Abc jun 2013

Australian Tyre Dealer | vol. 22 | issue 1 | Feb/Mar 2013

“get the power and get a better business!�

CONTENTS ATD is a publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) and is endorsed by the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association (ATDRA)

2.

editors word

In THE News

Print Post approved PPP444752/0002 The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the ATDRA or any State or Territory constituent body, or of the Publishers and they take no responsibility for them, except where specifically indicated.

Head Office Building 8/2728 Logan Road Eight Mile Plains Qld 4113 PO Box 4530 Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113 Tel: 07 3237 8777 Fax: 07 3844 4488 Toll Free: 1800 177 951 Email: atd@mtaq.com.au Website: www.mtaq.com.au

4.

Bridgestone wins Trademark Lawsuit

Rubber demand to grow

5.

Petlas to double radial agricultural tyre capacity

Toyo partners with Tyre & Tube Australia

Sizing error leads to tyre recall

Michelin grows sales and profits

Sumitomo Rubber Industries has unveiled its new tyre manufacturing system, p. 8.

Innovation 6.

Hankook design competition gives a glimpse to the future

8.

Sumitomo unveils new tyre-making process

Goodyear named a top 100 Innovator

FEATUREs

A/EDITOR Dani Fioretti

10. Policy Matters - ACCC announces 5-year tyre stewardship Scheme

ART DIRECTOR Marco Ilinic

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Bridgestone Australia has provided its Ferrari F2004 Formula One show car to the National Motor Museum on a long-term loan, p. 12.

12. Bridgestone donates F1 show car

ADVERTISING Jeff Dunlop Telephone: 07 3237 8777 Mobile: 0422 075 007 Facsimile: 07 3844 4488 Email: jeffd@mtaq.com.auu

Survey: Aussie drivers not as safe as they think they are

14. Lassa enters Australian market

EDITORIAL Enquiries should be made to: The Editor 07 3237 8777 or email atd@mtaq.com.au

Used tyres transformed into functional furniture

16. Continental forges Bob Jane alliance

Team D-Max stays with Bridgestone

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 18. Freight costs to stabilise in 2013

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $45.60 (inc gst) in Australia $99.00 overseas (airmail)

20. Record Global Sales for Hankook

The cost of moving tyres and wheels between Asia and major European markets is expected to stabilise in 2013, p. 18.

Apollo’s ‘Safe Drive’ campaign highlights poor tyre maintenance

21. Goodyear to close plant in France

MTA-Queensland ABN: 740 289 338 48

22. WHAT’S ON

Sport 26. Michelin dominates Dakar following three-year commitment 28. New Pirelli F1 tyres promise more overtaking, pit stops 20120005 20120057

“Australian Tyre Dealer” welcomes submissions of information and prepared articles, but their publication will be at its sole discretion. Material appearing in “Australian Tyre Dealer” is copyright, and reproduction in whole or part without the Publisher’s written consent is prohibited. “Australian Tyre Dealer” is circulated to tyre dealers, senior executives of companies which supply the tyre industry, and representatives of relevant industry groups.

Green tyres a focus for Michelin’s new China factory

Michelin has begun its three-year commitment to the Dakar Rally, with Michelin tyres fitted to victors in the Car, Bike and Truck categories, p. 26.

30. Dunlop announces alternate fuel partnership 31. Pirelli launches e-learning 1

Editor’s word

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elcome to the first edition of Australian Tyre Dealer for 2013.

It’s hard to believe it’s almost March, but then it has been a busy time in the offices of Australian Tyre Dealer with the departure of long-time Editor Mike Taylor. Mike has decided to try his hand at new things and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing him the best of luck.

Dani Fioretti A/Editor

ATD’s new Editor, Bill Key, is due to start with us in just a few short weeks. Bill has over 25 years’ experience as a journalist and is a former Motoring Editor of the Gold Coast Bulletin. In addition to being a veteran of the news industry he is also a car lover and all-round motoring enthusiast. I know that the magazine will be in good hands going forward and I look forward to seeing some of Bill’s exciting plans for the magazine come to fruition.

In the meantime, be sure to check out some of this month’s news features. We take an in-depth look at the ACCC’s proposed new tyre stewardship scheme and explore the Government’s rationale for proposing a levy that may cost industry up to 25 cents per tyre.

This issue also features some exciting international news, particularly on the innovation front. Our feature on the Hankook Design competition gives a compelling insight into what the next generation of designers has in store for tyres. Closer to home, we take a look at Lassa’s entry into the Aussie market and shed some light on Continental’s new Australian alliance.

Don’t forget to check the Sports section starting on page 26. In it we uncover Pirelli’s plans to make tyres a central player in the upcoming 2013 Formula 1 season.

Enjoy the issue!

