Banner image caption: Europäische Fachpressekonferenz, v.l.n.r.: Dr. Ralf Deckers (Bereichsleiter Research Experts, IFH Köln GmbH), Ingo Riedeberger (Director THE TIRE COLOGNE), Maximiliane Sarwas (Moderatorin), Gerald Böse (Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung Koelnmesse GmbH), Stephan Helm (Vorsitzender BRV), Motorworld Köln

The German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association (BRV) and Koelnmesse has announced that the Tire Cologne 2021 will be a hybrid trade fair. It will be held in the classic trade format as well as in the digital format called the ‘TTC@home’. According to Koelnmesse, a global leader for Digital Media, Entertainment and Mobility segments, the two parallel formats would ensure that the industry participants from around the world, whether exhibitors or trade visitors, can exchange ideas live in Cologne or digitally via a platform developed specifically for this purpose.

Desperate conditions demand discerning measures
The event organisers have revealed that the trade fairs will be carried out safely and successfully while keeping all the safety measures in place. The stand
areas are limited to a maximum of 150 sq.m. Additional capacities are offered by the ‘Lead Café’ – consultation rooms that can be used flexibly. Koelnmesse has developed a host of measures under the ‘#BSAFE4BUSINESS’ in accordance with the provisions of the corona protection ordinance of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in close coordination with the authorities in Cologne. These measures work together seamlessly and regulate interaction at the trade fair.

The digital platform developed by Koelnmesse, on which the TTC@home digital trade fair components are realised, is already currently being used successfully at DMEXCO, the largest trade fair for digital marketing & advertising in Europe that concluded today. ‘Digital’ exhibitors can present their products as photo and text information within the exhibitor showrooms and increase the attention their company attracts by embedding video content. Content on products and companies can be presented in digital panels or conferences to a circle of interested parties and in greater depth via special networking functions in chats or digital meetings. In addition to a large number of additional tools, TTC@home also supports new visitor target groups and is at the same time the basis for a sustainable community platform that will continue to exist beyond The Tire Cologne 2021. All the exhibitors will receive a digital basic package at no charge. TTC@home thus also makes an important contribution to the digitalisation of the tyre industry.

Oliver Frese, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, (pictured above) said, "One thing is certain; trade fairs will remain indispensable. Only here can direct personal encounters for the maintenance of existing contacts and the initiation of new business opportunities be assured with precision and certainty. We are more than prepared to carry out trade fairs safely and successfully for all participants, and to thus provide the so urgently needed impulses for the further development of the industries.”

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Nexen Tire America has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its Next Level Associate Dealer Program, introducing structural changes designed to accelerate dealer qualification and enhance reward accessibility. The revised initiative directly responds to dealer input by lowering purchase thresholds and creating new earning opportunities for participants at various stages of engagement with the brand.

Central to the updated framework is a substantial reduction in the quarterly Tier 1 qualification benchmark, which has been decreased by 40 percent from 100 units to 60 eligible tyres per quarter. Additionally, a new introductory earning bracket has been established for dealers purchasing between 1 and 59 qualifying units, granting them USD two per tyre. The programme’s annual True-Up mechanism has also been expanded, allowing dealers who achieve year-end tier qualifications to receive volume bonuses for previous quarters where they initially fell short, with the 2026 annual qualifier reduced to 320 units.

Given the midyear implementation, Nexen has instituted a transitional qualification schedule for 2026, applying the former 100-unit standard to the first two quarters while the new 60-unit tier takes effect for the third and fourth quarters. To commemorate the programme’s relaunch, a Triple Dollars promotion will run from 1 July through 13 September, significantly increasing per-tyre payouts on select patterns, including the N’Blue 4S2, AH5, GTX, HP, CT8, AH7, AH8, N’Fera Sport, N’Priz S, N’Fera AU7, Roadian ATX, Roadian HTX2 and Roadian MTX models.

Participants can monitor their qualifying purchases, tier progression and total earnings through the Next Level online dealer dashboard. Complete eligibility criteria and payout structures are available through Nexen Tire America sales representatives, who can provide detailed guidance on the revised program provisions.

John Hagan, Executive Vice President – Sales, Nexen Tire America, said, “We listened closely to our Next Level dealers, and they have spoken about wanting a programme that makes it easier to qualify and provides more opportunities to earn. These changes deliver on that feedback by opening the programme to more dealers, allowing them to qualify sooner and begin earning rewards faster. We believe the new programme will help dealers grow their business with Nexen and ultimately strengthen our dealer network long term.”

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FALKEN has released a new film titled ‘The Perfect Lap’, offering a gripping behind-the-scenes look at the team's recent campaign in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring. The film arrives following the team's 27th participation in the legendary endurance event, which took place this past May. It meticulously documents the intense operational rhythm within the pit lane and the unforgiving nature of the Nordschleife circuit, set against one of the world's largest motorsport gatherings, attracting over 450,000 spectators.

