Hankook’s Explosive Growth
With so much recent media coverage of Hankook’s European activities and new state of the art facility in Hungary, it is easy to forget that Europe is only one market in which the South Korean tyremaker has plans. And while those living in Europe will naturally pay more attention to activities taking place close to home, Hankook is by no means neglecting its Asian markets, and is in fact paying particular attention to China. Recently Tyres & Accessories was given the opportunity to interview Hankook global CEO Suh Seung Hwa and find out more about the company’s aims for the large and still growing Chinese tyre market. “China is a vibrant market,” declared Mr. Suh when asked if Hankook’s recent activity in Europe signalled any shift in priorities. He added that the tyremaker expected a large increase in sales from its Chinese operations in 2007. Between 2002 and 2004 the Chinese tyre market experienced what Mr. Suh called “explosive growth,” and by 2006 the passenger car tyre market was still increasing by more than 15 per cent per year, the largest growth of any market the tyremaker participates in.
Continue ReadingGiti Tire Europe – Link Into Europe
Since several years Chinese tyre manufacturers are active on the European tyre market. Although their commitment has been increasing over these years until today there has not been a tyre manufacturer from China that has founded its own representation in Europe which is for example different in the US. Giti Tire Europe B.V. is established in The Netherlands and does not only represent Giti Tire from China but also Gajah Tunggal from Indonesia which belongs to the same corporate group. In doing this, Giti Tire Europe acts as a link between wholesalers such as Romney International, Reifen Gundlach or Doumerc Pneus and the tyre manufacturers Giti Tire China and Gajah Tunggal. Secondly, it acts as an antenna into the European market that detects and collects information and forwards them to China and Indonesia. And thirdly, it is assigned to increase the general coverage of the European markets. Under the direction of well-experienced managers from throughout the continent Giti Tire Europe in particular looks towards the East where markets have an excellent chance to be developed and it also looks towards European OE customers.
Continue ReadingOverview: Qingdao Doublestar Tire Industrial
The Qingdao Doublestar Tire Industrial Co., Ltd., which is based in Qingdao (Shandong province), is one of several Chinese tyre manufacturers undergoing strong expansion. The company was founded in 1996 and belongs to the Double Star group that mainly produces the Doublestar brand, but also a secondary brand called Huaqing.
Continue ReadingOfficial Ceremony Marks Opening of Yokohama India
The Yokohama Rubber Co. took a further step into the Indian market on July 27 when it officially marked the opening of its new subsidiary, Yokohama India. Company, industry, governmental and media representatives assembled at a hotel in New Delhi commemorate the occasion. Yokohama Rubber board director and senior managing corporate officer Takashi Sugimoto and board director and corporate officer Tooru Kobayashi represented the parent company at the ceremony. Prior to this year Yokohama Rubber marketed passenger car tyres in India through its Singapore based tyre distributor. The transition to an India based operation began with the founding of Yokohama India in April 2007, and from now onwards the company plans to transfer sales activities to the new subsidiary, from where it will implement its own independent sales strategy. The company reports that Yokohama India will kick things off with an emphasis on the high performance passenger car market, an area in which the company believes to be a particular area of strength. This initial activity will include the Indian launch of the company’s premium ADVAN brand and other high-performance tyres and an intense supporting advertising campaign through car magazines and other media. From here Yokohama India will broaden its focus to the wider market.
Continue ReadingAn Untapped Resource? Nokian’s Kazakhstan factory bid
With news of Chinese product recalls and revised tax rules, some people are looking elsewhere to source their tyres. But if a tyre manufacturing colleague said they were about to expand capacity by entering into an off-take agreement in Kazakhstan, they would probably be met with either a blank “where-exactly-is-that face?” or a stream of Borat-related quips. Joking aside, Nokian Tyres, a company that has made a real success of its niche market approach, has reportedly taken the plunge and broken ground on $200 million-worth of production capacity in Astana, the former Soviet country’s capital city. Although Nokian staff have not immediately confirmed their involvement in the deal, it would see Nokian gain another low-cost production base to supplement its very successful St Petersburg, Russia operation and - just as importantly - a strong and growing market in which to sell its high quality winter tyres. The winter conditions in Ukraine and Kazakhstan are harsh, making studded tyres popular.
Continue ReadingChinese Exhibition Well Positioned for Growth
The fourth China International Rubber & Tyre Industry Exhibition 2007 (RTF), held between May 11 and 13 in the city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, was the largest in the show’s history. Sponsored by the Shandong Provincial Rubber Industry Association and organised by Qingdao Jinnuo Exhibition Co. Ltd., RTF has become China’s third largest tyre and rubber exhibition, attracting 120 exhibitors and 4,200 attendees from around the world. Some of the exhibition’s major participants included Lanxess, Sartomer, Daikin, Schill+Seilacher, NDC, U-Can, Instron, Berstorff, Mesnac, Triangle, Linglong, Doublestar and Sailun. The key events at RTF 2007 included a number of high-profile conferences held in conjunction with the exhibition - the Chinese Rubber Industry Information Release Conference, organised by the Shandong Provincial Rubber Industry Association, and the Qingdao International Rubber-Plastics Conference, organised by Qingdao University of Science and Technology. These events attracted nearly 600 industrial industry professionals.
