sa treads june 2010
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Vol 1
6 •
June
201
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a set of premium 4x4 tyres courtesy of Maxxis
Tyrexpo Africa hosts dynamic Tyre Conference
One-on-One with Max T Solutions’ Peter Klein
Tyre grading considered a new revolution
Michelin unveils first responsible sports tyre
Going green … the environmental impact
Foc
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9749 Bandag O'TRead Quarry Proof Ad.indd 1 5/13/10 10:15:26 AM
Editor LianaShaw
Technical consultant WrayShaw
Reproduction DianevanNoort
Printing TYPO
–ColourPrintingSpecialists
Distribution PrestigeBulkMailers
Advertising LianaShaw
Contentsone-on-onewithMaxTSolutions’PeterKlein........................................................... 4
Focus on Tyrexpo Africa 2010MixedreviewsforthirdroundofTyrexpoAfrica–TYREXPOAFRICA2010hostsdynamictyreconference.................. 9
Industry newsGradingorperformancerankingconsideredarevolutionforthetyremarket............................................................. 18TyrecorsignsanexclusivedistributionagreementwithSolideal........... 19
Manufacturing Michelinunveilsfirstresponsiblesportstyre–ThePilotSport3......... 20BridgestonerecognisedatannualToyotaSupplierawards................... 22Goodyear’ssafetydrivesees50%dropinworkplaceinjuries.............. 22Algoraxturns50.................................................................................... 23
conti cornerIndustrialactioncouldposeseriouseconomicthreatcautionsHorni... 26
Distribution newsTopBEE-ratedHi-Qaninspirationtoprivatesector&auto-fitmentindustry.......................................................................... 29Onyourmarks,Getset,GO!TWT2010Fitters’Compettiontakesonworldcupflavour................... 30
Dealer Profile Yellowandblackbooststurnover.......................................................... 33
Talking TyresGettingwasted…andgoinggreen–Wastetyremanagement............. 36
Goodyear newsInvestmentsmakeGoodyearfirstchoiceforhigh-endvehiclesinternationally........................................................... 42
World newsContifurthersitsfootballsponsorship................................................. 45Bridgestonenamed2009SupplierofYearbyBoeing.......................... 45PirelliinF1poleposition?...................................................................... 46Endoftheroad–BridgestoneendsAustralianproduction................... 46MaxxisproducerChengShinentersGlobalTyremakerTop10............. 46
competition, subscription, Website ........................................ 48
A note from
the editorWorld Cup Fever is well and truly
upon us and two lucky SA TREADS
readers will be enjoying two of the
games live, in the comfort of the
Continental Tyre Hospitality Suite at
Soccer City. Congratulations to Len
van Driel of the SABS in Pretoria and
to Nickole Shuttleworth – winners of
our previous competition! Enjoy the
experience!
Ifyournamewasnottheonedrawnout
ofthehat,don’tdespair.InJune,we’re
offering you another chance towin, this time, a setofpremium4x4 tyres
courtesyofMaxxis,nowrankinginthetop10oftheworlds’toptyremakers.
So ifyou’reanoff-the-roadenthusiastwith thevehicle tomatch,enterour
latest competition via the website (www.satreads.co.za) or fax your entries
(only one per person please!) to(011)658-0010.Youneverknow,ournext
luckywinnercouldbeyou!
Asforourfeaturestory,sufficeittosaythatthefrontcoverisadeadgive-
away. In June, we’re bringing you a detailed report on the recently staged
TyrexpoAfrica,whichtookplaceinMarchattheSandtonConventionCentre.
TheInfinitystandclinchedtophonourswiththePlatinumAwardforbestStand
Design,withtheGoldAwardgoingtoTubestoneandtheSilver,toStamford
Tyres.TheNitralifestand–whilenomatchintermsofsizeandgrandeur–
nonethelesstooktheBronzeaward-awelldeservedaccoladeinmyopinion!
This year’s biennial tyre exhibition also ran alongside an enlightening Tyre
Conference, featuring ahostof key-note speakers,withone inparticular -
SirTomFarmer from the legendaryKwik-Fitdistributiongiant in theUnited
Kingdom-stealingtheshow.So, ifyoumissedthis informativesession,be
suretocatchuponsomeofthehighlightsbyturningtopage9.
AnexclusiveinterviewwithPeterKleinofMaxTSolutions,avisittoyetanother
successful Dunlop Zone store in Pretoria East and an introduction to the
newly-implementedtyrelabellingregulationsintroducedinEurope,theUSA
andJapan,arejustsomeoftheadditionalstoriesthattakethespotlightinthis
edition.So,wheninneedofabreakfromallthesportingmaniaonTV,why
notsitbackandcatchuponthehappeningsintheindustry?
TillwemeetagainintheSpring….
I n t r o d u c t i o n • 1
Publishers SkyPublicationscc
POBox702
Douglasdale,2165
Tel: (011)6580011
Fax: (011)6580010
Cell: 0828516777
E-mail: satreads@mweb.co.za
Website: www.satreads.co.za
FrontCover:CourtesyTyrecor/Infinity
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O n e - o n - O n e • 3
One-on-Onewith
MAX T soLuTIons’ PeterKlein
In March we introduced you to the
new entity that is Max T Solutions – the
culmination of a recent merger between
two leading tyre divisions – Maxiprest
Tyres (heavy truck and bus tyres) and
Quality Tyres (mining, earth moving and
other off-the-road applications). The two
had long held a cooperative agreement,
butaccordingtoPeterKlein,SalesDirector
TBR,thetimehadfinallycometoformalise
thearrangementandofficiallyjoinforces,
forthebenefitofthecustomer.
We met up with him for an exclusive
interviewduringwhichhedivulgedtheway
forward for this new transport servicing
company.
4 • O n e - o n - O n e
Q. Peter, this is a significant development. Could you tell us what led up
to the decision to unite the two divisions?
As a progressive company continually seeking to grow our customer
appeal, it made perfect sense to unite Maxiprest and Quality Tyres. We
neededtoeradicatetheperceptioninthemarketplacethatweweretwo
separatecompanies.
Apre-cursortotheintegrationandsettingthesceneforunitingMaxiprest
and Quality Tyres into Max T Solutions, we embarked on a change
managementinterventionacrosstheorganisationatalllevels.Weneeded
toalignstaffwithourstrategic intentanddriveallourpeople towardsa
commonfocusandacultureofdoingtherightthingsright.Everyfacetof
ourbusinesswasanalysedtoarriveatanhonestreflectionofwhoweareas
acompanyandwhatwehavetoofferintermsofcustomerservice.
Thechangeprocesswasdesigned togeneratea responsebywayof an
action plan for each department and staff member, emphasising their
individualrolesintheachievementofthebusinessobjectives.
In the end, we all came to same realisation that both divisions were
inexplicablylinkedbythefactthattheyareownedbyBridgestone.Wealso
came to another important realisation, namely, that in this business, it’s
notaboutprovidingaproduct-ourprimaryfunctionistoaddvaluetoour
customers.
Q. What is your primary objective when it comes to steering the new
company in the right direction?
TheStrategicchange interventionweembarkedonsometwoyearsago,
set the trend for the leadershipmethodologyandstyle indrivingMaxT
Solutionsintherightdirection.
Itisaboutcreatingacommonfocus,withallourstaffpullinginthesame
direction to ultimately deliver our pledge in a consistent and uniform
manner.
In the current trading climate and given that the tyre industry is largely
over-traded, it’s accepted that we, as well as our competitors, have our
respective strengths. ThedifferentialMaxTSolutions (now70branches
strong)isaimingtowards,istakingthatsolutionspackagethatiscommon
to all and delivering it in such a way that our customers are not only
satisfied,butsupremelyhappy!Inshort,we’restrivingtodothingsbetter
thananyoneelse.
Q. A noble aspiration in itself, but how do you propose driving this
message throughout the group and motivating your staff accordingly?
By default, the strategic change initiative we implemented aligns every
member of staff with their personal direct responsibility in achieving
our business objectives. This system operates on simplistic project
managementprinciplesthatensurethatweactionourcommitments.
The staff of Max T Solutions have adopted a culture of responsible
ownershipfortheirjobsandwhilstmarketsaretoughandsellingconditions
challenging,weareontherighttracktodoingrightthingsrightconsistently.
This is a challenge, as you say - not everyone has the same vision. My
strategy is to change our peoples’ focus by entrusting them to make
the right decisions. I believe that by empowering them with the skills
and knowledge required to execute their responsibilities to the desired
standardsIbelievethattheywillachieveourgoalswithasenseofpridein
theaccomplishment.
Q. In other words your management style is one of joint collaboration
rather than autocracy?
OurLeadershipstyle,asisthecasewithourownerBridgestoneunder
the leadership of Kenji Shoda, is one of inclusiveness, promoting
ownershipandsharingrewards.Weareoneteamwithacommonline
ofsight,pulling inthesamedirection, livingourpledgeandachieving
ourbottomlineintentions.
Idon’tshowmyteethunlessIabsolutelyhaveto.Thatbeingsaid,we
are fortunate to have the mechanisms in place that allow us to keep
abreastofindividualperformancelevelsonadailybasis.
The important thing to remember is that together with Bridgestone’s
unflinchingsupport,I’mhereasafacilitator,tohelp,supportandprovide
thesales teamswith the tools theyneed toachieve,professionallyas
wellasindividually.
Q. How did you go about communicating the creation of Max T
Solutions across the country?
The Executive team of Max T Solutions went on a country wide road
show communicating and sharing the change as well as our strategic
intent for 2010/2011. Over and above that we communicated the
change through media and other communication channels into our
clientbaseandthepopulationatlarge.
Q. Was the news well received?
Asisthecasewithanychangeinorganisations,therearealwayslevels
of apprehension and fear. However, a proper change management
strategy accompanied the change and fears were allayed through
properandopencommunicationinlinewiththebusinessethosofMax
TSolutions.Staffhasacceptedthechangewithoutanymajordifficulty
orfear.Itisultimatelyallaboutcommunication.
Q. What sort of feedback have you had from the end users with
respect to the creation of Max T Solutions?
Not surprisingly, the response from our customers has been most
encouragingwithmanyvoicingtheirapprovalatourapparentrenewed
understandingoftheirneeds.Again,asIsaidearlier,thecurrenttrading
platform calls for a deeper understanding of the customers’ needs.
Neverbeforehasitbeenasimportantfortyreserviceproviderstooffer
acompletetyresolutionunderoneroof.The‘knockanddrop’practices
prevalentinthe80sandearly90sareathingofthepast.
Q. Can you tell us some of the features and aspects of your service
offering which you hope will differentiate you from your competitors?
Without giving any trade secrets away (we’re currently working on a
number of new initiatives which I’m not prepared to disclose at this
point),let’sjustsaythatwe’reactivelyworkingonimprovingtheservice
deliveryofourPerformanceImprovementTechnicians(onandoff-site),
byhoninginonthepotentiallycriticalroletheyplaywhenitcomesto
drivingdowntheircustomers’runningcosts.Wearealsoencouraging
them to develop a closer relationship with their customers, thereby
elicitingmoresupportandinteraction.
Plus, we’ve developed a brand new Tyre Management System – the
Maximizer2TMS–currentlybeingtestedbyoneofourmajorcustomers
withencouragingresults-whichwebelievewillgoalongwaytowards
providingsuperiorreportingandeaseofuseaswellastransparency,by
virtueofitsabilitytooperateautomatically.
AndthenthereareourFieldEngineers(thereare15intotal),whoare
among thebest this industryhas tooffer, attending toproblems and
technicalissuesonanongoingbasis.
