The Lightest Truck Wheel on the Market?
Alcoa’s contribution to the 60th IAA show centred around the company’s first forged aluminium wide base 17×22.5 wheel.
Alcoa’s contribution to the 60th IAA show centred around the company’s first forged aluminium wide base 17×22.5 wheel.
A year after returning to the Frankfurt’s DAX stock exchange, Continental’s management is saying that it “has profited noticeably from its return to the DAX.”
As expected, Bridgestone is among the tyre manufacturers exhibiting at this year’s 60th International Commercial Vehicles Motor Show (IAA) in Hanover. The Japanese tyre manufacturer is going to present an exhaustive array of its innovative range of products to visitors to Hanover from 23 September to 30 September. The new super-single tyre “Greatec” with its unique Aircept technology will be part be among the products on display.
Bridgestone will return to the Frankfurt IAA in 2003, after a 12-year absence, with an innovative display of its latest tyre technology and achievements. The 310 m2 booth will be located in Hall 8, nr. A18. The famous red Formula One Ferrari catches the eye, but there’s more to the stand than motorsport glitter. “We wanted to show that Bridgestone develops world-class tyre technology”, says Mr Günter Unterhauser, Managing Director of Bridgestone Germany. “The IAA is one of the most prestigious motor shows in the world and certainly the top show in Germany. It is not only for end users. It gives us the chance to invite loyal dealers and our First Stop partners, to convey the message that we are a high tech company and to show them the new range.”
The two German wheel manufacturers Intra (one of the biggest oe supplier to Opel) and Dezent (active only in the aftermarket) have announced a merger at the IAA show in Frankfurt next month. They will create an aftermarket company called IDE (brands Intra, Dezent, Exip) and an oe company Intra Automotive. The two companies have almost 300 employees.
The tragic terrorist attacks against the United States had an effect on the 59th International Automotive Exhibition (IAA), which took place in Frankfurt from 13th to 23rd of September. For a moment it seemed that, as a reaction to the catastrophes in New York and Washington the whole event would have to be cancelled. However, the authorities decided to continue with the show at a subdued level – which meant that exhibitors cancelled their music and showcases, reducing the programme to pure product presentation level. “It was a quiet show,” is how Prof. Dr. Bernd Gottschalk, President of the German Car Manufacturers Association (VDA) summed it up. The official opening ceremony with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was also cancelled. At noon on Thursday 23rd a five minute silence was held over the whole exhibition area in memory of the victims. The first press day of the IAA was attended by around 10,000 journalists who came to report on the 57 world premieres at the show. The news of the apocalyptic terror attacks spread very quickly amongst press representatives and exhibitors alike. In some areas of the exhibition, for example, hall number 10, which was occupied by the garage equipment suppliers, exhibition activities immediately broke down completely. Groups of visibly shocked people followed the TV transmissions. The shadow of extremist terror had touched even this event.
Conti Temic is present at IAA for the first time, along with Continental ISAD, ADC, ContiTeves and Continental Passenger Car Tyres. In addition to the latest in technology, the company is introducing several projects on the way to the intelligent chassis, for example, the much acclaimed “30-Metre Car”. Synergies between tyres and brakes are not the only aspect of Continental’s vision of the future. The steering, axle modules and air suspension systems will all be integrated into the system.
The German automotive association (VDA), organiser of the 58th International Commercial Vehicles Exhibition, which took place in Frankfurt this year due to EXPO utilising facilities at Hanover, has announced record results for the event. 1,318 exhibitors from 42 countries filled the exhibition, including some 725 automotive parts suppliers, more than ever before. In all, 240,000 people attended the show, 85 % of them trade visitors. Bernd Gottschalk, president of the German automotive association stated, “The IAA grows in importance as a sales exhibition”. He believes that the whole climate at the exhibition was one of optimism and faith in the future of the business. This may be true, but it is only one side of the coin. Despite the pre-event high hopes there remained an apprehension that the recent economic boom might soon come to a sudden end. There are many indicators that the boom may be slowing down: Dramatic decline in sales in the USA, and an accelerating rationalisation amongst manufacturers making trade more intensive for both suppliers and the fleet business. This and high fuel prices and, last but by no means least, the distortion of competition as a result of differing transport regulations within the European Union. In the final analysis, the commercial vehicle business remains as full of contradictions today, as it ever has. Find out more in the November issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
September is show time in Frankfurt. This year we have just seen the IAA for cars and motorcycles, the 58th such event. Almost 1,200 exhibitors from 43 countries displayed the whole width and breadth of automotive progress on 225,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. The theme of this year’s exhibition, “Auto: Treffpunkt Zukunft” (“Car – Meeting-Place: The Future”) must also be understood as the industry’s programme: Car manufacturers alone offered 51 world premières, eight European and 38 German premières, not counting the numerous innovations of vehicle component suppliers, the motor manufacturers’ development partners. Apart from new production-line cars, futuristic concept cars, motorcycles and special vehicles Frankfurt showed trailers, parts and accessories, tuning products, aids for vehicle maintenance, protective clothing, traffic guidance and information systems. Tyre manufacturers with IAA stands of their own were Michelin, Continental, Dunlop and Pneumant. The second part of the 58th IAA – the commercial vehicle side – will take place from 23rd to 30th September 2000 under the theme “Nutzfahrzeuge: Für alle auf Achse” (“Commercial Vehicles: For Everybody on the Move”) and also be held at Frankfurt/Main. The organisation will also be in the hands of the Association of the Motor Manufacturing Industry (VDA).
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