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September 2011 Issue
Skills shortage poses threat to transport sector
Let’s face it. Few, if any, grow up dreaming of a career in the transport or tyre business. Traditionally, these industries are viewed as dirty, greasy and unglamorous. More important, to the average school leaver, they do not appear to offer any lucrative career opportunities. And yet, these sectors have given rise to a number of successful, supremely wealthy entrepreneurs. So, how do we convey this to the world at large and how do we go about dissuading them from falling prey to the lures of seemingly far more exciting industries such as IT, marketing or finance? One thing is certain, attract them we must, if we are to tackle the potential skills crisis that is impacting every segment of the automotive market..
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One-on-One with Goodyear’s Dustine Gascoyne
This September edition has been specially compiled with a view to banishing any
perceptions that may exist as to the tyre sector’s ability to provide exciting career opportunities. Dustine Gascoyne is living proof of this. He began his career in telesales at a local call centre at Continental 16 years ago in 1995, and quickly moved up the ranks to occupy a succession of senior posts in product management and OE sales. In due course, he was exposed to the sales and marketing disciplines, a field he’s particularly passionate about.
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Continental teams up with Adidas in Run2Stop Challenge
An exciting, if somewhat unorthodox promotions campaign, recently saw man being pitted against machine in the form of a team of professional runners taking on an Audi Q7, in a race that took place between Cape Town and Johannesburg in early August – all in the name of innovation and brand awareness.
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More hype around tyre testing please!
When you set out to buy a car you take it for a test drive, but when you need new tyres – the most critical safety component – it’s all about hype and guesswork. It’s time for some authoritative, independent tyre testing.
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Tyrecor – a success story
Of late, we have been showcasing tyre companies specialising in brands from the Far East, tyre makes which are fast becoming entrenched in our market. Another such success story is Tyrecor, holding company for the Infinity and Solideal tyre brands. Tyrecor has experienced significant growth over a relatively short period of time (the company was established in 2002), a feat which according to MD, Charl de Villiers, is no accident.
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June 2011 Issue
Rubber prices hit tyre makers hard
2011 could well turn out to be the most challenging year yet, at least where the tyre business is concerned. Amid rumours of one or possibly even two more new tyre price hikes before the year is through, consumers justly have cause for concern. Largely driving this trend are escalating raw material costs, an alarming trend which shows no signs of abating.
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Dandelions – the new rubber source?
Children love to blow their seeds into the wind and rabbits think they are a gourmet delight. Now dandelions have aroused the interest of the rubber industry as well. A research team at the University of Münster has studied the latex in them and come to an amazing discovery. Dandelions produce gum elastic – equal in quality to rubber tree latex. This could make the wild herb a major source of rubber in the future. Auto parts supplier Continental AG in Germany has latched onto these lab results. The firm is now hard at work bringing this idea forward. It is a member in the consortium of research institutes and industry partners that intend to transform the idea into market products. more...
One-on-One with Supa Quick’s Ramano Daniels
The legend that is Gavin Kockott, took a final bow as founder and MD of the supremely successful Supa Quick franchise of retail stores, in February 2010. Gavin had not only been instrumental in establishing a company that has since grown into the largest retail distribution company in SA, but the franchise model that he and his management team employed, set a new benchmark in the local tyre business…… formidable shoes to fill for any successor.
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New eco-friendly products from Continental and Pirelli
The picturesque coastline of the Algarve in Portugal, was the magnificent backdrop for the launch of two impressive products for the passenger tyre segment this year,
courtesy of Continental Tyre. The tyre maker assures remarkable improvements in rolling resistance and wet and dry braking performance courtesy of a new casing, compound, tyre contour and tread pattern design, elements that reflect considerable progress on the part of the company’s tyre engineers. more...
Apollo’s Glittering Awards Gala
19 May was an exciting day on the calendar for Pirelli South Africa. At Nixon (Cradle of Humankind), the Italianbased tyre maker introduced its first high-performance eco tyre for the SUV market. Aimed specifically for vehicles with the highest environmental impact, the new Scorpion Verde has been created taking full advantage of all of Pirelli’s latest research as well as a design system that integrates new materials, structures and tread patterns, in order to guarantee savings, respect for the environment, comfort, and safety on all road surfaces. The new Scorpion Verde complete’s Pirelli’s range of Scorpion tyres which already includes the ATR for 4x4s and the Scorpion Zero, developed for more high performing SUVs. .. more...
