Watts CEO Jean-Paul Mindermann

Watts Tyre Group has signed an agreement with Trelleborg Industrial Tires Europe for the distribution of Trelleborg industrial tyre products in France.

The partnership, which will see Watts and Trelleborg products distributed under the Interfit banner, is expected to enlarge the marketshare of both brands.

Watts Tyre marketing manager James Pick tells Forkliftaction.com News that the aftermarket for industrial tyres is important but that there is a "relatively high cost" of entering it, with huge overhead costs from establishing static presses and mobile press operations.

Trelleborg will benefit from Watts Tyre's established service presence in France while Watts will gain from the additional product strength of the Trelleborg range.

"We don't expect to sell fewer Watts tyres, as those products continue to be popular ... by the same measure, we don't expect to sell fewer Trelleborg products," Pick explains.

"What we do expect is that the new business will win more customers in the aftermarket or replacement tyre market based on a strong service proposition and choice of quality products."

Watts Tyre will divide their French operations into a wholesale distribution business and a specialist service operation.

Trading under the name Interfit, it will be the exclusive distributor of Trelleborg industrial tyre products in France. It claims that the service business is now the largest in France.

Watts Tyre Group CEO Jean-Paul Mindermann says the partnership is a significant development for both businesses, and for the French market.

"Interfit will offer a choice of OEM-specified market-leading products and best-in-class services to the French forklift market."

Separately, Watts has also announced an average 6% price increase from 1 January 2010 following increases in raw material prices, mainly natural rubber. The group also expects transportation costs to increase in coming months.

The price of the RSS3 natural rubber product broke through the USD2.80/kg barrier in early December, 12 months after hitting a low of USD1.07/kg, a rise of 165%.

Watts Tyre Group started manufacturing solid tyres in 1960 and produces brands like Premia, Kargo and FMCX. It also produces a range of industrial pneumatic and skid steer loader tyres and polyurethane tyres for high load and specialist applications. It has operations in the UK, France, Germany, US, Uruguay and Mexico, and distribution in 60 countries worldwide. It is wholly owned by Premia Group Ltd (Forkliftaction.com News #437).