Germany’s Reifen Ihle Group to be sold in parts
Insolvent German tyre industry company the Reifen Ihle Group will evidently be broken up for sale. According to information from our sister publication Neue Reifenzeitung, despite attempts from insolvency administrator Prof. Dr. Martin Hörmann to sell the four-division group – which includes the Point S operation Reifen Ihle Service, a tyre wholesale operation, retreader R-I-G Technische Produkte and casing dealer R-I-G Karkassen – these efforts have failed to find a buyer.
Continue ReadingChina passenger car vehicle market ‘to continue upward trend’
While some market analysts are pointing to the end of the 20 per cent annual growth “dream” attached to the seemingly perpetually growing Chinese domestic passenger car vehicle market, others point to the continuance of an “upward trend”. A new analysis of the automotive market in China produced by HIS should be counted amongst the optimists and suggests “significant growth opportunity continue in many of the country’s provinces, however, some provinces will start to see growth rates change significantly”. According to IHS Automotive forecasts, passenger vehicle volumes in the country as a whole are expected to rise more than 10 million units by 2026. And thus the detail is not as far apart from the opposing thoughts as it may first seem.
Continue ReadingNorgesdekk AS agrees to buy Hjulius Dekk og Felg AS
Norgesdekk AS agreed to buy 100 per cent of Hjulius Dekk og Felg AS on 17 October 2014. The strategy behind the move is to strengthen Norgesdekk’s position on the Norwegian South Coast in particular but there are also said to be “other synergies”. Following this acquisition Norgesdekk will have seven wholesale warehouses, serving customers selling tyres and wheels of all kinds across Norway. The latest announcement follows the purchase of P. Holth AS at the end of 2012 in a similar move.
Continue ReadingAeolus Tyre is a ‘strategic’ enterprise for China
Even today the number of Chinese tyre makers, and tyre brands, remains exceptionally high. The necessity for consolidation is obvious and something China’s authorities are well aware of. And in the People’s Republic of China, where the state has a closer relationship to the market than in the West, how a firm appears to measure up can be crucial. Tyre makers who fail to meet targets set for them fall by the wayside while those who establish a global presence grow in favour and are viewed as strategically significant enterprises. This state-business relationship also means companies can rely upon government support in one form or another – and this certainly applies in the case of Jiaozuo, Henan Province-based Aeolus Tyre Co., Ltd.
Continue ReadingVipal trains customers in Nova Prata at “UniVipal”
Representatives from five companies attended the training program at Vipal’s head office in Rio Grande do Sul recently. According to the retreading materials supplier the goal was to share the knowledge the firm has acquired over more than 40 years of experience. Vipal, which is the Latin American leader, reports that it developing several such initiatives. These activities, like those fostered by the UniVipal corporate university, are intended to benefit customers around the world. In September, Vipal’s partners from Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia attended a four-day training session at the company’s head office in Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul.
Continue ReadingUK, European new car registrations rise in September
Registrations of new passenger cars within the European Union were up for the thirteenth month in a row in September. Information published by the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) shows a 6.1 per cent year-on-year increase in registrations for the month across the combined EU28 and EFTA regions, and a 5.7 per cent rise for the EU15 and EFTA regions.
Continue ReadingRubber growers need replanting subsidies, says India’s tyre industry body
The organisation representing India’s tyre makers has called upon its national government to encourage rubber replantation and offer rubber growers subsidies to plant new trees. According to news published by the Press Trust of India, the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) wants these measures implemented in order to address the reluctance of growers to plant new trees, which can’t be tapped for their first six to seven years. Without encouragement, the ATMA fears growers will continue to tap older, lower-yielding trees; the association comments that this practice is profitable for growers due to the high prices natural rubber currently commands.
Continue ReadingOrganisers: Latin Auto Parts Expo a success
Show organisers are hailing the 2014 Latin Auto Parts Expo (held at the ATLAPA Convention Center, Panama, Republic of Panama) was a huge success with NEARLY 200 quality exhibitors and approximately 3,200 qualified visitors from over 60 countries.
Continue ReadingGerman authorities give Michelin green light to acquire Ihle Baden-Baden
The German Federal Cartel Office has decided that no further proceedings are necessary prior to granting approval for Michelin’s planned acquisition of Ihle Holding AG, parent company of tyre wholesaler Ihle Baden-Baden AG. In an official notification, the Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) reported that the acquisition is seen as posing no problem.
Continue ReadingSolvay names Nuyttens as president of Solvay Silica
Solvay Group has appointed An Nuyttens as president of its Silica Global Business Unit, succeeding Tom Benner who left the Group.
Continue ReadingMarangoni buys Recamax Reifen GmbH
Marangoni Group has acquired Recamax Reifen, a German distributor of earthmover retreads. The purchase follows the acquisition of Wenzel Industrie in 2009. According to the company, the partnership between Recamax and Marangoni has been going for more than 25 years. It was reinforced with the objective of consolidating and strengthening Marangoni Group’s presence in Germany, one of the most important markets in Europe.
Continue ReadingIndonesia’s president-elect supports Maxxis tyre factory plans
Indonesia’s newly elected president promised support for Maxxis’ planned tyre factory in the country in a meeting with company officials in Jakarta at the end of September. Accompanied by members of the company’s Indonesia management team and a representative of Taipei’s Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta, Maxxis president Dr Wally Chen met with president-elect Joko Widodo 29 September.
Continue ReadingHankook extends luxury SUV tyre supply with US deal
Hankook Tire will supply its Dynapro HT all-season tyre as original equipment for the 2015 Lincoln Navigator, an SUV built primarily for the North American market. The company views supply of the 275/55R20T tyre as further penetration into both the Lincoln brand and the luxury SUV segment as a whole. In addition to this new agreement for the Navigator, Hankook supplies Ford’s premium vehicle division with tyres for the Lincoln MKT full-size touring saloon and MKZ mid-size passenger car.
Continue ReadingGroundbreaking held for Hankook’s US tyre plant
Construction work has officially begun on Hankook Tire’s new factory in the United States following a groundbreaking ceremony held at the plant site in Clarksville, Tennessee on 9 October. The new facility, which is expected to begin operation in 2016 and will reach a production capacity of 12 million units, is Hankook’s eighth production facility worldwide and first in North America.
Continue ReadingBridgestone develops new tyre allocation for Australian MotoGP round
A brand new tyre allocation will be introduced for the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, including a newly-developed asymmetric front slick tyre. Bridgestone says the front slick it is making available for this weekend’s event at Philip Island is a soft specification tyre that uses Bridgestone’s soft rubber compound in the left shoulder while an extra-soft rubber compound is used in the lesser-used right shoulder in order to offer superior warm-up potential. The asymmetric front slick is being offered as part of Bridgestone’s standard front tyre allocation, with the other two front tyre options in the allocation being conventional, symmetric slick tyres.
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