A Hankook Tire competition in the US has challenged some of the country’s brightest industrial design students to imagine the role of tyres in automotive design from new angles, p. 6.

1300 762 642 2

IN THE NEWS Rubber demand to grow 18.5% by 2017 A new study by Smithers Rapra has predicted that the global market for elastomers will

Bridgestone Wins Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

grow by 18.5 per cent to 33.3 million tons in 2017.

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his is a marked increase from the 28.1 million metric recorded in 2012.

Natural rubber represented 39 per cent of the total global elastomer consumption in 2012, and is expected to continue to dominate the market, although it will decline to 38.1 percent in 2017, Smithers Rapra said.

The report said that despite advances in the development of synthetic elastomers, natural rubber remains irreplaceable.

Bridgestone Corporation has won a lawsuit against Chinese tyre manufacturer Guangzhou Bolex Tyre Ltd. regarding infringement of its trademark rights.

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he suit was filed in 2010 after Bridgestone alleged the Chinese company had breached its trademark rights by manufacturing and selling tires under the name “GEMSTONE,” which is similar to “BRIDGESTONE,” and a registered trademark.

Guangzhou Bolex Tyre Ltd. has been ordered to cease the production and sales of GEMSTONE tires and pay damages.

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yre & Tube Australia’s Managing Director, Andrew Bloxham, said the new arrangement with Toyo is a welcome addition to delivering the company’s product growth strategy.

“Toyo’s high quality product has a deserved reputation in the trucking industry as being one of the leading premium brands,” Mr Bloxham said.

Petlas to doubles radial agricultural tyre capacity Petlas Tire Corporation, which is known for producing the Petlas and Starmaxx brands, has announced a substantial upgrade to its agricultural radial tyre production capacity.

Sizing error leads to tyre recall A total of 372 FG and FG Mk2 Ford Falcon XT EcoLPi sedans built between September 2011 and February 2012 have been recalled after they were fitted with the wrong size tyres.

Michelin has released its 2012 financial results, describing its performance as strong within ‘lacklustre markets’.

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n addition to allowing the company to meet increased global demand, the investment will give Petlas the ability to produce larger and wider tyres than their current maximums which extend to a width of up to 750 mm and a total diameter of 2 metres.

The move will see the company reach an annual capacity of 300,000 radial agricultural tyres, double previous levels.

Toyo partners with Tyre & Tube Australia Toyo Tyre & Rubber has appointed Tyre & Tube Australia as an official distribution partner for its range of commercial tyres including tyres for trucks and buses

Michelin grows sales and profits, while volume declines

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he company’s net sales were up 3 per cent in 2012, although weak demand, particularly in Europe, dragged sales volumes down by 6.4 per cent compared with 2011.

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hile the correct tyre measures 225/55/R16, tyres measuring 215/60/R16 were fitted to the impacted models. The recall was issued by the ACCC on the grounds that incorrectly fitting tyres may “adversely affect handling of the vehicle and may increase the risk of an accident”. However, Neil McDonald from Ford Australia said that there have been no reports of any incidents as a result of the problem.

Ford is currently investigating the circumstances around the error.

Volume in Europe has been described by analysts as ‘very weak’ across the board, with purchases of passenger car tyres ten per cent lower than in 2007 and demand for truck tyres 20 per cent lower than 2007 levels.

However it’s not all doom and gloom.

The French tyre maker has described itself as “confident in its competitive strengths” in its 2013 financials forecast.

The company expects volumes to hold steady in 2013, and also expects to report stable operating income, a 10 per cent return on capital employed and positive free cash flow in 2013.

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INNOVATION

Hankook Design Gives a Glimpse

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n Competition to the Future A Hankook Tire competition in the US has challenged some of the country’s brightest industrial design students to imagine the role of tyres in automotive design from new angles.

And if entries to the competition are any indication, the future’s high performance tyres will be very different to the ones we drive on today.

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he competition was taken out by University of Cincinnati student, Ben Zavala whose ‘Tiltread’ car tyre (pictured far left) is designed to roll into corners at an angle like a motorcycle tyre. Zavala’s design splits the tyre into three parallel ring sections, each mounted on a corresponding split section of wheel. As the wheel turns and leans, the three tyre sections are individually raised or lowered, allowing them all to maintain traction with the road surface.

Tiltread’s wheels are hubless and contain an electric drive motor which varies power to each tyre section, allowing the sections to spin at different rates during cornering.

The Tessela tyre’s easily removable tread components allow consumers to replace wornout tread when required, rather than the whole tyre carcass, reducing tyre waste and landfill.

University of Cincinnati Associate Professor Ralph Zammit said the competition demonstrated just how great an impact improvement in tyre design could have upon the overall efficiency, ecology and economy of road transportation.

