Mitas is building a new farm tyre factory

Vol. 10
No. 3 / 2012
www.cgs.eu
A Q U A R T E R LY N E W S L E T T E R F O R C U S T O M E R S , D I S T R I B U T O R S A N D F R I E N D S O F C G S G R O U P
Mitas is building a new farm tyre factory
In the Zlín region, the city of Otrokovice and CGS representatives laid the cornerstone for the new Mitas farm tyre factory. Mitas will move all production
from the existing hall at the Barum Continental industrial park to the TOMA
park by the end of 2013.
From le¤ to right, CGS representatives Oldřich Šlemr and Tomáš Němec, Otrokovice Mayor Jaroslav Budek
and Zlín Regional Governor Stanislav Mišák. ˜e cornerstone of Mitas farm tyre plant, Otrokovice, 26
September. Photo by Jiří Budek, 2012.
On 26 September, Zlín Regional Governor Stanislav Mišák, Otrokovice Mayor Jaroslav Budek and
CGS representatives Tomáš Němec and Oldřich
Šlemr laid down the cornerstone of this CZK 900
million (€36.3 million) investment. ˜e new production hall will be constructed by May 2013.
On Friday, 3 August, the Czech producer of
off-highway tyres Mitas received planning permission to build a 24,000-square-metre farm
tyre factory in Otrokovice in the Czech Republic.
˜e construction commenced on 7 August. By
the end of 2013, Mitas will have moved all of
its tyre production from the existing Otrokovice
production hall, which it has rented from Continental since 2004, when Mitas acquired the agricultural tyre division from Continental. ˜is new
facility will have a production capacity of 42,000
tonnes of tyres per year.
“We are moving a few kilometres from the
existing facility, and the work force will move with
us,” said Jaroslav Čechura, Mitas’ CEO. Currently,
there are 600 people working at Mitas’ Otrokovice plant, out of the total of 3,200. “We will build
stock to offset output fluctuations when moving production equipment to the new facility,”
Čechura added. ˜e new plant will make Mitas
and Continental-branded radial farm tyres. Mitas
has been investing in other plants, for example
in Ruma, to optimise production capacity and to
ensure that 2013 deliveries to customers are not
affected.
˜e project complies with European and
Czech environmental regulations regarding,
for example, health and safety, emissions and
noise pollution. “Mitas is committed to using the
best available technology,” said Rudolf Mačák,
the project director. “˜e city of Otrokovice and
civic associations have been involved in the
project’s design from the very beginning.”
In 2014, Mitas’ U.S. farm tyre plant will have
achieved its full production capacity. With the
transfer of production from Europe to the United
States intended for North American deliveries,
a substantial share of the European production
capacity will thus be freed up and committed to
European customers.
[SE]
Visualisation of the new Mitas' plant in Otrokovice. This photo is courtesy of Tebodin Czech Republic, 2012.
CGS NEWS | Vol. 10 | No. 3 / 2012 | Page 1
sport | company
Five Olympians with Rubena
From le¤ – Daniel McConnell (AUS) and Jan Škarnitzl
(CZ) at London 2012 XC race.
Photo by Rubena, 2012.
In cross country and BMX five competitors relied on Rubena tyres during this summer’s Olympics in London. “˜is is a record for
us,” said Jiří Šimánek, Rubena’s marketing
manager.
Among them were Rebecca Henderson
and Daniel McConnel from Australia and Jan
Škarnitzl, Ondřej Cink and Romana Labounková from the Czech Republic. ˜e former
Rubena team member (now Specialized
Racing Team) Jaroslav Kulhavý won a gold
medal in cross-country biking.
Labounková rode BMX Speedo LT, which
Rubena developed in cooperation with Czech
BMX biker Lukáš Tamme. A¤er returning
from London, Ondřej Cink won the gold in the
World Championship in Saalfelden, Austria, in
September, where he drove Scylla Top Design
tyres. In Leogang, Austria, Labounková won
the silver in 4-cross World Championship also
in September.
[JB]
Australian XC biker Rebecca Henderson at London
Olympics riding new Rubena Scylla tyres.
Photo by Rubena, 2012.
Iowa is no fly-over country
Mitas North America
on Facebook
In August, Mitas hosted 21 tyre dealers
from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, New
Zealand and Japan in Charles City, which
is Mitas’ U.S. headquarters and where it
started producing farm tyres in 2012.
In September, Mitas’ American subsidiary
launched a Facebook page to facilitate communication with farmers. “We hope to use
Facebook to show our customers how Mitas,
being located in the heart of the Midwest, is
part of the American farming community,”
said Jennifer Bauer, OE customer care coordinator. “Frankly, we want to show off our hard
work and great tyres,” Bauer added.
