Trelleborg Industrial Tires Europe has appointed Watts Tyre Group as the sole distributor of its industrial tires range in France.
Under the terms of the new agreement, Trelleborg Industrial Tires Europe will transfer its France-based industrial tire operations to Watts Tyre Group. The cooperation, announced today, is designed to leverage the brand awareness and quality of Trelleborg’s product range with the market coverage and servicing ability of Watts Tyre Group.
Company representatives did not confirm whether there was a financial element involved in the deal.
According to Trelleborg, the new strategy will yield “overall advantages to the French customers.” For its part, Watts’ official statement on the matter said: “Watts will integrate Trelleborg’s industrial tires activities with their own and will now distribute Trelleborg tire products alongside the Watts product range.”
As a result of the deal, Watts will formally divide its French operations into a wholesale distribution business and a specialist service operation. The service business, which is reputed to be the largest in France, will trade under the Interfit name. Observers suggest that, together with the Trelleborg distribution agreement, this will help differentiate Watts service and distribution operations and therefore help strengthen the service proposition.
The latest news follows a year of expansion for Watts Tyre Group, which saw the company sold in a management buyout at the end of October. In March, German subsidiary Watts Industrie Reifen bout Profix GmbH and itegrated its management into its structure. (Tyres & Accessories)