“Hankook proposed a very challenging assignment that provided the students with real-world insights as to how tyres are currently designed, manufactured and the performance issues they must address,” said Zammit. “Students were especially encouraged to consider sustainability needs such as reducing and reusing raw materials.”

Second place in the competition was taken by Mark Hearn who imagined an off-road tyre called Motiv, which features numerous height-variable, non-pneumatic tread blocks that can adapt to extremely rough terrain without risk of blow-out. Third-placed Miranda Steinhauser’s proposal for an eco-friendly tyre also impressed the competition judges.

Her Tessela’ tyre features easily removable tread components which allows consumers to replace worn-out tread when required, rather than the whole tyre carcass, reducing tyre waste and landfill. The Future of Tyre Design video can be viewed on youtube.

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INNOVATION process with high precision, accurate to within 0.01mm.

The third key technology—highrigidity structure—allows for the use of harder stiffening materials than previously possible, allowing for a closer match to the exact shape and size of the tyre’s intended design which allows Sumitomo to reduce tyre deformation during high-speed driving.

Goodyear Named a Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovator Sumitomo unveils new tyre-making process Sumitomo Rubber Industries has unveiled its new tyre manufacturing system.

Sumitomo claims that the Neo-T01 system, which is an evolution of the Taiyo system, will enhance the precision of its production process, providing for increased uniformity and casing integrity with reduced weight.

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y combining three key technologies, Sumitomo claims tyres produced with Neo-T01 have 70-per cent better high-speed uniformity and a 50-per cent drop in deformation during high-speed driving. They also weigh 10 per cent less.

Sumitomo said it intends to use the new system for the development 8

The most visible change from conventional manufacturing systems is the use of metal formers. of ever-higher performance tyres, starting in 2014 with what it’s calling a “next-generation run-flat tyre that provides an excellent balance between lightness, safety and driving comfort.”

The most visible change from conventional manufacturing systems is the use of metal formers—the metal core process—made in the exact shape and size of a finished tyre’s interior.

The second key technology— automatic connected control—achieves significant weight reductions by allowing for optimal distribution of weight among tyre components.

A computer control system manages every step of the tyre-forming

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has been named one of the Top 100 Global Innovators for 2012.

The list by Thomson Reuters has recognised Goodyear in the top 100 for the second year running.

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o reach its top 100 innovators, Thomson Reuters analyzed patent data to identify the companies and institutions that lead the world in innovation activity.

Goodyear’s Chief Technology Officer Joseph Zekoski was pleased to accept the high honour. “Whether it’s the innovative tread zones and evolving traction grooves in the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred AllSeason tire or future breakthroughs such as Air Maintenance Technology, Goodyear is leading with innovative products that consumers need and want” he said.

To view the full report on the Thomson Reuters 2012 Top 100 Global Innovator program, go to www.top100innovators.com

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Policy Mat

ACCC Announces 5-year Tyre Stew After years of consultation with industry, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has proposed a national Tyre Stewardship Scheme.

The voluntary scheme, which is slated to start as “soon as practical in 2013” is designed to reduce the amount of used tyres entering landfill, being illegally dumped or exported overseas.

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nder the scheme participants will commit to the environmentally sound use of end-of-life tyres.

This involves eliminating the inappropriate export of baled tyres from Australia, ending the illegal dumping of end-of-life tyres and stopping the disposal of end-of-life tyres to landfill.

Among other things, the Scheme will impose a levy on tyre importers (that is, importers of loose tyres and vehicle manufacturers and vehicle importers). The levy is proposed to be $0.25 per passenger car tyre equivalent, adjusted annually for CPI, or an equivalent membership fee. The levy will fund the operation of the Scheme but will not directly fund the collection and recycling of end-of-life tyres. The ACCC says that “the small cost of the industry levy means there is likely to be little, if any, public detriment generated by the Scheme.”

The Scheme may represent a positive step towards reducing the environmental and health and safety hazards associated with unsustainable tyre disposal methods. This aim has become increasingly important as the number of waste tyres has increased

tters

wardship Scheme Increased awareness will in turn provide the tyre industry with the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in environmental management and adopt corporate social responsibility. over time. In 2009-10, there were 48 million tyres reaching end-oflife, an increase of approximately 14 per cent from 2007-08. Of a total 48 million tyres, a staggering 66 per cent (or over 31 million tyres) were disposed through landfill, exported, stockpiled, illegally dumped or categorised as having an unknown fate.

Currently, only 16 per cent of end-of-life tyres are recycled.

The ACCC’s Scheme aims to increase this number by developing Australia’s tyre recycling industry and generating markets for tyre

derived products. This will partly be achieved with strategies to increase consumer awareness of the impacts of end-of-life tyre disposal. Increased awareness will in turn provide the tyre industry with the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in environmental management and adopt corporate social responsibility.

