Triangle and Euro Tyre Sales have OTR pedigree
In an exclusive interview with John Loughran, Ayhan Haliloglou, Triangle Tyre’s OTR Technical and Sales Manager for Europe, and Paddy Greenan, Managing Director of Euro Tyre Sales, Triangle’s distributors in Ireland explain the brand’s evolution to Tier Two in EU OTR market and its continuing popularity in Ireland.
Founded in 1976, Triangle Tyre is one of the leading tyre manufacturers in China, and through continuous investment it has developed its capability and capacity to serve the global market, with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities for the production of Passenger Car, SUV, 4×4, Heavy Truck and Bus, and OTR tyres.
Triangle Tyre’s pedigree as an OTR tyre manufacturer stretches back to the company’s foundation, entering the European market in the early 2000’s. Indeed, Euro Tyre Sales was one of the first distributors in Europe to take on the brand.
Ayhan Haliloglou, who operates out of Triangle Tyre’s, European HQ, in Milan, Italy confirmed: “We have been active in the OTR market in Europe for about 20 years and we were one of the first Chinese Companies to enter the continent.”
Paddy Greenan of Euro Tyre Sales confirmed its cooperation with Triangle going back many years. He said: “Euro Tyre Sales has distributed Triangle’s tyres since 2003 through a network of agents in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland offering top quality products, programs and tools to develop the brand in these markets.”
Ayhan is the interface between the company and OE manufacturers, distributors and key end users in Europe and is ideally placed to comment on the company’s recent development in OTR technology and tread patterns.
“We have invested a lot in R&D and in developing new products and sizes while at the same time keeping the quality high.”
Globally, the OTR market is dominated by the “big three” of Bridgestone, Michelin and Goodyear. Triangle, according to Ayhan is now heading a group of Tier Two brands in Europe that are snapping at the heels of the big three.
“We are the most well accepted brand in Europe and we have a growing presence in the global market with OE fitments from the likes of Case, Caterpillar, Doosan and Hyundai.
“The OE fitments are a testimony of our quality. The OEMs will not approve the brand if it is not accepted in their target market or if they do not trust the technological quality of the product.”
Paddy Greenan added: “Original Equipment is definitely one of the main assets of Triangle as these OEM fitments are proof of quality of the tyres and are very important in the aftermarket with end users.”
Ayhan is quick to emphasise that the OEM fitments are not just in the domestic Chinese market but in global markets too. “We supply a lot of tyres to the Case New Holland and Terex factories in Italy, Hyundai and Doosan in South-Korea and these machines are sold all over the world.”
“We have a very deep penetration in the European and Global OEM markets.”
Currently Triangle has started to roll out a new OTR TPMS system across Europe.
The system is ideal where Triangle OTR tyres are being used around the clock, such as in quarry and mining applications.
“It is very important for tyre life and the maintenance of the tyre to have this new TPMS,” Ayhan elaborated.
The system monitors tyre pressure and temperature in the tyre while the operators can review the data in real time and take measures to protect their tyres.
“It is very beneficial in mining and quarrying applications, because the operator can get the most out of the tyres,” he affirmed.
From a pan-European perspective Ayhan believes the Triangle OTR proposition continues to go from strength to strength because its tyres are competitively priced and the quality can be considered close to premium.
“When you consider the total cost of ownership, it is the lowest in the market,” he noted.
Paddy also agrees on the importance of cost of ownership. He elaborated: “The low cost per hour of a Triangle OTR tyre is one of the most important factors involving the use of tyres for all machines, together with the safety of the staff working on site.”
Triangle has developed a network of professional OTR importers across Europe over the years, who have been able to deliver the necessary support with service and distribution capabilities to serve both OEM and replacement market customers.
Ireland, thanks to the partnership with Euro Tyre Sales, represents one of the strategic markets in the OTR business. Ayhan is fulsome in his praise of Paddy Greenan and the team at Euro Tyre Sales.
Ayhan commented: “In the Irish market we have a long-standing relationship with Euro Tyre Sales, and they have put a lot of effort in with the brand over the years.”
“You have to realise that in the early 2000s there was very little known about Triangle in Europe, and there was a negative view of Chinese brands in general.”
“It is fantastic that we have the co-operation with Euro Tyre Sales and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their hard work in the Irish market.”
Looking to the future Ayhan says the Triangle OTR range will continue to evolve, with the introduction of three-star casings for loader and haulage applications, which will deliver higher load capacities.
The development of new tyres, which deliver higher productivity in the mining and quarrying sectors are also in the pipeline.
“We are modernising the range, with new patterns, which help the customer with their total cost of ownership, reducing it to the minimum level,” Ayhan confirmed.
Paddy elaborated: “Triangle manufactures a complete product range from 24” radial and bias OTR to the biggest “jumbo” OTR sizes, up to 63”, designed to carry more than 400 tons of payloads.”
“We are very positive about the future, and with our European HQ in Milan, we can focus on Europe specific targets, and this approach is working for us,” Ayhan concluded.