Continue ReadingSri Lanka Tyremaker Bids to Re-invent the Wheel
(Akron/Tire Review – The International News (Sri Lanka) One of the world’s biggest solid tyremakers is trying to double its turnover and turn Sri Lanka into a key exporter of rubber products.Raw rubber has been the country’s second largest export commodity after tea, but a Belgian-Sri Lanka joint venture is trying to re-invent the way wheels are made and make the island a global hub for tyres. Solideal Loadstar is one of Sri Lanka’s best-kept secrets and its biggest exporter, accounting for just over two per cent of the nation’s near seven billion dollar export earnings. “In the world market, we now control 20 per cent in the solid tyre and about five per cent in the industrial tyre markets,” chairman Nihal Jinasena told AFP. “Any fool can make a tyre,” said Jinasena, whose family controls 40 per cent of Solideal Loadstar. “What is difficult is to keep innovating, penetrate markets worldwide and to support your sales.”
Continue ReadingKumho Adds Three Sales Managers
(Akron/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA Inc. has added three sales managers to its ranks. Aaron Duty joins Kumho as a regional sales manager for southern California and Arizona. He had been a district sales manager for Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. Before that, he served as a service technician with Sears Automotive and previously as a fabricator and engineering laboratory technician. Duty earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from California Polytechnic State University. John Krajewski has been appointed a regional sales manager for Wisconsin, Illinois and northern Michigan. He spent 15 years with U.S. Tire & Exhaust and five years with Chem-Trend, a company that sells mould release chemicals to the tyre industry. Krajewski earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northern Illinois University.
Continue ReadingMichelin Puts Up the For Sale Sign in Nigeria
On March 21 Michelin invited prospective investors to submit expressions of interest in its soon to be closed factory in Nigeria. The company released a notice stating that the company “wishes to invite expressions of interest for the purchase of all or part of the Michelin factory in Port Harcourt, and specified that applicants could be either local or international businesses capable of demonstrating a proven track record in project development, strong financial capabilities and technical expertise in their field. The closing date for bids is March 30, and Michelin has said that suitable applicants will be invited to attend a detailed presentation of the factory and related assets.
Continue ReadingWatts Tyres Establishes Joint Venture with Bulgarian Partner
Gloucestershire based Watts Tyres has entered into a joint venture agreement with Bulgarian rim and wheel manufacturer Balkancar Zarya. The two firms have established the joint venture company “Watts Zarya Limited,” which will concentrate on providing industrial wheel and tyre products to the materials handling OEM market via a just-in-time delivery system. According to Jean-Paul Mindermann, chief executive for Watts Tyres Plc, “the new joint venture is a cornerstone of our strategy to be the leading wheel and tyre provider to the materials handling industry.” He added “Balkancar Zarya is an excellent partner with high quality wheels to complement our tyres and existing wheel business. With Bulgaria recently joining the EU, the timing and location is perfect to offer OEM’s the high quality and competitive solution that they are searching for.“
Continue Reading‘Pathological Tyre Hater’ on the Loose
According to the website Austrian News, a ‘pathological tyre hater is creating mischief in the federal state of Upper Austria. The website claims that an unknown person may have a strong aversion to car tyres. Last night more than a hundred tyres were slashed and destroyed, the third time this has occurred. Even a police car was amongst those to incur the tyre hater’s wrath. Police in the town of Vöcklabruck are optimistic about catching the culprit sooner or later, as the. loud hiss of the destroyed tyres will lead them to the tyre defiler.
Continue ReadingMore Women Wanted!
Automotive Skills has won a major bid for a Women & Work project for the UK retail motor industry – part of a wider funded Women & Work Sector Pathways Initiative. The £10 million initiative is designed to encourage women to consider careers in traditionally male-dominated professions. With an average of less than 20 per cent of the motor industry workforce made up by women, one of the key challenges facing the sector is how to attract a more diverse workforce which can contribute to increased productivity and performance and develop new ideas and improved methods of working.
Continue ReadingSixth Consecutive Record Year For B-Quik
2006 was the 6th consecutive record year for B-Quik, the Thailand-based tyre and car services retailer. The company serviced 250,000 customers through its total of 45 centres, of which three were new stores opened during 2006.
Continue ReadingAsymmetric Tread, Asymmetric Casing: The technology inside the Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 tyre
Goodyear has launched a new tyre designed to replace the much vaunted Eagle F1 GSD3, which scored top marks in almost every test going - including Auto Express, Autocar, Max Power, Evo and Which? But while the old tyre’s symmetrical tread design was key to the product’s success, Goodyear is expecting the new product to succeed exactly because it isn’t. In addition to an asymmetrical tread design, the Eagle F1 Asymmetric features an asymmetric casing construction designed to reinforce one side and squeeze more grip from the tyre. Goodyear representatives told Tyres & Accessories they were gearing up for more award success following the introduction of the ‘Active Cornergrip Technology’ into the design of its latest tyre.
Continue ReadingReasons Behind Nigeria Pullout – Michelin
Michelin has given more details of their decision to quit tyre production in Nigeria. At a press briefing the Corporate Affairs manager for Michelin Nigeria Limited, Ojo-Osagie, passed on details of the factors contributing to the decision and the measures the company plans to undertake in the coming months.
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