Australian Tyre Dealer - April & May - Online Edition

Australian Tyre Dealer | vol. 21 | issue 2 | Apr/May 2012

Visit corghi.com or call 1300 CORGHI

CONTENTS TD is a publication of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) and is endorsed by the Australian Tyre Dealers and Retreaders Association (ATDRA) 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 EDITOR Michael Taylor ART DIRECTOR Peter Richardson ADVERTISING Jeff Dunlop Telephone: 07 3237 8777 Mobile: 0422 075 007 Facsimile: 07 3844 4488 Email: jeffd@mtaq.com.auu

3.

editors word

FEATUREs 4.

Tyre systems may aid compliance

20. A look at tyre balancing

Industry News 6.

Deverich achieves Michelin top marks

Legal tangle prohibits use of own name

7.

Cracked wheel studs prompt recall

8.

Gibson tyre tech dispute settled

Apollo in the mix at prestigious tyre test

9.

Firenza light truck, van tyre gains ground

Presidential hopeful promises

Bob Jane in fight to use his own name, p.6

to boost inflation 10. Personal Property Securities Register now in effect 12. Drivers continue to flout tyre safety

Deverich Making tyre geniuses

13. Titan: Startups, acquisitions

Personal Property Securities Register enables comprehensive car checks, p. 10

and joint ventures

Drastic cost reductions the goal at Michelin

14. Weathering the EU financial storm 15. Sierra Leone to supply rubber for China 16. Silica-rich tread compound

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

improves handling and grip

Unacceptable conditions result in boycott

17. Indian tyre industry supports one million people

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

18. Consumers pick ‘wet grip’ as main factor in tyre choice

Indian tyre industry supports one million people, p. 17

Deeply offended by ‘callous’ action

19. Manufacturing costs on par with China MTA-Queensland ABN: 740 289 338 48

Innovation “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.

24. Michelin moto expands range 27. Eye catching ruby red tyres 28. Stack Ltd diversifies across several automotive disciplines

Sport 30. MotoGP tyres for 2012 being finalised 32. Renault adorned by Bridgestone UHPs

Maxxis signage seen by millions

Descendants of tyre makers cry foul on behalf on workers, p. 18 1

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Editor’s word

E

Michael Taylor Editor

uropean trucking companies are under enormous pressure to conform to EU mandates, specifically with respect to reducing carbon emissions – and many are worried they may be out of business within eight years due to increasing environmental regulations unless substantial progress towards improving fleet fuel efficiency occurs (page 4). Goodyear Dunlop offers recommendations to reduce emissions and improve efficiencies, including making TPMS mandatory on all new heavy-duty vehicles. Tyre makers would be watching all of this unfold with great interest; how will the new regulations affect tyre design, and how far reaching will like-legislation reach the rest of the world?

consumers a clearer picture of a car’s history (page 10). The PPSR confirms whether the basic vehicle description information (make, model, colour, etc.) is consistent with the national registration database; if a third party (i.e., bank or lender) has a financial interest in the vehicle; if the vehicle is recorded as stolen; whether the vehicle has ever been declared a total loss (i.e., write-off) as a result of damage induced by a collision, fire, water inundation, other weather event, malicious action, dismantling or stripping.

With the European tyre labeling laws becoming mandatory later this year, an online survey yielded some interesting results (page 18), namely covering what are the most important qualities of a tyre as perceived by the consumer.

The vast number of tyre manufacturers in China is adding to the country’s thirst for more rubber. It’s estimated that this year, China will produce 750,000 tonnes of natural rubber yet at the same time will consume 3,610,000 tonnes (page 15). Thus, China is looking abroad and signed a $1.1 billion deal with the West African nation of Sierra Leone, which has begun phase one in a 30,000 hectare rubber plantation that will expand to 135,000 hectares over the next six years.

In Australia, The Personal Property Securities Register has been in effect since early this year, which gives

In exchange, the Sierra Leone government will hold a ten percent share in the project.

HEEL EASY WENT FITM OR! SELECT

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European trucking companies are under enormous pressure to conform to EU mandates, specifically with respect to reducing carbon emissions.

Tyre systems may aid compl C

urrently trucks carry approximately three-quarters of all freight transported in Europe and road freight is projected to grow a further 60 per cent over the coming three decades. Yet all is not blue skies and smooth sailing within the sector.

According to a report published by Goodyear Dunlop, as many as 15 per cent of European hauliers worry they may be out of business within eight years due to increasing environmental regulations unless substantial progress towards improving fleet fuel efficiency occurs. The 44-page document, titled The Road to 2020, was released in tandem with a fleet symposium the tyre maker staged in Brussels on 25 January.

In its introduction, Goodyear Dunlop Europe president Arthur de Bok and EMEA Commercial Business Unit vice-president Michel Rzonzef jointly state the report’s aim is to “help fleets better understand, and therefore better prepare for the needs of the road transport industry in 2020 and beyond.” Based upon research gleaned from more than 400 small, large, long and regional haul fleet operators across the UK and six other key European markets, the information within The Road to 2020 is intended to offer fresh insights into how Europe’s fleets are preparing to overcome the dual challenges of rising fuel prices 4

and increased political pressure to reduce carbon emissions.

Amongst the pertinent facts within the report is the disclosure that 30 per cent of European fleets currently have no plans in place to respond to upcoming European CO2 regulation that are scheduled to be implemented in the coming decade. And while the majority of fleets are addressing this issue, the great hope is that industry and policy-makers can aid them in achieving greater efficiency.

The greatest motivator for achieving better fuel efficiency is EU incentives – 35 per cent of fleet operators state they want the European Union to invest in fuel-efficient technology and development programs. A further 26 per cent of fleet operators believe modelling tools that predict lifetime fuel and cost savings of potential equipment purchases would help, while 18 per cent look to pan-European legislation that incentivises efficient fleet management as a source of additional motivation.

“The road freight sector is facing enormous pressure to help meet Europe’s ambitious climate change targets, but despite their commitment to fuel economy, we found many fleets could be better prepared to handle the cost and operational impacts of a potential carbon regulation,” said Michel Rzonzef.

liance “The research confirmed that the overwhelming majority of fleets already have robust fuel efficiency measures in place, and therefore struggle to see what else they can do to improve efficiency and lower carbon emissions to achieve even stronger goals.

per cent of EU energy consumption comes from renewable resources by 2020 and reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent through greater energy efficiency. A fifth of all fleets are unsure as to whether any further savings can be made at all.

“Low rolling resistance tyres are one option to improve a fleet’s fuel efficiency amongst others, such as eco-driving training for truck drivers, improved logistics, route planning and aerodynamics on vehicles,” he added.

Goodyear Dunlop notes that fleets based in countries with lower fuel prices express greater optimism. In both Poland and Spain, where fuel costs are below the EU average, a fifth of fleets are confident they can achieve a 20 per cent further efficiency savings by 2020. In the UK, however, where fuel prices are higher than the European average, a third of fleets claim they have done all they can to improve fuel efficiency, and no more savings can be made.

With prices at the pump rising and two in five fleets reporting they are under customer pressure to ‘green’ their operations, it is unsurprising that 69 per cent of European fleets today are working toward self-imposed fuel savings targets and 92 per cent regularly measure their fuel consumption as a way of monitoring costs. Just fewer than 70 per cent of fleets have instituted driver training/incentive programmes to improve fuel economy, while 42 per cent have switched to more fuel-efficient tyres.

Yet 52 per cent of fleets believe they won’t be able to improve fuel efficiency by more than a further ten per cent. And only a tenth of those studied think that the sector can achieve the efficiency targets outlined in the EU’s 20-20-20 low-carbon commitments, namely reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, ensuring 20

Based on its findings, Goodyear Dunlop calls on policy-makers to consider the following recommendations to help the commercial road transport sector reduce emissions and improve efficiency: Making TPMS mandatory on all new heavy duty vehicles; investing in improved tyre pressure monitoring technology for heavy duty vehicles; offering incentives to fleet operators who invest in aerodynamic improvements or purchase tyres that achieve A, B, C grades for rolling resistance and wet grip on the EU tyre label; adjusting EU restrictions on weight and height for heavy duty vehicles to improve efficiency.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Deverich achieves Michelin top marks Victorian company becomes the first Michelin accredited Recamic retread factory in the State.

