Kenda Tires Europe will distribute its full passenger car tyre portfolio across Germany and Austria via reifen.com GmbH. The agreement took effect on 1 July 2021 and means customers can now purchase Kenda’s complete passenger car tyre portfolio from 37 reifen.com customer outlets across the region as well as from its online shop.
Kevin Burke Tyres (KBT) has signed an initial three-year distribution partnership with Groupe Michelin brand BFGoodrich. The wholesaler will supply BFGoodrich tyres across the whole of Ireland until at least mid-2024 with the option to extend for a further two years. The deal covers BFGoodrich car, van, SUV and 4×4 tyres, all of which will be stocked for next-day delivery at KBT’s warehouse facility in Athenry, County Galway. The company has stocked “large quantities” of BFGoodrich tyres since 2015, it said, with the new deal representing the latest step in its developing relationship with the brand. The deal follows news from Great Britain that newly appointed UK BFGoodrich 4×4 wholesaler Micheldever Tyre Services has almost doubled its sales of the brand in the last year.
Goodyear and De Klok Banden have reached an agreement to increase the Dutch wholesale group’s control over parallel imports, also known as “grey market” tyres. In a statement delivered exclusively to Tyrepress.com and its sister websites in the EU, Goodyear affirmed its resolve to tackle “illegal (grey) tyre imports” using “legal actions”. The manufacturer says it has already taken legal action against a number of European market distributors. It asserts its right to control imports to the European Union from external markets, including, as of 1 January 2021, the UK under trademark or other legal rights. The full statement reads: “Goodyear announced today that it has reached an agreement with De Klok Banden B.V., S & H Tires B.V and their affiliated companies to resolve a parallel import case between the two groups. The agreement resolves the pending trademark infringement claim initiated in Q3 2020 by Goodyear following seizure of tyres often referred to as grey market imports.
Auto electrical specialist WAI has extended its UK warehouse by a massive 40 per cent, as the business boosts its stockholding for UK customers. The extension, at WAI’s Bognor Regis UK headquarters, will see more racking and a greater investment in UK logistics, as the brand continues to prove popular among motor factors and workshops.
Braking specialist Juratek Ltd has acquired Bradford-based independent distributor Bettaparts Ltd. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Bettaparts will remain at its Bradford site, serving its existing customer base and Juratek has said that there are no plans to distribute its own branded products through the new site as the companies will operate separately.
Excel Automotive Group (EAG) has implemented MAM’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) to improve efficiency and accuracy in its warehouse logistics. The WMS optimises the flow of products through the EAG warehouse in Leeds, managing all activities from goods receiving and putaway to picking, packing and shipment. It also includes a hand-held PDA and scanner that handles all data input and communicates wirelessly with the main software application, where a dashboard provides an instant snapshot of current activities.
Goodyear has announced Kadex Aero Supply as an aviation distributor. The family-owned Canadian business has been distributing parts from more than 50 manufacturers to operators ranging from general aviation to airlines since 1994. Goodyear wants the partnership to expand its reach in Canada.
Trico has revealed its new UK distributor – Pearl Automotive – through which all Trico products are now available, including its Flex, Exact Fit and Neoform lines. For nearly 50 years, Pearl Automotive has been a major distributor of workshop consumables to the aftermarket, supplying national accounts, buying groups and independent motor factors.
The Al Dobowi Group has discussed its strategies for the support of its Infinity and Eternity brands in Europe. The Infinity brand has been present in the European market for more than ten years; it is the brand with which Al Dobowi has established itself in Europe. The Dubai based group embellishes its offer with exclusive distribution agreements and continuous investments to increase the popularity of the brand. Tyrepress sister site PneusNews.it explains how the group’s partners in Europe have supported its brands during the pandemic in 2020, and what its future plans are on the continent. “We want to further accelerate the Eternity project across Europe,” said Riccardo Costa, general manager of Al Dobowi Europe.
Cooper Tire Europe has appointed Fintyre as the exclusive distributor of its light vehicle tyres to the Italian market. Under the deal, Cooper will supply passenger car, SUV (sport utility vehicle) and van tires through Fintyre. By joining forces with Fintyre, Cooper will enhance its supply chain in this key European market.
Kumho is opening a major new tyre warehouse in Hamburg, Germany with leading European logistics company Fiege. Located adjacent to the city’s harbour, Kumho states the new facility will allow it to supply stock to the majority of German tyre dealers within 24 hours. It will also supply some Kumho distributors in Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria. Fiege Logistics will be responsible for all warehouse processes, including tyre handling from the arrival of product by container to delivery and shipment tracking.
Hankook Tire concedes that its response to last year’s “extremely challenging” business environment and the rapidly-changing trends influencing the tyre industry was “not fully sufficient” to combat downward pressure upon its business. Hyun Shick Cho, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Hankook Technology Group, has addressed this issue in a letter to shareholders, discussing means of responding preemptively to these changing trends.
STARCO has taken on distribution of the Alliance and Galaxy agricultural, forestry and construction tyre lines in Switzerland under a newly-negotiated agreement with Alliance Tire Group (ATG). As authorised partner for the representation and distribution of Alliance and Galaxy tyres throughout this market, STARCO will provide its warehouse and distribution facilities as well as its expertise and skills in order to make ATG’s products more accessible to Swiss customers.
Micheldever Tyre Service (MTS) states that it offers “the most comprehensive car mid-range tyre brand availability across the current market.” The wholesaler is exclusive distributor, or has preferred supplier arrangements, for some of the worlds’ leading manufacturers of mid-range brands, including Falken, General Tire, GT Radial, Sumitomo and Kormoran.
Kenda
Goodyear
Trico
Al Dobowi Group
Cooper
Kumho