Nobuzwe Mangcu on SATMCs objectives Auto & Truck Tyres to join ‘Elite Retreaders Club’ Need for Speed – meeting motor makers’ needs Tyrexpo Africa 2016 to sport new format
Vol 21 • December 2015
Focus on Product Quality
‘The Battle of the Tyres’ – local versus imported
Introduction • 1
Contents
A
note from
the
One-On-One with SATMCs New Managing Executive, Nobuzwe Mangcu.................2
Focus on Product Quality.....................................................................................9
Industry News Tyrexpo Africa 2016 to sport new format.......................................... 14 SRSA recocognises dealers............................................................... 30
Talking Tyres Tyre Forum: A need for speed........................................................... 25
Goodyear News R670 million investment in Uitenhage Goodyear Tyre Factory.......... 28 Goodyear South Africa get Top Employer South Africa certification again!............................................................................. 29
World News Goodyear provides noise reduction technology to Mercedes.......... 32 Trelleborg buys Mitas........................................................................ 32 Michelin to close European retreading operations............................ 32 Continental to invest $500million in Sumter facility.......................... 32 Truck bonanza from Marangoni......................................................... 32
editor
The last twelve months have been challenging to say the least. The weakening of the Rand coupled with talk of looming food price hikes as a consequence of the draught, is heaping further pressure on an already hardpressed consumer. The promised feature story on tyre pricing, aimed at assisting the end user with their upcoming budgets for the year ahead, sadly did not materialise due to factors beyond our control. This important story will instead, be featured in the first quarter of 2016 (see March 2016). We apologise for this postponement. In its place, we are sharing with our readers a story which recently featured in ‘Focus on Trucking’ magazine. Entitled, ‘The battle of the tyres’, the piece tackles the issue of cheaper tyres and whether these foreign made alternatives have a place in our market. The story further highlights recent efforts by the local manufacturing sector, represented by its representative body, the SATMC (South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference), to curb the illegal importation of cheap sub-standard tyres and further highlights the personal experiences of a well -known transport company that challenge common perceptions surrounding tyres coming out of China. Speaking of the SATMC, we bring you an exclusive interview with the new lady at its helm, Nobuzwe Mangcu, who provides insight into the aims and objectives of the local manufacturers’ representative body for the months ahead. Gauteng-based Auto & Truck Tyres – recently named the largest retreading factory in the world - is the latest to join the Marangoni ‘Elite Retreaders Club’ via the introduction of the Italian maker’s latest state-of-the-art equipment in their retreading factory. This story on page 18 makes for interesting reading. Also, in this issue we showcase the upcoming Tyrexpo Africa 2016 show, scheduled to reach our shores in March next year. This time around the show will flaunt a new format whilst also providing a networking platform for exhibitors and the trade at large. The show will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from March 8-10.
Editor
Liana Shaw
Technical Consultant
Wray Shaw
Reproduction
Diane van Noort
Printing TYPO – Colour Printing Specialists Distribution
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Publishers
Sky Publications cc PO Box 702 Douglasdale, 2165
Tel: Fax: Cell: E-mail: Website:
(011) 658 0011 (011) 658 0010 082 851 6777 satreads@mweb.co.za www.satreads.co.za
We wish all our readers and valued customers all the best for the festive season. Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2016!
2
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One-on-One
One-on-One
•
3
HERALDING IN POSITIVE CHANGE ONE ON ONE WITH SATMCs NEW MANAGING EXECUTIVE, NOBUZWE MANGCU
The SATMC (South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference), representative body for the country’s four local tyre producers Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental and Sumitomo, appears to be undergoing a massive facelift. Lobbying on behalf of critical industry issues and negotiations between business and government have gained new impetus under the direction of new lady at the helm, Nobuzwe Mangcu, whose dynamism and passion for the task at hand appear to be breaking new ground. We caught up with Nobuzwe over coffee recently to find out more about what the SATMC hopes to achieve in the coming months.
4
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One-on-One
Nobuzwe welcome to the industry. Tell us about some of the exciting
Do you believe that the SATMC is being heard by the relevant
developments you are currently involved with on behalf of the new
governmental authorities?
tyre manufacturing sector.
I believe so, yes. Many of the age-old issues we are tackling industry has been lobbying for some time but I am pleased to say that we are
There are a number of issues being tackled head on primarily the
beginning to elicit positive response from government.
construction of the first testing centre in South Africa which is hoped will vastly reduce the risk of inferior quality tyres infiltrating the market.
Why do you believe this is?
This is an exciting development as the consumer should not have to
This could be because we are presenting a unified front as an industry,
bear the risk of sub-standard tyres flooding the market. Funded by the
one that encompasses all sectors of the business.