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averton-based tyre expert Deverich is the first Michelin accredited Recamic retread factory in Victoria to be awarded Michelin Quality Systems accreditation.

“Deverich has met the highest standard of safety, manufacturing, training and environmental consciousness that Michelin expects to ensure the delivery of quality retreaded tyres,” said Colin Brown, Michelin Retread Manager Australia/ New Zealand.

“Deverich has worked closely with Michelin to implement and maintain the new retreading standards required.

This means they now have access to the very latest in Michelin branded tread

“Through the accreditation process attached to the Michelin Quality Systems, Michelin is raising the bar in truck and bus tyre retreading.” patterns that are exclusively available for use on Michelin casings - in effect they are now able to ‘remanufacture’ the Michelin casing.

“Through the accreditation process attached to the Michelin Quality Systems, Michelin is raising the bar in truck and bus tyre retreading.

“Michelin has set the standard required to become an accredited retread factory incredibly high to ensure we deliver our customers the best possible product.

“I congratulate the team at Deverich on achieving this accreditation and welcome our new partnership with them.

“The Michelin Retread product incorporates the latest tyre technology to deliver significant benefits to truck and bus operators. Utilising the Michelin Multi-Life Strategy, Michelin Retread offers operators 6

the lowest cost of ownership, improved safety, high quality and increased reliability backed by Michelin Technical support.

“Operators will also be able to make fuel savings and reduce their environmental impact. Our Quality Systems process, meanwhile, ensures that the standard and quality that the service operators receive matches that of our products,” Mr. Brown concluded.

Legal tangle prohibits use of own name Bob Jane is unable to use his own name to market his tyres; ongoing dispute and legal tangle to continue in forseeable future.

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he name Bob Jane has been one of the most recognisable in the Australian tyre trade for several decades. Now the 82-yearold former racing driver and founder of the Bob Jane T-Marts fast fit chain faces restrictions on using the name he was born with.

In February a legal injunction preventing Bob Jane from using his name to boost his business interests was lifted by the Federal Court in Melbourne. The injunction was applied for last year by his former T-Marts company, Bob Jane Corporation, which is now run by Jane’s son Rodney.

Bob Jane Corporation claimed the online company set up by Bob Jane infringed on the Bob Jane T-Marts trademark and misled customers by using the Bob Jane name. After the injunction took effect Bob Jane changed the website’s domain name from bobjaneglobal.com to webtyre. net and posted notices on the

site stating it has no affiliation with Bob Jane T-Marts.

While the injunction has now been lifted, Bob Jane is still not permitted to use his name to sell tyres. Jane described the court’s decision as a “moderate win.”

How did Bob Jane find himself in a position where his own name was off limits? Jane’s initial legal position in relation to using the Bob Jane name was weakened by advice he received from a man named Malcolm McClure. Although not a lawyer, McClure supplied Jane with legal advice that has been called “damaging” and led to Jane losing tens of thousands of dollars.

Federal Court judge Justice Anthony North described McClure as a “menace” with a fiendish hold over Bob Jane, a man who unconscionably brought down Jane and business partner Denis Rigon with his advice.

“They trusted a charlatan…they trusted

an incompetent, ignorant charlatan,” North said.

Information on McClure’s relationship with Bob Jane and the basis for his legal advice is murky. Kate Kornacki, a solicitor for Bob Jane, said McClure refused to provide her with background on his qualifications or training; however the Herald Sun newspaper reports an affidavit from McClure says he never claimed to be a solicitor, and that his interests lie in medicine, law, religion and the study of “fractal mathematics of genetic codes.”

In his affidavit, McClure also stated “I often speak to Mr. Jane about his church of the Great God and support the good work he does in his benevolence.” The case regarding Bob Jane’s dispute with son Rodney and the Bob Jane Corporation will be heard in court later this year.

Cracked wheel studs prompt recall Faulty wheel studs result in Ford recalling approximately 130,000 midsize sedans.

In response to a US federal inquiry, Ford is recalling nearly 130,000 of its midsize Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans.

The recall covers 2010 through 2011 Fusions and Milans built with 17-inch steel wheels that were equipped with faulty wheel studs.

Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that the wheel studs could crack, which could cause the wheel to fall off of the vehicle. At the very least, Ford says that drivers could experience some wheel vibration as a result of the faulty lug nuts.

Fusions and Milans included in the recall were built between April 1 and 30, 2009 and between December 1, 2009 and November 13, 2010.

Ford says that the recall includes an inspection and, if necessary, a replacement of the cars’ brake discs and lug nuts.

In total, Ford says its recall includes 128,616 vehicles.

The recall began on January 24, 2012.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Gibson tyre tech dispute settled Mel Gibson settles for undisclosed amount in tyre tech legal wrangle

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elebrity news and gossip site tmz.com reports Mel Gibson has settled the tyre tech-related lawsuit brought against him by Nader Sherif. The settlement involves Gibson’s payment of an undisclosed sum to Sherif, and further details have not been made public.

The actor’s problems with Sherif date back to 2007, when it was claimed Gibson began “soliciting” him to invest in Malaysia-based Green Rubber, a company engaged in developing a rubber devulcanisation technology.

Gibson allegedly discussed the issue repeatedly until Sherif was won over and invested US$200,000 in Green Rubber shares. The situation turned ugly when Sherif attempted to dispense with his shares a year later and claimed Gibson had reneged on his promise of repurchasing the shares at their original price should Green Rubber refuse to repurchase them.

Sherif ’s lawsuit, lodged against Gibson in June 2011, stated, “in breach of his contract with Plaintiff, Gibson has refused to purchase Plaintiff ’s shares, which has caused and continues to cause

Plaintiff and his family damage and serious financial hardship.”

Sherif ’s lawsuit sought $200,000 plus interest at the maximum legal rate from Gibson.

Apollo in the mix at prestigious tyre test In a recent tyre test, India’s Apollo Amazer 3G Maxx displayed very competitive marks.

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he latest tyre tests produced by German motoring association ADAC, in partnership with OAMTC (the Austrian equivalent) were dominated by tyres produced by Continental. But there were also surprisingly strong performances from emerging and second line brands such as Apollo and Barum set against a disappointing result for Infinity.

Continental’s ContiEcoContact 5 topped almost all of the dry, wet, noise and tread wear categories that were ranked with an overall score of 1.9 (the lower the score the better).

However, Michelin’s Energy Saver came a close second, with 2.0. Just another 10 per cent behind this, third place was taken by Pirelli’s Cinturato P1 with a score of 2.2.

What is arguably more surprisingly than three of the world’s top five tyre manufacturers taking the podium in this test is the fact that Apollo’s Amazer 3G Maxx scored almost as highly as the Pirelli tyre, commanding an impressive score of 2.3. With dry performance equal with the Michelin and comparable with the other top three tyres and with evenly balanced wet performance and tyre wear, the only thing to let the Apollo Amazer down was its noise rating which at 3.7 was the highest in the test.

The Barum Brillantis 2 was the last of the top five of the test to receive ADAC’s four-star “very The latest ranking recommendable” exercise pitted fifteen rating. With an overall 165/70 R14, fifteen score of 2.4 the testers Apollo Amazer 3G Maxx more 205/55 R16 V praised the product for and seven 215/55 R16 its dry performance.

H SUV tyres against each other.

Other tyres such as Goodyear’s Although the 205/55 R16 test DuraGrip, the Fulda EcoControl, was a three-way tie between the Yokohama’s BluEarth, the Dunlop ContiPremiumContact 5, the SP Street Response, the Hankook Goodyear Optigrip and the Dunlop Kinergy Eco K425, Kumho’s Solus SP Sport FastResponse, the German KH17, Firestone’s Multihawk and Hannover-based automotive Semperit comfort-Life 2 all scored supplier was the only tyre comparable grades overall to the manufacturer to produce products Apollo and Barum. However due placing first in all three tests. to the fact that their scores were Perhaps the best result was achieved less balanced and demonstrated in the 165/70 R14T test, where some weaknesses in particular areas,

ADAC only awarded these tyres with the three-star “recommendable” rating.