The documentary underscores the challenge of the 24-hour race, where contenders must execute between 156 and 162 nearly perfect laps to secure victory. Created with automotive film specialists FORMAT67, the production team spent six days capturing footage on the treacherous track. The use of a U-Crane camera rig enabled dynamic tracking shots following the FALKEN Porsche directly on the tarmac, delivering authentic and high-quality visuals.

Emphasising traditional filmmaking, the entire project was executed without artificial intelligence, from location shoots through post-production. This commitment to conventional methods was a deliberate choice to enhance the film's genuine credibility and emotional resonance. The film portrays a team defined by relentless determination, returning annually to pursue ultimate triumph in this iconic race.

Debuting in 1999, the FALKEN Motorsport Team has evolved into a front-running force at the Green Hell. Its greatest achievement remains a podium finish with third place in 2015, and the recognisable Porsche 911 GT3 R continues to be a fan favourite. With a history of ‘Top 10’ finishes and high-profile drivers, the team carries immense ambition, using compelling track footage to tell stories fuelled by emotion and the harsh realities of endurance racing.

Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, which also includes the tyre brand FALKEN, said, “It was particularly important to us to give the film a classic, premium look while maintaining a timeless visual style. The film captures the unique atmosphere and intensity of the Nürburgring 24 Hours while also telling the story of a broader, recurring challenge in motorsport: the pursuit of the perfect lap.”

Evropi Dionysiadou, Brand Communications Specialist, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, and responsible for the production, said, “The concept behind the film is to symbolise precision, passion, teamwork and the relentless drive to extract the maximum performance time and time again – lap after lap, day and night. In this respect, endurance racing and our complex film productions have a great deal in common.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) is set to showcase retreaded commercial vehicle tyres as a dual-purpose solution for cost and emission reductions at IAA Transportation 2026. The event, running from 15 to 20 September with a press day on 14 September, aligns with the fair’s central theme of climate-neutral logistics, under the motto ‘WE DELIVER’.

These retreaded tyres deliver equivalent quality, safety, mileage and axle performance when compared to brand-new models while offering a superior ecological profile and a more favourable cost-per-kilometre ratio. Their economic and environmental benefits will be highlighted at Hall 12, Stand A55, drawing attention to their role in sustainable freight operations.

Citing a Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT study commissioned by AZuR, the retreading process cuts CO2 emissions by over 60 percent relative to new tyre production, saving roughly 135 kilogrammes per truck tyre. This is achieved alongside a two-thirds reduction in raw material usage and a 50 percent decrease in energy consumption, underscoring the process’s resource efficiency.

Manufactured to original design specifications and subjected to rigorous safety checks, retreaded tyres comply with the strict ECE R109 standard. Their capacity for multiple retreading cycles keeps valuable materials in use longer, significantly lowering per-kilometre tyre costs. For fleet operators and forwarders, the AZuR exhibit offers a compelling case for both environmental and financial returns.

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Prinx Chengshan participated in the 2026 Thailand-China Cooperation Expo at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok. The event, under the theme ‘Investing in the Future, Growing Together’, was convened to implement key bilateral agreements and leverage emerging trade opportunities. Prinx Chengshan actively sought to integrate into the bilateral structure, exploring industrial alignment and market expansion to foster synchronised growth between the two nations.

Xu Jiangang, General Manager of Prinx Chengshan (Thailand) Co., Ltd., engaged with Jiang Wei, Minister-Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand; Lin Chuqin, Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Liu Quanlei, Chairman of the Thai Chinese Enterprises General Chamber of Commerce and Sumet Thangprasert, Governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. Discussions centred on localisation strategy, intelligent manufacturing, global vision and sustainable practices.

Government and business representatives commended Prinx Chengshan's progress since its 2019 Thai establishment. They praised the Thailand Smart Factory's intelligent production and green initiatives. The company's role in cultural exchanges and local economic development was also recognized, establishing a foundation for future collaboration.

As the first overseas manufacturing hub, the Thailand Plant boosts bilateral trade and industrial cooperation. The facility uses advanced calenders and five-compound technology to automate handling and logistics. It operates Southeast Asia's largest rooftop solar project, while social programmes cover education, disaster relief and employment, building cultural bridges between both countries.

The expo featured Prinx Chengshan's Prinx AQUILA PRO tyres, known for energy efficiency, comfort and low noise. These have been integrated into models like the MG5 PRO Thailand Edition, MG S5 EV Thailand Edition and Changan NEVO Q05. The company has strengthened its original equipment manufacturer position, forging alliances with MG and NEVO for localised mobility solutions.

Prinx Chengshan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with upstream partners to deepen resource complementarity with Thai rubber industries. The company will enhance its product portfolio, reinforce localisation and intensify supply chain synergies. Through the Thailand-China platform, Prinx Chengshan aims to contribute to mutual prosperity and chart new growth for Chinese tyre enterprises globally.

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