Economies of scale – VMI aims to make retreading pay with new Retrax programme
Retreaders in the developed European and North American markets often perform a balancing act – production levels must be high enough to ensure acceptable profits, but at the same time logistics need to remain manageable. The greater the distance between a retreader and its customer base, the more demanding and expensive the delivery of casings and finished tyres becomes. And while retreaders in non-mature markets face other issues, these must also be kept in check in order for retreading to be worthwhile. VMI, a market leader in the development, manufacture and supply of production machinery for the tyre and retreading industries, wants to tip the balance in favour of retreaders both here and around the world. This summer it is introducing a new product programme that may just do that.
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Cheap Chinese tyres put pressure on retreading
With more low-cost Asian-produced imports entering key European markets than ever, many within the retreading and wider truck tyre industry are anxious to address what they see as a growing concern. For them there are several problems with the continuing influx of Chinese tyres, but two points are particularly key: the increasing cost difference and increased quality disparities seen in the market. Both undermine the retread market and even its long-term future. As far as retreaders are concerned, the problem is that good quality and environmentally sound retreads are being priced out of the market by cheap first-life truck tyres bought as “disposable” items at virtually cost-price levels. All this raises questions that impact the whole market: How bad is the situation now? How has it got to this stage? What is the impact on new truck tyres and retreads alike? Tyres & Accessories recently met with representatives of the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) as well as leading retread and new tyre manufacturers in order to find out more.
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Regulation changes approach as TRA, tyre associations issue rallying cry
The Tyre Recovery Association’s (TRA) Recycling Day, a one-day conference and dinner organised in partnership with the Retread Manufacturers Association, was held at the Ardencote Manor, Warwickshire on Friday, 19 June. Attended by representatives of the tyre and waste recycling industries, the conference included presentations covering the key themes of regulations and enforcement, best practise and innovation, and common causes and issues facing the industry. The unity of the various trade bodies struck a particularly strong note throughout the day, not just through the joint organisation of the event between the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the TRA, but with strong backing given to the event by association directors representing the whole of the UK tyre industry. The Recycling Day also marked an occasion for celebration, as the TRA celebrated its tenth anniversary.
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Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK MD on proposed closure of Wolverhampton plant
Following Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK’s proposal to close its Wolverhampton mixing and retreading facility, Tyrepress spoke to the managing director of Goodyear Dunlop UK, Erich Fric, who explained the business reasons for the decision. “We’ve taken the decision to put this proposal forward based on the economic environment, and in order to keep our companies competitive in the long term,” Fric said.
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End of the line for Respa
There’s been no happy ending in the insolvency proceedings related to German retreader Respa. Our sister publication Neue Reifenzeitung reports insolvency administrator Elisabeth Roggenhofer as confirming the permanent closure of the Respa retreading operation in Passau. The 19 employees at the Respa GmbH retreading facility have received their notice of termination.
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Mexican carrier lauds Vipal product performance
Mexican carrier Morgan Express says ti achieved reductions by retreading over 800 tyres from its fleet with Vipal materials. Morgan has over 40 years of experience in the logistics markets, with facilities in five Mexican cities (Guadalajara, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Veracruz, and Mexico City). The company, which has a fleet of around 150 vehicles, retreaded over 800 heavy duty tyres in 2014, using Vipal’s VEL B and V167 B treads.
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Vacu-Lug rolls out new Westlake Tyre range
Following its launch at the IAA Show in Hannover in October 2014, Vacu-Lug, the sole UK distributor for all Westlake truck and bus radial tyres, has launched the range in the UK. According to the company, the Westlake range offers a choice of 17.5”, 19.5” and 22.5” rim diameters and consists of four applications: Long Haul, Regional, Mixed Service and Max Load.
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Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany to relocate remaining Wittlich PCR production
Another of Goodyear Dunlop’s European plants has today announced plans to cease a portion of its production in addition to the planned withdrawal from Wolverhampton. Tyrepress sister site Reifenpresse.de reports that Goodyear Dunlop Tires Germany informed its employees of its intention to relocate remaining car tyre production from Wittlich to other plants within the region EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa). PCR production has been shifted away from the plant gradually for several years, with the latest announcement completing cessation of Wittlich’s production of these products.
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Goodyear Dunlop Wolverhampton retread plant closure: history and reaction
The proposed closure of Goodyear Dunlop’s Wolverhampton retread plant will bring to an end 90 years of tyre production in the city. The factory was part of the first Goodyear factory outside USA, when the manufacturer first started producing new tyres in the city in response to post-World War One import tariffs designed to boost British industry. At its peak, the manufacturer’s operations in Wolverhampton were estimated to have provided more than 7,000 jobs, making it one of the most significant players in the local economy. This role diminished throughout the 2000s, as Wolverhampton job losses became a regular occurrence.
Continue Reading Goodyear Dunlop to close Wolverhampton retread plant
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has announced a proposal to close its Wolverhampton mixing and retreading facility. Under the proposal, the company would move its compound mixing activities and the production of commercial retreads to other existing sites across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. It has been reported that the process of transferring operations would be completed over the next two years under the closure proposal.
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