Parties to the Scheme In 2009, the Australian Tyre Industry Council (ATIC) and the Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed to work with the tyre industry to establish a voluntary industry-led product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres. Representatives from the Australian Tyre Industry Council, Australian Motor Industry Federation, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, and the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association came together to develop the Guidelines and have since agreed to support the establishment of Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA).

The full draft determination can be found online at www.accc.gov.au.

The ACCC has stated it that industry will have the opportunity to make further submissions in relation to proposed plan (including the levy rate) before making its final decision on the Scheme.

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AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Bridgestone donates F1 Show Car Bridgestone Australia has provided its Ferrari F2004 Formula One show car to the National Motor Museum on a long-term loan.

The car, which is an exact replica of the one that triumphed in 15 out of 18 races in the 2004 Formula One season was officially unveiled at the museum in December 2012.

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ndrew Moffatt, Managing Director of Bridgestone Australia Ltd, said it was fitting for the show car to go on display at the museum. “Bridgestone Australia is proudly headquartered here in Adelaide and we can trace our history here back more than 70 years,” he said. “We are very pleased that the Ferrari F2004 show car will now be a feature 12

Also going on display at the National Motor Museum is a specimen from the last set of Bridgestone tyres ever manufactured in Australia.

Survey: Aussie drivers not as safe as they think they are A recent study by tyre manufacturer, Continental Tyres, has shown a marked disconnect between how Australian motorists view their

of the National Motor Museum, enabling many more people to learn more about an important part of motor racing history.”

Also going on display at the National Motor Museum is a specimen from the last set of Bridgestone tyres ever manufactured in Australia, prior to the closure of the company’s Salisbury facility in 2010.

The National Motor Museum is located in Birdwood, South Australia. Details on the features of the museum, opening times and admission costs are at motor@history.sa.gov.au

own driving habits and how others view them.

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hen asked to describe their own driving habits, 66 per cent of drivers labeled themself as ‘safe’ whilst behind the wheel, with 57 per cent also identifying themself as ‘calm’ drivers. Conversely, the majority of motorists perceive other drivers as ‘distracted‘ (55 per cent) aggressive’ (49 per cent) and ‘stressed’ (29 per cent). continued page 14

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AUSTRALIAN NEWS

“These results have raised quite an interesting contradiction in Australian motorists, which can actually be quite dangerous,” said Steve Brown, General Manager, Continental Tyres of Australia.

Scott Chirnside, the managing Director of Tyremax is also excited about the opportunity to grow the Lassa brand in Australia. “We will be marketing Lassa strictly through a dealership network and providing strong brand and sales support” he said. Through their ‘service driven’ distribution methods, Tyremax is confident it will continue to increase its market share and develop and grow additional brands with their loyal and increasing client base.

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e says that Australia has long been one of Lassa’s target markets and entering it is the first step to building the brand within the broader Asia-Pacific tyre market.

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Owner, Monica Corser says that the key premise of the venture is turning the 11.4 million tyres marked for landfill every year into something useful for the home.

“It creates a fair trade opportunity for the local businesses and puts sustainability at the core of our business. The furniture retains the durability and integrity of the tyres and the rubber makes it extremely comfortable.”

Not surprisingly, no participants in the survey classified themselves as incompetent or inexperienced while on the road.

Lassa Tyres has made its first shipment to Australia. Halit ensoy, International sales and Marketing Director of Brisa says the manufacturer is excited to bring Lassa Tyres to Australian consumers as part of their partnership with Tyre Max.

And with 20 million used tyres discarded in Australia every year, they have plenty of material to work with.

“We take discarded motorcycle, car and truck tyres and work with Indonesian artisans who are able to embrace the natural attributes of the tyres to produce a beautiful range of furniture,” said Corser.

“What drivers perceive as safe and calm behaviour whilst behind the wheel is viewed as practically the opposite by fellow motorists, in the majority of instances.”

Lassa Tyres enters Australian market

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he outfit, whose motto is “As Green as Black Can Get” recycles motorcycle, car and truck tyres by turning them into interesting and functional outdoor furniture and homewares.

Lassa’s products are manufactured in Turkey at the company’s Izmit production facility, which has a 10 million-tyre production capacity and is currently undergoing a US$117.5 million dollar expansion.

Used tyres transformed into functional furniture Byron Bay based company, Retyred Furniture have showcased their innovative designs at the Australian Motorcycle Expo in Melbourne.

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AUSTRALIAN NEWS IZUZU D-MAX utes this year. But despite making the decision to move to a new manufacturer, the team has continued its partnership with Bridgestone and its R411 Duravis tyres.

