Michelin inaugurates Russian retreading plant
In late April Michelin celebrated the official opening of its first retreading facility in Russia. The opening of the retreading plant, located at its Davydovo new tyre factory near Moscow, has been described by Michelin as one of the most important steps in its long-term business strategy for Russia and the CIS. The tyre maker intends to invest some 10 million euros in the facility in the years up to 2015. The establishment of the retreading plant has created 50 new jobs at the Davydovo site.
Continue ReadingHungarian Bandag franchisee ‘strengthens’ Bridgestone’s fleet package
On 14th April the new Hungarian Bandag franchise dealership, 5-Let Ltd., inaugurated its new retreading facility. Established with an investment of 2 million euros, the plant in the town of Mezőszilas began production on March 30 and is expected to produce 2,500 retreads this year; this number should double by 2013.
Continue ReadingRetreader aims to double Kuwaiti retreading market using Ringtread technology
As Tyres & Accessories previously reported, Marangoni Retreading Systems has established operations in Kuwait in partnership with the country’s sole retreader, Al-Zahem Industries. The new Ringtread plant in Kuwait City was inaugurated on March 23 in the presence of local government representatives, the Italian ambassador Enrico Granara, Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Ulum, plus members of the media and representatives of numerous transport fleets.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop inaugurates retreading plant, further investment to come
Last year, Europe’s logistics industry began its recovery after an awful 2009 and the truck tyre aftermarket picked up long with it; replacement market truck tyre sales increased 17 per cent year-on-year while sales of retreads, which account for one-third of Europe’s replacement truck tyre market, also increased 14 per cent. Even before this upturn began, Goodyear Dunlop showed confidence in its retread product portfolio by evaluating its European operations and indentifying an area to further strengthen. Over the following year the company invested 3.7 million euros establishing its third European mould cure retreading facility; at the start of April 2011, some half a year after producing its first retreaded tyre, Goodyear Dunlop celebrated the site’s official opening.
Continue ReadingTravis Perkins and ATS Vacu-Lug Duramold WZY2
South West division of builders' merchant Travis Perkins and ATS Euromaster were joint winners of a nationwide treasure hunt organised by retread tyre manufacturer, Vacu-Lug Tyres. The two companies secured their win by discovering the 'treasure' – the serial number tag from Vacu-Lug's 100,000th Duramold WZY2 premium retread. As winners, Travis Perkins and ATS Euromaster share a treasure trove of £500-worth of tyres. Simultaneously, the find has triggered a £500 donation from Vacu-Lug to the Help for Heroes campaign.
Continue ReadingMarangoni enters Kuwait through new Ringtread partner
Marangoni’s Retreading Systems business has won Kuwait’s sole retreader as a retreading partner and brought it into the Ringtread fold. The Italian supplier of retreading materials, tread and equipment reports this deal has been reached as part of its expansion strategy in the near and Middle East. Kuwait, with its modern road network and long transport corridor connecting Iraq in the north to Saudi Arabia in the south, is considered a hub for all transport into Gulf countries.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug gains ISO 14001 Environmental Certification
Vacu-Lug Tyres has been awarded ISO14001:2004 status for its Environmental Management System, underlining the green benefits of dealing with the retread tyre manufacturer. The award follows a rigorous external audit, during which the inspectors were said to have been especially impressed with the actions the company has taken to reduce energy its use by 20 per cent and recycle 100 per cent of its non-tyre-related waste.
Continue ReadingLaurent Reifen – “we’ve never sold so many tyres”
Following a crisis related dip in business in 2009, last year Laurent Reifen GmbH was able to once again set its sights on growth. While financial statements for the crisis year show the retreader still managed to sell more than 80,000 retreaded truck tyres and by doing so reduced its stock levels, last year turnover increased by a “clear double figure amount; we’ve never sold so many tyres,” as sales manager Dirk Schierhorn told Tyres & Accessories. Amongst other things, the Michelin Group owned retreader used last year’s business recovery to fine-tune the company for further shifts in the market.
Continue ReadingMarangoni establishes new Corporate Center in Rovereto
For more than a year the Marangoni Group has operated its retreading business out of a central holding company. The Italian retreader also recently established a new corporate headquarters at its Rovereto site and consequently closed its centre in Verona. These actions were taken in response to structural changes within the market that necessitate increased speed and responsiveness. In an interview with Tyres & Accessories, Marangoni Group CEO Massimo De Alessandri explained the company’s current position in terms of its consolidation, the motivations driving it and the future facing those parts of the company not belonging to its retreading business.
Continue ReadingBandvulc exports have tripled since 2009
Over the last two years Bandvulc has seen a consistent demand for its commercial retreads within Europe and especially Germany, but lately the pace of export growth has increased significantly. Not only have sales through existing partners increased by over 50 per cent in some countries, but new customers are reported to have been won – and in additional territories too. Key developments include distribution arrangements with agents as far away from South West England as Greece and Poland.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Bandag pursuing a “fair share” approach to price increases
Last year Bridgestone Bandag – one of the largest competitors in the European retreading market – only announced minor price increases. In February this year, however, the manufacturer and franchisor needed to raise its prices by an average of six per cent. As Harald Van Ooteghem, Brussels based senior manager for TBR/Retread Business Planning at Bridgestone Europe, explains to Tyres & Accessories, in the event of price increases an attempt is made to implement a “fair share” approach by which both partners – the supplier and customer – share the extra burden.
Continue ReadingDespite Marix, Marangoni’s marketing strategy remains unchanged
A couple of months ago, Marangoni began producing and marketing retreaded truck and OTR tyres under the “Marix” brand, a name previously reserved for passenger car, light commercial and 4x4 tyres. The Italian retreader previously relied upon the strength of its “Marangoni” brand, however it chose to respond to a changing competitive landscape by modifying its brand concept and in future will, according to Brenno Benaglia, pursue a clearer brand concept.
Continue ReadingItalmatic: A long-established full portfolio manufacturer
With a history going back 45 years and more than 7,500 machines in operation around the world, the Italmatic Group is today one of the leading retreading equipment and accessory providers. These days the Milan based machinery manufacturer offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, from passenger car tyres up to and including complete production facilities, for use in the retreading of various types of tyres. “We are probably the only or at least one of a handful of companies able to deliver everything from accessories for bicycle tyres through to facilities for the retreading of 63-inch OTR tyres,” Italmatic vice-president Massimo Ghitturi comments to Tyres & Accessories. Italmatic can also offer its customers turnkey retreading facilities, from the preparation of a layout to installation and startup technical support.
Continue ReadingGraham Simpson appointed director at Truck Tyre Specialists
Graham Simpson has been appointed a as director of Truck Tyre Specialists Ltd (TTS). His primary function remains sales, an area in which has gained over 21 years of experience in in the Retreading industry. Simpson heads up a team of account managers and van sales team alongside the development of new fleet and casing asset solutions. According to TTS, the company will be soon launching a new online “Casing Bank Reporting Suite” where customers can not only track there asset value but get an overview of RTD Removal rate, acceptance rate of casings among other detailed reporting.
Continue ReadingTRIB launches redesigned website
The first phase of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau’s totally redesigned www.retread.org website has gone live, and offers visitors numerous new features including a full resources section including a retread buyer’s guide, studies regarding retreading, a calendar of industry events and a DOT code searcher. A members-only section provides community-based tools to connect members geographically or through similar product interests.
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