Heuver to show its whole arsenal at Reifen 2012
Heuver Tyrewholesale plans to present a complete cross section of products from the various market segments in is active in.
Heuver Tyrewholesale plans to present a complete cross section of products from the various market segments in is active in.
Heuver Tyrewholesale is set to announce a raft of new developments relating Aeolus Tyres when the brand exhibits at Reifen 2012 in June.
According to the company, the manufacturer has identified the trade fair as the location for the premiere for its new range of passenger car tyres, which will be available in Europe in a few months' time. In the truck tyre segment Aeolus is set to present its new Eco-Twin tyres. Aeolus also places the spotlight on the HN226 bus tyres and various EM tyres, such as A2237.
Heuver Tyrewholesale has announced plans to open a distribution centre in southern Germany. The new warehouse in Bayreuth was scheduled to become operational in April. Currently Heuver is coordinating the flow of incoming goods, in order to ensure sufficient start-up stocks. According to the company, Bayreuth will become an important European point of support for the Aeolus brand. The first containers of Aeolus tyres have reportedly already been unloaded.
Netherlands-based wholesaler Heuver Banden is introducing a ‘second life’ for Aeolus tyres in the markets where it represents the Chinese tyre maker. The company has released its first retreaded Aeolus tyre, the mould cure retreaded Eco-Twin trailer tyre in size 385/65R22.5. Heuver says the use of high quality Aeolus casings ensures excellent performance for the tyre’s second life, along with reduced operating costs.
Online ordering was first launched by Dutch wholesaler Heuver Tyrewholesale in 2008, and the company reports that last year it accounted for 12 per cent of total sales. This figure represents a much higher utilisation of the online facility, and Heuver says this boost occurred through the introduction of what it calls a bonus shop. The introduction of this online incentive scheme, which offers a savings system for gifts, resulted in a faster acceleration in digital traffic than anticipated – the wholesaler says it resulted in a doubling in the number of online orders it received in 2011. Heuver states that its move into digitising orders, including the introduction of a mobile website, clearly meets a need.
Although Heuver Tyrewholesale is based in the Netherlands, the company’s gaze is firmly eastwards towards its neighbour. Director Bertus Heuver has described Germany as the wholesaler’s “home market” and stated that the company’s drive in 2012 is to increase its activities in German-speaking markets. As part of this, Heuver has appointed a new account manager for northern Germany; Tobias Heyne has taken on the role, and Heuver says that Heyne’s presence will enable its existing account managers to further increase their focus upon their respective regions.
Chinese tyre maker Aeolus Tyres Ltd. states it recently ended the practice of simultaneously developing and promoting multiple brands of tyre. As of now the company is concentrating its efforts on the Aeolus tyre brand, a decision it believes will have a “positive impact” on the brand in the European market.
Aeolus recently discussed the potential opportunities and growth that may result from the decision with one of its main distributors, Netherlands-based Heuver Tyrewholesale. “During recent discussions with Aeolus Tyres, the board announced its decision to terminate the duplicate policy, which involves multiple brands launching the same tyres on to the market,” commented Heuver Tyrewholesale director Bertus Heuver. “In the near future, the B brands at the Aeolus factory will start to feature significantly different profiles and profile markings. The main outcome of the decision is that, in terms of development, delivery and availability, Aeolus will be given the highest priority to honour its position as the factory’s leading brand.
Heuver Tyrewholesale has announced a new mobile website, allowing customers to place their orders anytime, anywhere. ‘The internet makes life so much easier. We already had a website and decided to expand it by adding a mobile feature, a kind of ‘app’, which can be used on a smartphone,” explains Bertus Heuver, director of Heuver Tyrewholesale.
France is one of Heuver Tyrewholesale's growth markets for the Aeolus range of tyres. In order to reinforce the brand's positioning as "the leading alternative" to major brands, Heuver Tyrewholesale is taking a stand at the Equip'Auto exhibition trade show from 11 to 15 October.
Aeolus Tyres has launched an improved version of its HN364 winter drive tyre. The brand says the improved winter tyre is a result of its intensive research and development programme. It features inter-connected profile blocks, which “helps to create greater stability, while simultaneously improving safety, comfort and longevity,” according to the company. The tyre is available in the three most common drive axle sizes.
Heuver Tyrewholesale has launched an incentive scheme in which customers receive bonus points for each order from the company’s web shop, which can then be exchanged for over 1000 different gifts, from garden tools to televisions. Heuver says the online shop illustrates its belief in the future of e-Commerce in the tyre sector.
The 10-year contract between Heuver Tyrewholesale and Aeolus Tyres has been extended. Director Jan Heuver signed the agreement with Wang Feng, general manager at Aeolus Tyres. “We have been working with Aeolus for over 10 years now”, states Heuver in reaction to the contract extension.
On 2 August the Steel Market Development Institute’s (SMDI) Wheels Task Force announced plans to begin a lightweight high-strength steel wheel development project, with a “cost-effective design and manufacturing” process. As well as developing the next generation of steel wheel products, it appears that the group also wants to rejuvenate the OE steel wheel market that has faced strong competition from cast and forged aluminium alternatives in recent years. Project results are expected in the Autumn.
At the start of June, Heuver Tyrewholesale began acting as exclusive European distributor for a new private label, the Athlete Wheels truck range. The Chinese-produced brand is initially available in a number of high-demand sizes, such as from 6.75×17.5 to 14.00×22.5-inch, with truck and trailer wheels available for delivery from stock. Company director Bertus Heuver states that further sizes will be introduced during the course of the year. In all, 500 different designs are produced at the factory where Athlete Wheels are produced, a total of ten million units per annum. All Athlete steel wheels are TÜV approved and are ISO9001 certified.
Dutch wholesaler Heuver Tyrewholesale has extended its OTR business into the UK and Ireland and says it is actively targeting this region, a move it describes as a further development of its “strong European position in the OTR sector.” Heading up the British operation is 43-year old Phil Bradburn, who is based near Manchester and has worked with Heuver for a number of years.
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