Continental forges Bob Jane alliance Continental Tyres has announced a partnership with Bob Jane T-Marts, which will see their products made available in over 130 stores nationally.

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teve Brown, General Manager of Continental Tyres Australia said “Continental Tyres is committed to growing our brand in Australia and an integral part of this growth is ensuring consumers are aware of and have access to our products.”

“By aligning with Bob Jane T-Marts, combined with our already established distribution channels including JAXQuickfit Tyres, Tyrepower as well as our own retail outlets, more Australians than ever are now able to purchase our highly-awarded products.” he said.

Team D-Max with Bridgestone for the long haul After years of dazzling crowds with daring tricks in Holdens and Toyotas, Australia’s favourite stunt driving team will switch to 16

Stanley Toh, General Manager of Marketing for Bridgestone Australia says that the company is excited to continue its alliance with the team “[t]his continues to be a great partnership for Bridgestone as it combines all the qualities of our tyres in one great spectacle.”

“The fantastic driving skills of Team D-MAX showcase Bridgestone’s legendary durability, performance and safety - even when the cars are driving on the tyre’s sidewalls.” he said.

The D-MAX team are also pleased to continue trusting Bridgestone products for their bold antics “The team has used Bridgestone tyres for decades. They are premium quality and proven under the most extreme conditions so it was very important for us to be able to continue that association,” said Wayne Boatwright, EMG Precision Driving Director.

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“Bridgestone tyres are also fitted as standard equipment on the D-MAX so that’s great for all of us.”

Precision Driving will continue wowing crowds at City and Regional agricultural shows in 2013. The new D-MAX team will make its first appearance of the season at the Royal Canberra Show starting on 22 February. Other upcoming show dates are: March 1-3 Newcastle Show Mar 9-10 Top Gear Festival,

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Freight costs to stabilise in 2013

The cost of moving tyres and wheels between Asia and major European markets is expected to stabilise in 2013 after wild fluctuations in 2012, says the CEO of Suffolk-based freight forwarding company Maritime Cargo Services.

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s fewer goods were imported under economic austerity measures towards the end of 2012, shipping lines reduced capacity accordingly.

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This meant that the cost of moving containers varied greatly over the course of the year, “making costing and budgeting in the tyre industry somewhat challenging,” Mr Shelley said.

Experts are predicting a modest rises in freight rates during the year and an end to the wild variances seen in 2012.

But with global trade expected to creep upwards again in 2013, Shelley expects shipping rates to rise moderately as shippers control their expansion.

Maersk, the world’s biggest carrier, “turned a $600 million loss in Q1 2012 into a profit of half a billion dollars by Q3,” Shelley explains.

By the final quarter of the year, continuing austerity drives across Europe forced the shipping lines to once again fight for market share so carriers have opted instead to simply cut or cancel scheduled shipping voyages in an attempt to restore rates by reducing capacity.

Initial signs suggest that the strategy has worked.

And with global trade expected to expand by 4-6 per cent in 2013, and shipping companies keeping capacity under control, experts are predicting a modest rises in freight rates during the year and an end to the wild variances seen in 2012.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook. He added, “We will continue our aggressive investment in R&D and brand equity enhancement in order to strengthen Hankook’s position as a premium brand and proactively pave our way towards becoming the global top-five tyre company by 2014.”

Record Global Sales for Hankook in 2012 Hankook has reported record sales of 4.97 billion euros in 2012 financial results, signifying an 8.3 per cent increase in sales from the previous year. The company’s operating profit for the same period has risen by 57.9 per cent to 645.6 million euros.

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ankook says that the increases were due to strong demand for Hankook’s UHP tyres and stronger brand equity. Global UHP sales were up 30.2 per cent for the year, while emerging market UHP sales sky rocketed with those in Russia/CIS and Latin America leading the growth, achieving an 86.5 per cent increase from the previous year.

“Despite the stagnant global economic situation, we continued our upward growth trend in 2012 by firmly placing our top priority to deliver the highest tyre quality and performance to our customers around the world,” said Seung

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Apollo’s ‘Safe Drive’ campaign highlights poor tyre maintenance Apollo Tyres latest ‘Safe Drive’ campaign in the Middle East has revealed that tyre care education designed to reduce accident rates is only partly getting through.

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hrough the ‘Safe Drive’ campaign, technical representatives from Apollo have been conducting free checks on car

Of cars checked over 2 weeks in January 2013, 53 per cent of drivers were unaware of the recommended inflation pressure for their vehicles’ tyres tyres and informing motorists how to extend the life of their tyres and help them avoid accidents by teaching proper tyre care.

Of cars checked over 2 weeks in January 2013, 79 per cent of cars had the incorrect inflation pressure; 53 per cent of drivers were unaware of the recommended inflation pressure for their vehicles’ tyres; and, only 20 per cent were aware of the presence of a tread wear indicator on a tyre.