DTI and supported by local tyre producers and reputable importers who will be providing tyres for testing purposes, this new local facility will
Systematic collaboration with all industry segments and government
enable us to monitor the situation more closely. It is hoped that tyres
authorities is fundamental if we are to add weight to our ‘voice’ and
not meeting the required specifications will be sifted out before entering
ultimately achieve what we are striving for. We need to be able to
the replacement market.
address common issues together.
What about the push to introduce anti-dumping duties? Have there
What is the latest on the SATRP? Is this still active?
been any more developments in this regard?
The SATRP is still in existence. In March the SATRP presented DEAT with
The application to ITAC three years ago to impose anti-dumping duties
a mandate requesting representation on the board of Redisa, so if and
was unsuccessful, but in the interim we’ve been exploring alternative
when this comes to be, the SATRP plan will be waived.
strategies. We applied to ITAC for an amendment to the import duties that is based on mass rather than value, and they are receptive to this
We believe this request to be fair given that Redisa carries risk for both
suggestion. We hope to introduce the new formula duty within six
industry and consumer alike.
months which when implemented, will go a long way towards eradicating the practice of under-declaring on the part of unscrupulous traders in a
Is Redisa receptive to this?
bid to avoid paying the imposed duties.
They are open to setting up an Industry Advisory Council that will represent the waste management interests of a number of affected
We are also working closely with Customs to encourage them to begin
industries and we are currently engaged in discussions with Redisa
using this new formula as a possible trigger in identifying and stopping
around the implementation of such a Plan.
containers of suspicious mass. In our view the implementation of a single Waste Are the importers aware of this?
Management Plan, as opposed to several, makes
Dubious tyres sold by unscrupulous dealers pose
sense provided that the Plan represents the
as much of a risk to credible imports as they do the local manufacturing sector. Therefore we are
❝ The
implementation
interests of industry as a whole.
actively engaging with TIASA (Tyre Importers
of a single Waste
Will this Plan also include the RMI and TDAFA?
Association of South Africa), who understands
Management Plan, as
Yes, most definitely. This needs to be an ‘industry
the importance of this. TIASA is supportive of our application and we have signed a memorandum
opposed to several,
of understanding which confirms that the new
makes sense provided
formula would not impact reputable importers of
that the Plan represents
quality products. Once our application has met all WTO and ITAC requirements, which we estimate will be around
the interests of industry as a whole.
❞
solution’. Fleshing out the formal of the proposed Industry Advisory Council and who will participate is top on the list of my priorities. Are you satisfied with Redisa’s current service levels to industry? The results of a recent survey were encouraging. It does appear that Redisa has stepped up its
June 2016, we hope the new formula will pave
service delivery and is fulfilling its mandate to
the way for a safer trading platform.
industry.
IMPORTED by
6
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One-on-One
What about local tyre production? What are the challenges facing this
Also of critical importance, and as is borne out by our new initiative,
sector?
SATMC is committed to providing traffic officers and Customs
Despite a challenging trading environment, we are focussing on
officials with tyre safety training, thanks to a financial boost from the
opportunities to not only sustain, but to grow the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA).
Growing support from government and the DTI is promising and we are optimistic that at the very least, the existence of the current local four
Already, the SATMC has collectively hosted and trained 129 Municipal
players will be maintained.
and Provincial traffic officials, SAPS officials and weighbridge inspectors at Mooi Plaza, Tugela Plaza, Harrismith and Heidelberg in April this year.
It is also pleasing to see the growth and expansion taking place in some of the local plants. At the beginning of the year Continental introduced a new
Our partnership with merSETA will allow us to increase the reach of this
boiler as a means to deal with power shortages and increase efficiencies
valuable training and to ensure accreditation and empowerment for the
while the SRI Ladysmith is gearing up to increase production to cater for
individuals attending the training.
the OEM business. Above all, we remain focused on finding workable solutions to the As far as further investment is concerned nothing is confirmed at this stage
challenges facing the South African tyre industry in order to retain
but we are confident the other three will likely increase their production
and grow tyre production in South Africa, while finding opportunities
as well.
to enhance government and industry co-operation to work together towards this objective.
How is the growing number of imports, particularly the cheapies,
A former member of the Board of Directors of Mercedes-Benz,
affecting the local tyre producers? This remains a challenge, particularly for tyre sizes positioned at the lower
South Africa, Mangcu assumed numerous responsibilities within
end of the market. Currency fluctuations also have a major effect as local
the organisation during her eleven year tenure with great success, among them, supply chain, distribution, sales and planning. Her
tyre producers are required to import raw materials.
highlights there included increased efficiency for on-time delivery, Also of growing concern is the number of second hand tyres infiltrating the
creating of an Economic and Market Information Centre and a
marketplace. We are lobbying for compulsory standards to be introduced
R50-million annual cost-saving in supply chain operations. Before
and are further engaging with the NCIS in a bid to promote the enforcement
Mangcu took time off to raise her child, she held the position of
of existing regulations.