At the bottom end of the chart two Chinese tyres completed the rankings – the GT-Radial Champiro Eco and the Infinity INF-030. However this observation alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Firstly it has to be pointed out that the Champiro Eco won ADAC’s three-star “recommendable” rating and achieved a strong fuel consumption and tyre wear score. According to ADAC, the wet performance was the weakness that pushed this tyre down to an overall score of 2.6, hence its ranking.

Infinity on the other hand will no-doubt be disappointed to see its INF-030 tyre bringing up the rear. Despite the fact the tyre beat every other product in the 165/70 R14 T test by some way when it came to tread wear and showed good dry characteristics, the results show that the tyre’s wet performance (which scored 5.2) was off the pace.

This brought the average down and was deemed to far enough wide of the mark to be awarded the dreaded one-star “not recommendable” rating. Nevertheless Infinity representatives were quick to point out that the INF-030 is a relatively old product that is due to be replaced with an updated line called Ecosis, that is due for release around May/June this year.

Firenza light truck, van tyre gains ground Steady European growth is forecasted for Firenza.

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ow well established in the UK and European market sectors, the Firenza SV053 light truck and van tyre, manufactured by Singapore based Stamford Tyre International, offers a pattern designed using Japanese technology, the company says.

“Our transition into the light commercial and van market has proved to be really successful and during the course of 2012 Firenza will be looking to maintain steady growth pattern in this competitive sector,” said Rob Henderson, Firenza business manager for the UK and Europe.

The SV053 tyre provides improved grip in wet conditions, high mileage and a tread pattern, which gives a comfortable, quiet ride, Stamford says. The SV053 offers full European popular dimensions and is currently available in 21 sizes including 65 and 75 series. Stamford says that development is on going, and the company plans to expand the range further with additional sizes.

Presidential hopeful promises to boost inflation A tyre is attempting to take up residency in the White House, promising inflation for all.

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hillip the Tyre, official mascot of the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s “Be Tyre Smart—Play Your P.A.R.T.” tyre safety program, has announced he will seek the US presidency in 2012.

The theme of Phillip’s campaign will be “America Needs Inflation”—proper tyre inflation to make motorists safer, conserve energy and save money.

“I will fight to the finish to boost inflation for all Americans,” Phillip said in an RMA press release. “No one knows the benefits of inflation better than me.”

Phillip kicked off his campaign in New Hampshire for the January 10 primary there, followed by a series of campaign appearances across America.

Phillip’s campaign video can be found at www.YouTube.com/betyresmart/RMA.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Personal Property Securities Register now in effect A new national vehicle check will make it easier for consumers to get a clear picture of a car’s history.

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ustralia’s expert body on vehicle crime, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC), in late January welcomed the introduction of the national Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR).

NMVTRC Chairman, David Morgan said that the PPSR marks a red-letter day for used car buyers.

“For the first time consumers and motor traders will have easy, low-cost access to a true one-stop-shop to check the history of any used vehicle they may be considering buying,” he said.

“Importantly, the PPSR also

completes a vital element of the NMVTRC’s strategy to combat the activities of car criminals and fraudsters who try to misrepresent the vehicle’s true identity,” he added.

While some vehicle status information has been available from encumbrance registers and registration agencies, Mr. Morgan said they have generally been limited to state based checks rather than a single, national ‘source of the truth’. As a consequence, they have been generally greatly under-utilised by consumers.

Mr. Morgan explained that

“For the first time consumers and motor traders will have easy, low-cost access to a true one-stop-shop to check the history of any used vehicle.”

the PPSR would confirm: • Basic vehicle description information (e.g. make, model, colour, etc.) is consistent with the national registration database • If a third party, such as a bank or other lender, has a financial interest in the vehicle • Whether the vehicle is recorded as stolen; and • Whether the vehicle has ever been declared a total loss (i.e. write-off) as a result of damage induced by a collision, fire, water inundation, other weather event, malicious action, dismantling or stripping.

A written-off vehicle is one that has been assessed as being too expensive to repair, or too damaged for safe repair. Mr. Morgan said that written-off status is a vital piece of information because criminals may use the identity of a write-off to disguise the true identity of a stolen vehicle, or rebuild the write-off with stolen parts.

He explained that there was considerable evidence that some re-registered write-offs had been repaired by non-expert repairers and may pose potential reliability and safety issues.

The NMVTRC estimates that there are more than 1.4 million private-to-private sales every year, but only around one-third of buyers have checked the vehicle’s history because it has been just too hard.

According to Mr. Morgan, the new service will make such checks much simpler and affordable.

“No one would buy a house without making the available provenance checks,” he said.

“The PPSR will now offer used car buyers peace of mind before they hand over their hard earned cash,” he added.

The PPSR is an initiative of the Australian Government.

An on-line check will cost $3.70 at www.ppsr.gov.au.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Drivers continue to flout tyre safety many drivers only replace their tyres when they are told that they are breaking the law.

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ccording to a UK-based vehicle hire website, 14.6 per cent of British motorists admit retaining the tyres on their cars until they fail the annual vehicle check test (the ‘MOT’) or are flagged as illegal during vehicle servicing.

The website, VanRental. co.uk, did not specify the size or makeup of the survey group, however founder Roland Head states the results “highlight the

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casual attitude taken by many motorists towards tyre safety.”

The survey found that a further 47.8 per cent of motorists drive their car’s tyres down to the 1.6mm legal limit before they replace them and only 37.7 per cent claimed they replaced tyres when tread depth reaches 3mm.

Attitudes towards winter safety were equally relaxed. Only 6.8 per cent of those surveyed said they would definitely fit winter tyres during the 2012 season, while a further 21.8 per cent answered “maybe” to the winter tyre question. And when it comes to tyre pressure, 6.5 per cent of respondents said they “never” check tyre pressure, while 29 per cent admitted doing so less than once a month.

“Your tyres are the only thing that keeps you in control of your car, yet many motorists only pay attention to the condition of their tyres when the law forces them to,” said Mr. Head.

Deverich Making tyre geniuses Bridgestone develops a comprehensive tyre training programme.

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hose wishing for a greater mastery over the tyre business may benefit from a new bespoke training course Bridgestone UK is starting to roll out. The tyre maker says it intends to create industry-renowned ‘tyre geniuses’ with expertise across all aspects of the tyre sector through its training, which it calls the Genius Training Development programme.

According to Bridgestone, the Genius Training Development programme is the first of its kind to provide a clearly defined development structure and is the most comprehensive of its type within the industry. The programme

The tyre maker says it intends to create industry-renowned ‘tyre geniuses’ with expertise across all aspects of the tyre sector through its Genius Training Development programme. was launched on 31 January, with 30 people from a broad spectrum of tyre companies taking part in the inaugural training sessions.

Bridgestone explains that the training has been configured to cover all aspects related to the tyre industry, including sales and tyre technology as well as finance, marketing and people development.

The end aim is to produce tyre specialists capable of dealing with all aspects of the industry and providing outstanding customer service.

“Most retail tyre training is organised on ad-hoc basis which tends to be specific to individual customers; this takes a high number of staff away from the business, which in these very challenging times can have a major impact financially,” said Steve Howat, Training and Audit manager at Bridgestone UK. “It also often leads to a weakened training value as there is no clear progression structure for staff.

“With the Genius Training Development programme the learning is split into 12 individual courses over two years allowing the lessons learned to be reinforced over time and form a valuable day to day working knowledge,” he explained.

Drastic cost reductions the goal at Michelin Michelin goes on the offensive in targeting inefficiencies; hopes to cut over one billion dollars in operating costs.

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roup Michelin hopes to trim as much as $1.4 billion out of its operating costs in the coming five years through internal austerity and efficiency measures, according to Managing Partner Jean-Dominique Senard.

Titan: Startups, acquisitions and joint ventures Titan begins global expansion via a mix of business plans that will expand its wheels, tyres and track components arms.

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itan International Inc. plans to start ramping up its Titan Mining Services business this month with sites in Australia, Brazil and Africa to complement the existing service site in Fort MacKay, Alberta Canada.

full bore” into this venture and will be spending a “lot of money” on it. He did not specify Titan’s projected investment in setting up the service network, which started last year in the Canadian oil sands mining district in partnership with Saskatoon Wholesale Tyre Ltd. Mr. Taylor did not say how many service points Titan expects to open this year, but said the service network would be global, except for Russia.