These results are consistent with previous campaigns held by Apollo Tyres in India, Iran, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Goodyear to close plant in France Goodyear has announced plans to close its Amiens North farm and passenger tyre plant.

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he company is also expected to leave the farm tyre business in Europe, Africa and the Middle East in the aftermath of five years of failed labor negotiations aimed at saving at least a portion of the formerly lucrative business.

Goodyear took a $74 million charge against earnings in the fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, bringing losses attributed to the plant and business to at least $230 million, according to an filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Closing Amiens North will eliminate approximately 6 million units of high-cost annual capacity Goodyear said, although production there last year was only 1.3 million units.

The closure is expected to improve Goodyear’s Europe/Middle East/ Africa business unit operating income by approximately $75 million annually.

Green tyres a focus for Michelin’s new China factory Michelin’s $1.5 billion dollar Shenyang facility has been opened, amid expectations that massive growth in vehicle sales in China will help Michelin gain momentum in the lucrative Chinese market.

The Shenyang plant is now Michelin’s largest, with an annual capacity of more than 12 million car, truck and bus tyres. The factory will look to the future, primarily producing high-performance, green tyres, using the group’s latest technologies.

“We have seen the increasing demand for green tyres from discerning Chinese customers” said President of Michelin China, Philippe Verneuil. “Amid such growth, energy conservation and

The Shenyang plant will look to the future, primarily producing high-performance, green tyres. environmental protection have become new trends and considerations for the automotive and related industries. That’s why we have placed heavy investment on having a new factory in Shenyang.”

Growth in the Chinese market is set to be an important part of Michelin’s ambition to double global sales in emerging markets by 2020. The company is expected to open another new factory in China, as well as expanding the production capacity of existing facilities, to boost business development.

In 2009 China toppled the US as the world’s largest car market, with annual registrations reaching 14.5 million in 2011.

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WHAT’S ON TopGear Festival, 9-10 March, Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek Calling all motorsport fans to the first ever Top Gear Festival Sydney!

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osted by UK Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and The Stig, the weekend-long festival will feature two live race circuits with drivers racing some of the world’s most expensive and powerful supercars.

Visitors will be treated to high risk stunts, heart thumping time trials and thrilling challenges, and can even try out their own skills in the Live Action Zones.

The festival will also see Australian Motorsport legend Casey Stoner return to the bike for the first time since his retirement. Stoner will race against fellow Aussie icons Mark Webber and reigning V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup in the Aussie Speed Showdown.

Book your tickets online at www. topgearfestivalsydney.com.au

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22/01/13 17:21 23

Pirelli unveils its 2013 Calendar

The latest edition of the world’s most famous tyre calendar has been launched in Rio de Janeiro.

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ith photographer Steve McCurry at the helm, the calendar has taken on a distinctly different flavour, with requisite celebrity subjects appearing fully clothed and the focus firmly on the Brazilian backdrop.

The 40th edition of the Calendar was shot over two weeks on the streets of Rio. McCurry said he felt privileged to photograph the bustling mecca “I tried to portray Brazil, its landscape, its economy and its culture, along with the human

element,” he said “for me photography is an important expressive means to tell large and small stories of daily life.”

The resulting work showcases ordinary people as well as models, who were selected on the basis of their commitment to humanitarian and charitable causes. When asked about his decision to dispense with the Calendar’s customary nudity, McCurry explained that he “wanted to photograph…women known not only for their talent and beauty, but also for their charitable work and contributions to their communities.”

The models appearing in the 2013 Calendar include Brazil’s Isabeli Fontana and Adriana Lima, actress Sonia Braga and singer Marisa Monte; Italian-Egyptian actress Elisa Sednaoui and American models Karlie Kloss, Kyleigh Kuhn and Summer Rayne Oakes

HEEL EASY WENT FITM OR! SELECT OW! ONLINE N

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STOCKS LAUNCH IN AUSTRALIA Bringing together the best from Hunter and Corghi In a move that brings together two of the world’s most respected wheel service equipment brands Hunter and Corghi, Stocks Automotive (Aust) has positioned themselves to offer quality products at competitive prices with unmatched after sales service and support.

“For many years Hunter and Corghi have fought head-to-head for market share in Australia,” said Phil Goodwin, General Manager, Stocks Automotive Australia Pty Ltd. But now Tyre Service Centre’s, New Vehicle Dealerships, Suspension Specialists and Automotive Workshops will be able to mixand-match the best equipment from each brand and enjoy the convenience of sourcing them from a single supplier.

There is little doubt that both Hunter and Corghi have built their individual reputations on being technically advanced, innovative

in design and of premium quality, so in bringing them together STOCKS have the premium of wheel service equipment in Australia.

