What is your take on the two-wheeler tyre market in India, considering the current situation?

India is facing the heat of the most unprecedented crisis with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The automobile industry is witnessing a slump, resulting in a slowdown in the two-wheeler tyre market in India. However, the two wheeler demand in India remains strong in the long term, and we believe the current harsh time will pass soon. We are certain that once the lockdowns are lifted, two-wheelers could become the preferred mode of transportation for many, certainly which will be a boom for the two-wheeler tyre market.

Tyre companies are facing challenges on the manufacturing front due to restrictions being infused by the pandemic situation. How has the company aligned its manufacturing activities to the current situation and is taking care of its employees?

At Maxxis, the employee’s safety has been prioritised over business targets. There was a shutdown for a brief period. To ensure workforce well-being, we have been strictly conducting employee Health check-ups, including RT-PCR tests and compulsory vaccinations for all the staff. Also, we have always been following all government protocols of social distancing, limited workforce, operating in shifts and other safety measures for our employees. 

The manufacturing unit operates under the guidelines drawn by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Gujarat State Government. Currently, employees are working in shifts with full capacity workforce. We intend to augment production as per market demand and the lockdown situation in the country.

Management is also proactively sharing e-mailers with employees, channel partners on safety measures and positive quotes to spread the positive environment. 

Could you highlight the role of digitisation of Maxxis India’s plant in Gujarat and how is it helping in today’s time?

Maxxis lays excellent emphasis on digitisation. It gives us greater control and visibility into each step of the complex manufacturing process, reducing cost and waste and improving overall efficiency.

How does the company see Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 will be the key game changer for the Indian manufacturing sector. Industry 4.0 refers to leveraging cyber -physical domains in association with the latest technologies like AI, IoT, Cloud computing, AR, 3D printing, etc., to enhance productivity. Industry 4.0 is already influencing sectors like manufacturing, supply chain management, construction, shipping etc., and shall impact all the aspects of our day-to-day activities. It is truly considered to be a disruptive technology.

Maxxis has always worked extremely hard to implement this strategy into hardware (technology, equipment and machinery in our newly built facilities worldwide) and software (the production, management and quality methods that operate those facilities).

What about sustainability in manufacturing at the plant? 

As a socially responsible corporate, Maxxis has been continually assessing the environmental impact of its activities, products and services that forms the basis of its ‘Global Environmental Policy. 

Our Sanand facility boasts of one of the most effective water stewardship programmes in India. Its efficient Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) have accorded the plant its status of a ‘Zero Liquid Discharge’ facility. It discharges no liquid effluent into the surface water, effectively eliminating the environmental pollution associated with treatment. The process also uses wastewater treatment, recycling, and reuse, thereby contributing to water conservation through a reduced freshwater intake. 

The manufacturing unit also has a unique peripheral trench for water conservation. It collects and stores rainwater and further discharges it into the ground through 22 recharge stations rather than completely running off.

On average, Maxxis India recycles around 2,000 cubic metres of water every month, and the residual water after recycling is further used for plantation and cleaning purposes. The increasing groundwater draft caters to its domestic and industrial requirements, rendering most of the unconfined aquifer zone dry.

Following are some of the measures for collection, storage, Handling, and disposal of waste at our Sanand unit:

• We have the Effluent treatment plants (ETP) and Sewage treatment plants (STP) in our facility to treat our wastewater. After treatment of wastewater – Sludge is generated from both plants. Considering the 3’R, we use the entire STP sludge for our in-house gardening purpose. And the sludge of ETP plant – we use to keep it in a scrap yard for getting dry and then we send it to TSDF (Transport Storage Disposal Facility) “Pollution control board’s Authorised waste management companies for landfilling.

• We also have a sound constructed facility of 1800sq.mt for collection, segregation, and storage of all type of waste.

• We are not only focusing on the safe disposal of Hazardous waste; being an ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) certified Tyre manufacturer company, it’s our moral responsibility to ensure “End use” or “life-cycle prospective” of our products. We are only selling out the Tyres & other Rubber related to waste to Gujarat Pollution Control Board “Authorised Recyclers”. 

We have always been following consistently ethical standards for recycling to encourage a green environment.

How are you preparing for producing and marketing premium tyres?

Maxxis believes that quality speaks for everything, especially for the premium tyres market; no marketing or promotion activities can subdue how a user concludes the experience of using a premium product. We tapped into the market with Hornet 2.0 project with Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India last year by supplying the Extramaxx (M6233/M6234) series. Extramaxx tyres use the world’s strongest Aramid Fibre, and the dual compound technology minimises rolling resistance while improving stability and tyre life. We have also plan to launch extension sizes for the Extramaxx series to cover all significant sports motorcycles running on Indian roads. We will soon launch more tyre series to cover different road applications for the cruising/touring market segment in the coming months.

How is the company widening the partnership with OEMs?

Maxxis has formidable strength in the OEMs market, where our quality and technology enable us to serve our OEM partners better. We have partnered with some of the world largest two-wheeler manufacturers- Hero Moto Corp, Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India Limited, Yamaha Motor India and Suzuki Motorcycles. We are fast expanding our portfolio as per new trends and market demand. 

Will Maxxis India open to cater to the Electric two-wheeler market, which is small but a fast-growing segment?

Maxxis Tyres stand for our steady commitment towards innovation, catering to the future mobility trends across segments. Last year, we launched the M922F, a special edge for tyre designs for electric two-wheelers. The new M922F tyres are built with specialised compound technology, which helped us in producing lighter tyres. This lighter weight in turn reduces energy consumption by five to ten per cent, enhancing the range of an electric two-wheeler.

We are one of the best EV 2W tyre manufacturers globally as we supply tyres to Gogoro in Taiwan and Niu in China; both are the pioneers in EV 2W globally. 

The company plans to have five more plants. Could you elaborate on how will they be technically advanced and cater to future demand?

We are one of the fastest-growing tyre companies in India with a long-term vision to achieve a 15 percent market share by 2026 and set up five manufacturing plants. Owning to the current pandemic situation in the country and keeping in mind the well-being of the employees, the complete utilisation of the existing plant capacity has been put on hold. 

We are evaluating the current market situation and will navigate our strategy as per the future condition.

What are the expansion plans for 2021 – 2022.

On the product front, Maxxis India has various line-up of tyres for sports bike with different applications for road and weather conditions which we will introduce in a very short time. We are evaluating the space of market for more product introduction. Currently, our portfolio covers 82% of market’s users’ scenario and we plan to raise it more than 90% this year.  

Also, The company made an investment of over $400 million in its Sanand plant in Gujarat. We currently employ workforce of 600+ people and are committed to extend manpower to 2000 within five years. Currently, we have used half of the land (106 acres) we got from the Gujarat government for the planned 60,000 units’ capacity. Owing to COVID-19 pandemic, we are carefully evaluating the situation this year and will take appropriate steps to realise our future plans, in the time to come. We have penetrated across all 29 states and eight Union Territories of India and opened an exclusive retail store in Goa to meet the growing demands of our customers.

We are working on new alignments and partnerships with new set of OEMs for the two-wheeler market as well as working on expanding our portfolio for the replacement market.

 (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.”