Several manufacturers introduced tires at Tyrexpo Asia 2013, which set records for exhibitors and visitors March 19-21 in Singapore. The companies and their new offerings include:
Aeolus, China’s fifth largest tire manufacturer by sales, announced its entry to the Southeast Asia passenger car market with the launch of a complete range of PCR tire products. The venture comes on the back of the construction of a car tire manufacturing plant in Jiaozuo with the capacity to produce 6 million tires a year.
Aeolus also confirmed its ambition to become one of the top 10 tire makers in the world. General Manager Wang Feng, said: “The company’s goal is to have a price/quality position higher than that of South Korea’s Hankook Tyre Company. Currently we are at around the 20th position in the ranking of world tire manufacturers; our intention is to be in the top 10 manufacturers in the world.”
BKT, the Indian OTR manufacturer, introduced two tires to its materials handling range. The 445/95 R25 Airomax AM27 pattern for high speed crane fitments and the Maglift STF solid range for fork lift trucks debuted, along with the recently introduced Container King 18.00-25 tire popular in Asian ports.
BKT currently claims around 5% of the global OTR market, with a long-term ambition to double that to 10% by 2020, according to the company. A fourth manufacturing plant will add 350 metric tons (MT), the equivalent of 385 tons, per day to output by the end of 2014, bringing total capacity to 750 MT (825 tons).
Another Indian tire manufacturer, GRL, known for bicycle and two-wheeler products, showcased its recent strategic investment in off highway tires for agricultural, industrial and construction applications. The move is part of a development program that will culminate in a new US$275 million production plant in Gujarat in 2015. The additional capacity will increase production from 50 MT (55 tons) per day to 325 MT (357.5 tons) per day.
ATG (Alliance Tire Group) launched four patterns to its materials handling range of tires, including the Galaxy Giraffe XLW, Galaxy Jumbo Hulk, Galaxy Beefy Baby III and the Galaxy Port Star Plus.
Singaporean supplier Mindtrac launched the Ultra X range of Indian-manufactured cross-ply tires for truck and light truck applications.
Sri Lankan industrial tire maker LAUGFS introduced two solid fork lift tires, the premium Ultima and economy Optima patterns in 18 x7- 8. The Ultima is targeted at OE customers in south Asia.
Tyrexpo Asia attracted 4,355 visitors from 97 countries and 250 exhibitors, both records, according to ECI International, the firm which staged the event.
Dr. Stephen Evans, secretary-general of the International Rubber Study Group, forecast a “decade of opportunity” for the industry. Read his remarks: Tyrexpo Asia: Expect strong global tire demand
