But Christine Zhang, CEO of NAMA Tires, is among ‘that’ 8 percent of women who made their way up the male-dominated industry of automobiles. She talks to TyreTrends about her experiences while blazing her way to the CEO chair of one of the top tyre companies in Southeast Asia.

Zhang joined the tyre industry right after graduating from university. She credits her Thai background for her inclination towards the tyre industry. She said, “We are Thai people. We have tyre blood. I believed it was better not to change to other business as one, it is a great industry, and two, the relationship with customers from different customers had already been set by others. The link was already established.” 

When asked about her secrets to becoming a CEO in this industry, Zhang laughs and describes her hectic schedule of working 14-16 hours a day, travel commitments and other work commitments she must fulfil while playing the part. She believes hard work and dedication is what is required to get to the top, regardless of gender or age. However, in all good conscience, she believes that women are more dedicated and are better at handling huge responsibilities as they are conditioned to do so from a very young age in society. She says that with the right education, they might even bring to the table a lot more than any man. 

Zhang walks the talk as NAMA currently boasts of having a 60 percent women workforce and further encourages more women to enter the company by providing more human care such as flexible work schedules, especially for pregnant and lactating women. 

NAMA Tires was founded in 1999, and during the 90s and early 2000s, the major change experienced by the company was the added production of radial tyres along with that of the bias tyres. With the company entering the Industry 4.0 automation revolution, Zhang believes that people no longer view Chinese products as merely economical products. The Chinese tyre-makers have also begun making intelligent tyres to keep up with trends and have begun gaining a reputation beyond their low-end OEM manufacturing. She further adds that nowadays, many US and China made tyres are made of similar quality raw materials. Even at the equipment level, many Chinese brands have raised their bar to global standards and are doing good globally, she confirms. 

Zhang credits her team and the company’s customers for the 22-year journey the company has led so far. But things have not come easy. Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy charges and trade barriers by the US have caused various bumps along the way. Zhang recollects setting up the production base in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam, three years before the duties were imposed, as one of the wisest decisions for the company. She says that the company is always prepared and will always adhere to the laws of vigilance and regulations. She adds that the Covid-19 period also led to a difficult time as most of the products are sold internationally. NAMA sought online meetings with customers and localisation of employees as an alternative during the difficult period.

The company currently has its production bases in Vietnam and Thailand and is looking to expand its setup to Europe and Cambodia to satisfy the increasing customer demand. Around 60 percent of the company’s products are sold to US wholesale and retail distributors. The remaining 40 percent is distributed among the regions of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The company hopes to receive more sales from its upcoming online retail platform. With the EV mobility trend catching up, the company will be looking into the production of EV specific tyres in the coming years. “We always keep an eye out for the latest technologies in the tyre world and try to implement them as soon as possible. Currently, we have many exclusively designed tyres and other technologically advanced tyres, such as our run-flat tyres that can run 500 kilometres with zero pressure, and a wide range of tyre sizes.” (TT)

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”