Mr. Taylor said Titan would consider a variety of options for ramping up this business, including start-ups, acquisitions and joint ventures.

That amount of cost trimming represents a cut of about 5 to 6 percent of costs, according to figures presented.

Mr. Senard said Michelin is looking to trim $275 million to $415 million from selling, general and administrative costs, $275 million from raw materials costs and $700 million to $835 million from efficiencies in manufacturing and transportation/logistics. These three areas represented more than $26 billion in costs last year.

Mr. Senard said Michelin expects to achieve these savings through “drastically improving efficiencies” in its various operating areas.

He said the program started several months ago.

Titan announced the formation of the mining services business last June, saying it would be able to take advantage of the company’s engineering expertise on wheels, tyres and track components.

Titan Chairman and CEO Maurice Taylor Jr. told the Tyre Industry Association’s (TIA) Off-The-Road Tyre Conference in Rancho Mirage California that is “going 13

INDUSTRY NEWS Weathering the EU financial storm The European financial crisis has seen many businesses go under; however there are many positive examples of success - including a UK tyre wholesaler, Stapletons.

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n Europe, as 2012 continues to roll on there is no certain sign to economic pressures that blighted 2011 lifting any time soon. On the contrary, with the financial confusion surrounding the Eurozone and with credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s threatening to downgrade any of the 17 countries associated with it, there are still many challenges ahead.

That said it was apparently a good year for some.

In the UK the tyre business appears to remain as fragmented as ever.

According

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to research produced by Plimsoll, the market is polarised between those getting it right and those struggling to recover.

David Pattison, author of the 2012 Plimsoll Analysis, explained that having taken stock of the market heading into 2012, they found 178 companies in a perilous state and clinging on for dear life.

However, there are still green shoots in the market with the number of companies rated as ‘Strong’, rising to 425. Pattison said that these companies were rated as ‘Strong’ in the latest report and congratulations was due to them.

“They have managed to be commercially successful without jeopardising their financial stability,” he said.

“While others fail around them, they are in pole position to capitalise in 2012,” he explained.

One such company that is continuing to weather the storm is leading wholesaler Stapleton’s, which won the 2011 TAFF (Tyre & Fast Fit Award) for wholesaler of the year for the second year running.

Asked to what he felt the company could attribute this success to, managing director Yutaka Kimbara said that whilst tough times do exist, he

believes the way his company has weathered this climate is testament to the genuine value their retailers get from the ‘working for the customer’ philosophy.

“As much as we’d like to, it’s not always possible to absorb the impact of the price and supply volatility we’ve been experiencing - but our constant commitment to delivering an ever more seamless, efficient and competitive service pays dividends in customer loyalty, as this latest TAFF award proves,” he said.

Key developments of the company include the acquisition of the North East’s largest tyre and exhaust distributor, North Eastern Tyre and Exhaust (NETE), back in February 2011. NETE’s processes and people have already been integrated with Stapleton’s existing team and operational philosophy.

NETE brings on board a large logistical contribution, including 75 more delivery vans, six new warehouses (Leeds, Sheffield, Knaresborough, Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Newcastle) and a stockholding of 225,000 tyres. Combined with Stapleton’s existing stock that means a total of 1.2 million tyres at any given time.

At the same time Stapleton’s there has also been change in Stapleton’s product offering.

According to the company, these days, it’s not just premium brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Pirelli and Michelin that Stapleton’s customers ask for by name - it’s private and exclusive brands like Prestivo, Matador, Kleber, Nexen and Primewell. And, with the latest exclusive manufacturer, Maxxis, on board, new products from Nexen and Primewell and continued enhancements of Stapleton’s offer to its retail customers, the company is predicting “many more exciting developments in 2012.”

Sierra Leone to supply rubber for China A West African nation is set to profit from China’s increasing demand for rubber.

The deal is worth well over AUD $1.1 billion and involves both rubber plantations and rice crops. A total of 135,000 hectares will ultimately be involved in the project, which will be developed over a six-year period.

The first phase of investment is due to begin early this year with a 30,000-hectare rubber plantation.

A

ccording to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries estimates, in 2012 China will produce some 750,000 tonnes of natural rubber, an increase of around six per cent on last year.

Yet during the same period the country is expected to consume 3,610,000

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tonnes of the commodity. To help meet this huge demand for imported natural rubber, China’s Hainan Natural Rubber Industry Group has signed an agreement with Sierra Leone, a deal expected to be the largest agricultural investment in the West African country’s history.

The Sierra Leone government will provide the land for an initial period of 50 years, subject to renewal, and in exchange hold a ten per cent share in the project.

Bridgestone announced it will set up in Vietnam with a passenger tyre production and export sales company, building a new radial tyre manufacturing plant under the name ‘Bridgestone Tyre Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd.’ Bridgestone plans to invest a total of approx AUD $310 million, with works to begin by mid 2012.

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INDUSTRY NEWS Silicarich tread compound improves handling and grip Falken makes tyre advances designed for SUV’s that improves stability, ‘feel’ and noise reduction.

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n Europe, Falken has introduced the Azenis FK453CC – a tyre specifically designed to improve the stability, feel and noise of vehicles such as the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, BMW X6 and Audi Q7, among others in the performance SUV segment.

Available in 14 sizes, the Azenis FK453CC features a more warpresistant casing than other tyres in its segment, says Falken, plus the design includes an additional, nylon reinforced cover ply and more rigid sidewalls to improve stability. The result is a 21 per cent improvement in steering stability over the previous S/TZ01 offering.

Azenis FK453CC

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A rounder shoulder and phase-shifted tread bars has seen a reduction of 15 per cent in pass-by noise and a silicarich tread compound has improved handling and grip. Dry handling in particular has been enhanced; 14 per cent better than the predecessor tyre.

The tyre was extensively tested at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany and Falken believes the new tyre out performs its competitors in terms of high-speed stability, wet and dry handling and resistance to aquaplaning. This latter attribute, says Falken, is critical for today’s heavier and taller SUVs and the Azenis FK453CC boasts a seven percent improvement in this area.

This has been achieved through an advanced tread pattern, featuring three central grooves for water drainage and staggered sipes in the first tread bar at the shoulder, which break up the water film more effectively.

The 14 sizes of Azenis FK453CC are for rims from 17” to 20” and V, W and Y speed ratings.

The tyre is not currently available in Australia.

Unacceptable conditions result in boycott a French managing director decides to boycott Michelin.

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he French arm of the point-S organisation - the leading independent tyre and car service dealer network in Europe – is distancing itself from the most important player in the nation’s tyre market: Michelin.

French media sources report a “thunderclap in the tyre world,” in which point-S in France has failed to reach a consensus with Michelin regarding terms and conditions for the coming year

and as a result has excluded tyres sourced directly from the market leader from its range. Michelin reportedly accounted for at least 40 per cent of the point-S operation in France’s total turnover, thus market observers view the organisation’s decision as quite a dangerous one.

Along with this action, company managing director Christophe Rollet has also called upon all point-S dealers in France – 280 independent dealers operating a total of 430 outlets – to join in this strategy of Michelin avoidance. In other words, Rollet is seeking support for a boycott of Michelin. Naturally the managing director realises it is also possible for point-S dealers to source Michelin tyres through wholesalers and through the company’s own “point-S24” B2B platform. “But I hope that members will play along with this as the conditions proposed by Michelin were not acceptable,” Rollet was quoted as saying. “The royalties suggested were too small and our requests too important.”

Roller estimates that sales of Michelin products through French point-S dealers during 2012 will be 30 to 50 per cent lower than last year. This translates to a potential 20 per cent drop in revenue for dealers should they participate in the proposed boycott. The managing director says point-S is “not angry” with the tyre maker, however “you need to understand that nobody can simply dictate their terms to point-S.” Now point-S France can only offer its partners two premium segment brands: Goodyear and Bridgestone.

While the Matador (Continental) and Debica (Goodyear) brands are offered for the mid-range segment, in the budget segment dealers can only buy the Summerstar/Winterstar brand (manufactured by Continental) tyres via their national network.

