Magna Tyres Singapore (MTS) mainly specialises in the port handling and mining market segments while also offering tyres to the construction, industrial and truck sectors across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, incorporating 40 countries. These countries also include Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

As for Singapore, it has been only over five years since the Netherlands-based Magna Tyres Group opened a sales and administration office in Singapore to better serve the APAC region, it claims.

The port handling sector is a relatively new market for the OTR and industrial tyres company in the APAC region. According to them, the company is now benefiting from ongoing opportunities in the growing industry, and has already established itself as a popular brand by working with many leading important ports throughout Asia. Whilst in the industrial sector, it is primarily active in the sales of solid and super solid tyres, continually increasing market share in this niche sector.

“Initially, we started within the mining sector, where Magna Tyres already operated a distributor network in Indonesia and Australia," said Olga Matveitshyk, Singapore General Manager, Magna Tyres and went on, “Over time, we have successfully increased our customer sales into the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, New Zealand and Mongolia. At the same time, we have progressively widened our product range and ensured an impressive brand image in this highly competitive market segment.”

However, the port handling market is equally important to Magna Tyres, as per the OTR and industrial tyre company. Asia encompasses around 60 percent of the world’s current population, resulting in demand for products being continually high. Also, Magna Tyres states that mining equipment is a flourishing exporting commodity that adds to the growing port development industry. At the same time, APAC consists mostly of islands, making the port network and its services key to the region’s further development and sustainability. In truth, in the port handling segment, Magna Tyres’ new further improved 16.00-25 M801 and 310/80R22.5 M-Terminal tyres, with antistatic capabilities, will be launched at the Tyrexpo Asia 2023 show in Singapore in March 2023, claims the OTR and industrial tyre company.

Matveitshyk added, “There is no doubt that our strongest OTR markets are mining and port handling in the APAC sector, which are being driven by the fact that Indonesia and Australia are two of the largest and most successful coal-producing and gold mining countries in the world. We are well placed to provide technologically-advanced products and solutions advice to customers to satisfy individual tyre requirements.”

Looking towards the short term future, Magna Tyres Singapore aims for further growth of its trading network and customer base, and fully intends to widen its supplied product range. Matveitshyk said, “At the same time we are eager to “challenge ourselves” by looking to eventually enter the OEM market in this region.”

In fact, according to Magna Tyres, the company was confirmed as one of the fastest growing companies in the world in 2021. As per them, they have achieved this position by studying and following market demands closely, and adjusting to new trends as they develop.

Matveitshyk added, “Initially, it was a challenge to introduce tyres into an established market with a deep knowledge of the tyre industry. However, Magna Tyres is now a recognised and growing brand in the mining, port handling, construction and industrial segments throughout Asia. Our partners/customers fully appreciate that we can provide solutions through being totally flexible and forward-thinking. In effect, Magna Tyres makes a difference when it comes to customer satisfaction on OTR tyres.”

Pyrum Innovations AG has announced that its Supervisory Board has extended the contract with Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Kai Winkelmann until 31 March 2030 to ensure continuity in the management of the company.

Winkelmann joined the firm in February 2021, and on 1 April 2022, he was initially named to the Executive Board as CFO. He has so far played a major role in obtaining the company's funding during his tenure at Pyrum, including last year's successful capital raise. Winkelmann is in charge of Finance, Compliance and IT in his role on the Executive Board.

Alf Schmidt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said, “We are pleased about the contract extension of Kai Winkelmann, who has proven his skills and in-depth expertise in the financial sector and at the management level in recent years. Over the last four years, he has made a significant contribution to the development of the necessary administrative structures and to the success of the company, and has promoted its rapid further development. We have confidence in his foresight and are convinced that Winkelmann will continue to play a central role in the successful implementation of the company’s goals in the years to come.”

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) has been selected once again to continue as a constituent of three internationally renowned environmental, social and governance (ESG) indexes: the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes, the FTSE4Good Index Series and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).