In addition STOCKS will also supply Hunter Brake Lathes, Alignment Racks, Inspection Equipment and a range of quality 2 and 4 Post Vehicle Lifts.

“Since the decision was made to launch STOCKS late last year, we have been busy and are happy to announce that we have already invested heavily to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support the automotive industry Australia wide,” explained Phil.

the Hunter brand and for delivering after sales service and support that is second to none.

“Our team of dedicated and knowledgeable sales and service specialists will be supported by our 1300 National hotline and we’re confident that we’ll set new standards when it comes to the supply and fit out of Tyre Service Centre’s, Dealerships and Workshops to increase productivity, speed up throughput, which in turn increases profits,” added Phil.

To find out more call the team at STOCKS on 1300 267 444, visit www.stocksauto.com.au Visit our stand, #N18, at the AAAA expo.

Anyone who has been around the Tyre and Automotive industry for a period of time will have certainly either met or heard of Phil’s reputation and will understand his passion for

Made in USA

www.stocksauto.com.au 1300 267 444

Made in Italy 25

NCAST/071

QUALITY WHEEL SERVICE EQUIPMENT

SPORTS Michelin dominates Dakar following three-year commitment Michelin has begun its three-year commitment to the Dakar Rally as it means to go on, with Michelin tyres fitted to victors in the Car, Bike and Truck categories of the famous race.

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t’s good news for the tyre maker, having just signed a three-year deal to become the rally’s technical partner.

Pascal Couasnon, director of the Michelin Group’s Competition Division, explains that commitment to Dakar is motivated by research and development: “as a technical partner of the Dakar,

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Michelin hopes to bring benefit to the highest possible number of motorists, motorcyclists and transport companies through the experience it gains in this notoriously difficult event.”

Running from Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile, the roughly 5,000-mile 14-stage race followed the Pacific Ocean south, sweeping inland into parts of Argentina. As ever, competitors were challenged with extreme off-highway conditions which included huge sand dunes, rock strewn desert roads, deep river crossings and high mountains treks.

Michelin used the 2013 race to illustrate its road safety and environmental positions.

Stéphane Peterhansel (X-Raid-run ALL4 Racing MINI) drove on Michelin tyres to claim his fifth victory in the Car category. The Motorbike category was taken out by favourite Cyril Despres, who claimed his fifth victory with the KTM/Michelin team, finishing ahead of Ruben Faria, Chaleco Lopez, Ivan Jakes and Joan Pedredo, making it an all-KTM/Michelin top five. Russian Team Kamaz swept the truck category on Michelin tyres.

But it wasn’t just about competition.

Michelin used the 2013 race to illustrate its road safety and environmental positions, drawing up “ten golden rules of good driving” for South American motorists in association with the FIA. In addition, Michelin recovered all of the tyres used by its teams for environmental purposes; 58 per cent have been allocated to help in energy production processes and the remaining 42 per cent will be used in the production of asphalt and other surface materials.

SPORTS

New Pirelli F1 tyres promise more overtaking, pit stops Pirelli’s new F1 tyres are set to make an impression, promising more overtaking action in the 2013 season.

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he Italian tyre maker has unveiled its P Zero dry weather and Cinturato wet weather ranges, saying that the tyres have been completely revolutionised to fit in with team requirements and the latest rules from the F1’s governing body, the FIA. Compounds on the new tyres have been made softer, structures are more flexible and shoulders have been reinforced. Pirelli says that these three innovations, designed to work closely together, will improve performance and increase thermal degradation, to ensure at least two pit stops per race and open up more strategic options for all the teams. In addition, aesthetic changes have been made to the tyres’ sidewall, with striking 28 28

“The goal is to continuously set new challenges for the drivers and to ensure that all the teams start the new season on a level playing field when it comes to the tyres”. orange replacing the silver used to denote a hard compound tyre.

Pirelli says that with softer compounds, the 2013 F1 tyres will reach peak operating temperature faster and deliver lap times that are around 0.5 seconds faster than last year. In fact, the new hard tyre, the PZero Orange, is roughly equivalent to last year’s medium compound.

Yet while tyre sidewalls are softer this year, the shoulders are stronger.

The effect of this is faster thermal degradation while the tyre’s peak performance window is extended.

Traction is also improved which will mean faster lap times, especially on the exit of corners and in combined

traction areas, from braking to acceleration and vice versa.

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery said the 2013 series of tyres continues the policy of evolution adopted by Pirelli in 2011.

“The goal is to continuously set new challenges for the drivers and to ensure that all the teams start the new season on a level playing field when it comes to the tyres” In the 2012 season, teams were able to learn the intricacies of their tyres, so after having seven different winners from the first seven starts, the season became progressively less competitive, with many teams opting for only one pit stop per race. As a result, many teams asked Pïrelli to continue to develop their tyres in order to provide them with a fresh challenge.