Q. Are these old-hands or newcomers to the industry?
Someofthemareold-handswithawealthoftechnicalknowledgeand
experience while others are younger people who have embraced the
conceptandmessagewe’reactivelydriving.
Q. Recent end user surveys reveal a perceived lack of knowledge,
passion and technical competence on the part of the tyre industry.
Do you believe this to be a fair and accurate portrayal of the current
state of affairs?
Toalargedegree,yes.Theindustryasawholeneedstoprofessionalise
itsserviceofferingtotheenduseranditcanonlydothisbysecuring
andretainingtheservicesofskilledandcompetentpeoplewhooperate
atthe‘coalface’.
I’mdetermined todoeverything Ican to instilnewfoundpassionand
excitementforthebusiness inourpeople,to instilprideintheirwork
and to demonstrate how they can be a valuable part of the overall
solution by meeting their customers’ needs. If we don’t achieve this,
theywill likelyoperatemuchlikeaconveyorbelt,doingtheminimum
of what is expected of them, with no desire to add value or provide
meaningfulsolutions.
Q. I would say you have your work cut out for you?
Perhaps, but I trulybelieve that developingourpeople in the correct
manner and providing well-mapped out career paths and incentives,
canhelpustowinthefight,notonlyintermsofdeliveringasuperior
service,butinboostingtheirownself-esteemandconfidence.Ibelieve
thistobefarmoreimportantthanfinancialcompensation.
People who exhibit potential must be acknowledged and personally
O n e - o n - O n e • 5
O n e - o n - O n e • 76 • O n e - o n - O n e
commended, something which should go a long way towards
reducing thehigh incidenceof ‘poaching’ in the industry.Astaff
memberwillbelesstemptedtoacceptanotherworkofferifheor
she,feelsvaluedandcanseealong-termfutureforthemselvesin
thecompany.
Q. Why do you believe there is such a high turnover of staff in
the tyre industry?
Ithinkthemainreasonisthatwetendtoemployunskilledpeople
and start them off cheaply on a low level of payment. You won’t
retain people that way, hence my desire to concentrate on
sustainable‘careerpathing’,soastocontributetowardscorrecting
thecurrentimbalanceinanindustrythatisthinlystretchedinterms
ofskillsandresources.
Currently,wearemakingaconcertedefforttoapproachtechnical
schoolsbywayofdedicatedpresentationstopotentialcandidates
inthehopesofattractinggreaternumbersaswellashighercalibre
peopletotheindustry.Granted,thisrequiresasizeableinvestment,
butonewhichIbelieveitwillmorethanpayoffinthelongrun.
PeterKleinjoinedthetyreindustryin1975.Followingasuccession
of posts in the corporate and entrepreneurial sectors, he joined
whatwasatthatstage,thesecondbiggestretreadingcompanyin
SA.Heachievedmuchsuccesswithsomeofthecountry’sbiggest
mining power houses where he negotiated service and supply
contracts.
He joinedQualityTyres in1991.His timewithQualityTyreswas
both rewarding and challenging, but his talent for the written
word, coupled with sharp business acumen, was a successful
combination that soon spearheaded him to many Management
positions. Later, when Firestone took over the company, he was
offeredaDirectorshipinthecompany.
When Bridgestone acquired Firestone, Maxiprest Tyres acquired
equity in Quality Tyres. Peter and some of his colleagues have
recently shifted portfolios from Quality Tyres to Maxiprest Tyres.
HehasbeenwithMaxiprestHoldings(theholdingcompanyofMax
TSolutions)eversince.
O n e - o n - O n e • 76 • O n e - o n - O n e
We focus on excellence in every single tyre.In everything we do, we focus on providing superior quality and safety, on constant
innovations, environmentally friendly concepts and performance under the most
demanding conditions. But above all, we always focus on putting all our knowledge
and all our effort into every single tyre.
www.bridgestone.co.za
For your nearest Bridgestone Authorised Dealer, visit our website atBridgestone South Africa
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8 • O n e - o n - O n e F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0 • 9
ThethirdinstalmentofthebiennialTyrexpoAfrica,
which took place at the Sandton Convention
Centre on 4-6 March of this year, was of the
typical high standard we’ve come to expect
fromthistradeeventanditsorganisers.Forthe
mostpart,exhibitionstandswereprofessionally
constructed, well manned and eye-catching.
Moreover, the three-dayevent,whichthisyear,
spanned Thursday to Saturday in response to
a direct request from the local contingent, ran
likeclockwork.Asforthemileagetheexhibition
was expected to generate, opinion is divided,
with some exhibitors elated with the volume
andqualityofbusiness thatwas transactedand
otherscitingdisappointingfiguresintermsoffeet
throughthedoor.
TYREXPOAFRICA2010HOSTSDYNAMICTYRECONFERENCE
Mixed reviews for third round of
Tyrexpo Africa
1 0 • F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0
Butwhatsortsofnumberscanbeconsidereddisappointingforashowlike
this,bearinginmindthatthisisadedicatedtrade eventthatdoesnottarget
thegeneralpublic?Woulditnotbeunfairtoexpectthetypicalvisitorvolumes
thatmoreestablishedpublic-orientedshowstendtogenerate?Andlestwe
forget,TyrexpoAfricaisstillinitsinfancy.*Despitethis,bothvisitornumbers
aswellasexhibitornumberswereupfrom2006(103)and2008(124)to
133,butthedeclineofnationalexhibitorsto26from37in2008and32in
2006,wasdisappointing,especiallyinlightofwhatappearedtobeagrowing
Chinesecontingent.Interestingly,Chineseexhibitorsnumberedonly38as
opposedto2008whentherewere42Chinesecompaniesdisplayingtheir
products.Still,theperceptionfrombothexhibitorsandvisitorsalikewasthat
theChinesepresencehadrisensubstantially.Iwouldhazardaguessandsay
thatthiswasbecausetheChinesebrandswithnolocalrepresentationwere
congregatedinoneparticularsectionofthehall.
ThereweresomeinterestingforeignstandsonviewsuchasSinorgchem–a
global leadingproducerofrubberantioxidant,basedinChinaandsupplying
itsproductsglobally.Ispentsometimewiththemontheirstandtohearabout
theirrangeofproductswhichtheyclaimboastapurenessinexcessof96%,
therebyrankingthemasgloballeadersintherubberadditivemarketsegment.
Apparently,theirproductsarealreadybeingdistributedlocallyviaagents,but
theyareplanningtostepuptheirpresenceandmarketingeffortsintheSouth
Africanmarketandtothelocaltyremanufacturersinparticular,inlinewiththe
company’sglobalexpansionplan.IaskedwhytheychosetoexhibitatTyrexpo
AfricatowhichChrisChen,MarketingSupervisor,dulyrepliedthatwithSouth
Africa’styresalesaccountingfor70%oftotalsalesinAfrica,participationinthis
tradeeventwasconsideredanimportantfirststepforSinorgcheminexploring
themarket.
Intotal,delegatesandexhibitorsfrommorethan60countriesmetdobusiness,
whichwasencouraginginlightoftherecession.
SaidECISalesDirector,RowenaSuthers:“Theglobalrecessionhasaffected
every business in some way, and yet, the quality of visitors who came to
Johannesburgwiththeintentionofmeetingnewsuppliersanddoingbusiness,
wasextremelyimpressive.Thattheycameinincreasednumberscomparedto
thelastshowin2008wasagreatbonusanddemonstratedthatmanypeople
intheindustryarefeelingmorepositivethantheywereattheendoflastyear.”
*ECIInternationalalsohostTyrexpoAsia–nowinits14thyearofstaging–
whichattractsbetween150-180exhibitorsandbetween2700-3500visitors
fromover83countries.Brityrex, their thirdbiennial tyreexhibition,now in
its21styear,takesplaceinBritainandattractsabout110-120exhibitorsand
between2400and2700visitors.Theirnewestandfourthtyretradeeventin
theformofTyrexpoIndiaisscheduledtotakeplaceinJuly2011.
not a great show for china
Ironically, the deluge of mostly unknown Chinese brands located on the
easternsideof thehallmetwithscant interest from the2602 foreignand
localbusinesspeoplevisitingtheshow.Themainreasonforthiswouldappear
tobethelanguagebarrier,withtheChinesefailingtosecuretheservicesofa
translatorforthedurationoftheshow.Anotherlikelyexplanationwouldbethe
market’sinherentsuspicionofChinesebrandswithnoofficiallocalagencies,
forfearofcomebacksandpoorafter-salesservice.
In contrast, well-established brands from the East such as Infinity, BKT,
StamfordTyres,MaxxisandTechking, tonamea few,putonagoodshow,
withtheInfinitybrandgoingsofarastohiretheservicesofthreesexyfemale
dancers,dressed ina tread-patternedbodysuit, toperformdance routines
duringthecourseofthethree-dayevent.Sufficeittosay,thisclevermarketing
ployworkedwellforthem,drawingcrowdsofappreciativemalebuyerstotheir
impressivestand,whichtookthePlatinumAwardforbeststanddesignatthis
year’sshow–yetanotherwell-deservedaccoladetoaddtothebrand’slistof
achievementsacrosstheglobe.
Beefs and Bouquets
While the workshop equipment and ancillary product stands buzzed with
expectantvisitors,withcompaniessuchasRemaTipTop,Nitralife,Wheelquip,
HofmanMegaplanandLeaderQuipseeminglywellsatisfiedwiththeturnout
and quality of business conducted, tyre distributors complained that visitor
numbers to their standsweredisappointing,particularlyon theSaturday.A
The Stamford Tyres stand which took the Silver Award.
A delighted team clinched the silver Award for Stamford tyres.
MADE IN
CHINA
F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0 • 1 11 0 • F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0
Rely on Continental - Offi cial Sponsor of
the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa ™.
Make safety your
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numberofSuper14gameswerescreenedonthatdaywhichlikelykeptmany
people away, not to mention the apathy that generally exists among South
Africanswhenitcomestorelinquishingtheirhard-earnedweekends,infavour
ofatradeshow.Butallcreditmustgototheorganisersforheedingthecallto
stagetheshowoveraSaturdayafterallegedcomplaintsfromlocalexhibitors,
lasttimearound,thatgettingtoSandtonduringtheweekwithallthattrafficwas
amajordeterrent.Thatbeingsaid,IdoubtthatECIwilleverconsiderrunningit
overaSaturdayagain-theeffortwashardlyworthit.
Sadly,theapparentapathyaroundtheShowfurtherextendedtotheone-day
TyreConferencewhichtookplaceonFriday.Ofthe100-oddpeoplewhohad
pre-registeredfortheConference,only77turnedup,whichwasagreatpity,
giventhequalityofcontentthatwasdelivered.
Tyre conference content is of a high standard
BRIc and the effect on the sA Tyre industry
The morning session kicked off with a well-researched, somewhat
controversial presentation by Georg Schramm of Apollo Tyres, on ‘The
macroeconomicimpactofBRIContheSATyreIndustryandtheresultant
impactonsocio-economicdevelopmentintheregion’,inwhichhestressed
thatthebalanceofeconomicpowerwasintheprocessofshiftingfromthe
traditional European, Japanese and American stronghold to the East. He
furtherstatedthatBrazil,Russia, IndiaandChina–theBRICcountries–
will havean impact to agreateror lesserdegreegloballybut thatChina
and Indiawerealreadyemergingas thenewplayersofconsequenceon
the African continent. He cautioned that if not controlled, it would lead
to the decimation of the South African manufacturing environment with
a catastrophic knock-on effect for socio-economic development in the
region.