Divisional Manager of Corporate Affairs. Mangcu obtained a BA from the University of
Another exciting development is that the DTI, in collaboration with a consulting firm, will be visiting Australia with the sole aim being to determine what led to the demise of the tyre manufacturing industry. Hopefully, the lessons learnt will ensure the sustainability of local production. How would you sum up your vision for the SATMC? In the short to medium term the impetus is for the local manufacturing sector to find ways to remain
❝ SATMC
Natal in 1999 and diplomas in Supply Chain and Marketing in 2004 and 2006 respectively. She
is
committed to providing traffic officers and
Gordon Institute of
Customs officials with tyre safety training, thanks to a financial boost
sustainable by addressing the growing number of
from the Manufacturing,
‘cheapies’ being dumped in South Africa, a goal that
Engineering and Related
is equally shared by TIASA and its members. We need to ensure that imports and their distributors are above board, thereby limiting the extent to which sub-standard tyres enter the market.
Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA).
is currently studying an MBA through the
❞
Business Science, due to be completed at the end of this year.
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PASSENGER
Focus on Procuct Quality
•
9
Depending on which side of the fence you sit, you either view importing cheaper tyres as a progressive or destructive move. THATO TINTE looks at whether these cheaper, yet good-quality, alternatives have any merit
The battle of the tyres
Tyres have recently become a contentious topic in the country. The South
Experts consider tyres to be the most crucial safety feature of a vehicle.
African Tyre Manufacturers’ Conference (SATMC) has tried to curb the
Tyres are the only part of a vehicle in direct contact with the road and,
illegal importing of cheap substandard tyres and has recently intensified
therefore, need to be of a high quality and meet certain standards. Cheap
its efforts to launch anti-dumping probes into these inferior imports.
and substandard tyre imports are dangerous and pose a risk to all drivers
On September 2, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and
on our roads.
Industry was briefed by the SATMC on the growing concerns around the
Having said that, is it fair to paint all imported tyres with the same
unregulated second-hand tyre industry, including the illegal importing of
brush and label them substandard? Andre van der Walt, the owner of a
tyres into the country.
reputable and leading Namibian long-haul transport company, has been
The SATMC – which represents the leading four South African tyre companies: Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Sumitomo – first
using inexpensive, but high-quality, imported tyres in his business and gives us his thoughts on this controversial topic.
applied in 2005 for anti-dumping duties to be introduced, but this
A Van Der Walt Transport has been in business since 1986 and provides
application did not succeed.
transport services across Namibia and other sub-Saharan countries.
A parliamentary media release stated that the SATMC had requested that industry standards be implemented in order to improve the regulated sale
The company has routes extending across the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC).
of second-hand tyres and reduce the growing import market of illegal
Van der Walt tells us that he uses a few trusted brands, which he imports
tyres.
from China and South Africa. The Chinese brands he uses are; Double
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Focus on Product Quality
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11
Star, Double Coin and Aeolus tyres. Van der Walt also sources tyres
The SATMC is of the view that, because locally manufactured tyres are
through local South African distributers including: Firestone, Bridgestone
designed specifically for the road and conditions of the country in which
and Michelin.
they are manufactured, these tyres are safer and more durable, when
When it comes to back-up service and support, Van der Walt says he has
compared to many imported tyres that may be of an inferior standard.
never experienced any challenges or problems regarding the tyres from
Van der Walt is, however, of the opinion that these statements are
China or South Africa.
incorrect. “The main customers of these Chinese tyres are from Asia.
“The duties we pay and the cost per kilometre are the same for the brands from China and South Africa. I also find that the lifespan of the tyres from China is the same and, at times, better,” he asserts. With regard to protecting local manufacturers against cheap imports, Van der Walt believes the commercial transport industry must find ways to reduce costs of transport in order to ensure savings for consumers. “If you buy tyres at a higher price, costs to the consumer increase. We need to work on getting these costs down for the benefit of the industry as a whole – from consumers to sellers,” he says, adding that quality should never be compromised. Van der Walt estimates the difference in price between his imported and locally manufactured tyres ranges from 35 to 50 percent – depending on the tyre type and brand.
