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Pirelli’s ‘Scorpion’ for Gravel Making its WRC Debut in Mexico

Pirelli’s new Scorpion tyres will make their first appearance on the opening gravel event of this year’s World Rally Championship. The gruelling Mexican stages, which run at altitudes in excess of 2000 metres, will, believes Pirelli, be a baptism of fire for its new WRC gravel rubber.

The high altitude gravel roads that characterise the Rally Mexico (which runs between 27 February and 2 March) will form the backdrop to the debut of Pirelli’s Scorpion tyres, specifically designed for the rigours of the WRC. The event, which takes place on roads around Leon, not far from Mexico City, will prove an excellent test for the specialised rubber that Pirelli has painstakingly developed for gravel events. As gravel is the most common surface on this year’s championship, Pirelli believes the importance of this all-new tyre cannot be underestimated.

26th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vicki Tillson New Lassa UK Sales Manager

Lassa Tyres has appointed Vicki Tillson as its new UK Sales Manager. Based from her home in South Yorkshire, Vicki will cover the entire Lassa UK distributor network. One of the key objectives for Vicki and Lassa in 2008 will be to assess the current UK distributor channel and to ensure the most appropriate partners are appointed to represent the Lassa brand. Tillson previously worked with well-known wholesaler operations Stapleton’s and Micheldever.

Martin West, Lassa International Director of Marketing and Business Development, commented – “We are delighted to welcome Vicki to the team. She is well regarded within the tyre industry and we look forward to her leading the development of the Lassa brand within the UK distributor and wholesale market.”

25th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bekaert to Acquire 100% Ownership of Turkey’s Beksa

Multinational manufacturer of tyre reinforcement and other materials, NV Bekaert SA, has announced its upcoming acquisition of the 50 per cent share in Turkish steel cord and metal fibre manufacturer Beksa Celik Kord Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S that it currently holds jointly with Turkish conglomerate Haci Ömer Sabanci Holding A.S. The two companies have signed a letter of intent for the transfer of shares, a transaction estimated to be worth 40.3 million euros, and when the deal is complete Bekaert will assume full ownership of Beksa. The transfer of shares will be executed after receiving approvals from the respective authorities, Bekaert reports.

Located in the city of Izmit, Beksa manufactures steel cord products and Dramix metal fibres for a variety of industrial applications, including the tyre and automotive industry. The company employs about 330 people and recorded sales of 80 million euros in 2006.

20th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Fifth Azerbaijan Autoshow to be Held in March

The fifth annual Azerbaijan International Automotive Exhibition – Autoshow 2008, takes place between 13 and 16 March 2008 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Alongside it Autoparts 2008 will showcase the region’s aftermarket offerings. The event is organised by the British Company ITE Group PLC (www.ite-exhibtions.com) and it’s partner in the Caucasus – ITECA Caspian LLC (www.iteca.az). AutoShow 2008 presents the opportunity to meet the traders and representatives of business circles from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Iran and Central Asia. You can visit the official site at www.autoshow.az.

6th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Launches Cinturato ‘EcoImpact’ Tyre

Pirelli today re-launched its Cinturato brand as a range of high mileage, low rolling resistance tyres. The glitz associated with Pirelli launches aside, the main news is that the Pirelli claims to have married the odd-couple of lower rolling resistance/increased mileage with improved braking performance. Company executives described this as an “extension” of the Pirelli range, despite the fact that it represents quite different values to the high-speed, high performance image the Italian tyre manufacturer has cultivated for so long. 5 million units of the tyre will be produced initially, rising to 10 million after that. The tyres will be produced at Pirelli’s Bollate, Italy; Manresa, Spain; Izmit, Turkey; and Carlisle, UK factories.

The new Cinturato specifically offers a 20 per cent reduction in rolling resistance, compared with Pirelli benchmarks. As a result, the company claims the new tyre provides fuel consumption savings of 4 per cent while, by the same token, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As far as mileage is concerned, Pirelli Tyre CEO Francesco Gori, explained that the Cinturato’s completely redesigned geometry means that the new tyre has a 30 per cent longer lifespan on average. This means the average motorist will now replace his or her tyres every four years instead of every three, based on a European average driver mileage figure of 15,000 km (roughly 10,000 miles). What’s remarkable is that the company report that braking distances are still shorter than the company’s benchmark, despite the other improvements.

Pirelli group chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera explained that the new product’s green credentials are further enhanced by the fact that it is completely aromatic oil free: “We are two years ahead of Europe legislation,” which is set to come into force in 2010. But with a tyre lasting so much longer, and not being aimed at the high-profit UHP sector, does this mean margins will come down? Apparently not. Marco Tronchetti Provera explained that due to the fact that the tyre offers increased value, it can be sold at a higher entry price.