“Our 2013 range of tyres mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race” said Hembrey.

And teams are likely to get their wish. Pre-season testing has shown the performance gap between different compounds to be in excess of 0.5 seconds per lap.

This combined with faster thermal degradation will encourage overtaking throughout each race and hopefully make F1 racing even more exciting for spectators in 2013.

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SPORTS Dunlop announces alternate fuel source motorsport partnership Dunlop is calling on 125 years of tyre manufacturing experience to look for sustainable tyre solutions in the world of motorsport.

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unlop used the Dubai 24 hour race to announce that the company is shifting part of its focus to supporting fuel efficiencies and alternative sources of energy on the race track and on the road.

Jean-Felix Bazelin, General Manager of Dunlop Motorsport told reporters that motorsport provides a perfect testing ground for products designed

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for greater fuel efficiency. He said this is evidenced by the increasing number of alternate fuel races, cars and initiatives appearing on race tracks around the world.

Sebastien Montet, Race Design and Development Manager for Dunlop Motorsport explains the challenges for tyre designers to overcome when working in this area.

For its part, Dunlop is embarking on a tyre supply deal with GreenGT H2, the first hydrogen fuel cell Le Mans car which will compete for the first time at Le Mans in 2013.

This is the company’s first significant entry into the development of electric and hydrogen powered race cars, but it will not be the last.

“With vehicles such as the GreenGT H2 we need to think about the vehicle weight, different engine characteristics and an improvement in fuel efficiency.

A change in vehicle weight will mean an increase in the forces carried by the tyre, and different engine torque characteristics mean the tyres require an increase in longitudinal stiffness�.

There is an increasing number of alternate fuel races, cars and initiatives appearing on race tracks around the world.

However, in addition to challenges, there are gains to be made. By developing tyres with lower rolling resistance Dunlop is aiming to help improve fuel efficiency in race cars, eliminating excess fuel weight and maximizing the number of laps between pit stops. It is hoped that these advances will one day translate to road cars, making the dreaded petrol station pit stop a less regular and less costly occurrence for motorists.

Pirelli launches e-learning for dealer training Pirelli has launched an online version of Pirelli Tyre Campus, aimed at helping its dealers become better tyre consultants for their customers.

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hrough the e-learning program users engage in a step-by-step educational process using videos, interactive sessions and engaging tests about the manufacturer and its products.

Pirelli UK managing director Dominic Sandivasci said “the new e-learning training platform will create a consistent level of understanding amongst consultants and is aimed at increasing product knowledge through a fun, interactive system.

This will, in turn, help to raise standards within the industry, improve the interaction with the end user and ultimately help to drive premium sales.”

Users of the Pirelli Tyre Campus can create their own tailored training plan.

And by completing the program, users will be able to obtain certified dealer status, which will appear in the dealer locator on the Pirelli website.

Advertorial

Summit Tyres Australia Adds to its Portfolio Summit Tyres Australia has been named the exclusive Australian distributor for the TELSTAR range of Sport Utility & Four Wheel Drive tyres.

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elstar has been a leader in the replacement tyre market and a key product supplier for independent tyre dealers throughout North America for over 40 years.

Telstar’s range includes more than 35 sizes dedicated to the SUV and 4WD market.

“With the continued growth in the 4WD segment, it has never been more important

to offer consumers a complete range of after-market tyre options” said Director of Summit Tyres Australia, Koji Aoyama.

Summit Tyres will initially offer five Telstar product lines; from the off-road specialist, MUD CLAW M/T to the highway professional, TURBOSTAR HTR TOUR. Summit’s range will also include the brand new WILDTRAC LTR MAX, which has been described as the ‘next generation’ of all-terrain tyre, combining refined ride quality with rugged design.

Telstar is guided by core principles of Performance, Engineering, Quality & Value, which My Aoyama says aligns closely with the Summit Tyres philosophy. He says: “Providing our dealer base with high quality tyres at great value has been Summit’s goal since it commenced wholesale operations.”

For more information on SUMITOMO or TELSTAR tyres contact SUMMIT TYRES AUSTRALIA on 13000 SUMMIT or 03 9375 5600 or email: sales@summittyres.com.au 31

The indusTry super fund for The auTomoTive indusTry.

www.mtaasuper.com.au motor Trades association of australia superannuation fund pty Ltd (aBn 14 008 650 628, afsL 238 718) is the Trustee of mTaa superannuation fund (aBn 74 559 365 913). you should consider whether or not mTaa super is appropriate for you. The mTaa super product disclosure statement (pds) can be obtained by calling us on 1300 362 415. you should consider the pds in making a decision.

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