Kraiburg Austria preparing for future retreading with “targeted measures”

Retreading specialist Kraiburg Austria continues to travel steadfastly along its “future-oriented path,” recognising the growing importance of sustainability and making further efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. As managing director Stefan Mayrhofer asserts, the company believes that “retreading will become even more important in the future.” He adds: “We are proactively preparing for this with targeted measures.”

Despite turnover dipping nearly seven per cent year-on-year in 2023, to 85 million euros, the retreading specialist expresses satisfaction with the past business year. It attributes the decline in turnover to multiple factors, including the general economic downturn in Europe as well as the accumulation of significant tyre inventories in the previous year, impacting upon the entire supply chain.

Furthermore, an increase in new registrations of commercial vehicles and rising imports of tyres from low-cost countries currently unaffected by tariffs have also hindered the retreading sector. “Unfortunately, these tyres are often not suitable for retreading, or only to a limited extent, for quality reasons,” emphasises Mayrhofer. “As a result, this also has an impact on the availability of high-quality casings, which our industry can use to give tyres a second life.”

Tackling the next steps

Looking ahead to 2024, Kraiburg Austria identifies ongoing inflation and potential disruptions in the supply chain, such as those experienced in the Suez Canal, as key challenges. In spite of such issues, Mayrhofer emphasises the company’s proven ability to find solutions even in difficult circumstances. “With good foresight and sound strategies, we are tackling the next steps.”

To secure its future, Kraiburg Austria plans investments totalling ten million euros over the next one and a half years. These investments include the ongoing renewal of moulds for patterns and automating further aspects of the production process to enhance efficiency and maintain the attractiveness of the Kraiburg plant in Geretsberg, Austria.

Furthermore, the company is engaging in various sustainability and energy optimisation projects, including the exploration of suitable areas for another photovoltaic system and the installation of a heat pump system that will reduce CO2 emissions and be capable of substituting around 20 to 25 per cent of the plant’s gas requirement.

To zero with SBTi

Aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) 2023, Kraiburg Austria aims to reduce its CO2 emissions to zero. Mayrhofer underscores the company’s commitment to meeting emission reduction targets in line with global climate goals, ensuring its activities align with the criteria and recommendations to limit global temperature increases. “As one of the first in the retreading industry, the SBT Initiative 2023 has confirmed that our submitted concept is in line with the criteria and recommendations to limit the global temperature increase beyond pre-industrial levels to 1.5°C.”

All these activities, states Kraiburg Austria, focus upon “the satisfaction of customers and retreading partners.” Through superior service and an optimised product portfolio, the company aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the independent retreading sector and in doing so “contribute to the economic success of all parties involved.”