Mainland will push tire tread depth detection technology

When do tires need to be replaced? The degree of wear of the tire is an important indicator. If it has been very much worn and reaches a certain depth, it needs to be replaced to ensure safety. The usual method we usually use is to test the depth of the tread pattern visually or with coins. However, this or there will be a more intelligent solution.

Recently, the Malaysian (Mainland) Group stated that it intends to add an automatic pattern depth detection function, namely ETIS (Electronic Tyre Information System), which aims to be installed on new models by 2017. The principle is that it is possible to infer the gradual change of the rolling characteristics of the tire through the "smart software" inferred pattern depth.

A tire pressure sensor calculates operating characteristics that vary from tire deformation. If the pattern depth is lower than a certain threshold of the tire, the signal of the on-board electrical system will remind. In this way, it will be more timely to let the owner know when to change the tires.

From January to May 2014, the export sales of Shanxi Shuangxi Tire Industry Co., Ltd. accounted for more than 50% of the total sales. Recently, Double Happiness Tire participated in the 2014 Dubai International Rubber and Tire Exhibition. This is the seventh appearance of Double Happiness tyres at the international professional exhibition this year after participating in the 28th German Essen tire auto show in May.

Since last year, Shuangxi Tire has stepped up efforts to export products. Through the introduction of technology research and development teams, the company has strengthened its research and development capabilities and enriched its product lineage. R&D personnel have developed 37 patterns of export products through visits to foreign markets such as Singapore, the United States, and Peru to understand road conditions and product demand.

According to the website of the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil issued the Decree No. 32 on June 17 and decided to start anti-dumping review of truck tires imported from China. The product involved in the SADC tariff is 4011.20.90.

On June 24th, Yanchang Petroleum's northwestern rubber production line with an annual output of 8 million semi-steel radial tires was completed and put into production, filling the “blank” of Shaanxi semi-steel radial tires. On the same day, Vice Governor Li Jinzhu went to the rubber company to investigate and hold a symposium.

It is reported that the project has a total investment of 1 billion yuan. Construction began in January 2013, and it took only one year to complete and put into production, creating the highest speed for industrial construction. The project has introduced the world's only four advanced compound extruders, liquid nitrogen vulcanizing machines and other world-advanced equipment, and the technology has reached the international advanced level. At this point, the production capacity of radial tyres in our province has reached 10 million.

Northwest rubber semi-steel radial tire project completed and put into production

On the same day, Li Jinzhu extended the investigation of the production workshop of the rubber semi-steel radial tire project and pointed out that it should aim at the “first-rate domestic and world-leading” development goals, insist on product innovation, enterprise development and management innovation, technological innovation, and market development to continuously enhance the development of the company. Sustainability; to actively participate in international competition, establish a world-class tire brand image; continue to innovate the working mechanism of talent, optimize the development environment, and build a tire industry talents. Provincial SASAC, Provincial Ministry of Industry and other departments to strengthen service security, and actively build a platform for cooperation, and effectively do a good job in the province's enterprise bank and enterprise docking, production and marketing docking and industrial chain docking, and actively help companies develop the market and promote enterprise transformation and upgrading. Xianyang City should further optimize the investment environment, provide quality services, and help companies solve their problems.

The possibility of reorganization of large tire companies has increased. The opportunity stems from competition around the rapidly growing emerging market countries. With the rise of emerging companies, an offensive and defensive battle will soon begin.

In February 2014, Yokohama Rubber signed a technical cooperation agreement with Korea's Kumho Tire. In June, the two companies had just reached an agreement on the development of tire environmental protection technologies. However, Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.’s vision of Yan Tian’s vision was to invest in the further future.

"It goes without saying that capital cooperation, if both sides feel favorable, the merger will be OK. I want to use the holding company's form, retaining the two brands is also an option."

Kumho's sales are 60% of Yokohama Rubber. The company has experienced bankruptcy and is a company with a "spot". In view of this, this cooperation has not received much praise.

But Yokohama rubber does not mind. Two years ago, the company’s president, Nan Yun Zhongxin, met with Park San-keung, president of Kumho’s parent company Kumho Asiana Group. With the deepening of the exchange, Nanyun understood the technical strength of Kumho.

When Japan's time-honored companies and South Korean start-ups began to associate on the premise of "marriage", it was the day when two companies decided to part-way. "What are they thinking?"

In the middle of the night of February 13th, when he was contacted by the company, the executives of the Sumitomo Rubber Industry were overwhelmed - the company’s partner, Goodyear USA, posted information on the Internet to the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the data Goodyear wrote: "Because of the clear anti-competitive behavior of Sumitomo Rubber, we will terminate the partnership."

This has early warning. About a month ago, Goodyear proposed an application for cooperation, and Sumitomo Rubber had encountered a blow when it was ready to negotiate a friendly breakup. Sumitomo Rubber immediately submitted a rebuttal to the international arbitration agency.

In 1999, in the eyes of the envy of other companies, the two companies "happy hand", spent 15 years of sweet time. However, the final outcome was a sad divorce drama.

