Rösler: Tyre Competence is More Than the Product

The German Rösler Group becomes more and more a supplier of a fully integrated OTR tyre management which – together with its classical core competence of retreading – is particularly developing the marketing of consulting and maintenance services in its realm. The keyword ist “Rösler 360°”. Since the beginning of last year the company summarises all its different competencies, services and products under Rösler’s “360°” product which does not leave any cost factor or operational detail aside. Since very recently, the company from Dortmund in Western Germany has yet another tool under the tyre management. The “OTR Tyre Managmenent Software” will help to optimise costs and benefits of the OTR tyre management in general as it allows to collect (perhaps be PDA), transmit (even by satellite connection) and analyse and evaluate all the tyre data available.

Its sustainable and integrated approach helps the Rösler Group to advance into business areas where competing companies are very often those important in the new OTR tyre industry. As Klaus Mühlbäck, vice president of the Rösler Group (and in this position responsible for the group’s international business), points out, the German company was currently in a promising position to sign a very desired contract by one of the world’s biggest mining company. This call for tenders involves – among other things – OTR tyre management services at 33 locations on four continents, except Europe. The Rösler Group was the only company which is able to meet all the different criteria on a global basis as set out by the mining giant, Mr. Mühlbäck continues. There are eight companies that are taking part in the tender, among them there are also the two biggest new OTR tyre makers of the world. Otherwise, Rösler is the only European company that has submitted an offer. The central parts of Rösler’s 160 pages offer is the OTR tyre management itself, a high-quality pre-cure retreading for OTR tyre ranging from 45 to 63 inches, a tyre repair concept, as well as a scrap tyre recycling scheme.

“Our most important selling point was the all-embracing bit of the concept”, Mr. Mühlbäck says. If the Rösler Group would actually sign the contract the mining giant – a decision is expected within the second quarter of the year – the German’s would install Schelkmann retreading factories close to the mining sites. This however doesn’t mean a single retreading facility for each single of the 33 location but rather one retreading facility on each of the four continents where the customer is operating. It might as well be, adds the vice president, that Rösler would only be offered a part of the overall contract; this of course would adjust the number of retreading facilities to be established by Rösler accordingly. At all of the 33 locations that Rösler would eventually look after there would be tyre repair shops which would offer a “Rösler Quality Repair” which would be operational instructions; equipment and tyre repair material itself would be supplied through Rösler. The “concept of a quality tyre repair” is created to guarantee the operability of earth moving machinery at the customer’s sites. In addition to that, Rösler will offer a scrap tyre recycling scheme. This is said to be “transparent, efficient and environmentally friendly”. Furhtermore, the Rösler Group would also offer new tyres under the said OTR tyre management contract although – as known – the German compan does not supply new tyres in dimensions above 45 inches as covered by the tender. (Nevertheless, Rösler produced smaller sized new OTR tyres under the brand name “Winstone”.) Under the OTR tyre management contract Rösler would estimate demands at the different locations and make plans for a replacement accordningly.

Rösler to clarify rumours

The services described above under the keyword of “Rösler 360°” can only be provided to the full satisfaction of OTR tyre management customers from the mining industry if the German company is able to apply its high quality standards, Klaus Mühlbäck continues. As he declares in an interview with Tyres & Accessories magazine, reports according to which Rösler also uses OTR tyres of Chinese origin for its own Schelkmann or Rodos retreading were false. Mr. Mühlbäck: “Rösler does not retread Chinese OTR tyres!” Media reports that claim the opposite had obviously been launched as a promotional activity by certain Chinese OTR tyre manufacturers. “From our point of view Chinese OTR tyres are not retreadable.” However, there were some Chinese manufacturers who’s products were of outstanding quality compared to the average Chinese OTR tyre product. Nevertheless, even these makes were not even coming close in terms of quality to products supplied by European, Japanese or American new tyre manufacturers. Also with regards to the production of Rösler’s own OTR tyre brand “Winstone” Mr. Mühlbäck stresses that only new casings from well-known European manufacturers were used for the production. These so-called “green casings” were not supplied from Chinese manufacturers. It was a Rösler Group policy that there should not be any compromises with regards to quality.