Tire Cologne sets out stall in trade show battle

Cologne, Germany – Tire Cologne has received 100 confirmed exhibitor bookings and sold around 40 percent of the planned exhibition space, Katharina Hamma chief operating officer of organisers of the new tire expo set to debut in 2018.

Confirmed exhibitors for the new tire trade show include Continental, Goodyear Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli, Aeolus Tyres, BKT, Kumho Tyre, Maxam, Maxxis, Nexen Tire, Hamma said in a Q&A interview supplied to ERJ.

The new show set for 29 May – 1 June 2018 has the backing of German tire and rubber trade association the BRV – long-time backer of rival show Reifen, which will leave its established Essen home to co-locate with Automechanika trade fair in Frankfurt.

Commenting on the challenge presented by Reifen, which will take place 11-15 Sept, 2018, Hamma said “the option of docking onto another trade fair as a satellite event in no way fits with the self-image of the [tire] industry and its strengths.”

With regard to Klonemesse’s new cooperation with BRV, which withdrew its support for Reifen this year, Hamma said “we have a very strong partner with an excellent network for supply and demand.”

In comparison with Reifen, Hamma said, Tire Cologne aims to increase international “orientation” and target new groups.

The event, she claimed, will address all the relevant industry target groups, including trucks, commercial and industrial vehicles, special vehicles and two-wheelers.

On the areas to be covered by the show, Hamma said in addition to the general retail/wholesale trade and accessories, recycling was a topic to which little attention had been paid in the past.

“In addition to remoulding, thermal and material recycling offers interesting potential for development,” she added.