News from the tyre wholesale sector
In order to support its ambition of becoming a true Nordic tyre & wheel specialist, independent tyre distribution firm Vimexa has become a corresponding member of the STRO (Scandinavian Tire and Rim Organization) in Sweden. Announcing Vimexa’s STRO membership, managing director Rutger Veerman said “we have realised strong growth in the Nordic (and Baltic) region during the last five years, and with our hub in Helsinki the logistics is optimal.”
Wholesaler RH Claydon Ltd. began construction work on its new depot in Carlisle this week. The facility is located within the Kingmoor Park Enterprise Zone and includes a 30,000 square foot warehouse as well as purpose-built office space.
Peter van ‘t Hof, founder of Dutch tyre wholesaler Tyre Trading International (TTI), passed away on 6 August 2021, aged 72. Van ‘t Hof founded the Numansdorp-based wholesale business in 1988, continuing a family connection to the tyre and automotive sector that dates back to 1924. He handed over management of TTI to son Peter-Alexander in 2006.
National Tyre & Wheel Limited (NTAW), the largest independent tyre and wheel wholesaler in Australia and New Zealand, has made several changes to its leadership team. The company states that these and other appointments made over the past year will help it “set a new benchmark in customer experience” that will “underwrite further growth.”
TireHub, the USA-based national tyre distributor jointly by Bridgestone Americas and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, is now three years old. Reporting the company’s experiences over the past 12 months, chief executive officer Peter Gibbons says that even though TireHub began its third year in the middle of a global pandemic, it nevertheless ended 2020 with “significant gains” compared with the industry, which was down overall.
Heuver is to expand its operations with a new Mounting Centre in Hardenberg. The tyre wholesaler says the new centre will enhance its focus on logistical services, an area in which it says it has particularly grown in recent years. The company is offering truck, agricultural and earthmover tyre fitment and wheel assembly on site, as part of its expanding service offering. Heuver says the assembly service shows it offers more than just tyres, with the centre a “logical continuation of its service.” In addition to the best advice and the right tyre for each application, the company offers customers a huge range from its 57,000m2 warehouse.
German tyre wholesaler, retailer and service provider Pneuhage has realigned and renamed its business in Poland. Going forwards the bulk of its activities there, including the 1999-established Pneuhage Service Opon, will operate under the name Interpneu Polska.
Almost a year after Jürgen Titz announced his departure from Goodyear after more than 22 years of service, he is back in the tyre industry. The experienced manager, who most recently served as Goodyear’s managing director consumer Europe Central and chairman of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany, has now taken on a partnership role within the tyre trade.
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.
Netherlands-based tyre wholesaler Heuver is now a European distributor for the Xlite range of aluminium truck wheels. These wrought aluminium truck wheels, produced in accordance with TÜV and ISO9001 norms, are stronger yet 40 per cent lighter than a standard steel equivalent.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has approved Global Automotive Investments Holding BV’s acquisition of PBG BV (Pon Tyre Group). The ACM reached its decision on 10 March after determining that the wholesale tyre market will remain sufficiently competitive following the takeover.
Spring is on its way, and independent tyre distribution firm Vimexa says it has a wide range of products available to customers. Managing director Rutger Veerman confirms that a number of brands are available, and as 85 per cent of the tyres that Vimexa supplies are premium products, import uncertainties won’t be an issue. But options also exist for customers shopping for budget tyres.
At the start of this year, independent tyre distribution specialist Vimexa expanded its offices at the Technopolis facility near Helsinki-Vantaa airport. Managing director Rutger Veerman says more office space was needed to accommodate the “substantial” growth that Vimexa has enjoyed in Scandinavia and the Baltic region during the last three years.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) announced today that Global Automotive Investments Holding BV, parent company of major tyre wholesalers Inter-Sprint and Van den Ban, intends to acquire PBG BV (Pon Tyre Group), the company that previously distributed the Continental tyre brand in the Netherlands. Global Automotive and current PBG owner Pon Holdings requested permission for the transaction on 29 January.
Goodyear
Tyrepress.com / Stephen Goodchild