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March 2011 Issue
CFP Tyres, Tyre Importer of the Year, in the spotlight
Charles Pitout of CFP Tyres – Winner of Tyre Importer of the Year 2010
CFP Tyres winning the award for Top Importer of the Year at last year’s TDAFA Awards Dinner in October was an astonishing achievement. Being picked from a group of nominees that included SA Tyre and Michelin Tyres was a huge honour, especially for a family business that’s only been around since 2001.
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Transporters on massive drive to lower cpk costs
The transport trucker strike in February which saw no less than 30 000 truckers serving businesses in South Africa and neighbouring states taking part, not only brought the transport industry to its knees, it also threatened to cripple an already fragile economy. In theory, the main truckers’ unions agreed to a new pay offer of a 9% increase this year and 8.5% increase next year, thereby bringing an end to the dispute. Clearly the transport sector is under pressure to meet rising wage demands in what is already, a tough trading environment. more...
Continental launches new generation truck tyres with Airkeep technology
Well it may have taken them a while, but when the long anticipated launch of Continental’s six new premium truck tyres finally did take place at the Wanderers Club in early February, it was worth the wait. Not only did the new tyre company release an exciting commercial vehicle tyre range onto the market, they also unveiled Continental’s patented Airkeep technology, which is an added feature throughout the entire new generation truck tyre range. more...
Auto & Truck becomes world’s largest retreader
An expansion programme which was completed in 2010 has led to Wadeville-based Auto & Truck Tyres being officially declared the largest retreading facility in the world.
Using Leader Tread rubber with the innovative Ringtread availableas a premium rubber option, ATT has built a formidable reputation in the market and is well known in the industry for delivering superior service levels and total commitment to quality control, something which management continues to drive home. In support of this, the company was also awarded the SABS mark of approval in December 2010. more...
Second hand tyres – Russian roulette with rubber?
You’re not likely to put a gun to your head with a one-in-six chance of meeting a premature end. So why then play the same ‘game’ of chance with second-hand tyres?
Russian rouelette is that warped, much-maligned ‘game’ where, courtesy of a single bullet placed in a revolver, you stand a onein-six chance of heading off early to meet your maker. What, you may ask, does this have to do with tyres? Actually, a lot I’d say, judging by the growing prevalence of second-hand tyres of all shapes and sizes flooding the market.. more...
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December 2010 Issue
Conversations with Indian tyre mogul Onkar S. Kanwar
Conversations with Indian tyre mogul Onkar S. Kanwar Apollo set to become a global player TDAFA honours 2010 top achievers
ContiPartner ‘Win an Audi Competition’ a big hit Customer Service – more than skin deep?
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Apollo set to become a global player
Once upon a time they were a small, unknown tyre plant in southern India, battling to produce any products worth selling. Today, they are a multinational, multimillion US dollar company that is not afraid of taking big risks on the road to becoming a global force to be reckoned with. more...
TDAFA honours 2010 top achievers
On October 22, I was one of 280 guests who attended the annual TDAFA Awards function at the Bryanston Country Club. The turnout surpassed the organisers’ expectations, making the evening as one of the best attended awards function in the association’s history. more...
ContiPartner ‘Win an Audi Competition’ a big hit
A great offer deserves a great TV ad, and that’s exactly what ContiPartner, together with their advertising agency,
Ebony+Ivory, have done. “For too long, tyre retail ads were just that – retail ads all about the offer. It was all about the hard sell, the offer and a give-away to entice consumers to buy a brand of tyres in exchange for a gift.. more...
Customer Service – more than skin deep?
If the latest tyre survey done by Bridgestone is anything to go by, South Africans have, on the balance of probabilities, started paying marginally more attention to the condition of their tyres. According to Bridgestone, there has been a positive trend with more motorists maintaining suitable tyre pressures, and driving on legally compliant rubber – but the picture is still overwhelmingly, tragically gloomy... more...
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