TyreSafe helps Britain’s largest motorway police group measure tread depth
TyreSafe has presented Central Motorways Police Group (CMPG) commanding officer, Superintendent Paul Keasey, with tread depth gauges to help it implement its tyre safety policy. The CMPG is responsible for over 400 miles of Britain’s busiest motorway network, reaching from the Welsh borders through to Cheshire and across to the East of Birmingham. Comprising specially trained officers from the West Midlands, West Mercia and Staffordshire police forces, CMPG is the largest single motorway police group in Britain.
Continue ReadingFate distributing Cooper tyres in Argentina – production, research collaboration may follow
The signing of a letter of intent between Cooper Tire & Rubber and Argentine tyre maker Fate opens the door to a number of cooperative possibilities, including joint research and development and the offtake production of Cooper tyres in Argentina. Initially, however, the two companies’ work together involves Fate serving as a distributor of Cooper-branded passenger car, light commercial vehicle and SUV tyres in Argentina alongside its own tyre portfolio.
Continue ReadingBridgestone takes majority share in Slovakia’s A.R.S.
Bridgestone has acquired a majority shareholding in Slovakian tyre retailer and retreader A.R.S. spol sro. The Japanese tyre major hasn’t disclosed how much it paid for its shareholding or what the post-transaction ownership structure of A.R.S. looks like, however it states that the deal will “guarantee the stable growth of A.R.S. and will give customers access to best quality products and highest level of services.” The former Michelin strategic partner’s eight service locations will now be rebranded under the ‘Bridgestone Partner’ name and its retreading operation joins Bridgestone’s Bandag network.
Continue ReadingApollo’s acquisition of reifen.com a ‘sound strategic extension of the value chain’
Apollo Tyres’ takeover of reifencom GmbH, operator of e-commerce sites in six European countries, has been described as part of the company’s strategy to expand its retail network in the European market. Apollo said its takeover will allow it to support the expansion activities of its subsidiary Apollo Vredestein, which include major investments in the European premium brand Vredestein. The company stated that it has major plans for growth via an expansion of its original equipment activities – the groundwork for which is being laid via the current construction of a new plant in Hungary.
Continue ReadingJSR, MOL to build joint venture S-SBR plant in Hungary
Groundwork begins this month on a new 60,000 ton per annum S-SBR plant destined to supply synthetic rubber to tyre industry customers. Construction of the new plant begins in the first quarter of next year at the MOL Petrochemicals site in Tiszaújváros, Hungary and the facility is a 51/49 per cent joint venture between Japan’s JSR Corporation and Hungary’s MOL Group. It is expected that the plant’s mechanical completion will take place within 2017.
Continue ReadingNokian president ‘confident’ that company is returning ‘to profitable growth’
At Nokian Tyres’ Capital Markets Day for investors and analysts in Helsinki, Finland, president and CEO Ari Lehtoranta expressed confidence that the company has started its “journey back to profitable growth.” Focusing on Nokian’s strategy and financial targets, the manufacturer also made no changes to its previous guidance for 2015; the company’s results have shown contraction throughout the year.
Continue ReadingKenda Rubber investing £200M to build car tyre factory in Vietnam
Taiwan’s Kenda Rubber intends to significantly increase investment in Vietnam and establish a large passenger car tyre plant there. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia correspondent Victoria Chen, company chairman Yang Ying-ming said NT$10 billion (£200.5 million) would ultimately be invested to erect this facility, which will most likely be Kenda’s largest tyre factory and boast production capacity rivalling that of Kenda’s operation in China.
Continue ReadingGoodyear wins Fedil award for rice husk ash silica development
Fedil, the Luxembourg Business Federation, has presented Goodyear a 2015 Environmental Award for its work with rice husk ash silica. The ‘resource efficiency’ category award was presented by Fedil president Robert Dennewald and Camille Gira, Luxembourg’s state secretary for sustainable development and infrastructure. Romain Hansen, Goodyear’s global director of technology projects, accepted the award on behalf of the ‘Rice Husk Ash Silica’ development team.
Continue ReadingDecision on a third Nokian Tyres factory still months away
Ari Lehtoranta has commented on Nokian Tyres’ proposed new factory ahead of the company’s Capital Markets Day, which takes place today in Helsinki. The president and chief executive officer says a decision regarding the factory and its location will be made by the fourth quarter of 2016.
Continue ReadingChemChina proudly showing Pirelli connection
Now ChemChina has completed the purchase of Pirelli and the de-listing of the well-known Italian tyre firm’s shares, the first signs of how Pirelli will be integrated into the ChemChina tyre group are emerging. Walking onto the ChemChina stand, the first thing you notice is that the Pirelli logo now features at the head of a list of group-owned tyre business in at least two prominent positions on the large stand. While for many in Europe the sight of Pirelli alongside Aeolus, Double Happiness, Yellow Sea and Torch may feel a little strange, the obvious implication of ChemChinas decision to present it this way is that we all need to start getting used to the new reality. Secondly, you can’t ignore that this move communicates the underlying intention to integrate Pirelli into the ChemChina group rather
Continue ReadingApollo Tyres buys Germany’s reifen.com
Apollo Tyres Ltd has announced its acquisition of tyre wholesaler and online retailer Reifen.com GmbH. The German company changed hands for €45.6 million and, according to Neeraj Kanwar, vice-chairman and managing director of Apollo Tyres, the purchase of Reifen.com represents a “strategic fit in further growing our European business.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg acquires Mitas parent company, CGS Holding
Trelleborg has signed an agreement to acquire the Czech Republic’s CGS Holding a.s. for approximately 10.9 billion Swedish Krona (£830 million) on a cash and debt-free basis. The privately-owned company is active in the agricultural and specialty tyre business segments, including the strong Mitas tyre brand, as well as engineered polymer solutions. Closing of the transaction is subject to approvals from relevant competition authorities and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2016.
Continue ReadingRema Tip Top Automotive UK unveils Leeds Training Centre
Tyre Industry Awards 2015 winner Rema Tip Top has opened its new tyre repair and garage equipment training centre following significant investment in Leeds headquarters. Hosting Tyres & Accessories at a launch event in October, immediately after its NTDA 2015 Tyre Industry Award for Tyre and Aftermarket Supplier of the Year, the company showed how the site has been entirely refitted, having lain derelict for around half a decade before the acquisition of Doncaster’s Ace Conveyor Equipment in 2008 and subsequent consolidation of the industrial business. The new centre will provide accreditation for the new generation of tyre technicians, with an expanding variety of courses delivered over one or two days. Rema Tip Top chief executive Mark Insley stated: “We recognise the importance of education and training to an industry which is responsible for the safety of millions of people on our roads on a daily basis. With this well-equipped and highly professional facility we will provide an invaluable resource for our customers.”
Continue ReadingTrelleborg renews Tractor of the Year strategic partnership
Trelleborg will support the Tractor of The Year awards as official partner for a further four years, further strengthening its strategic partnership. The agricultural tyre and wheel supplier was the awards first sponsor in 2012, and has remained in place every year since.
Continue ReadingMitas Premium to launch on replacement market in 2016
Following its original equipment launch in 2015, Mitas Premium will replace the Continental brand for rear radial agricultural tyres on the replacement market in January 2016. Mitas Premium tyres will be gradually phased in worldwide for purchase from local Mitas dealers. The manufacturer added that Mitas Premium tyres bear the same technical specifications as Continental agri tyres, which Mitas has manufactured under license since 2004.
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