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Indian tyre industry supports one million people With at least 39 tyre manufacturers in India and an annual turnover of AUD $5.6 billion, one tyre maker expects foreign investment to continue to increase in the country but is cautious of an eventual market glut.

I

n its recently released annual report for the 2010-11 financial year, MRF Tyres estimates the entire Indian tyre industry’s annual turnover as AUD $5.6 billion, with exports accounting for $675 million of this. MRF states that during the year to the end of September 2011, 39 tyre companies produced an estimated 119.2 million tyres in India; the ten largest of these produced 95 per cent.

Truck and bus tyres accounted for 65 per cent of tyre industry turnover, MRF said.

The replacement market constituted 70 per cent of truck and bus tyre turnover, and while volume in the original equipment sector is high the margins are lower.

The sector continues to be dominated by cross-ply production; radialisation in the light commercial vehicle and heavy vehicle markets was 18 and 15 per cent respectively in 2010-11. In the passenger car tyre sector the replacement market generates 42 per cent of turnover, and 98 per cent of all passenger car tyres produced in India are now radials.

The tyre industry provides direct and indirect employment to one million people, says MRF. This includes dealers, retreaders and truck operators.

There are around 5,000 tyre dealers spread throughout the country, most of whom sell multiple tyre brands.

MRF notes that the worldwide recession is making India an attractive destination for investment, and is even preferred by foreign investors over China. Thus, the tyre maker expects foreign tyre makers to increasingly enter and invest in the Indian market. This will intensify competition and could cause a glut in the Indian market, according to MRF. Other issues, including the rate of duties charged on natural rubber compared with that for imported tyres, may lead to the Indian market becoming even more crowded in future.

During the timeframe in question, MRF achieved a turnover of $1.9 billion, a year-on-year increase of 32 per cent. Net profit rose continued page 18

1800 722 822 plus many more brands including Continental 17

INDUSTRY NEWS 75 per cent to $116 million. Overall, the company’s volumes increased 12 per cent; volumes within the heavy commercial vehicle segment, the company’s largest, grew 11 per cent, while increases within the motorcycle and scooter tyre segments were 14 and 24 per cent respectively. MRF’s passenger car tyre segment registered a five per cent increase while volumes of front and rear tractor tyres grew eight and 21 per cent respectively.

online survey it conducted, which showed up widespread unawareness of the label.

online and in centres, which will in turn help them to make even better informed choices.

Almost 800 people responded to the online survey, and 86 per cent of these respondents knew nothing about the Europe-wide system that comes into effect in November 2012. Only two per cent of respondents said they were “fully aware” of it, while a further two per cent were “quite aware” and ten per cent “a little aware.”

“However, these results clearly highlight that very few people are even aware that this new system will soon exist – even though the vast majority believe it will affect their decision-making,” he said.

Consumers pick ‘wet grip’ as main factor in tyre choice

ATS Euromaster believes that selecting the right tyre for both vehicle and customer will be simplified with the introduction of tyre labelling. Over 90 per cent of survey respondents agreed, acknowledging that labelling would influence and aid them when purchasing tyres.

European tyre labelling laws become mandatory beginning in November.

M

ichelin-owned fast fit chain ATS Euromaster has launched a new section on its website dedicated to informing motorists about the new European tyre label. They decided to publish this information following an evaluation of an

“Currently, there is no objective, universal method for categorising tyres and this can make choosing tyres seem like a daunting task,” said ATS Euromaster group marketing director Huw Williams.

“We believe that the introduction of tyre labelling is a positive step for the industry – it will support the honest advice we already give our customers both

Of the people who participated in the survey, 55 per cent value wet grip as the most important quality covered by the label, 38 per cent considered rolling resistance the most important and just seven per cent exterior rolling noise. The poll also found that around 77 per cent of respondents would be prepared to pay more for a tyre that received a high rating for rolling resistance or wet grip. However, only 45 per cent of participants would pay more for a tyre with a favourable exterior noise rating.

Deeply offended by ‘callous’ action Cooper Tyres’ descendents let their thoughts known to the company’s executives regarding the plight of the tyre manufacturer’s unionized workers.

T

he descendants of the founders of Cooper Tyre & Rubber Co. have made it known to the tyre maker they are “deeply disturbed” by the company’s actions in locking out unionized workers at its Findlay plant Nov. 28 and replacing them with temporary workers.

Lingel Winters and Janet Clinger, whose grandfather Claude Hart and great-uncle John Schaefer founded Cooper in 1915 when they merged their small tyre

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manufacturing company with I.J. Cooper Rubber Co., criticized the company’s decision in a Dec. 9 letter addressed to Roy Armes, Cooper president and CEO. United Steelworkers Local 207L posted the letter in its entirety online.

Manufacturing costs on par with China

“Claude Hart adhered to the highest standards for himself and the company,” the letter reads. “He believed that the company had a responsibility for the well-being of not only the shareholders, but the workers and the community.”

In the letter, Winters and Clinger noted that the 606-305 margin by which Cooper’s proposed contract was rejected indicated “deep and widespread dissatisfaction, which should concern all of us.”

“Instead, Cooper Tyre has retaliated by locking out the employees and hiring scab workers just before Christmas,” they said.

“These are not the standards of your founder, Claude Hart. He, like us, would be deeply offended by this callous action.

American tyre manufacturer plans to bring work back from China; finds it can do the work as cheap or cheaper through improved efficiencies.

Going against a trend witnessed in the tyre industry over recent years, Carlisle Companies says it will transfer tyre production from China over to the United States – for cost reasons.

At the company’s forth quarter 2011 conference call on 2 February, Carlisle Companies chairman, president and CEO David Roberts reported positive developments regarding efficiency levels at the company’s Jackson, Tennessee tyre making facility and then shared plans to make US production a greater priority.

“The new management team has made significant strides in Jackson,” he stated.

“Productivity levels are up to where our other tyre manufacturing facilities are, and frankly, we’re at this point starting to plan to bring work back from China and put it in both of our Tennessee plants, both Clinton and Jackson.

“We found that we can actually manufacture as cheaply or cheaper here in the US than we can in China in our tyre facilities,” he added.

“Locking out employees who helped the company during hard times and hiring scab workers to replace them subverts the purpose of collective bargaining, is contrary to good faith practices and is un-American at the core. It may also be an illegal labor practice.”

The pair urged Cooper to return to the bargaining table and engage in

“Claude Hart adhered to the highest standards for himself and the company,” the letter reads. “He believed that the company had a responsibility for the well-being of not only the shareholders, but the workers and the community.” good faith negotiations with the union. Clinger also is a shareholder in the company.

A spokeswoman for Cooper said no progress was made at the bargaining table with union negotiators Dec. 13. She added that if the union had accepted the tyre maker’s offer to extend the recently expired contract by a year, the lockout would have been unnecessary.

“The employees are not working today because their negotiating team did not allow them the opportunity to do so while we continued to hammer out an agreement,” she said.

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www.tyres4u.com.au plus many more brands including Continental 19

The managing director of German company Wegmann Automotive explains the company’s special training approach regarding the effects of imbalance, along with how to install weights correctly.

A look at

tyre bal A

s a world market leader for balance weights, Wegmann Automotive says its Hofmann Power Weights are ready to meet the challenges of the future through a focus on a high level of product quality boasted by the ‘Made in Germany’ mark and spreading the word to all about the subject of balancing. Exemplifying this approach, Thorsten Thom, who took over as managing director at Wegmann Automotive at the start of the year explains the company’s special training approach to explaining the effects of imbalance, along with how to install weights correctly.

“Although balance weights are only very tiny parts, they have an enormously important role to play in vehicles travelling at speed,” Mr. Thom said.

“The effects of centrifugal force mean that a tyre imbalance of just 10g is felt like a force of 2.5kg when travelling at a speed of 100km/h.

“In a comprehensive test drive from Würzburg (Germany) to Lisbon (Portugal) and back, we showed that the small balance weights on wheels are there for a reason.

the entire Wegmann Automotive Group. He and his team compare their efforts to raise awareness of balancing to those of “the makers of educational television programmes”, working to convey what can happen to a vehicle if it is driven with imbalance in terms that anyone can understand.

