How do you see the scope of tyre retreading industry and its future growth?

Our focus is on Europe, and the fact that Europe has a high density of population, the transport infrastructure depends heavily on road transport. Therefore, the potential in tyre demand remains at a high level. This assumption is also proven by the fact that over the past years the number of sold commercial vehicles has increased. And even the retreading market has shown a slight increase during 2018/2019 after many years of decline.  Analyst report there is an approximate share of 20% of truck retreads vs new tyres.

Needless to say, the current Covid-19 crisis has caused an eruption in the world, and nobody knows for sure which total effects this will cause, but one point is definitely sure – especially during the crisis, the key focus is trying to save resources and work most economically. On top we believe, that exactly this mindset will support the retreading industry, as retreading is unquestionably a part of the tyre industry which ensures the sustainability of resources.

We at NEROFORCE remain optimistically during these tough times.

What are your products/services to the sector?

Our goal is to offer the retreaders a full range of consumables, tools and equipment of high quality and performance. We are professionals in buffing & grinding tools and offering the widest range of different grinding tools. We re-develop and improve conventional tools, pushing the boundaries of state-of-the-art engineering. Focus during the production processes is to ensure the best performance & quality of our products and bring them to the market at the most economical and environmentally friendly level as possible.

From my own experience, many traditional companies are simply offering what they have offered for the past decades. Therefore, quite often the potential of modernisation, re-engineering or the upgrading of the tools & manufacturing to meet today’s standards has been missed.

Next to the NEROFORCE branded products, we also offer other brands, which have not neglected the above described evolution and are also able to offer modern and state-of-the-art quality products. With this complete offer, our customers can be assured, that they get the best of the best available in the market from NEROFORCE.

What gives your products the competitive edge in the market?

As mentioned above, it is the simple fact, that we do not offer conventional or “old-fashioned” products, but mainly re-engineered tools in terms of material, production process or improved usage scenarios. At all times, a high level of quality is our main driver.

How did you manage operations during the current pandemic slowdown?

As we are still a young company, we were surely struggling at some point. But since we have not yet built a big and costly organisation with a large overhead, it was probably easier for us than for bigger companies to apply saving processes or work most economically. Today, we have a very economic and healthy structure and surely can and will grow the company at a healthy speed.

 Do you think business operation processes will change in post-COVID times? If so, how?

It will change definitely. COVID forced us to reduce or even stop travelling, attend classic meetings, do sales calls and visits. Therefore, we were all forced to learn other ways of doing our business. And many people, not only in our but many other industries, found that these new ways actually work quite well and they learned that a big part of travelling around can be reduced considerably. We have been using the necessary technology for a long time, conducting online meetings, video conferences and chats, but not only from office to office, but also at a factory level, or to demonstrate something or show issues etc.  A lot of companies have not used these technologies, simply because of their old habits.

The same will also apply for the purchasing. Online shopping for tools and consumables in the B2B area was and is still not common in many areas of the industry. But this will happen, and it has to change now. Therefore, we at NEROFORCE are working at high speed on the introduction of our online B2B-ProShop for the Tyre & Retreading Industry. With this project, NEROFORCE will be a leader in presenting, demonstrating and selling the full range of high-quality products in the most convenient and easiest way.

Some details about your network?

Our base is in southern Germany, the geographical centre of Europe. Next to our office & warehouse team we also run a field engineering dept.

Service is our highest priority. And therefore, we work with a highly educated and very motivated team. Our manufacturers & suppliers from Germany, Italy, USA & Asia are selected carefully to ensure their service and quality complies with our philosophy.

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.”