Robbins integration ‘strengthens’ Hexpol
In November 2012 Swedish polymer group Hexpol Compounding bought US retreading supplier Robbins LLC with the intention of merging the company into “the Hexpol family”. Roughly 18 months after paying US$89.2 million for the then £100 million a year turnover company, Hexpol reports that the acquisition has strengthened its operations.
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Budapest runs on Ruzi
Brazil is not just a football country, but as a member of the BRIC also one of the fast-growing economies in the world. For 41 years Brazilian company Vipal has been engaged in the retread tyres business and is becoming increasingly involved in the European market. With high quality materials, a wide range of patterns and products and competitive prices, Vipal has already convinced many costumers.
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Vipal to present VT190 tread alongside VL140 at Reifen 2014
Vipal Rubber will launch a second new product at Reifen 2014, joining its VL140 on Hall 10 Stand 10C32. The Brazilian retread components manufacturer will prepare for its country’s hosting of the World Cup by launching the VT190 tyre tread for highway cargo transportation. The tread has small and medium truck, minibus, pickup and light commercial vehicle applications.
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Physical breaks designed to counteract fire risk
Fires at tyre recycling and processing sites have long been a problem. In order to offer a solution Owen Batham, sales and marketing director of Elite Precast Concrete Ltd, suggests there is a growing need for firms to take a more proactive approach to their fire risk management and to develop more sophisticated disaster recovery plans.
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Vacu-Lug’s Alan Setchfield retires after 48-year career with retreader
After almost half a century with Vacu-Lug, Alan Setchfield is retiring. Having begun his career as a yard boy in Grantham’s already long established tyre remoulding plant on 2 May 1966, aged 17, Setchfield can look back on a 48-year career, rising through the company. “I’ve enjoyed the journey and made many friends along the way,” he said, “But don’t worry, there’s plenty of tread left on this tyre for many miles to come!”
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Kraiburg showing 50 years of history plus new designs in Essen
Kraiburg Austria reports that it will be both celebrating five decades of history as well as present its latest products when it appears at the 2014 Reifen exhibition in Essen, Germany. Situated in the company’s now familiar location in the Galeria, Kraiburg will be showing a new and slightly larger stand.
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Bridgestone Bandag implementing two-brand strategy with “Protread by Bandag”
Business within the European retreading market is being subjected to centrifugal forces. While the tyre majors who supplement their new tyre portfolios with mould cure retreaded lines increasingly monopolise the growing premium segment, the budget segment is also enjoying growing attention. Competition is stiff in both segments and mid-range suppliers find themselves under increasing pressure, and as a consequence are striving to reposition and – particularly on the flanks of their markets – more broadly position themselves. The latest company to introduce a clear multi-brand strategy is Bridgestone Bandag. Its “premium Bandag retreading brand” will retain its strong position at the upper end of the market, and has been joined by a new product line for the budget market: “Protread by Bandag”. Speaking with Tyres & Accessories, the company outlines its plans and motivations.
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Wealth of retreading experience in Latin America helping Pirelli in Europe
Pirelli has heavily invested in the commercial vehicle tyre segment for a number of years now. This investment has covered the development of technologically-advanced tyres and the company’s outstanding fleet segment service portfolio. The overall aim is to minimise vehicle operating costs, which today represents the central criterion for companies needing to mimimise cost per mile in order to remain competitive within their respective markets. Following this logic, retreading naturally plays an increasingly strategic role.
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