InsupportofhisargumentherelatedhowtheSouthAfricantextilesectorhad
metitsdemiseduetoinadequateinfluxcontrols,overwhelmingcompetition
andshrinkingmargins,resultinginashatteredindustry.
SaidSchramm:“Itismybeliefthatsimilarcatastrophiceffectswillbefeltby
employeesanddependantsoftheSouthAfricantyremanufacturingindustry,
unlessasenseofresponsibilitygreaterthanthepursuitofprofitsprevails”
Headded:“Muchhasbeendebatedovertheprosandconsofprotectionist
policies but the fact is that smaller, less developed economies – unless
protectedwithadequatedutystructuresoreffectivebilateraltradingstrategies
thatencourageinvestmentintheformofemploymentofthosemostinfluenced
byrecklesstraderelations–doruntheriskofdestabilisationduetoamassive
negativeimpactonsocioeconomicdevelopment.”
Next,hedivulgedtheimpacttraderelationswithChinaandIndiawashaving
onthesouthernAfricaregionandmorespecifically,onthetyremanufacturing
segment.
Heclaimed thatSouthAfricarepresents30%ofAfrica’sGDPandhasonly
5%of thepopulationofAfricaand thatgovernmentand themanufacturing
segmentsemploy inexcessof50%ofallpeopleemployed inSouthAfrica
(latest unemployment figures are at 30%). Added to that, South Africa
contributesovertwopercentofitsGDPtoitssurroundingneighbourssoany
negativesocioeconomicdevelopmentaffectsnotonlySouthAfricabut the
entireregion.
He further suggested that government policy regulating trade relations with
ChinaandIndiawillplayaroleindeterminingtheeffectsofthesetradepartners
ontheregioninthefuture,especiallygiventhefactthatthetyremanufacturing
industryaloneemploysinexcessof16000people,whointurn,arecollectively
responsibleforthelivelihoodsofover80000SouthAfricans.Headdedthat
whilegovernmenthadaroletoplay,asenseofconscienceandresponsibility
ofSouthAfricanbusinessplaysanequallyimportantrole.
InexploringtheeffectofChineseandIndianproductsfurther,hesuggested
that while we are currently seeing a proliferation of over 200 Chinese tyre
1 2 • F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0 F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0 • 1 3
In 2009 Maxxis was rated among the top 10 tyre manufacturers globally.
1 2 • F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0
brands in all product segments, being imported into South Africa (most of
whichareunknownandtradedprimarilyonprice),bycontrast,veryfewIndian
tyrebrandsareavailableinSouthAfricaandthosethatare,arelargelyrestricted
totheagriculturalsegment.
He said the importation of Chinese tyres obviously makes no real positive
contributiontothelaboursegmentintermsofjobcreation,addedtowhich,
atradingstylepredominantlybasedonprice,impactsadverselyonthelocal
manufacturingenvironment.
He alsopointedout that India is currently theonlyBRICcountry toowna
manufacturing entity in South Africa – Apollo Tyres – currently employing
3000people,suggestingthattheIndianmodelwasfocussedonsustainable
growthwithintheregion,takingalong-termapproachtothedevelopmentof
bilateralIndo-SouthAfricantradepolicies.
Heconcludedbyimploringthedelegatestomakeadifferenceinthelivesof
ordinarySouthAfricansbyresistingtheurgetostockandpromoteproducts
thatcouldposeseriousrepercussionstotheindustry,therebyputtingourown
well-beingabovethatofpeopleweshouldbehelping.Inshort,tolookbeyond
thebalancesheetandconsiderthelongtermimpactofouractions.
sir Tom Farmer steals the show
ThemanwhorevolutionisedtyreretailingintheUKin1971,SirTomFarmer,
founder of what became the Kwik-Fit retail empire, flew to South Africa to
addresstheConference,torelatehowhebuiltKwik-Fitintooneoftheworld’s
largestautomotivepartsrepairandreplacementspecialistsbeforesellingitto
Fordin1999forUS$2billion.
Speaking from the heart and without the use of notes, he commenced by
referringtohisupbringinginGlasgow,Scotland.Hisfamilyhadverylittleby
wayofmaterialpossessions,buttheywerepartofacommunitythatpurported
respectforitsneighbours.Inshort,everyonelookedoutforoneanother.His
teacherdidn’trateTomacademicallyandtoldhimhewasdestinedtogainonly
twocertificatesinhislife–hisbirthanddeathcertificates,whicheruptedin
laughterfromtheaudience,andsetthetoneforwhatwastobeanenthralling
keynoteaddress.Hisonlyaspirationasayouthwastosecureajobthatwould
providehimwithacompanycar(consideredarealscoopinhisneighbourhood)
andthiswaswhereheenteredtheindustryasatyresalesman.Determinedto
dowelland retainhisnewly-foundstatus in thecommunity,Tomthrewhis
heartandsoulintohiswork,buildingstrongrelationshipswithhispeersaswell
ashiscustomers.Heremainedwiththetyrefirmforseveralyearsuntilhesaw
anopportunitytoopenhisowntyredistributionfacility,withassistancefrom
closefriendswhowerepreparedtosupporthisnewventure.Fromhumble
premisesandworkingsingle-handed,dayandnight,tobuildupthebusiness,
Tom’s reputation for honesty, integrity and impeccable service spread like
wildfire through thecommunity,making forasuccessful retailoperation, to
whichmoreoutletswereaddedovertime.Andtherest,astheysay,ishistory.
Bywayofexplanationforhisrisetofameandsuccess,SirFarmercouldn’t
stress enough the importance of the development of interpersonal skills
withincompanies,emphasisingthateverymanager/director/presidentofa
companyshouldbearolemodelfortheiremployees.Hesaidthatacompany
isonlyasgoodasthepeopleinit–lookafteryoupeople,trainthemwell
andyouwill reap the results.He re-emphasised theneed todevelopand
maintainahighlyself-motivatedteamandsaidthat’swhattheystrovetodo
atKwik-Fit.Theirtyrefittersweren’tjustfitters,theyreferredtothemselves
proudlyas‘Kwik-Fitfitters’,therebydenotingasenseofprideintheirjobs.
HeaddedthatattheKwik-Fitcentremanagers(duringhisreignthecentres
fitted16milliontyresayeartoanexcessof14.5millioncars)onlyhadtwo
to three minutes to develop a relationship with the consumer, bearing in
mind that theexperienceof theconsumerwhenbuying tyreswasoneof
‘distressedpurchasing’.Infact,heinsistedthatmostpeoplewouldrathergo
tothedentistthangoouttobuyatyre!
Sir Tom’s personal philosophy, combined with aggressive marketing, soon
catapultedKwik-Fittothesuccessstoryitsubsequentlybecame.
ChairmanRogerMcCleeryreferredtoSirTom’spresentationas‘inspirational’,
andSirTomreceivednolessthanthreeapplausesforwhatwasaremarkable
presentation. The audience was literally transfixed for over an hour and
commentsweremadeafterwardsthathecouldhavecontinuedforafurther
hourandstillhadtheaudiencespellbound.Youcouldhaveheardapindrop
intheconferenceroom,testamentinitselftotheman’snaturalpresentation
andinter-personalskills.Itwasalsoverymuchthetalkoftheexhibitionthe
followingdayandthosenotpresent,missedoutonanunforgettabledelivery.
Imperial Logistics outlines challenges and ways suppliers can assist
The Imperialdiscussionpanel–spearheadedbyFrancoisEhlers– touched
on the serious issues affecting the transport business, among them, the
deteriorating conditionof secondary roads inSouthAfricawhich increased
from8%in1998to20%in2008.Asaconsequenceof this,maintenance
costshaveshotup,particularlyon tyreswith impact fracturesandside-wall
F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0 • 1 3
The Bronze Award went to Nitralife.
F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0 • 1 5
damagestothefleetincreasingby12%from2008to2010.Inaddition,they
are facing increased damages to transported cargo for which the transport
operatorsareliablebywayofcosts.
Fuelcostsfollowedcloselybytyrecostsobviouslymadeittothelistofconcerns
withtheneedtostepuptyremaintenancecomingunderthespotlight.
Said Ehlers: “There is no ‘one-tyre-fits-all’. This have been proven in the
diversity of Imperial Logistics’ various market segments, he added, which
wouldallattesttofittingthecorrecttyreforthecorrectapplicationintermsof
typeofvehicle,tyrebrandandpattern,tyrepositionandsize,qualityandtype
oftheroadandoperationalrequirementsandtransportedcargo.
HestatedthatoperatingcompaniesinImperialLogisticswerereliantonthetyre
industry,asprofessionalsandpartners,toassistinachievingamarketrelatedtyre
CPK,and that in lightof that, tyreserviceprovidersshouldallbeproviding
the following: attending scrap analysis and supplying objective comments
to failures; assisting with onsite tyre maintenance programmes; making
recommendationsforimprovementaswellasproductapplication;conducting
weightstudies;providingon-roadsupportintheeventofbreakdowns;offera
nationalsupplynetworkwithreduceddependencyonthirdparties;assisting
themtowardsreduceddowntimeandfinally,andperhapsmostimportantly,
activelyworkingalongsidethemtoreduceoperatingcosts.
chinese tyres from the European retreading perspective
The pan ultimate event came in David Wilson, Publisher of Retreading
Business and The Tyreman, who offered some interesting data on the
impactofChinesebrandsontheEuropeanretreadingmarketwithrespect
toperceptionandimage,pricingandretreadability.Healsotouchedonthe
challengesfacingChinesemanufacturers.
HesaidthatbyandlargetheEuropeanmarketdidnotbelievethatChinese
tyrescouldberetreaded,butWilsonpointedoutthattheperceptionthatall
Chinesetyremanufacturerswerethesamewaserroneous.Healsosaidthat
notallChinesemanufacturersuseEuropeanmarketstodumpexcesscapacity.
Where the retreadability of Chinese tyres is concerned, he stated that the
biggesthurdlethatChinesetyremakershadtoovercomeinEuropewasthe
inherent negativity due to Chinese tyres being perceived as competition to
retreads.Therealsoexists a lackofknowledgeand researchaswell as the
failuretodifferentiatebetweenthedifferentChinesebrandsonthepartofthe
retreaders.
WiththeexceptionofGITI,DoubleCoinandAeolus,allofwhichinEurope,
were perceived as retreadable, there was little demand for other brands of
casing.
Hesummedupbysayingthatatpresent,therewasnotenoughinformationor
availabilityofotherbrandstobeabletojudgethesituationaccuratelyandfairly.
ThecontraargumentwasthatnineChinesecompaniesarecurrentlyproducing
over2millionTBR tyresannually.TheseChinese tyremakersmustcomply
withthesamesafety,enduranceandperformancetestsasEuropeanorNorth
Americantyres,whichdemonstratesthattheypossessresourcestoproduce
Tubestone was awarded the Gold Award for stand design.
O n e - o n - O n e • 1 71 6 • F o c u s o n T y r e x p o A f r i c a 2 0 1 0
highly retreadable casings. He added that many European retreaders were
alreadysuccessfullyretreadingcertainChinesemakesandurgedretreadersto
evaluateeachcasingbrandseparately,asthelargerChineseproducerswere
alreadycommittingtothe‘cradletograve’concept.
