent of Nokian’s income comes from car tyres and 63 per cent is generated in Scandinavia and Finland. Sales of heavy tyres and bicycle tyres both rose, but sales of retreading materials fell. Vianor, Nokian’s retail chain, showed an increase in sales of 14.4 per cent, but operating profit was similar to 3Q last year.
Nokian Tyres have released first quarter results. Turnover was up 10.3 per cent at 84.5 million Euro (Q1 2001: 76.6 m). The operating result was -1.0 m Euro (-1.9 m) and the result before tax was -4.0 m (-5.0 m). The net result was -3.3 m (-3.7 m). Sales and profits of passenger car tyres rose, while sales of heavy tyres decreased, as did sales of retreading materials. Sales of the chain Vianor were up, but the loss was greater than Q1 2001. Nokian’s aim for 2002 is to achieve better turnover and profit than last year.
In the retreading business the name of Gummiwerk Kraiburg Austria, located in Geretsberg, is well known as one of the leading material suppliers for hot and cold retreading, as well as for supplying complete retreading equipment. In two further plants (Waldkraiburg and Tittmoning) a huge number of technical compounds for the automotive industry, compounds made from thermoplastic elastomers and recycling products are being manufactured. Since the middle of 1998 a fundamental restructuring process has been initiated. Under the name “Kraiburg 2010”, a new group structure that will prepare the company for the new challenges of the market in the 21st century, was introduced to the public a year ago. The strategic programme included investments of more than 15 million US-dollars in the tyre retreading materials sector. Direction and presentation of the company will undergo a complete revision. “Internationalisation”, the entering of new markets, was one of the key words of the programme. Reason enough to ask what has happened at Kraiburg the last twelve months: the company has established two new distribution organisations in Spain and Turkey. Furthermore, the European distribution structure has been divided into “profit centres”. With the “profit centre south” a new organisational entity has been created that is responsible for the markets in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovenia.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
