Reifen to gain traction with more international focus

Article published in the March/April issue of ERJ

The biennial Reifen tire show is set to take place on 24-27 May in Essen, Germany, where the organisers expect to have more than 20,000 visitors and over 650 exhibitors.

This year, Reifen will cover the “entire value added chain” of the tire sector, from the stage before production, through to manufacturing and trading, all the way to retreading and recycling, explains show project manager Annegret Apple.

Among the top exhibitors, according to Apple, are the 20 largest tire manufacturers as well as well-know accessory brands such as Ronal, BBS and Momo.

In the retreading segment, VMI, Galgo Pre Q, B & J Rocket Sales AG, Elgi Rubber and Matteuzzi are on the list of top exhibitors this May.

RubberTech Europe, according to Apple, is organised together with the Chinese United Rubber Corp. as a special trade fair under the roof of Reifen.

As China’s tire and rubber industry becomes more topical globally, Apple expects the show, with 60 exhibitors, to provide “significant value added”.

The range on offer at RubberTech Europe consists of products and services for everything to do with tire construction, tire design, tire fabrication and optimised tire production.

RubberTech Europe is also expecting to raise the bar this year, with leading elastomer manufacturer, the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic), confirming its participation.

Despite an impressive list of exhibitors for 2016, Reifen will face head-on competition in 2018, when the event will coincide with the launch of the new Tire Cologne Expo, backed by BRV, the German tire industry and rubber trade association.

BRV, which had up to now been sponsoring Reifen, told ERJ that one of the reasons it withdrew its 30-year support for Reifen was the Essen exhibition grounds.

“Our contract with the Essen Trade Fair ends in 2016 and we have decided not to renew the contract... The exhibition centre in Essen urgently needs renovation, but the go-ahead for this was declined by a local referendum in January last year,” BRV said in a written statement.

Since then, local authorities in Essen have agreed to invest in a major renovation of the exhibition centre.

Meanwhile, Apple dismissed the threat posed by the new competition, saying Reifen would concentrate on its strengths, which, she said, spoke “clearly in our favour.”

This year’s Reifen is also co-located with the two-day Future Tire Conference organised by European Rubber Journal.

“With the fair-accompanying Future Tire Conference, we have, this year, been able to win over a format which will strengthen the international radiance of Reifen,” she added.

According to Apple, the Future Tire Conference, with its main focal point on topical trends and their influences on the sector, will add significant value for the international audience at Reifen 2016.

Show to recognise innovators

The show organisers are currently processing entries for the Reifen Innovation Awards that will be presented in four tire and repair shop categories at this year’s event.

Messe Essen and BRV, will single out the most innovative and pioneering ideas in four categories: technology and products; service concepts and process optimisation; environmental and resource conservation; and motor vehicle service.

The awards will be presented 23 May on the eve of the opening of Reifen 2016 at the Essen Fair Grounds. Messe Essen and the BRV are accepting nominations for these awards until 31 March.

This year will mark the sixth time the show organisers have presented the Innovation Awards.

Hans-Werner Sinn, president of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, will be the featured speaker at the dinner/awards ceremony. He will speak on “The development of the global economy and the situation in Germany and Europe.”

Entries will be judged by an independent expert jury, the organisers said, based on: environmental compatibility, sustainability, resource saving, innovation content and economic viability.

Two years ago awards were presented to Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., wheel maker Borbet GmbH, Italian equipment maker CEMB SpA and Counteract Balancing Beads.