This year, the company proudly boasts that Triangle brand sales are already up 72% on 2006.
Another key part of the company’s offering is its range of Matador truck tyres, which company representatives say can be sold on “name, reputation and quality.” The Matador portfolio starts from the 205/75R17.5 through to 385/65R22.5. The company produces three patterns on most sizes in both drive and steer fitments to meet the needs of customers.
Four years ago, TYM International was invited to discuss importing products produced by the Triangle Tyre Corp. Like Matador, Triangle’s range is said to be comprehensive to the needs of the U.K.
TYM is the only U.K. company to sign a three-year agreement through 2009. Steve Eke, general manager, informed Tyres & Accessories: “We at TYM International are continually impressed with the level of commitment Triangle has and with that and the depth of knowledge they have on their products, it is no surprise that the company, indeed the whole of the Chinese economy, is thriving the way it is.”
Since its establishment 31 years ago (1976) in Weihai, Shandong province, Triangle has developed strongly and many things have changed over the years. Firstly, the company was founded as Weihai Factory; later on it was renamed as Shandong Tire Factory. Twenty years after it was first set up the company was finally given its current name: Shandong Triangle Tire Co. Ltd.
Today the Triangle Group, with the tyre factory at its core, has 6,300 employees. Last year, the group generated an annual turnover of about 727 million euros, and during the past three years alone turnover has increased by 50%. Triangle has a production capacity of around 11 million tyres, eight million of which are radials, produced at the Triangle facility since the mid 1990s.
Currently the company has plans to expand and restructure its production capacity. By the end of next year output will increase to 14 million units and by 2009 to as much as 17 million units.
The Triangle group mainly produces – next to passenger car tyres – truck, OTR, industrial, agricultural and other tyre types; thus is a strong commercial tyre producer.
Triangle tyres are DOT- and E-marked and carry the CCC Chinese approval mark and the local Chinese market. They are not only sold on the Chinese and international replacement markets but also to many Chinese OE customers. According to the company, Triangle sells tyres to more than 100 countries. The tyre manufacturer is certified according to ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 as well as QS9000.
