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.

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Toyo Tire Corporation said Mitsubishi Corporation has ceased to be a major shareholder after tendering its entire holding through a treasury share buyback, ending its status as the company’s largest shareholder.

The change took effect on 10^th August , 2026, following Toyo Tire’s acquisition of its own shares through off-auction trading (ToSTNeT-3). Mitsubishi tendered all its shares, excluding less than one unit, as part of the transaction.

As a result, Mitsubishi is no longer classified as a major shareholder or associated company of Toyo Tire, the company said.

Before the transaction, Mitsubishi held 30,822,206 shares, equivalent to 20.07 percent of total voting rights, and ranked as the largest shareholder. Following the change, its holding has effectively been reduced to zero.

The move follows Toyo Tire’s earlier announcement on August 7, 2026 regarding the termination of its capital and business alliance with Mitsubishi, alongside plans to repurchase its own shares.

Toyo Tire said the change would have no impact on its consolidated financial results.

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Linglong Tire has become the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to join the Global Data Service Organization (GDSO) as a full member, marking a step in the industry’s efforts to standardise and exchange tyre-related data globally.

The company joins the non-profit body as its fourteenth member. GDSO was established in January 2022 by Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli to facilitate the digital exchange of tyre data and develop common standards across the sector.

Moh Wahi, Head Of Truck And Bus Tyre Development at Linglong Europe, said: "By joining the GDSO as a Full Member and providing reliable data, we want to be the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to make a positive contribution to the further development of the tire industry and set new standards for the efficient processing of tire data in the digital age."

Riccardo Giovannotti, Secretary General of GDSO, said: "With Linglong Tire as a Full Member, GDSO is gaining one of the leading Chinese tire companies which is committed to digitalization and sustainability in the industry. Together, we will further make progress in developing standards for data processing and future-oriented solutions."

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd., founded in 1975, operates seven research and development centres globally and employs almost 20,000 people. The company runs nearly 200,000 sales outlets and exports products to 175 countries.

It supplies tyres to more than 200 production bases for over 60 automakers and has manufacturing facilities across China, Thailand and Serbia, with plans to expand further overseas.

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has joined forces with Sussex Police’s Road Safety Team to introduce a pioneering digital reference tool for frontline officers. The initiative equips police with immediate, device-accessible tyre safety data during roadside stops.

Developed as a local pilot, the application enables consistent vehicle examinations and improves driver communication regarding tyre dangers. It offers specific checklists for diverse vehicle categories, including motorcycles, cars, heavy goods vehicles, light commercial vans and towed trailers. The system further incorporates guidance on part-worn tyres, common queries and educational talking points.

Following its Sussex trial, the programme holds potential for nationwide adoption across UK police forces. This deployment underscores Sussex Police’s dedication to roadway innovation and reinforces the essential contribution of proper tyre maintenance to overall public safety.

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said, “This partnership with Sussex Police is a landmark moment for tyre safety enforcement and education. By putting reliable, accessible tyre safety guidance directly into the hands of frontline officers, we can ensure safer vehicles on our roads and help prevent avoidable collisions and breakdowns. Sussex is leading the way, and we hope this model will soon be adopted nationally.”

Superintendent Jo Grantham, Head of Roads Policing, Sussex Police, said, “Our officers are committed to keeping road users safe, and having instant access to this tyre safety resource makes a real difference on the ground. It supports enforcement while also giving us the tools to educate drivers more effectively. We’re proud to be working with TyreSafe on this project and to be the first police force in the country to pilot it.”

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The UK Towing Safety Alliance (UKTSA) has published a comprehensive four-year analysis of incident data from National Highways’ Strategic Road Network, covering 2022 to 2025. The findings reveal a 23 percent rise in total towing-related incidents, driven primarily by a maintenance crisis affecting utility and commercial trailers. While traffic collisions involving towed vehicles decreased by 17 percent, mechanical breakdowns now constitute 77 percent of all towing-related incidents, highlighting vehicle and trailer condition as the sector's foremost challenge.

The data coincides with SMMT Motorparc 2025 figures showing Britain's vehicle fleet at its oldest recorded level, with average car age reaching 9.7 years. The summer harvest season has also arrived, bringing agricultural trailers back to roads after months of disuse. NFU Mutual research indicates collisions involving agricultural vehicles are 56 percent more likely between May and September, reinforcing the need for pre-journey roadworthiness checks.

Utility and agricultural trailers now account for nearly half of all towing-related callouts, surpassing 3,000 incidents in 2025. Regionally, the North West has overtaken the South East as the most incident-prone area, with trailer failures surging 60 percent since 2022, while the North East recorded a 55 percent increase. A growing divide exists between leisure and commercial towing sectors.

Leisure sector improvements, including fewer horsebox incidents and regional caravan reductions, suggest awareness campaigns are yielding positive results. However, utility trailer failures continue climbing, indicating maintenance standards across commercial and domestic sectors require greater attention. Regular servicing, correct loading and proper coupling remain essential to prevent avoidable incidents.

For working trailers, summer represents peak operational period, with agricultural and utility trailers seeing intensive use while rural roads become busier with tourists and cyclists. The Alliance emphasises that trailers stored for extended periods require thorough inspections before returning to service.

The UKTSA urges all towers to perform three essential checks covering tyres, load and connection before every journey. Tyres must be inspected for pressure, tread and deterioration; loads correctly distributed and couplings and electrical connections verified. The Alliance will place ‘The Working Trailer’ at the centre of safety campaigns, collaborating with industry partners to boost maintenance awareness and reduce preventable breakdowns across the Strategic Road Network.

A spokesperson for the UK Towing Safety Alliance said, “It’s encouraging to see fewer collisions involving towing vehicles, which suggests that drivers are becoming more aware of safe towing practices. However, that progress is being undermined by a growing number of preventable mechanical failures. The challenge is no longer simply about how people tow – it’s increasingly about what they’re towing and the condition it’s in. As both tow vehicles and trailers get older, regular maintenance has never been more important.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Harvest season places extra demands on both vehicles and trailers, particularly those that may only be used for a few months each year. One of the most common issues we see is tyres that appear to have plenty of tread but have deteriorated through age, weathering or prolonged storage. Whether you’re towing a livestock trailer, plant trailer, horsebox or caravan, tyres should always be inspected for correct pressure, damage, cracking and signs of ageing before every journey. A few minutes spent carrying out these checks can prevent breakdowns and significantly improve safety for everyone using our roads.”

Sarah Smithurst MBE, COO, National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA), said, “Across the NTTA network, we’re seeing a noticeable increase in enquiries from people looking to refurbish older trailers or source second-hand trailers, including imported models, as a more affordable alternative to buying new. While extending the life of a trailer is often entirely appropriate, it’s essential that owners understand that trailers are not maintenance-free. Many have been in service for years, sometimes decades, and components naturally deteriorate over time, even if the trailer has seen relatively little use. Every trailer should be thoroughly inspected before it returns to the road, with particular attention paid to tyres, brakes, bearings, couplings and lighting. Investing in regular servicing and maintenance is far less costly than experiencing a breakdown – or worse, being involved in an incident. The NTTA continues to help and advice new and old trailer users about safety and many are asking for help when towing, especially the reversing aspect of a trailer, now the B&E test was withdrawn. We are also seeing more trailers being repatriated from North America and Europe rather than purchasing new in the UK.”

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