The company reaches its customers with far-reaching marketing activities including press relations, image adverts, attendance at trade fairs and important in-house events for aftermarket traders, sales promotion (including a train-the-trainer programme).

Its aim is to set standards in service as well as product quality.

Accordingly, training technician Uwe Staeder demonstrates the importance of balancing by attending customers’ premises or at the training facilities in Veitshöchheim (Germany), which were set up specifically for this purpose. In addition to the standard training programme, which explains how to install weights correctly and the effects of imbalance, training provision can be tailored to suit the needs of individual customers.

“Our test drives also give participants and other interested parties an opportunity to experience for themselves what an imbalance of 90g feels like whilst at the wheel and travelling as a passenger in a car at speeds in excess of 100km/h,” he explained.

Wegmann also provides demonstrations at customer events or carries out test drives with vehicles without balance weights to simulate the consequences of imbalance in real life. Even tyre experts can benefit, as they are able to see the practical consequences of permanent imbalance and can heighten drivers’ awareness of the risks, showing them the damage that long-term imbalance can do.

Having joined the company in 2007, Mr. Thom’s most recent role was as global director of sales & marketing, with responsibility for developing international sales across

Wegmann says its Hofmann Power Weight’s counter display is also an integral part of the workshop-based “Balance is the key” education campaign, which also aims to promote the use

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ancing and Carsten Linkamp (sales manager for central and Eastern Europe). The company, based in Veitshöchheim in the German state of Lower Franconia (the headquarters of Wegmann Automotive since 2009), has operations all over the world and is represented by sales outlets and production plants in many different countries. Mr. Thom puts it very clearly: “Our aim is to be wherever our customers need us, providing local contacts, short delivery times and our high-quality products.”

of balance weights. The display, which consists of a model car and a screen, starts the demonstration at the touch of a button.

Vibrations caused by imbalance can be clearly seen on the vehicle. At the same time, the screen shows the new short film “Why balancing?” and provides any interested customers in the workshop with a detailed explanation of the effects of tyres that are out of balance. Another new feature is the training film “How do I get the balance right”, which provides a striking illustration of why balancing vehicle wheels is more than necessary.

As managing director, Mr. Thom intends to continue to steer the organisation in its current strategic direction as it moves towards strengthening its position on the global market. This has also meant increasing capacity in the sales team, which has recently been joined by Carlos Gil (European sales director)

A vehicle whose wheels are not correctly balanced can pose a safety risk because contact between tyres and the road decreases as speed increases, thereby significantly restricting the function of safety systems such as ABS or ESP. The vehicle itself can also sustain damage if its wheels stop running true due to uneven tyre abrasion caused by the tyre mass no longer being distributed with rotational symmetry.

Poor road conditions, frequent starting and stopping, the loss of a balance weight or wheel contact with the curbside usually cause such phenomena. At high speeds, imbalance can lead to vibration of the steering wheel (which manifests itself as judder) being transmitted to shock absorbers, the wheel suspension, axle and bodywork parts, and putting these under significant stress for prolonged periods. This results in premature damage to the chassis that the customer has to pay to have repaired.

Balancing is not about making a quick profit in the workshop.

It is about the customer spending a little to save a lot.

When installing add-on weights, the brand explains that it is continued page 20 21

important to start by selecting the right balance weight for your wheel shape. The choice is determined by the rim design. This is because the rim flange thickness varies (steel rim/aluminium rim) and different rolling processes are used. To install the weights, no more than two forceful knocks should be used. More knocks can damage the coating of the weights. A special retaining spring keeps the Hofmann Power Weight weights securely attached to the rim over the long term, according to the company.

2-part weights (referred to as “clip weights”), which are primarily used in an OEM context, can also be installed professionally at any time using Hofmann Power Weight weights and the appropriate tools. The 2-part weight types 260, 261 and 280 for steel and light metal rims are available with separate retaining springs. A manual tyre compression tool or a pneumatic tyre compression tool is required for installation, along with a clipfitting tool. According to the manufacturer, these are all you need for problem-free installation on the rim without risk of damage.

During 2005, all rim manufacturers switched to water-soluble varnish, abandoning the solvent-based varnishes that had been used up to this point. All varnishes have wax added to them that allows gas to escape when the coat of varnish is baked while at the same time avoiding pimples. The solvents that used to be added were able to compensate for the wax almost completely.

With the new water-soluble coats of varnish, this is no longer the case, resulting in different wax concentrations on the glued surfaces that can only be dissolved by means of wet cleaning. It is only by pre-treating the glued surfaces in this way that the necessary surface stress values in excess of 32 millinewtons per meter (mN/m) can be achieved. Without any pre-cleaning, the adhesion values drop below 28 mN/m. As a result, there is no proper adhesion and the weights may work loose from the rim after 1 or 2 days for no apparent reason. Furthermore, the rim inclination should not exceed an angle of 15°. Unobstructed operation of the brake system (calliper) must also be ensured.

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IntroDeldo Autobanden N.V.

IntroDeldo Autobanden N.V. is the leading tyre distributor in Europe. As an active import + export organisation, Deldo sells to over 46 countries worldwide.

Export managers Mr. Bart Kinneging & Mr. Rutger Veerman, responsible for the Asia Pacific markets, would like to further introduce the organisation to the Australian readers.

During the last 12 months Deldo is doing more and more business in Australia, thanks to a full range of 2,000,000 (premium) tyres, available in our warehouse under one roof. Containers can be loaded mixed, including Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli and more…

Organisation The company was founded in 1973 in Antwerpen,

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Belgium. During the years the organisation realized a significant growth in het (European) markets, thanks to the central location within Europe, and the main port of Antwerp nearby. For several years, Deldo has also been active outside Europe, including the Middle East and Asia (Pacific).

Deldo is a healthy and successful family business with a very international focus. A clear (independent) strategy, an international network, a comprehensive product range and a customeroriented service are the elements that have contributed to Deldo’s current success. More than 8 million tyres were sold in 2011, with a total turnover of more than 325 million Euro.

Products Deldo offers a full product range of tyres (Car, Van, 4 x 4, SUV and Truck tyres) all stocked under one roof. Besides all the premium brands, Deldo offers an interesting range of private labels (like Minerva, Fortuna and Imperial, made in Asia). Everything

is under one roof and there is a one-stopshopping system. Tyres are purchased through a global network of tyre dealers and manufacturers worldwide.

Logistics & distribution Professional and accurate distribution worldwide, and weekly shipments from Antwerp to Australia ports. Either FOB or CIF port delivery to Australia.

Based on our network we can support very good rates for shipping, offering a ‘total package’ from our warehouse to customer’s requested port.

Online webshop The user-friendly, real-time E-Commerce system of Deldo provides a transparent overview of available stock and prices. On a daily basis more than 4,000 users are ordering tyres via this system. Tyres can be selected by brand, vehicle, price etc.

Orders can be sent 24/7 based on a customer login. Please see www.deldo.com.

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23

INNOVATION Michelin moto expands range Michelin heavily invests in upgrading its motorcycle tyre range, backed up by consumer demand.

D

uring the last year Michelin has launched two major motorcycle products, the Pilot Road 3 and the Commander II, and these are being followed up by a new range, the Power Cup.

of friendly competition,” said Yvan Gomba, head of Motorcycle Tire Marketing and Sales for France and the Benelux countries.

“Open to amateurs of all levels, it also gives riders an opportunity to take advantage of Michelin’s technological skills and expertise,” he added.

For this fifth running of the event, the Michelin Power Cup has been expanded. In addition to the 600cc, 1000cc and Open speed

This tyre replaces the Michelin Power One Competition, and Michelin says the Power Cup has been designed to “deliver outstanding grip when cornering and accelerating” and helps to improve track lap times compared with its predecessor.

According to Michelin, the front tyre provides maneuverability, stability and progressive responsiveness, especially when braking, while the rear tyre improves grip when cornering without sacrificing tread longevity. In this way it is said to deliver the balanced performance that is characteristic of all Michelin tyres; in other words, the tyre maker says it has designed the Power Cup to feature three qualities simultaneously: easy handling, grip and consistent performance throughout the tyre’s life.

Hand in hand with the Power Cup tyre range, Michelin has developed a new offering for 2012 that combines the tyre with two events where the tyres can be used in a specially adapted environment: A new-formula Michelin Power Cup championship and a new event called Michelin Power Days.

