Terra-S’s Tire-Repair-Kit

Terra-S, located in Owingen, Lake Constance, Germany has developed a modern alternative to the spare wheel to meet the requirements of a modern puncture situation. The practical Tire-Repair-Kit, which contains sealant, a high performance miniature compressor and additional accessories, is designed to replace the spare wheel completely. Terra- S claims the system saves space, fuel and weight provides “much easier puncture-help than a strenuous wheel change.”

The Tire-Repair-Kit is applied by unscrewing the valve using the provided valve remover; the punctured tyre can then be filled with liquid tyre sealant. Once the valve is screwed in again the compressor can inflate the tyre. As the tyre moves the liquid fills the holes, hardening in any punctured areas, the company says.

Terrar-S was set up by Michael Stehle. He first had the idea of developing a puncture assistance aid in 1993. More than 80 years after the first sealant was patented, Mr Stehle started developing his own brand of products, developed with the intention of adhering to the more stringent standards necessary today. Meanwhile Terra- has applied for more than 20 patents.

Since 1993 the production plant has grown from a garage with a small rooms as an office to a modern business building with a manufacturing area of more than 6,000 square metres. Terra-S has also achieved ISO 9001 and ISO-TS 16949 accreditation.

Today Michael Stehle, the 38-year-old general manager, with more than 30 employees. The company reports that the business is growing so rapidly that an extension to the business area is already planned.

The agreement of a contract with BMW in 2000 was something of a breakthrough for Terra-S. Since Terra-S has been supplying BMW, the company is said to have caught the attention of other famous German car manufacturers. Terrar-S currently supplies DaimlerChrysler, Volvo, BMW-Mini, Skoda, Honda and General Motors. The company also supplies a number of caravan manufacuters.

According to Terra-S, the increasing demand of Tire-Repair-Kits in Europe, replacing spare wheel usage is of growing interest on the Asian market, too.
In this respect the German company is directing its attention to the large number of car producers based in China, Japan and South Korea. As a result Michael Stehle expects 30 – 50 per cent growth between now and 2006.