˜e Iowa-based subsidiary welcomes all
comments and suggestions to improve its Facebook presence.
[SE]
“Mitas is the ship we want to sail,” many
of the dealers reiterated, according to Jaroslav Musil, Mitas' head of direct sales. “˜e
dealers appreciated the new tyre plant;
many commended, for example, the general tidiness and storage
system. ˜e plant is
the showcase of Mitas’
commitment to making quality and durable
tyres,” Musil added.
In addition, the representatives from Armstrong Tyres P/L, Tyreline Distributors Ltd.,
Inter Tractor Service Co. Ltd., Alpha Import Export e Logistica
and Neumáticos San
Jorge attended the
Farm Progress Show
in Boone and toured
the John Deere factory
Tyre dealers visiting Mitas’ factory in Charles City, accompanied by CGS
in
Waterloo, Iowa.
Chairman Tomáš Němec and Andrew Mabin, Jaroslav Musil, Ruben Varela
Ruiz and Josef Hrdina of Mitas. Photo by Tomáš Hanáček, 2012.
CGS NEWS | Vol. 10 | No. 3 / 2012 | Page 2
[SE]
One day a¤er the launch, 41 likes and 12 talking
about it. Mitas Tires North America on Facebook.
The photo is taken from the Internet, 2012.
products | company
Mitas launches
Spanish website
In early September, Mitas’ Madrid office
launched a Spanish-language website dedicated to Mitas and Continental farm tyres at
Mitas-tyres.com. ˜e site provides information about the entire tyre range, technical
data, news and advice on how to maintain
tyres.
“˜e website overhaul is part of Mitas’ increased marketing activities in Spain,” said
Gabriel Markovič, market director. “In addition,
Mitas has recently launched a business-to-business e-shop for Spanish and Portuguese
tyre dealers to expedite deliveries. ˜e dealers
have live information about stock availability.”
Currently, an important part of all Mitas’ sales in
Spain and Portugal is made via this new portal.
[SE]
˜e Mitas-tyres.com website is now betterequipped to serve Spanish and Portuguese
customers. The photo is taken from the Internet, 2012.
New premium Mitas in
North America
In August, Mitas introduced its premium product line sold in North America to
accommodate demands from the farming community with locally made products manufactured at its Iowan radial farm tyre factory.
er network, growing sales to original equipment manufacturers and
improving Mitas’ premium warranty
conditions. ˜e simplified brand
offer will help farmers choose the
right tyre. Now, nine Mitas-branded
lines are designated as premium because they offer improved benefits
to the farmer.” ˜ese include, for example, the Super Flexion Tyre (SFT).
Shipments of Mitas premium tyres
made in Charles City (IA) began in
July, delivered to customers including John Deere and Case IH.
“Mitas’ Charles City factory has
Mitas AC 85 made in Charles City, Iowa, on display in Boone.
been increasing its output as new
Photo by Emil Houška, 2012.
machinery is installed,” said Pavel
Charvát, president of Mitas Tires
North America. A total of 110 people work at
Starting in September, all Mitas-made prethe production plant, a number that is set to
mium tyres delivered to U.S. farmers bear the
double by late 2013.
Mitas brand name. ˜ese tyres are based on
˜e Mitas premium product lines include
Continental agricultural tyres, which Mitas
AC85, AC70T, AC70G, AC70H, AC70N, AC90,
has made under licence since 2004.
AC65 and SFT. As production capacity at Mi“˜e new Mitas premium lines focus on the
tas’ Charles City factory increases over the
tyre sizes that American farmers demand,”
next two years, the share of premium tyres
said Neil Rayson, who is responsible for sales
manufactured in Iowa will increase.
in North America. “Mitas is extending its deal[SE]
Silver Magnum mounted with Mitas
In August, Case IH unveiled its 25th Anniversary Magnum 340 Silver Line tractor, mounted with Mitas Premium tyres made in Charles
City, Iowa.
“˜e response from American farmers to
Mitas’ premium tyres has been positive,” said
Milan Šindelář, Mitas’ OE key account manager. “Mitas’ tyres made in Iowa are now being
mounted on Case IH tractors in Racine, WI,
and Fargo, ND. ˜is might be the first time so
many farmers have had the chance to come
across our tyres. Mitas has been making tyres
for 80 years. We have learned that farm tyres
are best made locally, with the knowledge of
farmers’ needs and local operating conditions.
And that is what Mitas intends to do in Iowa.”
˜e introduction of the Case IH Magnum
tractor in 1987 marked a major milestone. ˜e
1988 model year Magnum tractor was the first
designed and produced a¤er the birth of Case
IH, the result of J.I. Case and International Harvester coming together. Since then, Case IH
Magnum Series tractors have delivered producer-driven, proven technology that has helped
producers be ready for 25 years. To celebrate
the 25th anniversary of the Magnum tractor,
Case IH will be producing a limited number of
silver Magnum 340 Powershi¤ tractors.
