Truck Tyres
Pietro Saletta (38) has been named as marketing director of Truck Tyres for Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe BV, responsible for the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He follows Benjamin Willot, who has taken over the position of director of original equipment sales & marketing consumer tyres for the same areas.
The Vladivostok-based Vostokshintorg group of companies recently opened the very first Bandag Dealership in this distant part of Russia, a virgin market for retreaded tyres.
Although Russia is often thought of as a European country, it also has Asian roots. The Russian Far East, more than 9,000 km to the east of Moscow, extends from Siberia to the Pacific. The city of Vladivostok, on the Pacific coast, is less than 100 km from the Chinese border, and only the Sea of Japan separates it from the main Japanese island of Honshu. Oil, gas, fishing, mining, forestry and four major ports combine with foreign economic ties to make the region one of the most dynamic in Russia.
Omskshina, a subsidiary of Sibur, has released its full year 2004 and first quarter 2005 results showing sharp declines in sales and output. In 2004 tyre output fell 27 per cent year-on-year to 3.8 million units. At least part of this sizeable drop can be attributed to Sibur’s decision to transfer the production passenger car and light truck tyres to its Matador-Omskshina joint venture. Although to all intents and purposes this was a sideways move, the transition of these figures from one balance sheet to another, has obviously had a marked impact on Omskshina’s totals.
(Akron/Tire Review) For the second time this year, Michelin North America (MNA) is raising prices on some of its commercial tyre product lines. Prices on Michelin and BFGoodrich branded replacement medium truck tyres will jump three to five per cent, MNA said. The increase will hit direct-billed fleet accounts as of 1 July, but won’t hit dealer accounts until 1 September, the company said.
Prices on OTR tyres sold in North America will increase by an average of 7 per cent, from the same date. Prices on replacement market agricultural tyres sold in Canada will go up five per cent on average, while agricultural tyre prices for US customers will increase by an average of eight per cent, also from 1 July.
RTS Engineering has launched a completely autonomous ‘energy module.’ Billed as “the ultimate” in mobile tyre fitting equipment, the new product is made up of an engine, a hydraulic pump and a hydrovane compressor.
Irish Health & Safety Authority officials are investigating an explosion at Crumb Rubber Ireland, the only collector and processor of scrap tyres in the Republic of Ireland.
World Trade Association (WTA) is an international tyre wholesaler, based in Coral Springs, Florida.
The company deals in all brands of passenger car, high performance, light truck and truck tyres and has more than 30 years’ experience dealing in the global marketplace, shipping tyres all over the world.
WTA is also the worldwide distributor for the Hanksugi Japan range of truck tyres, which are available in both bias-ply and radial construction. They are produced in Shanghai, with the manufacturing process controlled through the Sinochem International Company Limited.
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd is to increase the volume of passenger car and light truck tyres produced at the company’s Kuwana Plant by approximately 1,000,000 units and 120,000 units a year, respectively, by the end of 2005. The company plans to invest 2.8 billion yen in this expansion of production, designed to address flourishing demand in overseas markets.
Toyo is also working to build a manufacturing base in North America, raise the production capacity of a joint-venture plant in China, and launch another joint-venture plant for truck and bus tyres in China. The increase in output at the Kuwana plant is said to be part of this ongoing effort.
(Akron/Tire Review) Wherever the market for new truck tyres decides it is headed, the retreading industry is hot on its heels.
Of course, that job is a bit easier for Bridgestone/Firestone, Goodyear and Michelin, because they are involved in both. But even their allocation of time and money must be measured carefully. For companies like Bandag Inc. and Oliver Rubber Co. – despite its connection with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. – the task is a bit more daunting. But they, too, are highly skilled at knowing what to do and when.
(Akron/Tire Review) Four more tyre companies jumped on the price hike bandwagon yesterday, following up on increases announced recently by Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, Michelin North America, Pirelli Tire North America and Continental Tire North America.
Pirelli Tire North America will increase prices for its passenger and light truck tyres by 5 per cent. The price increase with be effective from 1 June in the US and Canada. Pirelli is the latest in a string of price increases from major manufacturers in the US.
“Unfortunately, the best news is the worst news for many Russian news agencies,” according to Sibur press attaché, Anna Stepanova. The Russian tyre manufacturer’s spokesperson made these comments in response to reports stating that the company had reduced first quarter tyre production by 25.5 per cent. While the reports were not inaccurate, Sibur’s management does not agree with the conclusions drawn by Russia’s Analytical News Agency (ANA) and says that numbers went down due to production improvements and capacity transfers.
The last year has been eventful for Cooper Tire & Rubber. First the company sold its Cooper Standard business, then it bought an 11 per cent stake in Korean manufacturer Kumho Tire, now the company’s management is optimistic that it is “in the middle of a transformation.” Tire Review’s Jim Smith met Cooper president and CEO, Tom Dattilo, and found out his thoughts on the diverse diverse subjects of emerging markets, run-flat technology and how Cooper can enhance its position as a global player.
This year Trelleborg is 100 years young. The company’s name is fairly well recognised in the UK market but there is still room for improvement. Ask where the company comes from, what it’s up to on the UK market, or how Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) fits into the picture and the response is often vague. However the manufacturer is addressing these brand awareness issues and is beginning to focus more and more on its agricultural division as well as marketing itself as a specialist in agricultural tyres. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Ian Gillespie, managing director of Trelleborg Wheel Systems UK, to discern its UK market approach.
Amtel Holdings Holland NV has completed its acquisition of Vredestein Banden BV from Vredestein Investment Consortium (VICO) for 195.6 million euros in cash. Amtel says it plans to use the opportunity to expand its global operations in Europe, Asia, the former Soviet Union and North America. Combined production capacity will now amount to around 22 million tyres a year.
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