Managing the Waste Tyre process
Toconcludetheday’sproceedings,Dr.EtienneHumanandDesGriffithsofthe
SATRP,outlinedthewayforwardwithrespecttotheWasteTyrelegislationand
itsimpactontheindustry.Theyspokeatlengthabouttheproposedgreenfee
thatwillbeusedtorecoverthecostofthewastetyremanagementprocess
withrespectto:Collectionandtransportofwastetyrestotransfersites;storage
andsortingofwastetyres;deliveryofwastetyrestowastetyreprocessors;
establishmentandtreatmentfeesforwastetyreprocessors;externalauditor;
external accountant; social awareness and marketing campaign; SATRP
companyadministration.
Dr. Human painted a picture of the international markets, claiming that in
Europe,energyrecoveryhadjumpedfrom11%in1994to30%in2004.Inthe
US,about54%ofscraptyresareusedasalternativefuelincementkilns,pulp
andpapermillsandindustrialandutilityboilers,whilegroundrubberconsumes
about17%ofscraptyresgeneratedandcivilengineeringconsumes12%.
Moreencouragingyet,stockpileabatementintheUS,hadreducedstockpiles
byasmuchas87%intheyears1990-2007.
IntheUS,atyre-feeischargedatthedealerlevelandrecoveredbytheIRSto
payforabatementplans,therebydemonstratingtheneedforagreenfeeto
fundthewastetyremanagementprocess.
Exhibitorfeedback:
“Tyrexpo Africa 2010 has given Tyrecor/Infinity the platform to further
grow our presence in the southern African markets; not only giving
usmuchneededexposureona regional level, but also affordingus the
opportunitytogiveourcurrentcustomerbaseinSAaglimpseofwhatcan
beexpectedinyearstocome.
“WewerepleasedwiththeincreaseinAfricanvisitorstoourstandthisyear
whichisaclearindicationthatAfricawillbeanimportantpartofourplans
going forward. That the show is run in such a professional manner has
madeittrulyworthourwhile.”
charl de Villiers, Managing Director, Tyrecor.
“The show was a great success for Hofmann Megaplan. A contributing
factor, Ibelieve,was that theshow tied inwithother tyre relatedevents
suchas the launchofanewFirestone tyrewhichmeant thatwestarted
offwithdelegatesfromalloverSA.Wewouldliketokeepsupportingthe
eventandwewilldefinitelybeattendingthenextonein2012.”David Barendse, Managing Director, Hofmann Megaplan.
“Wewerepleasantlysurprisedbytheamountofvisitorstoourbooth
andwearehappytoreportthat60%ofourvisitorswerenewleads
forustofollowup.”Pieter Kruger, Managing Director, Tubestone.
“Weenjoyedgoodsuccessatourstand.Weputalotofworkintoitas
ateamandgotalotoutofit.Webelievethatyouneedtogetexcited
aboutyourbusinessandshare thiswith thevisitorscoming toyour
stand.”Arthur Birkin, Richards Bay Tyres.
“Thank you for your excellent organisation of Tyrexpo Africa 2010.
Allthreetimesthatwehaveexhibited(2006,2008and2010),were
goodforBandenmarkt,withmoresalesachievedateachexhibition.”
Leen van’t Hof, Managing Director, Bandenmarkt, The netherlands.
Local tyre manufacturers were sorely missed
Much like thepast twoevents, exhibitors anddelegateswerehighlycritical
oftheattitudeofthemajortyremanufacturerswhochosenottoexhibit,with
consensusbeingreachedthattheirpresenceatthecountry’sonlydedicated
tyre exhibition would have made a strong stand against the proliferation of
foreignbrandsthatarefloodingintoSouthAfrica.
Said Suthers: “It is enormously frustrating for us as organisers and is
obviouslydisappointingtothosewhodoinvesttimeandmoneyintheshow.
Whiledomestic tyremakersweremostlyabsent, theirplaceswerefilledby
exportersfromcountrieslikeChina,whocommandedavirtualmonopolyof
thetraderswhocametotheshow.However,asorganisers,wewillcontinue
our endeavours to encourage the major manufacturers to exhibit, both to
demonstratesupportfortheircustomersandtheindustryatlarge.”
Whetherthebigfourwilleverseetheirwaycleartosupportatradeeventsuch
asthis,whichadmittedly,isnotaimedattheman-on-the-street,isultimately
uptothem.Onethingiscertain–theircombinedpresenceatthenextevent
in2012wouldlikelyattractsupportfromagreaternumberoflocalexhibitors
therebynotonlyboostingthenationalcomponent,butalsoservingtocement
thecontinuityoftheonlydedicatedtyreexhibitioninAfrica.
I,forone,believeourindustryneedsadedicatedtradeeventsuchasthisand
wouldhatetoseetheshowbecominganexclusiveplatformforforeigntyre
companiestoshowcasetheirproductsandservices.
The show returns to the sandton convention centre on 6-8 March, 2012.
O n e - o n - O n e • 1 7
1 8 • I n d u s t r y N e w s
Environmentalperformanceanduserbenefitsareessentialwhenitcomes
to sustainable and responsible mobility. This is the general consensus
expressed through different approaches by the European Union, North
AmericaandJapan.
InNovember2009,theEuropeanUnionadoptedaregulation–mandatory
for the 27 Member States – based on two principles. The first is the
minimumperformancethresholdbelowwhichtyreswillnolongerbeable
tobesoldinEurope.Thesecondisarankingaccordingtoletters(A,B,C,
E,F,G)whichdeterminesthefueleconomyandsoundlevelstandardsfor
PassengerCarandLightTruckandTrucktyres.
Moreover, Passenger Car tyres must satisfy the criterion of grip on wet
ground. Florence Doucy from Michelin’s Public Affairs department in
Brusselsexplains, “theEuropeanpoliticalauthoritieshave takenstockof
the challenges! Adopting grading and green tyres means reducing CO2
emissions by 20 million metric tons per year. Secondly, through fuel
savings,itincreasesthebuyingpowerofEuropeanconsumersby8billion
eurosperyear!” Thisregulationwillenterintoforcein2012.
The usA and Japan
In2007aparalleldecisionwastakenintheUSforpotentialapplicationin
2011.TheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration(NHTSA)decided
tostandardisethreetyreproperties:rollingresistance,griponwetground
andlongevity.ThisperformancebalanceisdeartoMichelinandtheGroup
hasalwaysactivelycampaignedfor it.Thus, tyressoldontheUSmarket
mustbelabelledonascaleof0to100onthesethreefactors.
Fromthisyearonwardsandonthebasisofvoluntarymarking,theJapanese
willphaseinaprocessofallocatinggreenandwhitedescriptivelabelsto
PassengerCartyres.Thefruitoflengthytalksbetweentheleadingplayers
inthefieldinJapan–includingMichelin–manufacturerswillbeabletoaffix
a labelontheirtyrestoattesttowhatcannotbeseenbythenakedeye:
potentialfuelsavingsthroughthe“rollingresistancefactor”andbettergrip
onwetground,whichreducesbrakingdistance.InJapan,this“performance
labelling”willbeprogressivelyrolledoutbyrangewith“greentyres”.The
Japaneseversiondisplays5levelsofperformanceforrollingresistanceand
4forgriponwetground.
Grading or performance ranking considered a revolution for the tyre market
A Michelin tire bearing the new grading label in Japan. Tire noise level is taken into account in performance grading.
When it comes to rolling resistance, grip on wet ground and noise levels, and even longevity
dependingonthecountryinquestion,Japan,NorthAmericaandtheEuropeanUnionhaverallied
forcestosupplyconsumerswith informationontyreperformance.Followinginthefootstepsof
labellingforsmalldomesticappliances,tyreswillnowbearasimilarstyleofmarking.
I n d u s t r y N e w s • 1 9
Tyrecorhasdecidedtoaddyetanotherpremiumqualitybrandtoitsproduct
line-upbysigningtheexclusivedistributionagreementwithSolidealforall
typesofconstructionandrubbertrackproductsforSouthAfrica.
ThiswillplaceTyrecorinauniquepotionthatitcanofferatrulyonestop
shoptotyredealersinSouthAfrica.
SolidealbeganmanufacturingmaterialhandlingtyresinSriLankain1985.
Sincethen,thegrouphasgrownrapidly,exportingtoallimportantworld
marketsandsteadilybuildingitsreputationforhighqualitynaturalrubber
solidtires.
In order to be closer to the customer, the Solideal group expanded into
distributionoperationsthroughouttheworldduringthefollowing10years.In
1988,thegroup’sR&DcentrewasestablishedinGent,Belgium.Today,the
divisionemploys20fulltimeprofessionalshelpingtodriveSolideal’sgrowth.
In1991,Solidealbeganmanufacturingpneumatic tires for industrialand
construction applications andquickly developed a reputation forquality.
Each year numerous products were introduced and today, the group
manufacturesanddistributestyresformostconstructionequipment,right
uptowheelloaders.
Tyrecor signs an exclusive distribution agreement with solideal
RINGTREAD is the preferred tyre solution for the largest fleets in the world because of
its unbeatable strength. The innovative ring-shaped tread converts a quality casing into
a high performance RETREAD without any weak points. Choosing RINGTREAD means
highest reliability - more grip - more mileage and considerable fuel saving.
One step ahead in Reliability, Grip & Saving.
www.ringtread.com
PERFORMANCE IS A MATTER OF SHAPE
Ringtread Accredited Dealers: Auto & Truck Tyres, Barden Tyre Services, Dynamic Tyre Solutions, Tyre MagicMarc Stock - marcs@ringtread.co.za • Cell no: 083 252 0073
RubberTracksbecameanimportantpartoftheSolidealgroupin1995and
fromitsinception,therewasahighpriorityontechnicaladvancement.This
philosophy continues as Solideal leads the industry in several important
anti-vibrationdevelopments.
From1996throughtoday,Solidealhascontinuedtofocusonthematerials
handling and construction niche industries, thereby becoming and
importantcontributortotheconstructionbusinessthroughorganicgrowth
andacquisitions.
TheSolidealgroupemploysover9,000peopleworldwide.
QuALITY MAnAGEMEnT
Solideal first achieved ISO quality management certification in
1997initsmanufacturinganddistributionnetwork.Today,allof
itsSriLankafactories,globalresearchanddevelopmentactivities,
andmanycentersinthedistributionnetworkarecertifiedtothe
ISO9001:2000registration.
2 0 • M a n u f a c t u r i n g
Enjoyabledrivingwithoutanyofthedrawbacksmayseemlikeadream,but
accordingtotheMichelinTyreCompany,theSport3–recentlyunveiledin
aworldpremiere–isadreamcometrue.
According to the French tyremaker, this is theonly tyre that combines
outstanding on-road performance with environmental features that are
unrivalledinitscategory.
Allegedly, the tyre was designed to provide superior driving sensations
along with safety and highly precise steering, which enables the driver
tomaintainperfectcontrolatall timesandknowexactlyhowthecarwill
respondtotheslightestturnofthesteeringwheel.
They further claim that the Pilot Sport 3 delivers superior grip. On wet
surfaces, it holds the road better when cornering
and stops three metres shorter than its
predecessor–thereigningbenchmark
sportstire**,thePilotSportPS2
Andofcourse,inthismodernage,thepackagewouldnotbecomplete
without the added advantage of energy efficiency and according to
Michelin, the new tyre meets this challenge by providing enhanced
safetywhilealsoreducingfuelconsumption.
Intendedforawidevarietyofvehiclecategories,thenewPilotSport
3issuitableforsportycitycars,compactandlarge,powerfulsedans
aswellassmallsportscars,suchasroadstersandcoupes,with the
extra-large 18 to 19-inch range serving as optional equipment on
non-sportingmodels.Inautomotiveindustryterms,thetyrewillcover
everyvehiclesegmentfromclassAtoE1.
