Higher capacity, bigger sizes to come from Vredestein agri investment

Apollo Vredestein, the company behind the Vredestein tyre brand, says recently announced major investments are in line with its focus on continuous sustainable growth, even in economically challenging times. The investments are to be made over the course of 2013 and the company anticipates production capacity for Vredestein agricultural tyres to be some 50 per cent greater when the project is fully implemented. The decision to invest an undisclosed sum in the agricultural sector was made in response to growing demand within the European agricultural market for Vredestein tyres.

Under the investment plan, capacity at Apollo Vredestein’s Enschede plant in The Netherlands will rise by “no less than 50 per cent” and a focus will be placed upon radial implement (Flotation Pro and Flotation Trac) and tractor (Traxion+ 65-series and all TraxionXXL) tyres – products the company describes as “extremely popular” and anticipates will be even more in demand in the years to come. In addition, the planned investments offer Apollo Vredestein the option to produce even larger and wider tyres than those in its current portfolio, which extend to a width of up to 850 mm and a total diameter of 2.15 metres.

The primary investment goal is to meet both original equipment and replacement market demand growth within Europe, yet Apollo Vredestein foresees export markets also benefitting from the capacity boost. The tyre maker says it intends to take the Vredestein agricultural range into new regions, including North America and Asia.