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Familiar Names and New Faces

China, the world’s leading tyre consumer and producer has in recent years gained significant product market share around the globe. With both phenomenal export growth and a domestic market in which demand is anticipated to reach 300 million units, it is little wonder that local manufacturers have flourished and international tyre majors have found the temptation of setting up operations irresistible.

Yet given the Chinese market’s current state of flux, finding the right partner to do business with can seem a daunting task, one that many Western companies can find themselves ill-equipped to accomplish. Therefore trade exhibitions such as the China International Tire Expo (CITExpo) come as a blessing to many a harried tyre professional. CITExpo has become established as an important regional trade event during the past few years and attracts both domestic and international buyers, tyre wholesalers and vehicle manufacturers seeking OEM suppliers.

3rd July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Punch International Acquires Wheel Manufacturer BBS

Belgium’s Punch International NV, the diversified industrial holding company headquartered in Sint-Martens-Latem, announced on June 29 that it has taken over BBS, the German developer and producer of lightweight wheels for premium segment sports and passenger cars. BBS is currently listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges but was declared bankrupt in May 2007, however the company is now expected to make a positive contribution to the Punch group’s net profit as soon as it the acquisition is finalised.

Punch will take over all the bankrupt company’s assets as of 1 August 2007, subject to the transaction’s approval by the antitrust authority. The acquired assets will include those of BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG and BBS Motorsport & Engineering GmbH, the brand name BBS and the activities of the company’s plants in Schiltach and Herbolzheim, Germany. The transaction also comprises the takeover of all the shares of the American sales subsidiary BBS of America, Inc and the redemption of all lease contracts in progress. BBS has an extensive portfolio of technology patents, which is also included in the takeover. Funds for the acquisition are drawn from a combination of the proceeds of the private placement dated 7 June 2007 and a bank loan. The activities taken over will continue under the name BBS International GmbH and become integrated in the Punch Motive division of the Punch group.

29th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Titan Issues Employee Bonus

Illinois based Titan International subsidiary, Titan Wheel Corporation, intends to issue a summer bonus to its employees on Thursday, June 28. Titan Wheel President Ron Schildt said the total bonus payout for the subsidiary, with locations in Quincy, Illinois., and Saltville, Virginia., is over $1.8 million.

“These men and women have helped build Titan into a world-wide leader in off-highway wheels,” said Schildt. “They walk the walk when it comes to making quality products here in America.

28th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Familiar Design and Advanced Capabilities

Hunter’s TCX550 automatic swing-arm changer includes operational features familiar to most technicians and a Bead Press System to help easily service difficult run-flats or low-profile tyres mounted on large or oversize alloy wheels. The automatic swing-arm design saves time by eliminating repositioning. With the push of a single button, the swing arm locks to a preset wheel diameter and width to speed service of same-size wheels.
The tabletop clamping system is designed to easily handle 13 to 28-inch wheels safely. The XT-out table design allows easy access to the bottom bead while ensuring rigidity for large diameter wheels.

The powerful motor and unique two-speed drive system operates at a low speed with increased torque to prevent damage to wheels and tyre beads when servicing tough combinations. Technicians can apply the faster speed when servicing less difficult combinations.

The wheel-centred Bead Press System aids in blocking and pressing stiff low-profile tyre beads into deep drop-centre wheels. BPS provides effortless assistance with the most difficult tyres and custom wheels up to 28” in diameter.

28th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Moving With The Times

With each passing year another crop of cars once merely thought of as old suddenly begin to be viewed in a different light. The things they were previously despised for – their age, outmoded styling and passé technology – become the very qualities that make them desirable. And thus, with no apparent logic, yesterday’s tat becomes today’s classic.