The conditions in Asia are harsher and more extreme than those of South Africa. “China also supplies tyres to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have much more extreme conditions than South Africa. The quality of these credible tyre suppliers is good and their tyres perform well in these countries,” he enthuses. Over and above the required South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) safety approval on all imported tyres, Van der Walt notes that the tyres he imports undergo extensive safety and quality tests before they are used or sold. He says that his suppliers in China test the three brands he imports and, thereafter, issue him with the testing certificates. His company also conducts its own safety and quality tests before giving the tyres the thumbs up. Van der Walt has also visited and inspected the South African plant from where he sources tyres.
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Focus on Product Quality
In terms of quality, Van der Walt says that, in his experience, the wear and tear is the same on the Chinese imports and the local quality brands that he uses. He says the maximum difference he has seen in terms of durability is between 15 and 20 percent. He notes that the process of sourcing and importing is actually straightforward and shipment is reasonably fast. He does not believe, however, that the local tyre manufacturers will eventually go out of business with the infiltration of the cheaper Chinese imports. “There will always be a market for local manufacturers, because China cannot always supply. When we don’t receive enough stock from China, we choose to buy from our local distributers. “Many businesses don’t conduct enough research to ensure they’re getting the best prices available. They often don’t realise that they can get the same quality products at a much cheaper price from China,” he points out. Van der Walt believes that the transport industry needs to save costs to ensure the end-user pays less. “If you can get the same quality at a better price, it’s a much smarter way of doing business,” he concludes. We also took the opportunity to speak to South African tyre expert Liana Shaw, who gave us her valuable input on this topic. Shaw established South Africa’s only tyre publication, SA Treads, which has been touted as the “official voice of the tyre industry”. She explains that, in South Africa, the biggest importers are the (previously mentioned) four leading local manufacturers, as they need to supplement their local range. Together with other reputable brands such as Michelin, Pirelli and Hankook, they form part of the country’s import quota. Shaw notes that only substandard and inferior tyres (which are predominantly made in China) are being imported at low cost into South Africa. She notes that, not all tyres coming from China should be considered cheap or poor quality, adding that imports certainly have their place in the market – given that the local manufacturers are the biggest importers in the country. “There are some good and proven Chinese tyre brands – especially considering that the world’s leading manufacturers, such as Michelin and Bridgestone, have factories in China,” she states. In spite of this, Shaw advices consumers to exercise caution when buying imports, as inferior and substandard makes are available. “Consumers need to ensure that they buy from reputable dealers, or importers, who are preferably members of the Tyre Importer Association of South Africa (TIASA),” she warns. “This way, you can rest assured that there will be recourse in the event of a claim,” she says. Whether or not there is merit to the cheaper imported quality tyres (as Van der Walt believes there is) is to be seen, but cheap tyres of inferior quality are definitely a burden to our society. Courtesy: Focus on Trucking Magazine
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14 • I n d u s t r y N e w s
TYREXPO AFRICA 2016 TO SPORT NEW FORMAT
Having successfully staged its latest Tyrexpo India 2015 show in Chennai in July, SingEx Exhibitions, the organiser of the Tyrexpo Series, is now turning its attention to the sixth edition of Tyrexpo Africa 2016 in Johannesburg next March. With the city of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development and the National Treasury’s new injection of a R34 million project to set up an Automotive Industrial Park near Northern Johannesburg, Tyrexpo Africa is now strategically placed to tap into this growing market potential in South Africa. Tyrexpo Africa 2016 is more than just a tyre exhibition as it brings in its latest format, new focuses on three additional product segments –Automotive Repair & Maintenance, Services & Smart Solutions as well as Sustainability where trade visitors will be able to source for a wider range of product, services and solutions in this three day business platform. With the introduction of the Smart Solutions and Sustainability show profiles, exhibitors from the global tyre business will also benefit from their neighbouring booths where they will find new solutions on tyre recycling, sustainable solutions and even smart solutions that could help their business to be managed or run even more efficiently.
Industry News
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WHEEL SERVICE EQUIPMENT
 � �� ��
“The Tyrexpo Africa event has been redesigned to offer a more holistic approach for the tyre industry to converge and conduct business in Africa. It is not just going to be a product showcasing platform, but a platform where the trade participants can connect with other players within the value chain
€‚ƒ„…ƒ�„††‡
 Â? Â?Â?Â? Â
and get the latest information on industry trends, challenges and solutions for their businesses�, says Ms Eileen Hair, Project Director of Tyrexpo Series. Also exhibitors and visitors can take full advantage of the newly injected side events such as the informative TechTalk Seminar, engaging in the Tyrexpo Technical Workshop and certification training workshops for the technicians working in the tyre industry. As well as recognising the value and importance of making relevant connections and meetings, Singex exhibitions aims to
Â
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further enhance trade participants’ experience and networking potential at Tyrexpo Africa by introducing the Tyrexpo Business Matching Service. “Business matching is an integral element of the Tyrexpo Series experience and it has been very successful in assisting our trade participants to facilitate the necessary meetings, allowing them to maximise their networking opportunities at past events,� adds Ms Hair.
