Wheel and automotive structural components manufacturer Iochpe-Maxion has entered into a strategic partnership with Stuttgart-based global innovation platform Startup Autobahn. Founding members of Startup Autobahn welcomed Iochpe-Maxion and other new partners to the ever-growing network during EXPO 9, a virtual event held on 25 February.
Cross Magazin has given the Dunlop Geomax MX53 its ‘Product of the Year’ award in recognition of the motocross tyre’s wide range of performance and longevity after extensive testing. In its January 2021 issue, the German specialist publication presented Geomax MX53 as its ‘Product of the Year’ for 2020, explaining that its performance window as an intermediate to hard motocross tyre and durability after varied testing was not only an improvement over its predecessor the Geomax MX52, but outstanding in its own right.
Nexen Tire Europe is rationalising its approach to sales and marketing, and has thus announced changes affecting its operations in Austria and Sweden. The tyre maker will transfer responsibility for both markets’ sales organisations to its European headquarters in Kelkheim, Germany by the end of Q1 2021.
Goodyear is the new ‘Official Tire Partner’ of the Nürburgring circuit in Germany. It gained this status upon expanding its existing partnership with the Nürburgring Driving Academy, the ring°kartbahn and Offroadpark to cover the entire Nürburgring organisation.
Liqui Moly has been represented in the MotoGP Motorcycle World Championship for eight years. It is now further expanding its commitment. The oil manufacturer will be title sponsor of the race in its home country, which is to be called the Liqui Moly Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany. “This increases our brand visibility all over the world,” says Ernst Prost, managing director of Liqui Moly.
Falken is expanding its motorsport commitment and will be the new Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) sponsor for the 2021 season. The agreement sees the tyre brand secure prominent logo placement on the front wings of all competing race cars in the series. In addition, there will be significant trackside signage on the start/finish straight and winners’ podium, as well as branding on the official NLS homepage with further promotional opportunities planned.
The world’s first carbon neutral wheel comes to market at the end of this month. This is the Ronal R70-blue, and the Ronal Group says it manufactures this passenger car rim using 100 per cent renewable energy and primarily from reused aluminium, a material that’s 100 per cent recyclable.
Recycled carbon black compnay Pyrolyx AG has cancelled the extraordinary general meeting it had scheduled for 15 January 2021, and has done so as the company has filed to open insolvency proceedings. The case (number 1507 IN 2125/20) was filed with the Munich District Court on 4 December 2020.
The German Sustainability Award project is hailed as “Europe’s premier award for environmental and social engagement.” Held annually since 2008 and oriented towards the goals of Agenda 2030, the multi-stakeholder, government-supported awards honour those working towards a more sustainable future. Awardees for 2021 include Continental, whose Urban Taraxagum bicycle tyre caught the judging panel’s attention. The tyre is an award-winner in the Responsible Design category.
Strong words from one of the unions representing workers at the Continental tyre factory in Aachen, Germany. Speaking with Munich-based newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, IG BCE trade union chairman Michael Vassiliadis stressed that the planned job cuts “will be expensive”. He also claimed that Continental has turned away potential investors.
Online car parts business Autodoc is reporting sales of 600 million euros in the first three quarters of 2020, up 40 per cent compared to the same period last year. In 2019, the company’s revenue between January and September amounted to a total of 434 million euros. Autodoc chief executive Alexej Erdle has now set his sights on the previously announced sales target of 800 million euros by the end of the year, up from 615 million euros in 2019.
Following changes to the names of the Goodyear-Dunlop national organizations in the UK and Belgium, the tyre manufacturer’s Poland-based company has now also been renamed, our colleagues at our German sister website Reifenpress.de have reported.
Maha Group managing director Dr Thomas Aubel has resigned at his own request effective 10 November 2020. As managing director, Aubel has been responsible for the company’s sales Germany, sales international and Maha Service Center since October 2018. He has been a member of Maha Maschinenbau Haldenwang’s advisory board since December 2017.
Anish K. Taneja has been appointed president of the German Rubber Manufacturers Association (wdk). The chief executive officer of Michelin’s Europe North Region was named successor to Dr Ralf Holschumacher earlier today. Holschumacher has served as wdk president since 2014.
Liqui Moly
ZC Rubber
Autodoc; Dirk Dehmel
Maha