This is great news for vintage tyre specialists such as North Hants Tyres and Wheels, and ensures that the vintage tyre sector, although a niche market, remains one that is healthy. The team at North Hants, a family run company with close to 60 years in the business, has enjoyed steady growth in recent years – so much so that the past decade has seen the need for first an enlargement of the company’s premises and then a move to a new and bigger building. With the 6,000 sq ft warehouse in Fleet, Hampshire no longer sufficient to house the company’s ever expanding range, North Hants moved in 2005 to a whopping 25,000 sq ft premises in neighbouring Aldershot.

27th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

OEM Wheel Maker Names New President

Asahi Tec, manufacturer or OEM aluminium wheels and other automotive parts and systems, has appointed a new president and co-CEO. Hideo Ishii takes on these roles, as well as that of director and representative executive officer, following the company’s general shareholders meeting on June 28.

Mr. Ishii will be responsible for Asahi Tec’s Metal Forming Group and Diversified Business Group, and will act as co-CEO alongside Timothy D. Leuliette, who also serves as co-chairman of the company with Shoichiro Irimajiri. Mr. Irimajiri had been serving as president, co-CEO and representative executive officer, and is resigning from these posts to focus on the role of director and co-chairman of the company.

“Asahi Tec’s goal is to create a strong, globally competitive company that understands and supports global markets, cultures and customers to deliver leading-edge products worldwide,” said Irimajiri. “In his role as president and co-CEO, Hideo Ishii will play a key role in developing and executing the initiatives and strategies that will help realise that goal.”

26th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Vredestein Fits One Millionth Space Master

Vredestein Banden recently achieved a major milestone by fitting its 1,000,000th Vredestein Space Master spare tyre, supplying the tyre to Audi for use in the Audi A6 All Road. Vredestein has been using the existing fitting machine for Space Master spare tyres since 2002. The company expects that the next milestone, namely 2,000,000 Space Master spare tyres, will be reached considerably more quickly, given the huge demand from the auto industry.

Thanks to the rise in the large number of SUV and 4×4 models in particular, the popularity of Vredestein’s Space Master spare tyres has grown enormously over the past few years, with many manufacturers opting for the Space Master and the high quality and level of service offered by Vredestein.

The Audi Q7 is the most recent model to be delivered with Vredestein’s Space Master. The Q7 has proven to be an exceptional success and the percentage of Space Master spare tyres fitted in Audi’s SUV is so high that Vredestein has to pull out all the stops in its production and installation processes in order to meet the huge demand.

26th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Dunlop Appeal for Iconic Images to aid Motorsport Safety

Dunlop Tyres are appealing for motoring enthusiasts to submit photography for inclusion in a coffee-table photobook encapsulating the thrill of the drive. The book will then be sold to raise money for the Motorsport Safety Fund which helps aid improvements in safety standards at motorsport events.

James Bailey of Dunlop Tyres said: “We really want to produce a photobook that celebrates the best and most emotive elements of driving. We know that many driving enthusiasts are also passionate about photography and we would like to give them the chance to see their work in print.

22nd June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

With Right Business Approach, Selling Nitrogen Can Pump Up Profits

(Akron/Tire Review) For the past five or so years, suppliers of nitrogen-inflation equipment have made serious claims. Compared to moisture- and dirt-laden compressed air, nitrogen – a dry, inert gas – runs cooler, does not permeate through rubber as quickly and does not cause rust to develop on steel cords, expensive wheels or tyre pressure monitoring sensors. The result is better fuel economy, more consistent inflation pressure, longer tyre life and increased safety, advocates say. Those are big claims, so it’s only natural for tyre dealers, commercial fleets and consumers to be sceptical. As the old saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Real results are what count.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

GKN Wheels Partners With John Deere

Off-highway wheel producer, GKN wheels, which makes 350,000 wheels a year at its Telford plant, has become the only wheel maker to be awarded partnership status with agricultural products maker, John Deere. According to a The Manufacturer report, the relationship between the two companies spans 12 years.