Â? Â
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and automotive industry specialists to meet and conduct business in South Africa. For more information on the event, log on to www.tyrexposeries.com/ africa.
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Tyrexpo Africa 2016 looks set to bring together over 2,000 international tyre
18
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Promotion
Auto & Truck to join
The Directors: (from left to right) Rob Beaumont (Managing Director), Lizel Nicolau (Sales Director), Marius Coetzee (Operations Director), Michael Tolliss (Financial Director).
Promotion
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Elite Retreaders Gauteng based ATT (Auto & Truck Tyres) is the latest to join the Marangoni ‘Elite Retreaders Club’, currently numbering eight retreading factories around the world and featuring this latest, state-of-the-art equipment. With the introduction of the Italian maker’s top of the line retread equipment in their rapidly expanding factory in Wadeville in October, the company is promising to enhance product quality to new levels. Said MD, Rob Beaumont:
Next, the ‘Black Swan, an automatic extruder machine designed to extrude bonding directly onto the casing, gives the tyre incredible tack which
❝ The arrival of these three brand new
improves the quality of the retread, reducing claims and downtime.
machines, boasting some of the world’s best technology, now places ATT in a category of its own by way of innovation and product offering
❞
And last but by no means least, the ‘Constrictor 3000’, an automatic builder designed to apply the pre-cured rubber tread strips to the casing, ensures that the treads are centred onto the casing. Treads are built straight with no heavy spots, allowing for reduced rolling resistance and improved fuel consumption.
The first of the new machines, the ‘Eagle Truck 3000 Giotto’, is a fully
More important, these retreads are built with no human intervention.
automated buffing machine that allows all tyre makes and sizes to be preloaded on the machine and to be buffed at the ideal profile at a push of
In order to accommodate this new equipment, ATT utilised the opportunity
a button. This allows for the tyre to be buffed to the perfect radius and
to redesign their factory layout, simultaneously optimising production and
improves mileage.
improving quality standards.
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Promotion
The evolution path ATT has come a long way since its inception in 1986 which marked
❝ Today, after more than 25 years in business,
the installation of the company’s first factory, consisting of one 25 tyre
and with the arrival of the new high-tech
chamber, a massive achievement in itself back then, and a dream that
Marangoni equipment, we believe we are well placed
founder Rob Beaumont, had entertained for many years. Risking everything he owned to turn his dream into a reality, the gamble paid off and by 1990 ATT had grown to a four chamber factory.
to share the benefits of this dynamic equipment with our customers and prospective customers.
❞
This achievement paved the way for new milestones such as being presented with the ‘Bandag Master Factory’ Award from 1988-1998 and doubling the company’s factory production in 2009 with a further investment being made in plant and equipment. This took the factory up to the eight chamber plant that it is today, earning it the title of ‘biggest retreading factory in the world’, a massive achievement in anyone’s book. Despite a factory strike in Februray 2015 that heavily impacted the business, the directors are confident that the bold decision to invest further in the factory in the face of an economic decline will inevitably pay off. “The decision to invest further, albeit painful at the time, was simple in our mind. We are here for the long run. Committed to our customers and to providing them with excellent service, there was no other choice than to keep moving forward,” explained the directors.
Interested parties are invited to contact ATT on sales@att-tyres.co.za for a factory tour.
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One-on-One
163 967 TONNES COLLECTED = THE EQUIVALENT OF 19 MILLION TYRES 163 967 TONNES COLLECTED = THE ABILITY TO CREATE OVER 3000 JOBS 163 967 TONNES COLLECTED = THE ABILITY TO CREATE 225 SMALL BUSINESSES
* All statistics calculated as at end September 2015
One-on-One
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THANKS TO YOU, REDISA HAS COLLECTED OVER 163 967 TONNES. For a look at our latest achievements, statistics and positive stories worth celebrating, please visit our website.
For a look at our latest achievements, statistics and positive stories worth celebrating, please visit our website.
JOIN THE JOURNEY | www.redisa.org.za |
/wasteintoworth |
@wasteintoworth | +27 87 35-REUSE (73873)
24
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Promotion
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M ORU F E TYR
Ta l k i n g Ty r e s
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A need for speed? Innovation in the tyre industry never stops, and is driven by the extreme demands of vehicle manufacturers. But are motorists informed about how critical and complex tyre choice has become?