So, instead of reducing markets opportunities or cannibalising existing sales, the new Cinturato is designed to develop a part of the market that, up till now, has been neglected due to Pirelli’s focus on the UHP segments. In terms of positioning, this means the new Cinturato tyre will be placed “immediately following the top line” products, according to Tronchetti Provera. “Up till the 1980s it [the automotive business in general] was all about volumes. Today we are looking to expand in the increasingly sophisticated market,” he explained.

The product launch coincided with the inauguration of a new exhibition at Milan’s Triennale Musuem, which chronicles the development of the Pirelli brand and its pioneering advertising and communications strategies. The exhibition features dozens of posters, sketches and historic files together with original works by 15 contemporary artists on the imagery covering the Pirelli Cinturato – from its first incarnation in the 1950s to the eco-tyre it has become today.

But Pirelli’s decision to name its green tyre demonstrates that the company is by no means distancing itself from its high-performance profile. On the contrary, the first Cinturato was something of an iconic product (especially in Italy) when it was first launched in the 50s; and was known as being “sporty.” In fact one 1956 article quoted during the launch the launch the Pirelli brand as “a tool for having fun.”

17th January 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Maha Reports a Successful Year with the Trade Group

Maha UK reports that 2007 has proven to be a very successful year in terms of its relationship with the Trade Group, and has increased the partnership sales to the Group’s garage equipment arm by at least 50 per cent over 2006. The Cambridgeshire based dealer sells most of its MOT and ATL bays through the Trade Group and their car brake testers. The Trade Group, a national organisation of garage equipment specialists and installers, have premises positioned throughout the UK, providing the advantage of a personalised local service combined with a countrywide sales and service network.

Maha UK is proud of its success over the past decade and beyond in offering a quality product and back up facilities it believes to be second to none; this is also true for the Trade Group. The partnership between the two began in 1998 and has steadily grown over the years to become a strong force in the UK garage equipment industry. Gus Gregory, managing director of Maha UK, says, “The success of Maha UK is not only due to the quality of the product but the also the excellence of the personnel in the Trade Group.”

21st November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Automechanika Canada Debuts

(Akron/Tire Review) The recently ended Automechanika Canada – the first for North America – draw nearly 3,000 attendees and 2020 exhibitors from 16 countries. Held in Toronto from September 26 to 28, this first Automechanika event also included participation by the Ontario Tire Dealers Association. Participants included automotive and tyre suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, shop owners and installers, and offered a number of education sessions with the trade show.

Exhibitors came from Brazil, China, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the US, according to organisers Messe Frankfurt. “We were pleased to be able to deliver such a high quality event to the growing Canadian market this year,” said Messe Frankfurt president David Audrain. “Automechanika Canada enabled aftermarket professionals to source new products from around the world and enhance their business in Canada.”

The next Automechanika Canada has been scheduled for June 18-20, 2008.

18th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Removing the Strain

Not all industry training takes the form of a structured learning module, delivered in a location removed from the regular working environment. The experiences of Goodyear highlight that training can be akin to a component in a machine, one part amongst many but essential for its proper functioning.

Towards the end of 2004 a number of senior executives at Goodyear examined data on workplace injuries at the company’s facilities. What surprised them was not the occurrence of injuries commonly associated with a factory environment, such as cuts, grazes and the occasional more serious mishap – it was the prevalence of strains, sprains and other preventable injuries. As a company that has long made efforts to minimise workplace hazards, Goodyear decided the figures indicated room for improvement.

3rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ceat Seeks TBR Consultant

Ceat Ltd is seeking a foreign consultant to provide assistance in developing TBR technology. The company is in discussions with consultants in the US and Europe and, according to vice-president of Sales and Marketing Arnab Banerjee, they most likely will sign an agreement with one of them within the next two or three months.

However he added that this does not mean the Indian tyremaker’s earlier plans to tie up with leading international tyre majors for technical know how have been shelved. Ceat has been talking with a number of companies, including Pirelli, and will continue to do so. “We decided to work on the technology on our own in parallel so that we did not waste time in order to enter the market with our product range,” Banerjee explained.

The chosen consultant will work with Ceat’s research and development department on new TBR projects, including the establishment of a greenfield facility for TBR production. A number of potential sites have been shortlisted for this new factory, which will be ready to begin production in between two and two and a half years. The facility is projected to cost between £60 and £70 million.