Inadditiontothisbroadrangeofapplications,thenewPilotSport3is
designedtobeatrulyglobaltyreandisbeingintroducedinearly2010
inreplacementmarketsaroundtheworld–SouthAmerica,Europe,
Africa,thePacificandAsia.Nextyear, itwillalsobelaunched
inNorthAmerica.
MICHELINUNVEILSFIRSTRESPONSIBLESPORTSTYRE–THEPILOTSPORT3
Some carmakers have already approved the
tyre for use on their signature sports car
models, such as the new Audi A5 and the
new Mercedes E 63 AMG, a promising start
that clearly attests to the all-round excellence
of the tyre.
Michelin claims the latest car tyre is a good
illustration of the Group’s strategy, which is never
to sacrifice one performance feature for another. This
means improving performance in several different areas
simultaneously, a prerequisite to making any real progress. To
achieve this balance, the Pilot Sport 3 has been built with unique,
highly advanced technologies, such as the Green Power Compound,
the Anti-Surf System and Programmed Distortion tyre architecture,
all developed at Michelin’s own Technology Centre.
BRIDGESTONERECOGNISEDATANNUALTOYOTASUPPLIERAWARDS
Bridgestone SA has again been recognised by
ToyotaSAforexcellenceasasupplier.
FollowingearlierawardsfromSouthAfrica’snumberonemanufacturer
inthequalityanddeliverycategories,Bridgestonehasnowreceivedan
awardinthequalitymanagementcategoryoftheannualToyotaSupplier
oftheYearawardsfor2009.
The latest award rates suppliers’ performance in the areas of quality
defects,downtimeasaresultofqualityrelatedproblems,stopshipment
campaigns associated with parts supplied and warranty claims. In
addition, suppliers are required to use the kaizen approach, to be
innovative and open to new technologies and to reduce waste and
demonstrateenvironmentalcompliance.
“Weareveryproudof this recognitionbyToyotaofourperformance
as a supplier to South Africa’s leading motor manufacturer,” said
BridgestoneSAChairmanandCEO,KenjiShoda.
“We take our responsibility as a supplier to the motor industry very
seriouslyandwealwaysstrivetodeliverthebestpossibleperformance
inallareas, includingquality.This isanintegralpartofthewaywedo
businessandwedonotexpectanyspecialrecognition.
“We are therefore most grateful, and pleased, to receive this latest
awardfromToyotaSouthAfricaandwededicateoursuccesstoallof
our employees involved in the production and quality management
process,”Shodaadded.
GOODYEAR’SSAFETYDRIVESEES50%DROPINWORKPLACEINJURIESInlinewithGoodyear’sglobal ‘Noonegetshurt’campaign,the
SA plant has implemented safety strategies so successful that
workplaceinjurystatisticswerehalvedlastyear.
Goodyearwasalsotheonlyplantinthecompany’sEuropeMiddle
EastAfrica(EMEA)regiontorecord‘zerotime’injuries(wherean
employeeisbookedofffromworkasaresultofinjury).
These impressive statistics – the best yet recorded by the
Uitenhageplant–arearesultofafour-prongedsafetycampaign
that focuses on ergonomics, a behaviour-based programme
called‘TargetZero’,JobSafetyAnalysisandRiskAssessment,and
an‘AbsoluteSafety’policy.
Goodyear Risk Control Manager Rene van der Merwe said the
campaign kicked off in January last year, following training on
ergonomics and ‘Target Zero’ – two key pillars of the ‘No one
getshurt’campaign–byhealthandsafetyexpertsfromGoodyear
GlobalandEMEA.
‘TargetZero’encompassesobservingemployees’safeorunsafe
acts. Where accidents have occurred, a senior management
safetyteamanalysesbehavioursandsuggestssaferactions–for
example utilising different tools or changing cutting methods.
Next, a trained team of employee volunteers monitor safe and
unsafeactionsduringadesignated15-minute timeperiodeach
day.
“Fromtheseobservationswecalculatedthepercentageofpeople
actingsafely,”sheexplained,“andwewereabletointroduce10
safeactionsandsuccessfullymodifyfiveunsafeacts.”
All 132 factory jobs were assessed last year in terms of
ergonomics.HealthandSafetySpecialistStoffelWilliamssaidhe
and his four Ergo teams had ‘analysed each job for ergonomic
riskandintroducedcorrectiveactioniftheriskwasfoundtobe
mediumorhigh.’
Two of Goodyear’s ergonomic successes were placed among
the 14 finalists in Goodyear’s Global Human Tech Ergonomics
Competition2009.
2 2 • M a n u f a c t u r i n g
M a n u f a c t u r i n g • 2 3
ALGORAXTURNS50
Thisyear,Algoraxstaffgettocelebratethecompany’s50thanniversaryand
atthesametimegetinonalltheworldcupsoccerexcitement!
“2010 is a phenomenal year to celebrate our 50th Anniversary”, said
AlgoraxPRManager,KerryKirkman.Forthecompany, it isacelebration
ofAlgorax’sheritageandforourcountry2010isasignificantyearaswe
preparetohostthefirsteversoccerworldcupinAfricaanduniteinour
supportforBafanaBafana.
Our staff have all received Algorax soccer shirts, which have been
manufactured by local Port Elizabeth company, Vanree Clothing and
Algoraxvuvuzelashavealsoaddedtothefestivities.
Throughout our 50 year’s existence the company has recognised that
humanresourcesareitsgreatestasset.Alongwithahighskillsbase,itis
theloyalty,commitmentanddedicationofitsstaff,thecompanysays,that
has ensuredoptimum customer service levels and improvedproduction
efficiencies.
Inrecentyears,economicpressureshaveresultedintheneedtoevaluate
existingbusinessmodelsandtoreducecosts.Thiswithstanding,withthe
company’sobjectivebeing toensure long-termsustainability andsecure
employment, it operates in a dynamic environment and is continually
looking for opportunities to create a challenging and rewarding work
environment.
2010alsosignifiesthecompletionofAlgorax’splantimprovementprojects,
aninvestmentofaroundonehundredmillionRand.“Thecompanywould
liketoacknowledgeandthankitsstafffortheirvaluedcontributiontowards
the completion of these environmental improvement projects, while still
maintainingefficientoperationsandservices”,saidAlgoraxSiteManager,
AlanShone.
ProductionofcarbonblackcommencedinPortElizabethlatein1960with
anannualcapacityofthreegrades,totallingeightthousandmetrictons.The
companythen,PhillipsCarbonBlack,changeditsnametoAlgoraxin1986
whenPhillipsPetroleumsoldalltheirinterestsinthePortElizabethcarbon
blackplant toDegussaAGand the IndustrialDevelopmentCorporation.
Today the company is a joint venture between Evonik Degussa GmbH,
GermanyandtheIndustrialDevelopmentCorporationofSouthAfrica.
Current capacity is sixty-five thousand metric tons, with eleven grades
beingmanufactured tomeet the requirementsof theSouthAfrican tyre,
retreadand rubber industries.ThemajorityofCORAX® is sold into the
tyresector,withthebalance,beingsold intotheretreadandmechanical
rubbergoodssectors.
CORAX® carbon black manufactured at the Algorax plant is primarily
usedasarubberreinforcingfiller.Essentially,carbonblacktogetherwith
EvonikDegussaprecipitatedsilicasandorganosilanes,usedintherubber
compound,determinethepropertyofthatcompound-whetheritwillhave
ahighwearandtearresistance,superiorflexingorstretchingproperties,
orlowheatbuildup.
Algorax’s ESHQ Management system complies with the requirements of
ISO 14001: 2004, ISO 9001:2008 and Responsible Care, the chemical
industry’s environmental, health and safety initiative to drive continuous
improvementinperformance.
2 6 • C o n t i C o r n e r
ThenationwideTransnetstrikehasalreadycosttheeconomybillions,
withexportsbatteredbythelackofactivityintheshippingindustry.
Hecomments:“OngoingindustrialactiononthepartofSouthAfrica’s
unionsisextremelytroubling,particularlyinafragileeconomythatis
strugglingtorecover.
“Whilst I support the existence of trade unions – my father was a
UnionMan–andcansympathisewith their concerns inpart,one
mustrememberthatplacingunduedemandsonatroubledeconomy
does not bode well for the long term. Union leaders must bear in
mindthatincitingstrikeactionatatimelikethiscouldcreateaserious
backlash,perhapsevencripplingtheindustriesandcompaniesthat
areproviding jobs inthefaceofrisingunemployment(currentlyat
36%).
“Ahealthybalancebetweenuniondemandsandbusinessrealities
mustbereachedifwearetopropelthisamazingcountryforward
intothefutureforgenerationstocome.Wemustnotlosesightof
thefactthattheSouthAfricaisnolongerprivytotheprotectionist
measures of the past and that it must now operate as part of a
cAPE ToWn, souTH AFRIcA: some 15,000 striking teachers, nurses and public sector workers took to the streets of cape Town 16 september 2004 in a march to parliament to demand better wages in one of the biggest protest actions since the end of apartheid a decade ago. The one-day labour action took place as south Africa’s public sector workers dead-locked with government over wage increases. six years later, similar protests threaten to topple economic stability.
Industrial actioncould pose seriouseconomic threat cautions Horni
According to the Managing
Director of Continental Tyre
SA Dieter Horni, repeated
bouts of industrial action
could potentially cripple
industry and the South
African economy at large.
PROMOTION
C o n t i C o r n e r • 2 7
globalvillage.Assuch,applyingunsustainabledemandsonadeveloping
economymustbeavoidedatallcosts,”saidDieter.
The South African tyre manufacturing sector employs in the region of
16 000 people, with Continental Tyre SA, accounting for 1 200 of that
total,themajorityofwhomarethesolebreadwinnersintheirhouseholds.
Anyprolongedstrikeactiononthepartofindustriesthatareinextricably
connectedwith the tyresectorcouldposeserious repercussionson the
livelihoodsofthousandsofpeople.
Addedtothat,ContinentalTyreisanofficialsponsoroftheFIFAWorldCup,
aneventthatisexpectedtodrawscoresofforeignvisitorstoSouthAfrica
overthenextmonth.
Says Horni: “The FIFA World Cup is an important branding platform for
the country as well as for the Continental tyre brand. We are looking
forwardtoitandwe’reexcitedabouttheimpactitwillhaveonourbrand
incarrying thispositive imageover to thesecondhalfof theyearaswe
prepareforanewcampaignandthelaunchofanewpassengertyreand
trucktyrerange.Assuch,it’simportanttokeepdisruptionstoanabsolute
minimumduringthistime.Thatbeingsaid,itisequallyimportantforunions
andindustrytocontinueworkingtogetherbeyondthiseventsoasto
arriveatsustainablesolutionstounionmembers’disputes.Onlythen
can the futureof themanufacturingsector inSouthAfrica,which is
responsibleforthousandsofjobs,besecured.”
DieterHornihails fromGermany.Hehasspentmostofhisworking
career in the tyre businesswith 26 yearsof service to theGerman
manufacturinggiant,ContinentalAG–currentlyrankedfourthlargest
tyrecompanyintheworldintermsofsales(2009).