By Colin Mileman
The array of new cars that continue hitting our showrooms is simply dazzling. Despite the automotive industry declining year-on-year in terms of volumes, manufacturers are rolling out new models at a staggering pace. It wasn’t too long ago, in the run-up to 2010 in fact, that overly-ambitious industry experts predicted that the South African market would hit the 1-million vehicles mark per year. That the vehicle sales actually declined dramatically over the past several years is beyond dispute, and we’re heading for well under half of that figure for 2015, with expectations that 2016 will be more of the same as the SA economy takes a hammering. With any luck we’ll maybe stumble over the half-million mark by 2017 or even later. But if you had to judge the strength of the car industry by the number of new model launches, it would appear that it’s all extremely rosy on the local front. Certainly a few brands are posting record sales, but for the vast majority it’s tough times indeed.
What is more prevalent, however, is the roll-out of more and more cars with increasingly outrageous (and expensive) tyres. A decade ago 13-inch was the norm for cheap cars, 15-inch had started making its way into the mainstream and 17-inch was the benchmark for performance models. Now 17s are quite ordinary and if you buy any car with an ‘S’, ‘R’ or ‘M’ badge emblazoned on its tailgate you’re looking at nothing less than 19-inch rubber and above. Have a look at any car park and you will be staggered by the number of cars sporting rims ranging from 18-21 inches in diameter. A 35-profile tyre is no longer some outlandish creation simply reserved for the extreme supercars stuck on the bedroom walls of boys around the world. You can specify it on much more accessible performance hatchbacks such as the Honda Type-R and even spacious estate cars, such as the admittedly wild Audi RS6.
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Ta l k i n g Ty r e s
Granted, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill offerings, and are the most extreme interpretations of their respective model lines. But they are still everyday cars that you would use to ferry the kids to school or take your mom-in-law shopping in.
But if you’re even remotely likely to head off the beaten track, it forces you to buy a lower-spec model with smaller rims and higher-profile rubber in order to achieve some semblance of off-road ability. And sometimes that’s not even possible.
And it’s not just road cars where the ethos of ‘less is more’ applies lately. Take the off-road segment, where 17-inch wheels have become the standard for anything with a smidgen of luxury, 18-inch is common-place and the boundaries of 19-21 inches have been bowled right over.
In many cases a tyre change is obligatory anyway, as so many 4x4s roll off the dealer floor with road-biased tyres that are woefully out of their depth in mud, sand and rocks. Hence those with aspirations of venturing into the bush have to splash out on an additional set of tyres at the very least, and possibly rims too.
Any 4x4 driver will tell you that 15 or 16-inch rims with high-profile tyres are the best for off-roading, as they allow the option of decent deflation to extend the tyre’s footprint in the interest of improved traction. The larger sidewall also allows the tyre to flex over rocks and other obstacles. It blows my mind then that so many 4x4 manufacturers have gone off the charts in terms of wheel and tyre sizes. The Land Rover Discovery 4 was one of the initiators, coming with 19-inch rims as standard. Out the window went its exceptional all-terrain abilities, and suddenly far more lowly 4x4s have been able to show it up on even mild off-road obstacles. In five years of covering an annual 4x4 adventure that has conquered every Southern African country and travelled as far as Malawi and Zambia, the only puncture the group ever experienced was on a 19-inch-shod Discovery 4. The brand is not so much leaning towards on-road dynamics as it has seemingly fallen head-over-heels for tarmac. Hence the top echelon of its model range is now mostly fitted with massive low-profile 20 and 21-inchers. They’re not the only ones. Even the slick new Ford Everest, in top-spec Limited guise, is equipped with 20-inch wheels as standard. Granted, they do look the part, with the latest vehicle designs demanding large rims to fill the gargantuan wheel arches.
Tackling monstrous 4x4 trails isn’t the only challenge, and I will accept that most people spend the majority of their time driving on-road – even the most adventurous 4x4 junkies. But with the degradation of our country’s roads and the ever-present threat of rim-crunching potholes, there’s simply no getting away from regular repairs and replacements. Or the fact that when it happens, any thought of a Christmas bonus vanishes as fast a child’s fascination with Santa after seeing his parents placing presents under the tree on the night of 24 December. At around three grand a pop for decent ‘hot-hatch’ rubber to upwards of R6 000 each for the tyres fitted to the increasingly popular uber-SUVs, it’s an expensive exercise indeed. The worrying bit really comes when it’s time for replacement. All the development time and expertise that went into developing a specific tyre to suit the performance, comfort and fuel economy characteristics of a car, bakkie or SUV still seems to be of little significance when motorists begrudgingly fit replacement tyres. Even when money appears not to be an issue, the majority of motorists will opt for the cheapest alternative without fully comprehending the sacrifice they are making. It’s up to tyre and car dealers to educate buyers to buy the best. After all, as the Afrikaans saying goes, ‘goedkoop is deurkoop’ – and there shouldn’t be any compromise when it comes to safety!