“The Michelin Power Cup focuses on sports performance and a spirit 24

categories, Michelin has added two new categories: Newbee for real beginners on 600cc to 1000cc bikes; and Endurance, a four-hour race for two riders with one or two bikes and 1000cc, 600cc, Twin and Lady rankings.

Another feature is that riders can now sign up for one or more races without having to commit themselves for the entire season.

Michelin Power Days is a training programme open to motorcyclists who want to take part in supervised,

structured circuit riding sessions.

Three instructors attend each event to support participants on the track and lead technical workshops. Michelin says the Power Days offer riders a safe, enjoyable, friendly experience on a carefully planned budget.

Other recent products from Michelin’s other two major motorcycle releases in the past twelve months were the Pilot Road 3, which has been on the market for the best part of a year, and the more-recently launched Commander II. The newest of the pair was launched into the custom segment in September 2011, and upon announcing its introduction Michelin said the Commander II delivers “unrivalled tyre life.” Naturally, this is a bold statement to make about any tyre and the manufacturer therefore supported this claim with results of independent tests conducted in the United States by Texas Test Fleet.

Testing was carried out using a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic and Michelin reported an impressive outcome: The rear tyre proved itself capable of covering distances of up to 25,000 miles or 40,000 kilometres; this is, Michelin comments, almost double the distance of the Commander II’s direct competitors – for testing purposes these were the Metzeler ME880 and Dunlop D407/408 in sizes 130/80 B 17 (front) and 180/65 B 16 (rear).

The front tyre displayed an even greater longevity.

“The Michelin Commander II creates a new standard with regard to durability, yet without making any compromises in terms of wet weather grip, manoeuvrability or stability,” the French manufacturer said in a pre-release press statement.

“This performance balance provides yet another eloquent illustration of Michelin’s research and development philosophy: no

Michelin XST is based on a combination of sipes and “wells” which enable the tyre to cut through the film of water and increase its water clearance capacity to obtain a level of grip similar to that of a dry road. performance gain to be achieved on one front to the detriment of another.”

In response to the major problem faced by custom motorcycle riders – tyre life, notably at the rear – engineers at the Michelin Technology Centre at Ladoux, near the company’s headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, developed a new rubber compound. The tyre’s radial casing is thus paired with what Michelin calls ‘Silica Rain Technology’, an integration of silica into the tyre’s tread compound. As for the tread pattern itself, the pattern used on the Commander II was reportedly designed to prevent all forms of uneven wear.

According to Michelin, the tyre’s architecture brings both manoeuvrability and stability, with its more rigid, highdensity carcass improving manoeuvrability while resistance and lightness is enhanced by the rear tyre’s aramid fibre crown ply; this, Michelin adds, gives the Commander II “impeccable stability”, even at high speeds. Last but not least, the numerous longitudinal grooves of the new tyre’s tread pattern were designed to optimise water dispersal for outstanding wet weather grip.

Thirteen Commander II sizes were launched in September 2011, while two additional sizes were released at the start of this year.

Michelin’s new player in the rapidly

expanding sport touring radial segment, the Pilot Road 3, has been on the market for a number of months now – long enough for it to land Motor Cycle News’ coveted Product of the Year 2011 award in the tyre category. The Pilot Road 3 is promoted as having been developed in-line with Michelin’s strategy regarding innovation and is principally aimed at ensuring enhanced safety for motorcyclists in both wet and dry conditions.

Michelin says the new tyre surpasses its 2007-launched predecessor in terms of the grip it provides on wet roads and the consistency of performance it delivers over time. Alongside this, the tyre maker adds, is a combination of “unprecedented performance with the marketplace’s bestbalanced overall performance package.”

In relation to grip, in wet road tests carried out by the Dekra Test Center in January 2011 (stopping from 50 km/h using sizes 120/70 ZR17 and190/50 ZR17), in which the Pilot Road 3 was pitted against its predecessor, the new tyre stopped an average of 2.5 metres ahead of the Pilot Road 2 – and Michelin notes that the gain is “even as high as five metres in conditions where grip is particularly at a premium.”

Progress in relation to stopping distance was, the manufacturer says, made possible thanks one of two major breakthroughs used in the Pilot Road 3: The incorporation of Michelin XST (X Sipe Technology) into the tread pattern. Michelin XST is based on a combination of sipes and “wells” which enable the tyre to cut through the film of water and increase its water clearance capacity to obtain a level of grip similar to that of a dry road.

“The clearance of water by the tread pattern and pressure on the contact patch are insufficient to completely eliminate the presence of water between the tyre and the road surface,” Michelin said.

“The principal of Michelin XST acts on the residual film of water, and this is where the innovative sipes featured on the new Michelin Pilot Road 3 come into their own. To begin with, the additional pressure exerted by the sipe edges cuts through the film of water which is then cleared either continued page 27 25

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“The Monster AG TT is revolutionary,” said Andrew Cornwell, general manager, Corghi Australia.“It is the only heavy duty tyre changer in the world equipped with an automatic and self-centering wheel clamping device.

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“This unique machine has the capacity to work on tyres from 14” all the way up to 48”and with tilt up to 58” making it the most versatile Heavy Duty Tyre Changer on the market,” he added.

The Monster AG TT is part of a full range of quality Heavy Duty Tyre Changers available from Corghi, which includes the ever popular HD 900 and the value for money HD 700.

To find out more about the Monster AG TT and the rest of the Heavy Duty machines in the Corghi range, visit corghi.com or call 1300 267444 (CORGHI).

INNOVATION side of the tyre via the pattern’s wide grooves. To optimise the work of the sipes, ‘well’-like recesses have been incorporated into the pattern to enhance the tyre’s water clearance capacity and to improve the efficiency of both the sipes and the ‘blade’ effect they produce.”

An additional strength Michelin reports in the Pilot Road 3 is long tyre life and the consistent delivery of performance over time. Here the second of the two breakthroughs plays a role: The latest-generation Michelin 2CT (Two-Compound Technology), an evolution of a compound that Michelin says maximises the tyre’s life expectancy.

Tests carried out last year by the independent body Dekra Test Center using identical motorcycles over a 6,000km itinerary covering different types of surface (circuit and ordinary roads) showed the Pilot Road 3 outperformed its predecessor in terms of tyre life.

“The Pilot Road 3 tread is protected by three patents,” said Pierre Fraisse, director of two-wheel development at Michelin.

“The sipes go all the way to the tread base and thus enable consistent riding quality over the entire product life. The sipes, which are incised at a 15 degree lateral angle, facilitate even wear.”

product: It will be offered in all continents,” Hannenzo said.

The first nine sizes were released early last year and supported in August 2011 by a further seven dimensions, including sizes for powerful dual-sport trail bikes. The current size range includes 10/70 ZR17 (54W), 110/80 ZR18 (58W), 120/60 ZR17 (55W), 120/70 ZR17 (58W), 120/70 ZR18 (59W) und 110/80 R19 59V for the front wheel plus 150/70 ZR17 (69W), 160/60 ZR17 (69W), 160/60 ZR18 (70W), 170/60 ZR17 (72W), 180/55 ZR17 (73W), 190/50 ZR17 (73W), 190/55 ZR17 (75W) and 150/70 R17 69V for the rear.

And although the Pilot Road 3 has been promoted as the successor to existing similarly named Michelin products, the new tyre will sit alongside both the Pilot Road and the Pilot Road 2 in the French manufacturer’s motorcycle tyre portfolio. According to Michelin, these will continue to be produced due to high demand for both products. Each individual product line will be offered, Hannenzo said, “At differing price levels appropriate to corresponding market conditions and customer budgets.”

Eye catching ruby red tyres Marangoni has developed a special set of 20-inch ruby red coloured tyres that are fitted to the Range Rover Evoque.

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arangoni debuted in December its tuned-up Range Rover Evoque, which sports striking red tyres that are exclusively available throughout the UK at KwikFit shops.

