The technical team that STARCO operates in Europe is joining together with parent company Kenda’s technical team. The aim of integrating the two teams is to leverage synergies within the firms’ global technical structure as well as drive further technological improvements. According to STARCO, it also represents a significant step in both companies’ growth plans for Europe.
As part of its commitment to being a ‘one-stop shop’ for motorcycle and scooter tyre retailers in the UK, Cambrian Tyres partners with all major brands in the two-wheel marketplace and supplies customers from its warehouse stock of more than 100,000 tyres. The wholesaler is also sole UK distributor of the Bridgestone motocross and Continental two-wheel ranges (see separate articles) as well as for the Anlas brand and, from the second half of 2019, Kenda. This last name is back in the local two-wheel market after a decade’s absence, and demand has started off on the right foot.
Kenda Rubber Industrial has expanded its research and development centre in Germany, reinforcing its development team in Winsen (Luhe). Italian Antonio Gallo has joined Kenda Europe Technical Center (KETC) as a tyre tester to put the Taiwanese manufacturer’s high-performance tyres through their paces.
US-based two-wheel race team FactoryONE Sherco has chosen to partner with Kenda Powersports in a multi-year agreement that starts in the 2020 season. Under this agreement, Kenda becomes the official tyre company for the FactoryONE Sherco team and will provide team riders with tyres to compete in AMA Endurocross, Hard Enduro, GNCC, NEPG and more.
For many, the annual Weston Beach Race is the ultimate test of man and machine. More than 900 riders battle it out on the sands of the Victorian seaside resort, with the goal of claiming one of the most coveted prizes in motocross after a gruelling three-hour race.
Already a major success in the United States with several factory level partnerships, Kenda Tyres is the latest tyre brand to enter the UK market. It’s wasted no time in partnering with some promising British talent – the P.F.K. Ling group, who, with 12 riders in its stable for 2019, operates one of the largest motocross and enduro teams in East Anglia.
Kenda and its Italian partner Gruppo Sirio are cooperating to exhibit “the full breadth of [Kenda’s] product range” at this year’s Autopromotec. Key products on-show include the Kenetica 4S all-season tyre, the Kenetica ECO and the Emera A1.
Cambrian Tyres, the largest two-wheel tyre distributor in the UK, has been appointed official importer of Kenda Tire’s motorcycle tyre range in Great Britain. As such, Cambrian is bringing the Kenda brand back after a ten-year absence from the UK two-wheeler market.
By taking advantage of synergies arising from its acquisition by Kenda in 2017, STARCO has introduced its UK-made Flex lite wheel solution to the US market. Kenda USA subsidiary Martin Wheel presented this European market top-seller at a trade show in Las Vegas last week. STARCO shares that interest in the 10- to 15-inch solutions amongst end-users was strong, and it looks forward to receiving feedback about Flex lite from US-based manufacturers and distributors.
For a number of years, Danish firm STARCO offered the KargoTrail and MasterTrail under its own name. The third generation of these trailer tyre lines is now available, and both have been rebranded as Kenda products. STARCO says the Kenda KR101 MasterTrail 3G and Kenda KR209 KargoTrail 3G are “improvements of the well-performing and proven STARCO range,” with changes in tyre compound and tread depth leading to “longer mileage, better wet grip and improved rolling resistance.”
Michael Andre (60) is retiring at the end of 2018. The news comes after five years with Kenda Rubber Industrial, where he has been marketing and sales manager automotive Europe responsible for the European passenger car tyre business of the Taiwanese tyre manufacturer. In this role Andrew has led the phased introduction of the Kenda brand to the German and other key European markets.
China’s largest tyre manufacturer, Zhongce Rubber, has entered the global top ten, research published today by Tyrepress shows. Best known in Europe for its Westlake brand, the company has pushed up in the rankings past Giti Tire – manufacturer of GT Radial – which did not supply 2017 figures before the deadline, Toyo Tires, and Cooper Tire & Rubber, which fell three places. Competition in the lower quarter of the top ten places is fierce, with turnovers for tyres between 2.4 billion euros (Cooper in 13th) and 3.2 billion euros (Maxxis in ninth).
Ready for the summer season, the STARCO subsidiary in Switzerland has received the first car tyres from Kenda and is ready to begin its new role as the brand’s national distributor. Commenting on the new arrangement, STARCO’s Richard Todd noted that the company was exploring many synergies with Kenda over both the short and long-term.