9th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cevher Group Purchase Remaining Subsidiary Shares

Turkey’s Cevher Dokum Sanayii aluminium foundry was acquired in its entirety on June 19 by sister alloy wheel company Cevher Jant Sanayii, who purchased the 18 per cent minority shareholding in Cevher Dokum held by Teksid S.p.A. The Ozyauz family, owners of Cevher Jant, now has full control over the entire Cevher Group. The Cevher Group of companies, established in 1955, supply OE wheels to a number of carmakers, including Vauxhall, Volkswagen, BMW, Audi and Volvo.

6th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

TecCom Reports 35 per cent Increase in Aftermarket Orders

In the last 12 months the number of queries and orders submitted to the TecCom automotive aftermarket platform was up by around 35 per cent, reaching almost 5.5 million transactions every month. In the same period of time the number of registered dealers around the world increased from 7,200 to more than 8,300. “The most significant increases were recorded in new markets such as Turkey, Russia and China. In some cases growth even topped 100 per cent on the back of new partnerships being established”, explains Jürgen Buchert, CEO of TecCom GmbH.

TecCom recorded gains of more than 30 per cent in France and the Netherlands. Growth in the Netherlands was mainly attributable to the acquisition of the local platform Auto-XS, while French gains can be traced back to good cooperation with GOLDA. In the G/S/A (Germany, Switzerland/Austria) region TecCom saw the number of registered dealers and business relations head north by about 20 percent. David Winter, TecCom’s Sales Manager International, is satisfied: “We made considerable gains in all markets last year. We are particularly happy to have generated growth on the back of cooperations with key buying organisations in Great Britain – IFA (Independent Motor Factors Association), GAU (Group Auto Union) and UKPA (UK Parts Alliance). The developments seen in the past months have shown that there is only one direction for our growth to head: up.”

5th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal Turkey Rebrands Itself

After two and a half years operating as World Endüstriyel Lastik, Solideal in Turkey changed its name on 4 April 2007 to Solideal Lastik Ticaret Limited Sirketi. “This event represents a turning point in our company history. In Turkey, everybody was thinking that we are the distributor of Solideal, not a member of the Solideal Group. So it will be helpful for us that we are the Solideal for Turkey” said Ali Yetkin, General Manager of Solideal Lastik. Solideal Lastik is a leader in Turkish market place for tyres and tracks, distributing the full range of Solideal products. For more details and information contact Solideal Lastik in Istanbul info@worldlastik.com.tr.

20th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Turkish Industry Set for Take-Off

(India/Rubber Asia) Turkey’s rubber goods manufacturing industry is at a take-off stage thanks to the country’s economic liberalisation policy. The country has as many as 200 rubber goods manufacturing companies of which some are reputed exporters to Europe and the US. Mr. K Berat Oztimur, General Manager, Arsan Kaucuk, a market leader of rubberised pipe seals and bearings, spoke to Rubber Asia on the sidelines of the India Rubber Expo 2007. Selcuk Butun, Sales and Marketing Manager of the company, was also present.

Rubber goods manufacturing industry is flourishing in Turkey, especially after the economic liberalisation initiatives by the government. There are about 200 companies manufacturing rubber goods and at least 40 of them are of good repute. Construction industry is one of the largest consumers of rubber goods, mainly, pipe seals and bridge bearings. There are also a number of tyre companies in Turkey. The industry is, in fact, at a take-off stage and even small companies have started realising the importance of quality and are going in for the best technology.

9th May 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel-Vredestein to supply tyres to Renault in Russia

Amtel-Vredestein N.V., has confirmed that its Russian subsidiary, OJSC Amtel-Vredestein has been nominated to supply tyres for Renault Logan cars produced in Russia. According to the company, the signed Protocol provided Amtel-Vredestein an opportunity to participate in tenders to develop and supply tyres to various Renault projects worldwide. “This agreement is further validation of our prominent position in the Russian market and the outstanding quality of our tyres. We are honoured to be selected by Renault,” said Amtel-Vredestein CEO, Alexei Gurin.

2nd March 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

WTA Gains Steel Radial OTR Line

(Akron/Tire Review) Coral Springs, Fla.-based importer/exporter World Trade Association has become the exclusive North American distributor of Uzmai International produced Maitech steel radial OTR tires for construction, mining and fire/rescue applications.

Maitech tires are produced in Turkey and marketed by Italian exporter Uzami. WTA said it will offer Maitech radials in sizes from 15.5R25 to 445/95R25.

18th December 2006/by Tyrepress Editors