Part of the industry series of articles.
| Firewalk | |
|---|---|
| Private Corporation of Vekllei | |
| Employees | 8,340 |
| Founded | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Oslola |
| Industry | Tyres & rubber products |
| Revenue | AK βΎ 4.2 billion |
| Traded | FWK |
| ScL | |
Firewalk S.c.L. is a tyre and rubber products manufacturer in Vekllei, producing tyres for bicycles, mopeds, automobiles and aircraft. Originally established as Firestone Vekllei during British occupation, the company was spun off as an independent entity during the transition to Commonwealth independence in 1968.
The company maintains technical licensing agreements with Firestone, allowing it to manufacture certain tyre designs and access research facilities in exchange for royalty payments in Government Crowns that let Firestone hold a stake in the Atlantic tyre trade without putting money into a plant there.
Bicycle and moped tyres make up nearly 70% of units sold, most of it driven by the Gina Motoral, whose popularity across the Commonwealth created a standing demand for tyres that hold up to Vekllei’s mix of coastal humidity and mountain roads. The “Cloudwalk,” Firewalk’s bicycle tyre, ended up fitted to most of the country’s cyclepool bikes almost by default.
Firewalk operates three manufacturing facilities. The main production line and research division sit at company headquarters in Oslola. A smaller plant in Kairi turns out specialty tyres for agricultural and industrial vehicles, and a third, in Summers, supplies aircraft tyres to Commonwealth Airways and other carriers.
Firewalk tyres are distinguished by their bright orange sidewalls on automobiles, a design choice that originated as a visibility feature for bicycle tyres but has become a signature across the product range. The company sponsors several Commonwealth cycling teams and maintains a small museum of historic tyres and rubber products at its Oslola headquarters.
Cheaper imported tyres compete with Firewalk on price. Its distribution network reaches bureau depots in every republic, and original-equipment contracts with Gina keep most of its bicycle and moped production moving without having to compete tyre by tyre in the aftermarket. The company remains privately held by the original management team who negotiated the spin-off, though shares are traded through the Vekllei CSX.