Mitas has been making radial agricultural
tyres in Iowa since April 2012.
[SE]
Photo is courtesy of Case IH, 2012.
CGS NEWS | Vol. 10 | No. 3 / 2012 | Page 3
products | sport | charity
Young ploughing champ
rides Mitas tyres
Stefan Esterbauer (29) won the gold medal in the 2012 World Championship
in conventional grassland ploughing. Esterbauer, who is from Upper Austria,
drove a Steyr tractor 9105 MT mounted with Mitas tyres. According to the
Rural Youth of Austria, since 1972 there have been 14 world champions in
ploughing and six runner-ups from Austria.
ing requires a tyre that helps the driver keep
his or her tractor moving in a straight line.
˜e World Ploughing Organisation (www.
worldploughing.org) held the 59th championship on 14 to 15 September in Biograd na Moru, Croatia. ˜irty-two
nations competed for the title.
“˜e hallmark of perfect grassland ploughing is a clearly defined
and uniform furrow slice,” Heigl
said. Referees judge uniformity and neatness of the cutting
through the sod, and they require
the crown to show no stubble,
grass, weed or wheel marks. ˜e
lines must be straight and are
measured four times, at the opening furrow, crown, overall and in
the finish.
Esterbauer’s Steyr benefited
from Mitas 320/85R24 (RD-01)
and 380/80R38 (RD-05) tyres,
Stefan Esterbauer, gold medal winner at the world conventional
which were used in the world
ploughing championship. Photo is courtesy of Rural Youth of Austria (www.
ploughing championship for the
landjugend.at), 2012.
first time.
[SE]
“Mitas supports rural youth,” said Josef Heigl,
Mitas’ market director in Austria. “Stefan is
a rising star. He has already scored gold in
ploughing twice at the national level.” Plough-
New tyres from Rubena
F1 driver Nick Heidfeld presents Gaadi bicycle tubes
made by Rubena. Photo by Rubena, 2012.
In Friedrichshafen, Germany,
Rubena introduced new tyres
at the Eurobike show held from
28 to 31 August. ˜ey were the
‘Top Design’ version of Scylla
tyres, BMX Speedo LT and flatland tyre Dom
designed in cooperation with Dominik Nekolný, Czech flatland biker. Rubena launched
the Scylla tyre in the innovative 27.5” size
intended for cross-country. At this 21th Eurobike, there were 1,250 exhibitors from 49
countries and 64,000 visitors.
[JB]
Bessie the
school bus
For 25 children in the Loerie and Patensie
communities of South Africa, Christmas has
certainly come early this year. When hearing
of the plight of the children who have been unable to attend school for the past five years,
Touch Africa, together with the Rover Motorcycle Club – the organisers’ of the annual Castrol Winterberg, which is an annual off-road
biking event – worked together to ensure the
community was provided with a school bus.
Touch Africa is a registered charity in South
Africa and the United Kingdom.
Event participants and corporate sponsors included Northfield Engineering, Rangers, Noelex Labels, Rover Motor Cycle Club,
Springwell, Bandit Signs, Pure Voice, Fleet
Dynamics, Yamaha, Honda, Market Square
VW, Action Frames, Midas, Telnet, Mitas and
Mervyn Woods. ˜e bus was refurbished and
presented to the community on 18 August.
WFO Bikes and Racing, which is Mitas’ mo-
Marketing and sponsorship manager of Castrol
SA with Bessie and children of Loerie and
Patensie. Photo is courtesy of Touch Africa, 2012.
torcycle tyre dealer in South Africa, made the
contribution on behalf of Mitas.
Loerie Ruskamp will operate the bus, and
the farmers in the area have all contributed to
the operating cost. ˜e bus has been in service since 20 August. ˜is simple initiative will
completely change the course of the lives of
25 children; many more will ride this bus to
and from school in the future. For more information see www.touchafrica.info.
[SE]
CGS NEWS is published four times a year. ˜is issue, volume 10, number 3/2012, was published by ČGS a.s. (Švehlova 1900, Prague 10, Czech Republic, identification No. 27410072) on 19 October 2012 in Prague
under Czech Culture Ministry registration No. MK ČR E 19804. Editorial board: Josef Brabec [JB], Emil Houška [EH], Ralph Kellenberger [RAL], Martin Maňas [MA], Jiří Šebek [SE], Jiří Šimánek [SI] and Karel Špaňhel [KS].
CGS NEWS | Vol. 10 | No. 3 / 2012 | Page 4