Difficult emerging country strategy

Now, the global tire industry is precarious. The core of the oscillation is emerging market countries. According to Mizuho Bank’s forecast, in 2020, the world’s new car sales will expand to 98.61 million. Although markets in Japan, North America and Europe have stagnated, sales in emerging market countries will soar to 59.4 million vehicles, which is 1.5 times that in 2010. The growing middle class in China and India will play a leading role.

“In emerging market countries, we must first take the initiative” (Shin Muhammad, President, Toyo Rubber Industries). In the face of the future “Golden Mountain”, major companies are coveted, but for now, no one company has successfully overcome the new market.

Tires are divided into new car tires that are sold to auto companies for wholesale, and replacement tires that are retailed at tire sales stores, gas stations, and so on. In developed countries, the ratio of the two is 6:4, and the sales of new car tires are mostly, while in emerging market countries where the used car circulation is huge, the replacement of tires is even better. The demand for global tires in 2020 is 2.1 billion, of which only 450 million are new car tires. The replacement of tires is 1.66 billion, which is more than three times that of the former.

Therefore, emerging market countries cannot apply developed country strategies that focus on auto companies. Because most consumers choose to replace the tires when prices do not see the brand, Bridgestone, France Michelin, Goodyear Big Three in the Chinese market share of only 1-3%.

Faced with this situation, big companies certainly will not sit still. To increase sales of replacement tires, retail outlets must give priority to their own tire products.

To this end, Bridgestone has opened more than 300 "Wing Wing" chain stores in China. These stores not only sell tires. The brand will also be promoted through independent customer services such as providing free periodic inspections.

Flaming fire outside the scope of cooperation

On the other hand, Sumitomo Rubber's chain stores in China will increase from the current 570 to 1,000 in 2015. There are also more than 650 chain stores in India.

The original cooperation between Sumitomo Rubber and Goodyear was based on Goodluck's production and sales of Sumitomo Rubber's main brand, DUNLOP, in North America and Europe. Sumitomo Rubber also sold the "Goodyear" brand in Japan. Therefore, "Since 10 years ago, Sumitomo Rubber has placed its development focus outside North America and Europe in order to avoid smashing the market with Goodyear."

However, ironically, some good intentions turned into a kind of friction. In emerging market countries outside the framework of cooperation, Sumitomo Rubber's "Dunlop" and Goodyear's competition are getting more and more, and the relationship between them has begun to become tense.

Senior Matsumoto Bongyu, senior analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities, calculated that the loss of the cooperation to Sumitomo Rubber was equivalent to sales of 50 to 60 billion yen and operating profits of 13.0 billion yen. Although the impact is not small, Matsumoto pointed out that "if we continue to expand the business of emerging market countries according to the current momentum, we can recover the losses within 3 to 5 years." In Matsumoto's view, if we look at the medium and long term, the lifting of cooperation will help to strengthen the business foundation of Sumitomo Rubber.

After opening ground warfare through the addition of shops, there are companies that boldly launched air battles. In May 2014, Serie A staged the Milan Derby. In the television broadcast, the blue "TOYOTIRES" LOGO appeared in the prominent position of the stadium.

Toyo Rubber signed an agreement with AC Milan where Honda Keisuke is located, becoming the team's first senior sponsor from Japan. At first glance, this seems to be an advertising strategy for the Japanese and European markets, but the company's idea is not so simple. "This is in fact meant to start Russia playing before Honda, as well as Asia and the Middle East who are concerned about European football" (the company). It is not just big companies that look at emerging market countries.

Among the top 20 tire sales in 2012, emerging companies took 10 seats, accounting for half of the country. During this decade, although the Big Three's sales have grown steadily, the total share has decreased by 17%. The momentum of emerging companies is evident.

In addition to representatives of emerging companies and Kumho, which cooperates with Yokohama Rubber, Korean companies such as Hankook and Nexans have also emerged. Accompanied by the growth of Hyundai Motor Co., which has already become a global manufacturer, these companies have expanded their business scale and their trajectory is exactly the same as that of Japanese companies in the past. Until recently, the tires of emerging companies were mostly low-priced products, and it appeared to the auto companies in developed countries that there were no enough teeth.

However, the current situation is no longer comparable. Leading companies such as Toyota, Germany's Daimler, and BMW have adopted new products for new vehicles in succession. Passenger car tires for the emerging companies that are in the forefront of their identities are “not much different in quality from Japanese companies” (Nissan Motors).

Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. recently announced that the company’s new product, the FS410, has been put into the market.

According to the person in charge of the company, this new product was highly praised and recognized by Chinese commercial vehicle users.

According to reports, the new products introduced this time are mainly for semi-trailers, bicycles, high-speed buses and other vehicles. The pattern design can evenly disperse the ground pressure, so that the tire's partial wear resistance performance is significantly improved. This ensures that the vehicle can travel long distances on fixed and high-speed roads. Compared with existing similar products, it has a longer service life and better Steering stability.

Bridgestone said that the FS410 carcass is suitable for many renovations due to its excellent durability.