Michelin has opened a new distribution centre for the Iberian peninsula following investment of some 32.5 million euros. The goal of the logistics centre located in Illescas, near Toledo in Spain is to optimise logistics performance in Spain, Andorra and Portugal, not to mention the Balearics, the Canaries, the Azores and Madeira.
The Spanish municipality of Santa Cruz de la Zarza, some 50 miles southeast of Madrid, has been selected as the location of Nokian Tyres’ new technology centre for the testing of summer and winter tyres. The Finnish tyre maker will invest approximately €16 million to build the facility on a site of some 300 hectares. Construction work will begin early in 2017, and while the facility will not be finished until 2019 the first project stage is expected to be completed next year.
Trelleborg has won the “Neumático del Año Agrícola 2016” or Agricultural Tyre of the Year award in Spain. On 26 July Trelleborg received the award for its new TM1060 range. Organised by NMR magazine – Neumáticos y Mecánica Rápida – the award recognises outstanding contributions to the agricultural industry in terms of innovation, performance and respect for the environment.
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.
When US-based specialty chemicals company Lehigh Technologies began its working relationship with Spanish waste to resources company HERA Holding several years ago, its vision was to eventually set up a facility for supplying European and other tyre makers with locally-produced micronised rubber powder (MRP). The final step towards realising this goal has now been taken through the formation of a joint venture between the two companies to operate the first MRP facility in Europe.
Pirelli celebrated victory in both principal categories in the Spanish round of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship, continuing its streak since the start of the season. The Cerro Negro circuit in Talavera de la Reina hosted the grand prix of Spain at the halfway mark, the ninth round out of eighteen. The Spanish track is characterized by hard-packed soil and a tight layout that makes it tricky for overtaking.
CAM International is making e-jobsheet.com available in three major European languages, as the company seeks greater penetration on the continent. The digital tablet-based work exchange for truck, bus, and van tyres is going live in French, German and Spanish.
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced a new partnership with Spanish retreading partner, Louzán SL. The Galicia-based company, which was formed in the 1940s, offers a range of services for fleets, including retreading, with ten sales outlets for extensive territorial coverage. Marangoni said the partnership reflects the “major changes” taking place in the retreading industry. While the future of the retread manufacturer’s Rovereto remains uncertain, Marangoni has moved to increase its global partnerships in various markets around the world. The company characterises its latest Spanish partnership as an “expansion” of its activities in the country.
The rubber industry associations of Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain with the support of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) have launched a campaign providing information on the general rubber goods (GRG) industry and the challenges it is facing.
As Europe’s retreaders are currently learning to their cost, commitment to sustainable products often takes a back seat to lower prices; despite offering proven environmental plusses, retreaded truck tyres continue to lose market share to cheap and often non-retreadable imported new tyres. To truly thrive, an environmentally-friendly product must also deliver a price benefit. With its micronised rubber powder (MRP) products, Lehigh Technologies offers this double advantage. Tyres & Accessories recently met with Lehigh Technologies’ vice-president and general manager Kedar Murthy and Josep Freixas, the company’s MRP business development manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions, to find out how the market is taking to the concept of new tyres containing materials made from end of life tyres.
Lassa Tyres recently surprised the FC Barcelona Lassa teams with “holiday gift tyres”. According to the company, from now on the global talent of FC Barcelona Lassa Teams will be “under the protection of Lassa Tyres, whose durability and strong construction is approved by TUV SUD and is globally recognized”.
Membat, a tyre brand designed in Barcelona, recently launched a new website in order to offer users “an easier, intuitive and interactive navigation”. The company reports that this was achieved by incorporating “the latest technology” and as a result customers will be able to find out more about the brand and its positioning. The new site is organized into five main sections: about us, products, Membat quality, news and contact.
On 14 September 2015 Lassa Tyres officially opened its first Barcelona flagship shop.
The shop was inaugurated at 09.30 am on 14 September at Lipecar, Calle Ausiàs March, Número 131, by Brisa board member, Hakan Bayman; Brisa general manager, Yiğit Gürçay; Brisa director of international sales and marketing, Halit Şensoy with the attendance of the Republic of Turkey, Barcelona consulate general, Emir Salim Yüksel, Lassa Tyres Spain Country distributor Safame Comercial, Jesús Mesas; and representatives of Turkish and Spanish media.
Giti Tire has appointed two new business development managers for its truck and bus tyre business in the Spanish market. Rosaura Maria Gonzalez Frade (Rosa) and Daniel Gonzalez Martin (Dani) will be jointly responsible for increasing the existing business of truck and bus products, working in close cooperation with the country’s business partners and fleets to secure long-term partnerships.
Spanish logistics group Marcotran has signed a FleetFirst agreement with Goodyear for the supply of new and retread tyres as well as trans-European full tyre management. According to the company, the decision to trust Goodyear´s truck tyre management was based on the successful experience with Goodyear fuel-efficient Fuelmax tyres and the comprehensive solutions package including FleetOnlineSolutions (FOS) and eJob of FleetFirst.
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