Bridgestone has been a part of the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes for two years in a row since 2023, the DJSI World for three years in a row since 2022 and the FTSE4Good Index Series for seven years in a row from 2018. Bridgestone's specific Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) has been steadily implemented, putting sustainability at the centre of its operations. The company's 2020 vision and Mid-Long Term Business Strategy served as the foundation for the plan.

According to the company statement, “Setting forth the vision of ‘Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company’, Bridgestone links its business to the realisation of carbon neutrality, a circular economy and nature positivity across the entire value chain. From the ‘produce and sell’ phase and the ‘use’ of its products through to their ‘renewal’ to raw materials, Bridgestone aims to build a foundation for creating sustainability value.”

The following initiatives have contributed to Bridgestone's inclusion in these indexes:

• Contributing to a circular economy and attaining carbon neutrality by using ENLITEN technology to make tyres from recycled and renewable resources, using BCMA and switching to ‘Green & Smart’ manufacturing at Bridgestone locations to increase resource productivity and energy efficiency.
• Encouragement of nature positivity through initiatives for the sustainable use of water resources and natural rubber that are closely related to the commercial operations of the firm, including strengthening assistance for natural rubber smallholders.
• Strengthening of a thorough structure and procedure for human rights due diligence that aims to identify, mitigate, avoid and disclose human rights concerns.
• Visualisation and disclosure of the impact of social contribution actions that are in line with the global goals.

German automotive company and tyre major Continental has been added another feather to its cap with bagging the ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ at this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence at this year’s Tire Technology Expo.

With this, Continental becomes the only tyre maker to have won two concurrent awards – Tire Manufacturer of the Year and Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing. The company’s Lousado facility in Portugal was also recognised for manufacturing tyres CO2-neutrally since last year.

Edwin Goudswaard, Head of Research & Development, Continental Tires, said, "We are especially proud to be the only manufacturer to be honoured twice at the Tire Technology Awards in an extremely competitive field. Both awards highlight our strong commitment to sustainable tire development and manufacturing. In such a highly competitive market, this success demonstrates our innovative prowess and our ability to actively shape the future of the industry."

Interestingly, this also marks it the fourth time that the German company has bagged the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award. The awards took into consideration tyre makers globally and were evaluated by a jury of 27 independent industry experts.

Going forward, Continental has outlined its ambition to switch all of its tyre plants to fully carbon-neutral production processes by 2040 at the latest.

Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has appointed Jongseon Ahn and Sanghoon Lee as Executive Directors and new Co-CEOs, following a resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting and Board of Directors meeting held on 26 March.

Ahn will be in charge of Hankook Tire's global innovation, R&D, procurement, production and quality, while Lee will be in charge of global sales and marketing initiatives to strengthen the premium positioning of the company's unified global brand, Hankook, as well as the supply of original equipment (OE) tyres for new vehicles. In addition to the leadership nominations, shareholders approved all eight agenda items at the Annual General Meeting, including the approval of the consolidated financial accounts, partial revisions to the Articles of Incorporation and director appointments.

Ahn has extensive leadership expertise and a proven track record of advancing technology innovation in the operational holding firm, Hankook & Company. He oversaw general management and spearheaded innovative initiatives in 2021 while serving as COO of Hankook & Company and Head of ES (Energy Solution) Business Headquarters. He became the CEO in 2022 and oversaw the company's expansion of premium Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery sales into important international markets, which greatly increased profitability and strengthened the company's platform for long-term success.

Lee's vast worldwide leadership experience serves as the foundation for his profound understanding of marketing and global sales strategy. He has held important regional leadership positions in China and Europe since 2018, during which time he has played a crucial role in bolstering the company's premium brand positioning internationally and continuously promoting creative business performance, both of which have greatly increased revenue. At the conclusion of last year, he was nominated as Hankook Tire's Co-CEO due to his success and leadership.