21st June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Three new TSW wheels for the UK market

The UK distributor for TSW Alloy Wheels, Yokohama HPT Ltd, has announced three further additions to the company’s range of replacement alloy wheels – the Demon, Terra and Shadow. The Demon is a ten-spoke wheel, featuring five pairs of flat-faced and hard-edged spokes running to the rim’s outer edge. Not only does these enhance the wheel’s sense of size – it also creates an aggressive appearance, well suited for performance or modified cars.

The faces of the spokes and the outer edge of the rim are machine-cut and lacquered while the recessed, webbed mounting flange and the inside of the spokes and rim are finished in a ‘liquid smoke’ paint. The Demon will suit most five-stud applications and will allow brake conversions to be shown off in their full glory.

The Terra also features hard-edged spokes, but this time there are eight and the appearance is more restrained. Again, the spokes run to the outer edge of the rim to enhance the wheel’s size on the car and are machine-cut, as is the edge of the wheel rim. However, in contrast to the Demon, the Terra features four elongated teardrop details formed in alternate spokes, radiating out from the bolt-holes.

20th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Celebrates 10th Consecutive Le Mans Victory

The 75th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been dominated by Audi Sport and Michelin, with the pair storming to victory in the Sarthe, the 10th such straight win for the French tyremaker. And Michelin also proved up to the task in other categories.

In the LMP2 category, Michelin vehicles finished second with Team Barazi Epsilon-Michelin (A.Fernandez/H.Kurosawa/R.Kerr), and first place was secured in GT1 with the victory of Aston Martin Racing-Michelin (D.Brabham/ R.Rydell/ D.Turner) – Michelin shod vehicles also took out the next four top spots. In GT2 Team Imsa Performance-Michelin (R.Narac / R.Lietz / P.Long) who proved victorious over Risi Competizione – Michelin. Michelin also took the 3 first places of the general results 24 Hours of Le Mans, continuing a winning streak that started back in 1998.

18th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal de Mexico Opens 2 New Locations

Solideal’s Mexican wing has opened its third location, a branch in Monterrey, Mexico on 23 April 2007. Adding to the existing branches in Mexico City and Guadalajara, this new 1000 square metre facility is dedicated to serving construction equipment, forklift, and tyre dealers. A month later on 31 May, Solideal opened a distribution centre in Hermosillo.

Richard Le Borgne, General Manager of Solideal de Mexico stated: “Our decision to open these locations [in Monterrey and Hermosillo] was taken in order to allow us to be closer to our market. Our sales people will not only attend the Monterrey market, but all the market in the states of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas. Our goal was to reduce to a minimum the lead time for products delivered to this part of the country and reduce customers’ final costs”.

18th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Yokohama Chosen for Most Powerful Golf Ever

Volkswagen is releasing the most powerful Golf in the marque’s 33-year history, and has selected Yokohama to handle the hatchback’s phenomenal power. The Golf GTi W12-650, created to celebrate the annual GTi festival in Europe and 30 years of the Golf in the UK, features a twin-turbocharged 650bhp version of the W12 engine normally found in the Phaeton.

The massive engine is engine mounted amidships in the Golf GTi W12, behind the front seats. Power is channelled to the rear wheels via a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The six-litre W12 engine is usually rated at 450bhp but the addition of two turbochargers raises this by 200bhp and gives the Golf a staggering 553lbft of torque.

12th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

MotionStyling.co.uk Ads Online Ordering

Motion Styling recently launched a new version of its website, with improved online ordering, making it simpler and safer to get new tyres alloy wheels or even headlights. Motionstyling.co.uk has implemented secure online order system, so clients can rest assured that personal and credit card information is safe. SSL technology within the order processing system thoroughly encrypts all sensitive data to ensure high-level security and protection for the customers.

The range of car styling products that Motion Styling supplies includes: Alloy Wheels, Tyres, Exhausts, Suspension Kits, Body kits, Headlight kits and more. The company is the only Official Distributor for Vemiri, a premium style tuner.

Motion Styling delivers orders for free within the UK. Motion Styling is a UK based company, offering a wide range of car accessories and parts since 1999.

11th June 2007/by Tyrepress Editors