Colin Mileman is a freelance motoring journalist, photographer and advanced driving specialist with over 17 years of experience in this field. As a former editor of Topcar and Topbike magazines, he’s as enthusiastic about cars and bikes as they come, and has extensive knowledge of all motoring-related matters, including the topic of tyres, having run the annual and highly regarded Topcar tyre tests for several years.
28 • Goodyear News
R670 million investment in Uitenhage Goodyear Tyre Factory
Goodyear South Africa recently announced an investment of an incredible R670 million to increase production of high-valueadded (HVA) consumer tyres at its Uitenhage manufacturing plant.
“This is an important investment by Goodyear and is consistent with our strategy to serve the needs of our customers and the company’s focus to invest in high return projects that drive profitable growth,” said Jean-Jacques Wiroth, managing director of Goodyear South Africa. The new technology and accompanying employee training will improve the plant’s capability and capacity to produce Low Rolling Resistance tyres,
This investment will result in the introduction of
promoting fuel economy in vehicles and meeting
state-of-the-art manufacturing technology for
the growing demand from vehicle manufacturers
the plant while also enabling Goodyear to meet
and the replacement market, as well as meet the
the strong and growing market demand for HVA
increase in requirements for HVA 4X4 SUV tyres.
consumer tyres in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The tyre market in South Africa and Sub-
To allow for this expansion, Goodyear South
Saharan Africa is expected to experience double-
Africa has proposed a relocation of the plant’s
digit growth through 2020 led by the consumer segment.
Jean-Jacques Wiroth, Managing Director of Goodyear South Africa
production of Medium Radial Truck tyres (MRT) to other plants across Goodyear’s Europe, Middle
Goodyear News • 29
Goodyear South Africa gets Top Employer South Africa certification again!
Goodyear’s Marketing and Brand Manager, Tracy Maclear (left) and Human Resources Manager, Tascha Olivier (right) smile proudly for their second Top Employer accreditation at the Top Employer Dinner held on 1 October 2015 in Johannesburg.
For the second year running Goodyear South Africa (Pty) Ltd has been officially certified by the Top Employers Institute for its exceptional employee offerings. The Top Employers Institute globally certifies excellence in the conditions that employers create for their people. Goodyear Factory, Uitenhage
“We are delighted to be officially recognised as a leading employer. We strive to continuously improve our employee offerings to give our
East and Africa regions. Under the proposal, Goodyear also stated that
employees a cultivating work environment,” said Jean-Jacques Wiroth,
they are consulting with union representatives and employees who are
Managing Director of Goodyear South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
currently working in the MRT area to minimise the impact by offering a variety of alternatives.
A crucial part of the Top Employers process is that participating companies must go through a stringent research procedure that identifies whether they
Subject to consultation, Goodyear South Africa believes that the majority
meet the high standards required to achieve the certification. To further
of these investment plans will be complete by end 2016 to early 2017.
reinforce the validity of the process, all answers are independently audited.
They also don’t foresee any disruption to tyre services or supply during this period.
The Top Employers Institute assessed Goodyear South Africa (Pty) Ltd’s employee offerings on the following criteria: Talent Strategy, Workforce
Goodyear South Africa will continue to communicate with union
Planning, On-boarding, Learning & Development, Performance
representatives, employees, customers, business partners and local authorities
Management, Leadership Development, Career & Succession Management,
in an on-going dialogue together throughout the consultation process.
Compensation & Benefits and Culture.
30
•
Industry News
SRSA RECOGNISES DEALERS Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) and Stamford Tyres (Africa)
The Sincera SN832i is Falken’s standard tyre that provides the longer
(Pty) Ltd hosted a Falken factory tour and dealers’ award event that took
life and higher durability. Stronger pattern and profile features are
place in Ladysmith, which is a city in the UThukela District of KwaZulu-
introduced to maximise wear performance for better mileage and
Natal, South Africa.
longer life on African roads. Both Falken tyre pattern will eventually be produced locally as from next year along with tyre brands like Dunlop
The two day event which took place in October 2015 comprised a
and Sumitomo tyres at SRSA local production plant in Ladysmith.
welcoming dinner and introduction to two new patterns of Falken tyres. The Ziex ZE914 Ecorun is the latest innovative upgrade from
Falken dealers were taken for a tour to the SRSA factory site, to
the Ziex ZE912 with excellent wet capabilities that meet the demands
experience the tyre manufacturing operations and processes and
from European vehicle manufacturers. This tyre pattern features new
ended the two day event at Ladysmith Country Club where the top
compound formulation that delivers outstanding high mileage and
Falken dealers’ were awarded certificates and trophies from Stamford
reduced fuel consumption characteristics without compromising safety.