According to the company, the Marangoni Evoque HFI-R “embodies the quintessence of elegance, fashion and sport”. Based on a Si4 2.0 Turbo petrol engine model, the Marangoni Evoque HFI-R has been tuned to deliver an additional 59bhp (total 300bhp), whilst still managing to significantly reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions by exploiting innovative combined hydrogen and natural gas technology. continued page 28

The new tyre is competing in the sport touring sector where, according to Hubert Hannenzo, vice-president Michelin Group – Two Wheel Division, the European radial market enjoyed above average growth of 31 per cent. Hannenzo adds that this trend is expected to continue and increase by a further seven per cent in 2011. Last year, in the UK alone, the segment enjoyed sales of more than 200,000 tyres, up from 188,000 units in 2010. For this year, Michelin estimates sales of 210,000 tyres this year, a figure reflecting the growing demand for this type of equipment.

“The new tyre is a global 27

INNOVATION The HFI (Hybrid Fuel Injection) system can either be supplied with hydrogen-natural gas mixes in varying percentages, or natural gas only, making it a valid ‘ecological’ and ‘economical’ solution.

As far as the tyres are concerned, Marangoni has developed ‘M-Power EvoRed’ - a special set of 20-inch ruby red coloured tyres. In this experimental version, the compounds used feature high silica content along with innovative materials that minimise rolling resistance and consequently fuel consumption – further enhancing the car’s economy credentials.

Developed by utilising the same platform as the Marangoni tyre M-Power range, the EvoRed tyres represent a bespoke version of the new ultra high performance product from Marangoni.

Marangoni representatives report that thee M-Power range is the result of considerable investments in technology and research that have allowed Marangoni to develop a product with a sporting soul, extremely high performance and progressive handling, designed to ensure maximum driving pleasure and the highest level of safety.

Stack ltd diversifies across several automotive disciplines

element technology. The clever thing about this technology is that it is passive, and does not require any additional conditioning electronics or battery power in the on-wheel sensor. Stack reports that its batteryless TPMS extends the inherent sensor life from 1-5 years to 10-15 years.

An award winning batteryless TPMS that uses Surface Acoustic Wave sensing technology can extend the inherent sensor life from 1-5 years to 10-15 years.

In addition the company showed its range of Digital Video Loggers (DVLs). The new range of Digital Video-Loggers can be used as a conventional Digital Video recorder (DVR) to record high-quality video

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tack Ltd exhibited at the 24th Performance Racing trade show in Orlando Florida in December.

The company, which is a leading global supplier of instrumentation, video-loggers and data acquisition systems to the Motorsport Industry reportedly has a firm foundation in Formula One and an increasing interest in high-tech tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

Stack showed its award winning batteryless TPMS that uses SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) sensing

The clever thing about this technology is that it is passive, and does not require any additional conditioning electronics or battery power in the on-wheel sensor. and audio but now they can also record data. Up to 128 channels of data, including GPS and the internal 3-axis g-sensor channels, can be recorded with up to 4 camera inputs and 2 audio channels. Stack DVLs can be connected directly to most Stack Dash Displays or Data logging system by CAN Bus.

STACK LTD displayed its award winning batteryless TPMS at the 24th Performance Racing show in Orlando, Florida.

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Stack manufactures electronic dashboard instruments as well as data and video recording systems alongside its specialist sensors and sensor systems, including the tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system.

Primary markets are said to be motorsport, automotive testing, aerospace and military.

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SPORTS MotoGP tyres for 2012 being finalised Bridgestone has been testing its 2012 MotoGP tyres with the aim to make their grip characteristics easier to manage, improve warm-up performance and increase their operating temperature range.

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ridgestone has already started testing its 2012 MotoGP tyre-testing season in Valencia, Spain and Sepang, Malaysia.

The company says it has spent the Northern Hemisphere winter completing a programme of intensive development, and the tyre evaluations that have been performed around the world at the start of the year will be used to gauge perception among the riders. While six lap records were set on Bridgestone rubber in 2011, feedback from riders suggested that additional safety features needed to be built into new tyres, and

Bridgestone Motorsport general manager, Tohru Ubukata says this is where the focus has been.

Ubukata said that to achieve this target, the technical aim for the new specification tyres was to make their grip characteristics easier to manage, improve warm-up performance and increase their operating temperature range.

“The positive reception our new tyres received at the Valencia post-season test showed we are well on track with development, and we have continued our progress

While six lap records were set on Bridgestone rubber in 2011, feedback from riders suggested that additional safety features needed to be built into new tyres,

over the winter break,” he said.

At Sepang, Bridgestone’s newly appointed safety advisor to Dorna, Loris Capirossi, coordinated to continue their collaboration to improve rider safety. During the test, Bridgestone and Capriossi monitored rider reaction to the 2012 specification tyres and established a working plan for the upcoming season.

“At Sepang we introduced new specification tyres for testing,” Ubukata said.

“For the Valencia test we continued to evaluate the tyres we debuted there last November. Apart from examining performance data during the tests, we worked closely with safety advisor Loris Capirossi and the riders to gauge their perception of the new tyres. This is all part of our goal to ensure optimal tyre performance for all motorcycles on the grid in 2012,” he said.

While the majority of teams took to the Sepang International Circuit for their first test, some teams fielding Claiming Rule Team (CRT) bikes this year were testing the new tyres on the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. Riders at the first Sepang test had access to newly developed front tyres featuring revisions to rubber compounds and construction that were specifically developed to boost warm-up performance. Evaluation of the new front tyre will continue to take place alongside ongoing assessment of the 2012 specification tyres that were well received by riders when debuted at last November’s Valencia post-season test.

Bridgestone made these tyre compounds available in Sepang and Valencia: • Sepang – Front: Hard & Extra-Hard; Rear: Medium & Hard; Rain: Hard • Valencia – Front: Soft & Medium; Rear: Medium & Hard (asymmetric); Rain: Soft continued page 32

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SPORTS To provide on-site support at each of the tests, Bridgestone sent technical engineers to both Spain and Malaysia. Aside from providing technical support, the engineers focused on the acquisition of tyre data and rider feedback, all of which is being compiled and sent back to Bridgestone’s Technical Centre in Japan for further analysis.

Renault adorned by Bridgestone UHPs Formula One technology that increases grip and responsiveness is embraced by Renault.

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n a first for Renault Sport in Australia, Bridgestone tyres will be fitted to the gloss black 18” Interlagos wheels of the company’s new Clio RS Angel & Demon. The RE050A UHP tyre has an asymmetrical tread that provides dynamic sporty handling and a quiet, comfortable ride according to the company.

The design of the two sides of the

Novak Djokovic

tread is derived from Bridgestone’s Formula One technology and increases grip and responsiveness in both dry and wet conditions, according to the company. The tyres were used by Renault in Europe on the Renault Mégane RS Trophy, contributing to the record set by Renault Sport on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The new edition 203hp car is also fitted with blood-red Brembo brake calipers, and can be decorated by one of 666 optional “Angel & Demon” tattoos grafted onto the left hand side of the rear quarter window pillar. The limited edition is available in 15 markets worldwide.

Maxxis signage seen by millions Maxxis benefits from Australian Open’s TV coverage.

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axxis sponsorship of the Australian Open tennis tournament was obvious to attendees and television viewers alike, with signage prominently displayed at Rod Laver Arena.

It is the second time that the company has sponsored the grand slam event, and adds to the company’s marketing strategy of top-level sport sponsorship; the brand has put itself alongside the New York Yankees, Liverpool Football Club and a number of high profile motorsport series.

Derek McMartin, UK managing director, said that Maxxis’ sponsorship of the Australian Open in 2011 was one of the highlights of the company’s calendar year, “so we were delighted to be back again this time around”.

“We are able to reach a huge global audience through the Australian Open’s TV coverage, benefiting the Maxxis brand worldwide,” he said.

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2 Great Passenger Tyres from

FK452

• Precise handling stability • Smooth driving in wet conditions • Sophisticated tread design • Wide Variety of sizes available 25 - 60 series - sizes 16 inch to 24 inch

• New modern asymmetric tread design

• High rigidity construction

brings a significant step forward in high speed steering stability • Special silica compound for excellent wet performance • Available in a wide range of sizes to suit family and performance vehicles

For details of your nearest Falken Dealer go to:

Ph 1300 858 112 email: tyres@falkentyres.com.au

www.falkentyres.com.au