After one year in South Africa and in Continental Tyre SA, he sees
theSAmarketasadynamicmarketwithlotsofopportunities.Healso
believesthelocalmarketisadynamicone,therebypossiblyexplaining
the quick recovery which has resulted in supply shortages in both
the replacement and OE markets. However, measures have been
put in place which should serve as a good groundwork for further
improvement in the second half of this year. With this in mind, he
maintains theunionshaveaplace in this improvedmarketand that
their role should not be undermined provided their demands are
realisticandsustainable.
PROMOTION
ANN
AZIEMIN
SKI/GalloIm
ages/AFP
– another class act
2 8 • 2 0 1 0 B a n d a g C o n f e r e n c e
With the reliability you get from Bandag, your fleet can take on anything. www.bandag.co.za
8182 Bandag Strip Ad.indd 3 5/15/08 4:39:38 PM
The2010Bandagconferencewasrecentlyheldat thepicturesque Ivory
TreeLodgeinPilanesburg.Bandagconferencesaresynonymouswithclass
actsandthisyearwasnodifferent.
The setting was perfect and kicked off with a talk from Ian Thomas, an
internationalkeynotespeakerwhofocusesonhisexperiencesasagame
ranger. HisSpoorofSuccesskeynoteaddressshowedtheBandag/BTS
networkas thepowerofapride(thegrowingBandag/BTSnetwork)and
how to stand up to challenges and make strategic choices. Given the
‘recession’andother industrychallengesfacedbythetyre industry, this
positivemessageleftthenetworkfeelingconfidentaboutthefutureasthe
entireBandag/BTSnetworkspoorstosuccessasaunitedteam!
The highlight of the conference was revealed during the classical gala
dinnerset in thebushandunder thestarrynight light. Here theQuest
forGold(QFG)winnerswereannouncedandlongserviceawardsgivento
Bandag’sveryownstars,itsloyalfranchisee’s.
QFGistorewardtheBandagandBTSFranchiseesthatexcelinthethree
criticalpillarsofbeingasuccessfulcommercialbusiness,whichare:
Bandag Dealer criteria1.Manufacturing2.Sales&Marketing3.Finance
BTs Dealer criteria1.Services2.Sales&Marketing3.Finance
Bandag is all about customer satisfaction and this is achieved through
excellent product manufacturing, exceptional customer service and a
financiallysecurebusiness.ThisisthebusinessmodeladoptedbyBandag
anditsfranchisenetworktoensureendusersgainthemaximumbenefit!
ThetitleforQFGWinnerwasfiercelycontestedmakingeveryparticipant
achampion.However,onlyonecanbecrownedastheoverallwinner!
Thesefranchiseeswillberewardedwithamajestic5-startourofNorthern
India.JoiningthemwillbeNationalTyreServices(NTS)basedinHarare,
Zimbabwe who were awarded with the Best Manufacturing Franchisee
Award and Thomas Tyres Lowveld, who showed a tremendous growth
despitethetougheconomicclimate.
Bandagisproudtobeassociatedwithalltheseindependententrepreneurs
whocontinuetothriveagainsttoughoperatingconditionsandwhoplace
greatemphasisoncustomersatisfaction,theBandagway!
1. BTS Express Winners – BTS Cape Town, Mr. T van Zyl, Mr. V Tane and Mr. J Laskarides. 2. String trio (‘quartet’). 3. BTS Winner – BTS Vryheid, Ms. A Dullabh, Mr. B Steenkamp, Mr. M Naik and Mr. J Laskarides 4. Classical setup in the bush. 5. Bandag Winner – Tonway Tyres, Mr. W Sauvage, Ms. A Dullabh, Mr. M Naik, Mr. T Kallis and Mr. J Laskarides.
Long service Awards:
5 Years – Bandag•ThomasTyresLowveld•TonwayTyres
5 Years – BTs•Elkim–BTSWitbank•ProteaTruckDen–BTS
Nelspruit•ProteaTyresVryheid–BTSVryheid•Supatreads–BTS
PE•TyreAfrica–BTSPretoria•Tyrepro–BTSWindhoek•Tyres&
Treads–BTSGeorge•VTTyreServices–BTSCapeTown
10 Years – Bandag •BandautoBeira•LombardTyres
•LonglifeTyres•RichardsBayTyres•SableTransport–Ndola
•Treadmasters
15 Years – Bandag •BandautoMaputo•PolokwaneBandag•Sable
Transport–Lusaka
30 Years – Bandag•S&SRetreaders•SwaziBandag•Sable
Transport–Ndola•Treadmasters
35 Years – Bandag•ProteaTyres-Ermelo•SPBR–Reunion
45 Years – Bandag•CMC-Mauritius
This year’s winners are:
Bandag Winners•TonwayTyres–GoldAward•ProteaTyresErmelo
–2ndPlace•EastCapeBandag–3rdplace
BTs Winners•ProteatyresVryheid–BTSVryheid
BTs Express Winner•VTTyreServices–BTSCapeTown
D i s t r i b u t i o n N e w s • 2 9
Hi-QCapeTown,situatedintheheartofthebustling‘MotherCity’centre,
hasbecome thefirst in thenetwork toachievean impressiveLevelOne
BlackEconomicEmpowerment(BEE)rating.
OwnerPeterAlterskye–ano-nonsenseentrepreneurwithapassion for
theautomotivefitment industry–said thesecret toaBEE ratingwas to
“justdoit!”.
“Oneofthebiggestchallengeswasamindsetof‘somuchpaperwork’...the
pilesofpaperanddetail-diggingrequired.Timespentwritingistakenfrom
timethatshouldbespentmanagingthebusiness.Allcredittothepatient
staff,especiallyDijondeJagerandShamimaOmar,atMpowerRatings,who
conductedourfullBEEaudit.”
Alterskye’s Cape Town dealership, co-owned with Ursula Fredericks and
Elaine Solomon, who is also the Assistant Manager at the store, was
amongstthefirstintheHi-Qfranchisetoopenin2001.Hispracticaladvice
for entrepreneurs in similar businesses is simple: “Have a transparent
documentfolder–labelledDOIT!–onyourdesk,intheway,allthetime.
Maintainyourfocusontherequirementsoftheratingcriteriaandgather
allBEE-relateddocumentsinthereuntilyouhaveachievedyourcertificate.
“Ourindustryneedstostandupforitself.Weneedtoestablishanidentity
greater than the sum of our product range. The first so-called ‘fitment
centres’opened30yearsago;now therearehundredsofmodern,well
positioned,specialistshopsofferingwhile-you-waitservicewithnodirect
labour costs charged. Crazy, but true! It’s high time we shouted from
the rooftops about this on-going fantastic offer to the public and fleet
operators,”hesaid.
“AsaQualifyingSmallEnterprise,Hi-QCapeTownismeasuredonfourof
thesevenelementsofthegenericBEEscorecard.Inourcase,thesewere
Ownership,ManagementControl,EmploymentEquityandSocio-Economic
Development. At our shop, in the main, this is who we are. We didn’t
changeourbusinesstobecomeaBEEbusiness.Weincreasedourfocuson
thoseareasnotwelldefinedandmadesomeimprovementsalongtheway.”
AlterskyesaidtheLevelOneratingwasimportantnotonlyforHi-QCape
Town’scredibilitywithitsfleetcustomersbutalsofor“ourpersonalbelief
intheconcept”.
TOPBEE-RATEDHI-QANINSPIRATIONTOPRIVATESECTOR&AUTO-FITMENTINDUSTRY
INSPIRED PEOPLE – Hi-Q Cape Town co-owners Elaine Solomon (also Assistant Store Manager) and Peter Alterskye with Waleed Meniers (Administration Manager), believe the dealership’s excellent BEE rating reflects the common Hi-Q value of trust.
3 0 • D i s t r i b u t i o n N e w s
The trumpeting sounds of the Vuvuzela filled the Tiger Wheel & Tyre
auditoriumatthisyear’sFitters’Competition2010.SouthAfrica’sleading
fitment specialists travelled to the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg on
Sunday09MaytocompeteforthehonourofbeingnamedthefastestTiger
Wheel&Tyre.
Fifteenteamswerechosenfromthe71.TigerWheel&Tyrestoresaround
thecountry.Aspartofthefun,thefinalistsrepresentedvariouscountries
acrosstheglobe,makingforahighlyspiritedandelectricatmospherewith
over500cheeringsupportersrootingfortheirfavouritestores.
The taskathandwasachallengingone:driveaspeciallydesignatedcar
onto the ramp, take off all four wheels, strip them, put new tyres on,
balanceallfourofthemandthenputthembackonthevehicle–allthisto
bedoneinarecord-breakingtimeofunderfiveminutes.
Therewerenoshortcutsallowedeither.Officialswereontheirguard to
ensureallsafetyregulationswereadheredto.Theclockwasstoppedonce
theteamcompletedtheirchallenge,andcrowneditoffwithasinglegoalin
thegoalpostssituatedacrossfromtheteam’sbay.
On your marks, Get set, GO!TWT 2010 FITTERS’ COMPETTION TAKES ON WORLD CUP FLAVOUR
In the end it was Tiger Wheel & Tyre Greenstone that took the
overall laurels after a nail-biting showdown against their Midrand and
Wonderboomcounterparts.Thestadiumwasfilledwith roarsof support
andtheunmistakablesoundoftheVuvezelaencouragingtheteamsalong.
Greenstone,flyingtheflagforEngland,andMidrand,representingBrazil,
forgedaheadinthefinalstages.Theteamswereheadtoheadbutitwas
Greenstonestore thatmanaged toscore thewinninggoalwithasuperb
timeof4minutesand24seconds.
“Well done to Greenstone on a superb effort,’ commented Alex Taplin,
ManagingExecutiveofTigerWheel&Tyre,“Greenstoneisoneofournewer
storeshavingopenedlastyear.Theteamhasbeenpractisingmorningand
night for twomonths inpreparation for thiseventand theireffortshave
reallyshonethrough.”
While Greenstone emerged victorious, a special mention must be given
totheMidrandstorethatmissedoutonthenumberoneslotbyjustone
second. Midrand was one of two competing teams to sport a lady on
theirteam,withStoreManagerLuandaViljoenshowingmanyofhermale
comradesexactlyhowit’sdone.
3 2 • O n e - o n - O n e
3 2 • O n e - o n - O n e D e a l e r P r o f i l e • 3 3
Yellow and black
booststurnoverAccording to Thomas Rundle, Group Operations
ManagerforBardenTyreServices,therecentconversion
oftheirWillowGlen,LynwoodRoadshopeastofPretoria
from a DAD to a Dunlop Zone has boosted turnover
immeasurably. This high performance outlet not only
sportsaslick,trendyfinishcompletewithdedicatedwi-fi
stationsandbigplasmaTV,thestrikingyellowandblack
combinationthatgracesbothitsinteriorandexteriorhas
boostedvisibility,bringingnewcustomerstoitsdoors.
The store originally opened in 2003 as a DAD outlet. At the time,
PretoriaEastwasstillundergoingdevelopmentbutdespitethis,thenewly
establisheddealershipmanagedtosecureareasonablemarketshareowing
tothefarmlandsandsmallcommercialenterprisesintheareaandthefact
thattherewerenorivaltyreshopsintheimmediatevicinity.Sevenyears
later, all that has changed with competitor stores mushrooming across
theregionatarapidrate.PretoriaEasthasbecomethe
newest hub, attracting both residential and commercial
tradetotheBardenTyreGroupingrowingnumbers.The
lastninemonthssincetherevamphavebeenparticularly
gratifying,with the turnoverof theDunlopZoneWillow
Glenstoregoingthroughtheroof,
Rundle maintains the shop has set the benchmark in
termsofhighperformance,andhasattracteddrovesof
motoringenthusiaststoitsdoors.