Tyres (Africa) (Pty) Ltd in appreciation of their outstanding Falken sales achievement and support for the year 2014/2015.
for Tyres, Automotive Repair & Maintenance, and Tyre Accessories
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32
•
World News
Goodyear provides noise reduction technology to Mercedes to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
Michelin to close European retreading operations
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class moulds the perfection of the Mercedes-
Michelin has announced plans to close its retread operation at Pneu Laurent,
Benz S-Class with the exclusivity of Maybach. Some features distinguish these
Oranienburg, Germany at the end of 2016 and transfer all its retreading
vehicles from production models including lavishly designed, prestigious
activities to the company’s Avallon retreading location.
interiors. The exclusive design of this vehicle requires a technologically
Having already announced the closure of the Ballymena (Ireland) plant and their
advanced tyre to enhance the already smooth and enjoyable ride.
intention to close its Italian retreading operation in Alessandria. Michelin has
The vehicle is fitted with Run on Flat Goodyear EfficientGrip in size 245/45R19
confirmed the closures are due to the serious difficulties currently experienced
102Y XL for front axle fitment and 275/40R19 101Y rear axle fitment and Run
in the European retread market.
Goodyear is pleased to announce a technologically advanced tyre fitment
on Flat Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 in size 245/40R20 99Y XL front axle fitment and 275/35R20 102Y XL rear axle fitment. All of these fitments are aspect about these fitments is the SoundComfort Technology that is integrated
Continental to invest $500million in Sumter facility
into the tyre.
Continental Tire has broken ground on the expansion of its Sumter facility,
Goodyear’s SoundComfort Technology features an open-cell polyurethane
which will increase tyre production capacity from approximately four million
foam element attached to the inner surface of the tyre. The technology
units planned for 2016 to approximately eight million units.
dampens the Tyre Cavity Resonance (TCR) sound peak, generated when the
Tyres produced at the Sumter plant will help meet the increasing demand
tyre rolls over a surface, by up to 11dBA and enables a vehicle interior noise
for Continental and General brand tyres from both aftermarket business and
reduction of up to 4dB, making the vehicle cabin significantly quieter across a
automotive manufacturers.
large range of vehicle speeds.
The second phase of construction is expected to bring the plant’s full production
The new technology is designed to make the overall driving experience more
capacity to approximately eight million units per year by 2021.
pleasant, helping drivers and passengers better enjoy their journey in a quieter
The plant expansion would add more jobs at the facility and almost double the
environment, perfect for luxurious journies in vehicles such as the Mercedes-
current 700 jobs within the facility. Total employment is projected to reach
Maybach S-Class.
1,600.
Tracy Maclear, Marketing & Brand Manager for Goodyear South Africa said:
Continental will invest more than $500 million into the Sumter plant and create
“SoundComfort Technology is an innovation that we launched in 2014. With
about 1,600 new jobs. With the expansion, Continental has met the total
more demand for quieter drives as well as a higher demand for vehicles such as
projected investment of more than $500 million announced in October 2011.
the Mercedes Maybach S-Class, the technology provides significantly reduced
The construction of the first Phase started in 2012 and production began in
noise levels to those travelling in the vehicle.
October 2013 and for the development South Carolina vendors provided more
“As car manufacturers such as Mercedes continue to perfect their vehicles,
than $100m funding.
noise reduction has become an integral part of their drive to improve overall
Kajima Building & Design Group was the general contractor for the plant
driver comfort and we are pleased to be able to offer this market-leading
expansion which took nine months to complete.
MOE marked to indicate tyres built by Goodyear for Mercedes. The unique
technology to Mercedes,” Maclear concludes.
Trelleborg buys Mitas
Truck bonanza from Marangoni Marangoni Commercial Tyres are presenting their wide range of products at
Swedish based Trelleborg has agreed to acquire the Czech Republic’s CGS
the current Ecomondo exhibition in Rimini until Friday 6th November which
Holding a.s. for around UK Sterling 830 million on a cash and debt-free basis.
will include Marix retreads for trucks, light transport vehicles and earth-
CGS is a privately owned company in the agricultural and speciality tyre
moving machinery.
sector and solely owns the Mitas brand.
The company are also launching its new super single bead-to-bead hot
The acquisition of CGS and in particular the Mitas reinforces Trelleborg’s
retreaded truck tyre – the Marix MT National 3, an original Marangoni latest
growing position as the leading specialist in industrial tyres.
generation product offering high mileage and low fuel consumption.
XMC15119
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