Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. (ZC Rubber) has opened a technical center in Hanover, Germany, and the tiremaker says the Europe Technical Center will provide major technical support to the company's lead research and development center.
The Europe Technical Center (ETC) officially began operating on Nov. 1. Martin Wells, ZC Rubber's new vice president of global original equipment business, will oversee all work at the center, including OE project development and global account management. He will lead the company's OE business.
Jörn Tietjens will also work from the ETC as key account manager OE and automotive engineer. He will be responsible for developing, testing, and marketing new products to Key OE accounts, as well as coordinating commercial and technical support in order to meet all customer-related targets.
Both Wells and Tietjens previously worked at the Giti Tire R&D Centre Europe.
In its support to ZC Rubber's head R&D Center in China, the company says the ETC will focus on global original equipment project development that benchmarks evolving tire technologies and helps raise the standard for new product performance.
"As the world's ninth-largest tire manufacturer, ZC Rubber's Europe Technical Center is one of our most valuable assets," says Shen Jinrong, chairman of Zhongce Rubber Group. "With the new Europe Technical Center, ZC Rubber will be able to create cutting-edge technologies not only for our OEM partners but also to raise the standard on new product performance. We are glad to have Mr. Wells and Mr. Tietjens spearheading our efforts at Europe Technical Center."
ZC Rubber supplies OE tires to a number of well-known automakers, including Ford, Volvo, Hyundai, and KIA Motors.
"The OE business is critical because it not only allows us to partner with the world's leading automakers, but it also enables us to expand our replacement business."