He says: “Suddenly, motorists are beginning to
recogniseus.Somehaveevencommentedthatpriorto
the conversion to aDunlopZone, theywerenot even
awarethatwewerehere!Thenewsignagehasworkedwonders.Now,all
thatremainsisforittobelitupbynight.”
Lastyear’sstoreconversionalsocoincidedwithacompletestaffrevamp
whichsawsignificantstaffmovementwithintheGrouptogetherwiththe
inceptionofnewbranchmanagersandtheappointmentofaretailmanager.
Rundleclaimstheyarenowwellplacedtotackletheirnewestchallenge–
growingthebusinesstothelevelwhereitoperatestofullcapacity.
Explains Rundle: “We are now in the phase of our business where we
wouldliketoseethefitmentbaysfullyoccupied,withvehiclesinwaiting
andwhilethisdoeshappenfromtimetotime,there is
roomforimprovement.”
When I ask how he hopes to achieve this, he replies
that the revampalonecoupledwithwhathedescribes
asasuperiordealerservicefromDunlopbywayofTV
advertising, marketing, specials, competitions, training
and involvement fromtheir representatives, is likelyall
he’llneedtoturnhisaspirationsintoreality.
Thelocationofthestore–alongsideabusyPostOffice
in the Willow Glen shopping centre – also offers an
opportunityfortheDunlopZoneteamtocapitaliseonthis
business,byofferingtoconductaquick20-pointcheck
ontheirvehicleswhilecustomersareinside,somethingtheystrivetodo.
And a further initiative which Rundle plans to keep supporting is the
‘My School Programme’, which he says has reaped dividends for the
companyontopofenablinghimtogivebacktoschoolinginstitutionsthat
The converted store now sports a striking modern interior.
❝
Dunlop is obviously
our main product line
but in this trading
climate we have to
be a multi-brand store
❞
3 4 • D e a l e r P r o f i l e
D e a l e r P r o f i l e • 3 5
needthefunding.Essentially,thisentailsofferingbackanadditional
1 percent to the schools on the programme, on behalf of Barden
Tyresinreturnfortheirbusiness.
When I askhim tonamehisbiggest challengehesmiles andsays
thatinhiscase,hisbiggeststrength,namelyhisalliancewithDunlop,
couldalsobeconsideredhisbiggestchallenge,asthesignageand
corporateimageofhisstorecouldinadvertentlyconveythemessage
thattheysellDunloptotheexclusionofotherbrands.
He says: “Dunlop is obviously our main product line but in this
tradingclimatewehave tobeamulti-brandstore.Toaddress this,
we’ve erected some tear-drop flags alongside our road signage to
indicate thatwealso sellother tyrebrands, and these seem tobe
havingthedesiredeffect.”
Entering the business as the son of his legendary father and
grandfather(hisgrandfatherfoundedBardenTyres45yearsago),and
working among people in the company who had earned their long
serviceawards,wasalsosomewhatofachallengeinthebeginning.
“IhadtoovercometheperceptionthatIwasayoungsterwithlittle
experience,tryingtoreinventthewheel,wheninfact,myaimwasto
addvaluetothebusiness.Overtheyearshowever,I’dliketothink
thatI’veearnedtheirrespect.”
Thomasfirstjoinedthebusinessin2002onapart-timebasis.In2009,he
wasappointedheadoftheentiregroupofBardenTyrecompanies(there
arefiveretailstoresintotalandtworetreadingfactories),byhisfather,
StevenRundle.Withthesupportofagreatstaffforce,Rundleisconfident
theyhavetherightstructuresandpeopleinplacetopropelthebusiness
intothefuture.
The dedicated wifi area is a draw card.
Environmentalprotectionpoliciesaremorefront-of-mindnowthantheyhave
everbeen,andaffecteveryfacetofindustry.
Fromrapidlydwindlingnaturalresourcestotheecologicalimpactofproduction
processes,we’rehavingtoseriouslyrelookthewaywedobusiness.Simply
buyingacarisevenbecomingacomplexdecision,withecowarriorsdelving
intothevehicle’scarbonemissionsandwholelife-cycleimpact,ratherthanjust
theusualtechnicalcriteriasuchasperformanceandfuelconsumption.
The tyre industry too is continuously developing eco-friendly tyres with
reducedrollingresistanceto throwtheirweightbehindthecause–but last
timeIchecked,no-onehadcomeupwithafeasiblealternativetothecommon
andpervasivetyre.
Whichmeans,withavehiclepopulationofalmost10-millionaccordingtothe
officialstatsfromeNatis,that’sawholelotoftyreschurningthroughthesystem
andbeingchuckedouttheotherside.
TheissueofSouthAfrica’s
burgeoningstockpileofwaste
tyresisasourceofmajor
concernforthetyreindustry,
environmentalagenciesandthe
publicatlarge.
Isthereasolution? ByColinMileman
Getting wasted … and going green
WASTETYREMANAGEMENT
3 6 • T a l k i n g T y r e s
T a l k i n g T y r e s • 3 7
The new Cinturato P7TM tyre, compared to the previous model, offers the following advantages:
It’sestimatedthattheUnitedStatesproducesintheregionof290-million
waste tyresayear,andwhileSAprobablyaccumulatesonlyaroundfour
tofivepercentofthatfigure,that’sstill12-15milliontyresthatneedtobe
disposedofannually.
And,mostcommonly,youfind thempiledon thesideof the roadorat
rubbishdumps,literallyfuellingthefireduringcommunityprotests,being
intentionallyburnttogainaccesstothemetalforsaletothescrapindustry
orbeinggivena‘new’regroovedleaseonlifeandsoldascheapsecond-
handtyres–withdevastatingresultsasdealtwithpreviouslyinthiscolumn.
It’samajorhealthandenvironmentalproblemfortheindustry.Simplydumping
themdoesn’twork,asthetyresaren’tbiodegradable,takeuphugetractsof
landduetotheirinefficientstackingorlandfillproperties,whilealsoservingas
anidealhavenforthebreadingofrodents,mosquitoesanddiseases.
SouthAfrica isclearlyunsophisticatedwhenitcomestodealingwiththe
waste tyre issue as, according to Dr Etienne Human, from the SA Tyre
RecyclingProcess (SATRP)Company,onlyaround fourpercentofwaste
tyresarerecycledintousefulmaterialsorsecond-generationproducts.
That’sadarkandgloomypicture,consideringthatareversescenarioexists
inthedevelopedworldwhereonlyasmallpercentageofscraptyresareleft
afterthebulkisabsorbedintopracticalusessuchastyre-derivedfuel,used
asasourceofenergyorreworkedintootherproductsandapplications.
It’saproblemthattheDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairshasrecognised
and acted on, adopting the Waste Tyre Regulation legislation from June
2009. This requires dealers to sort used tyres into those suitable for
retreading,withtheremainingtyrestobepermanentlydamagedsoasto
preventthemre-enteringthemarket.
All local tyre producers and retailers have to register with the DEA and
submittheirwastetyremanagementplans,tobeapprovedbytheminister.
Muchofthisisco-ordinatedthroughtheSATRPIntegratedIndustryWaste
TyreManagementPlan, towhichmostof the industryhas aligned itself,
andisduetocomeintoforcethroughtheGovernmentGazettearoundthe
middleof2010.
Thereafter,theSATRPwillissuetendersforthecollectionandtransportof
wastetyresfromdealersandmanufacturers,storingthemandsortingthem
fortransfertowastetyreprocessors.
Tyrecompaniesanddealersthatsubscribetothisplanwillbeexpectedto
paya‘greenfee’fortheremovalandultimatedisposaloftheirtyresinorder
tofundthisprocess–afeethatwillnodoubtbetransferredtoyouandme,
theenduser,asalevyonnewtyrepurchases.
Phase One of the project is expected to start in April 2011, focussing
onpassengerandcommercial tyres,rangingfrom8to25 inches.Other
categories of tyres, including OTR, agricultural and aircraft tyres, will be
phasedinoverafiveyearperiod.
It’s a laudable effort that will not only create jobs in the transport and
managementoftheprocess,butwillseeSouthAfricarapidlyswingingthe
balancetowardsafargreaterpercentageofwastetyresbeingrecycled.
It makes perfect sense, considering they can be used for a wide range
ofapplications, includingfiringenergyplants,boilersandkilns,although
the noxious gases produced need to be carefully managed to prevent
secondaryhealthhazards.
Overseas,rubberisgroundupandusedasadurablesupplementinroad
andbuildingconstruction,whilethewidearrayofsensiblegoodsthatcan
be produced includes rubber floor mats, dustbins, solid wheels, roofing
WASTETYREMANAGEMENT
3 8 • T a l k i n g T y r e s
Blacktech XR 9/4/09 2:58 PM Page 1
Composite
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
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ChicagoPneumatic
“the solution and the cure”
Call us today for a free catalogue and specials.
Quality Products...1300 products to suit every need.
Quality Service...Our reps will ensure you get prompt servicewherever you are - Nationwide!
Distributors of:
Head o�ce: 011 472 1016
Durban: 031 705 5880
Cape Town: 021 930 2897
Bloem: 051 430 5159
PE: 041 484 1706
Nelspruit: 013 744 9384
WASTETYREMANAGEMENT
T a l k i n g T y r e s • 4 1
products,shoesoles–andawholelotmore.AndinentrepreneurialSA,
thishasgreatpotential.
ButIthinkwe’realongwayofffromachievingthisgoal.Althoughthelegislative
ground-work has been done to handle the collection and redistribution of
wastetyres,we’remissingthecrucialnextstepintheprocess:currentlywe’re
seriouslylackingwastetyreprocessorsthatcanconsumethisabundantand
‘free’supplyoftyres.
Governmenthastoincentiviseandactivelyengageenergy-intensiveindustries,
especiallythosethatusevastamountsofpreciousandcostlycoal,toproactively
become consumers. We need to find cost-effective means of grinding or
reworkingthetyresintomorepracticalformsforuseinotherproducts.
Andthereneedstobeaco-ordinateddevelopmentplanfortheestablishment
of small enterprises – ideally in impoverished communities – to churn out
recycledtyreproducts thatwillnotonlycreate jobs,butwillcontribute toa
sustainableeconomicallyandecologicallyfriendlyfuture.
Colin Mileman is a freelance motoring journalist,
photographer and advanced driving specialist
with over 13 years of experience in this field. As
a former editor of Topcar and Topbike magazines,
he’s as enthusiastic about cars and bikes as
they come, and has extensive knowledge of all
motoring-related matters, including the topic of
tyres, having run the annual and highly regarded
Topcar tyre tests for several years.
RELIABILITY... SAFETY... QUALITY...
DURABILITY...
important ingredients that keep us ahead of the pack!
w w w . l e a d e r t r e a d . c o . z a
ISO 9002
T +27 11 473 8200F +27 11 474 8659E info@leadertread.co.za
LT half pg 210x145.indd 1 6/3/10 11:57:05 AM
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ChicagoPneumatic
“the solution and the cure”
Call us today for a free catalogue and specials.
Quality Products...1300 products to suit every need.
Quality Service...Our reps will ensure you get prompt servicewherever you are - Nationwide!
Distributors of:
Head o�ce: 011 472 1016
Durban: 031 705 5880
Cape Town: 021 930 2897
Bloem: 051 430 5159
PE: 041 484 1706
Nelspruit: 013 744 9384
HIGHPERFORMANCEGOODYEARTYRESTHECHOICEFORSLICKBMWX1Joy inmotion ishowBMWdescribes its luxurious littleX1–BMW’sfirst
‘baby’sportutilityvehicle(SUV)–andthejourneyismadeevensweeter
withGoodyearEfficientGriptyresselectedasthetyreofchoiceforthenew
compactdrivingmachine.
GoodyearSouthAfricaMarketingDirectorDustineGascoynesaid:“Asan
organisation,weare targeting the topechelonofSUVsandperformance
vehicleswithpremier-brandedGoodyearproducts.”
ThepremiumcompactX-model,withitssporty,elegantsilhouette,boasts
smoothsix-cylinderpowerandanintelligentall-wheeldrivesystem.
“Besides providing a high performance tyre, we want to provide drivers
withcompletepeaceofmindwhen it comes tosafety.That’swhywe’re
extremelyproudtobetheworld’sleadingmanufactureroftheinnovative
safetytechnologyknownasRunOnFlat,whichallowsadrivertocontinue
on a journey with a punctured tyre. Who needs the inconvenience of
changing a flat tyre when you’re testing the limits of the X1 far off the
beatentrack?”
Adding to drivers’ peace of mind are the environmentally-friendly
FuelSavingTechnologiesthathaveshapedthenewGoodyearEfficientGrip
tyre,whicharenowavailable inSouthAfrica.Withextremely low rolling
resistance,theultra-highperformancetyredeliversimportantfuelsavings,
whileofferinghighmileageandexcellentbrakingperformancelevels–on
dryandwetroads.
4 2 • G o o d y e a r N e w s
In fact, independent performance tests run by German TÜF SÜD
Automotive,oneofEurope’sleadingtestingandcertificationorganisations,
have proved that the new Goodyear EfficientGrip provides 13% better
rolling resistance, 2% shorter braking distance and 1.9% better fuel
consumption.What ismore, long-termtreadwear testsprovedthatcars
equippedwiththenewtyrescandriveupto8%morekilometresonthe
drivenaxleand49%moreonthefreeaxle.
But beyond its fuel consumption benefits, the EfficientGrip also offers
additionalenvironmentalimprovements.Itssilicatreadcompoundusesthe
latestgenerationofpolymersand,inlinewiththeEuropeanlegislation,does
notcontainanyhigharomaticoils.Theresultisatyrethatis10%lighter
than its predecessor. With less material used, carbon dioxide emissions
have been reduced during production. What is more, the reduction in
material, coupled with the fact that fewer tyres are needed to achieve a
givenmileage,ultimately leads to lessmaterial toberecycledat theend
ofthetyre’slife.
AnotherenvironmentalplusisthattheEfficientGripoffersaquietride–itis
seentobeverycompetitiveonnoise.
Goodyeartyreshavebeenfittedasoriginalequipmentonmanyvehicles,
including Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Hummer, Isuzu, Jeep,
LandRover,Lexus,Mazda,NissanandToyota.
ADVANCEDGOODYEARTYRESSELECTEDFORNEWBMW5SERIESThejoythatcomesfromdrivingBMW’ssupersexynew5series–described
byitscreatorsas“anewshapeofbeauty”–canonlybemagnifiedwhenit
isdiscoveredtoberollingonGoodyears.
“Ifavehicledoesn’tlookdynamichowarewesupposedtobelievethatit
drivesdynamically?Youhavetobeabletobothseeandfeelitscharacter.
It’sthesamewithtalent;it’snotenoughjusttohaveit,youhavetobeable
touseit,”isthephilosophyofAdrianvanHooydonk,HeadofBMWGroup
Design.
Birdsofafeathertendtoflocktogether...Efficiency,sophisticateddriving
dynamics,design,safetyandcomfortareallelementsthatBMWadmire.
Theultrahighperformanceof such a finely tuned, technically advanced
luxurysportssedandemandsfinely tuned, technicallyadvanced tyres to
respondtoitsquickdemandsandmatchitsprecision.Perhapsthat’swhy
Investments make
Goodyear first choicefor high-end vehicles internationally
The multi-million rand investments poured
into Goodyear’s Uitenhage manufacturing
facility have enabled it to produce premium
tyre products that are being snapped up by
motor manufacturers as original equipment
(OE) choice on vehicles for both local and
exportmarkets.
G o o d y e a r N e w s • 4 3
engineersatBMWselectedGoodyearExcellenceandGoodyearEagleLS2
tyrestobeoriginallyfittedtotheirhighlydesirable5series.
“RevolutionaryExcellenceincorporatesthebestofthreetechnologiesinto
asingletyre. Itoffersthesafestpossibledrive,withsuperbperformance
in handling, and an exceptional feeling of comfort. What’s more, the
RunOnFlat technology, which was pioneered by Goodyear and allows
motorists to keep driving smoothly after a puncture, is a safety feature
consideredessentialpeace-of-mindtoanydriverthesedays,”saidDustine
Gascoyne,GoodyearMarketingDirector.
“Goodyear tyres are performing on some of the world’s leading cars.
Wearealwaysdelightedwiththesepartnerships.Startingattheextensive
testingconductedbyvehiclemanufacturerslikeBMW,priortoselection,
servesasabenchmark for the innovativeengineeringandqualityofour
products.
“Sometimesstartingevenattheearlystagesofnewvehiclemodelcreation,
Goodyearworkstogetherwithcarmanufacturerstodrivetechnologyand
innovation.Performance,safety,economyandenvironmental impactare
allattributesthatarecontinuallybeingpushedtothenextlevel.”
Goodyear tyres are chosen for high performance vehicles from BMW,
Mercedes,RollsRoyce,Ferrari,Maserati,AlfaRomeo,Volkswagen,...and
manymore.
Revolutionary Excellence incorporates the best of three technologies into a single tyre.
High performance cars need high performance tyres – the BMW X1.
4 2 • C o n t i C o r n e r
W o r l d N e w s • 4 5
Tokyo (May 20, 2010)—The Bridgestone Corporation has been
named a 2009 Supplier of the Year (SOY) by the Boeing Company.
Bridgestone was one of fourteen companies honored for
exceptional commitment to excellence in working with Boeing.
This is the first time that Bridgestone has received the title.
Bridgestonewasselectedfromanelitegroupofamongmorethan
12,000activeBoeingsuppliersinnearly100countriesaroundthe
world.Thisselectionwasbasedonstringentperformancecriteria
for quality, delivery performance, cost, environmental initiatives,
customerserviceandtechnicalexpertise.
The award ceremony was held on April 13, in Seattle, Wash.,
in the United States. Ray Conner, Boeing Enterprise Leader of
SupplierManagementandVicePresidentandGeneralManagerof
SupplyChainManagementandOperationsforBoeingCommercial
Airplanes,andStanDeal,VicePresidentandGeneralManager,of
SupplierManagementatBoeingCommercialAirplanes,presented
theawardtoShigeruNiho,DirectoroftheSpecialtyTireDivision,
and Joe Rayna, CEO and President of Bridgestone Aircraft Tire
(USA),Inc.
Boeing aircraft currently equipped with Bridgestone aircraft tires
include:
1)Boeing737-900ER
2)Boeing747
3)Boeing767
4)Boeing777
Additionally, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is scheduled to go into
commissionwithBridgestoneaircraftradialtires.
Award Ceremony: Shigeru Niho, Director of the Specialty Tire Division (third from the left), Stan Deal, Vice President and General Manager of Supplier Management at Boeing Commercial Airplanes (fourth from the left), and Joe Rayna, CEO and President of Bridgestone Aircraft Tire (USA), Inc. (fifth from the left) and Ray Conner, Vice President and General Manager, Supply Chain Management & Operations, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (far right)
About Bridgestone corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s
largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a
widevarietyofapplications,italsomanufacturesabroadrangeof
diversifiedproducts,whichincludeindustrialrubberandchemical
products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150
nationsandterritoriesaroundtheworld.
(BridgestoneCorporation,Tokyo,Japan)
Continental AG has added another championship to its football portfolio.
In addition to its global sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South
Africa and 2014 event in Brazil, the tyre maker has become a ‘premium’
sponsor of the DFB (German Football Association) Cup in its home market.
The package is for two years and guarantees Continental not only a
televisionpresencethroughbrandadvertisingandotherpublicityvehicles
inthestadiumswhereall63cupgameswillbeheldthroughoutGermany,
but also a significant contingentof tickets that canbeused forpublicity
purposes.Furthermore,Continentalhassignedanadditionalcontractwith
DBF,underwhich ithaspurchased the rights touse theDFBbrand for
publicitypurposes.
“With this sponsorship, we are building a bridge in the German-
speakingcountriesbetweenthe2010FIFAWorldCupinSouthAfrica
and the qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil,
whicharegoingtobegettingunderwayin2012.Indoingso,wewishto
putourcommitmenttoprofootballonabroaderbase,expanditfurther
regionallytooasthecentralcommunicationplatform,andtakeafurther
step towards clearly positioning the premium brand Continental with
a focus on safety and braking performance,” explained Timo Robbel,
whoisresponsibleforsportssponsorshipatContinentalinitsGerman-
speakingmarkets.
(www.tyrepress.com)
CONTIFURTHERSITSFOOTBALLSPONSORSHIP
BRIDGESTONENAMED2009SUPPLIEROFYEARBYBOEING
4 6 • W o r l d N e w s
PIRELLIINF1POLEPOSITION?
Despite an anticipated decision the question of next year’s Formula One
tyre supply still remains unanswered, yet various news sources report
that Pirelli has moved up to ‘pole position’. While the latest meeting of
the Technical Working Group ended without a tyre supplier being named,
German publication Auto Motor und Sport reports that Pirelli may now
be the front runner.
“InthetyreselectionPirellisuddenlyseemstobeholdingthebettercards,”
states Auto Motor und Sport. “Michelin’s original high demands have
apparentlywontheFrenchfirmnosympathypoints.Apossibleindication
thatPirellicouldwin therace is that representatives fromthe Italian tyre
companymetwithBernieEcclestoneinMay.
(www.tyrepress.com)
MAXXISPRODUCERCHENGSHINENTERSGLOBALTYREMAKERTOP10
The world’s top 10 tyre makers now have a new addition in the form
of Taiwanese manufacturer Cheng Shin Rubber. Now that almost all
the major tyre manufacturers’ sales figures are in, the numbers show
that Cheng Shin Rubber – producer of the Maxxis brand –leapfrogged
Toyo and Giti Tire into 10th place in 2009.
ChengShinRubber reports that it recordeda turnoverof1.887billion
euros which, although only a slight increase over the previous year,
demonstrates the company’s relative resilience to the global financial
crisis.CompetitorsToyoandGitiTireontheotherhand,lostsalesduring
theperiod,enablingChengShintogouptwostepsontheladder.
(www.tyrepress.com)
current rankings are as follows:
ENDOFTHEROAD–BRIDGESTONEENDSAUSTRALIANPRODUCTIONTyreproductiondownunderhascometoanendwiththeclosure
of Bridgestone’s Salisbury factory in Adelaide. On April 30 the
companyheldaprivateceremonyandbarbequeforemployeesto
markthefinaldayofoperations.Manyofthe600orsoworkers,now
outofwork,werelong-termBridgestoneemployees,andemotions
amongststaffweremixed.
“Formostpeopleit’sgoingtobeanewleaseoflife,”saidRayLicis,
whoworkedattheplantfor20years.“Someoftheolderpeopleare
probablylikeme.I’malittleapprehensive–gettingdownthetrackin
agemightbealittlebitmoreofabarriertogettingwork.”
(www.tyrepress.com)
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Boeing 737-800
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