Rösler: Kazakhstan Retreading Plant Now Fully Operational
In 2008 Dortmund, Germany-based Rösler Group finalized a deal with one of the world’s largest copper mining companies, Kazakhmys to install a turnkey retreading facility for Kazakhmys’ underground and open pit operations in Kazakhstan. 18 months later Rösler and Kazakhmys have announced that that they have completed construction of the new retreading facility in Zhezkazgan, near Kazakhmys’ operations. The plant has reportedly been in full production since December last year, retreading tyres in 25 inch to 33.00R51 sizes, with the option for 57-inch products. In order to secure quality, Rösler keeps a team of three retreading specialists based in Kazakhstan on a continuous basis to supervise production.Tyres retreaded in the Zhezkazgan facility are now in operation in copper mines.
Continue ReadingB&J Rocket Appointment
Erhart Maegerlein has been appointed as General Manager of B&J Rocket Sales AG based in Baar/Switzerland, effective March 1st. Maegerlein looks back on many years of trade experience; he successfully represented the company in Hong Kong for 28 years. As of now he will be strengthening the Switzerland based management in all concerns of the sales regions in Europe and Asia. In his new function Erhart Maegerlein reports directly to Andreas Müller, Managing Director of the B&J Rocket Group.
Continue ReadingThai Bridgestone Bandag Centre Ready for ‘Significant Growth’ in Asia
Upon announcing the opening of the latest Bridgestone Bandag Retread Center in Thailand, Bridgestone stated it anticipates the significant growth of its retreading business in Asia, and in preparation for this expansion it will begin construction of a retread materials plant in Thailand this November. The Bandag centre officially opened by Thai Bridgestone Co., Ltd. on February 25 is located at the company’s Nong Khae factory site and will, the Japanese manufacturer reports, contribute to the development of the company’s retread and solutions business in three ways; namely, through the retreading of tyres according to the Bandag process, which began on February 1; by accelerating the retread and solutions business’s development; and by conducting training for Bridgestone Bandag shop technicians employed in company owned and franchise locations. This training will include the production of retreads using the Bandag process and instruction in Bridgestone Bandag retread and solutions business method.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Wolverhampton Returns to Normal Production Levels
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK has reinstated the “Guaranteed Working Week” at its Bushbury, Wolverhampton tyre retreading and compounding plant. The company reportedly met with Unions and employee representatives in the few days and says the decision will result in all full-time employees being guaranteed a full 42 hour week with immediate effect. Goodyear Wolverhampton changed shift patterns and moved to reduced hours, dropping the Guaranteed Working Week in December 2008, during the early stages of the economic downturn. At the time this was said to be in response to severely reduced demand for car and truck tyres.
Continue ReadingPirelli Announces Guaranteed Casing Allowance on New 01 Series Tyres
Pirelli has announced that, for a limited period, it will offer selected fleets a guaranteed casing allowance. The move is designed to demonstrate that Pirelli’s end-user partners can rely on the company’s truck tyres being guaranteed against any manufacturing defects from cradle to grave and then onto a second retreaded life. According to the company, “Pirelli’s confidence in the sheer quality of its new R01 Regional product lines and the ST01 Trailer fitment will ultimately be translated into extremely high retread casing acceptability and then prolonged second lives.”
Continue ReadingMichelin’s Stoke Remix Plant Gets £3.9 million in Funding
Michelin Tyre PLC’s Stoke-on-Trent Remix retreading manufacturing site has accepted £3.9 million towards modernisation from the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The company plans to use this money to upgrade its facilities in order to be able to retread its latest generation Michelin Durable Technologies truck and bus tyres. According to company representatives this development takes the company “a step closer to securing £20 million worth of investment over a five-year period”, safeguarding the long-term future of the Stoke industrial site. The company is now said to be working with the Department for Business Innovation and the regional Government agencies “to develop and sustain the manufacturing skills base in the North Staffordshire region.”
Continue ReadingBandvulc Invests £300,000 in ‘World Class’ Production Process
Perhaps in an effort to practice what it preaches, Bandvulc recently demonstrated some examples of innovation in in-house design and engineering. As a result, the company has now changed the way it handles over 18,000 truck tyre casings per month and has named this new process Avalon (a reference to the company’s King Arthur-themed production process). As with the Avalon of King Arthur, where the magical sword Excalibur was forged, company representatives are keeping the Avalon of Bandvulc something of a mystery. However, according to the company, the fact that it was designed, manufactured and installed using internal expertise means the £300,000 investment has gone a lot further than it would have done if outside consultants and engineers were used.
Continue ReadingWhat Does Future Hold for Truck Tyre Retreading?
2009 may have been a difficult year for the tyre business in general, but the new truck tyre sector faired particularly badly. And as a knock-on effect of the reduced number of miles driven by fleets in the slowing economy, retread product was also hit (for example some figures suggest UK retread output was down 20 per cent this time last year). However, this improved during the course of the year and with retreading companies securing an increasing share of fleet business, Devon-based Bandvulc tyres is looking forward to a bright future in the international logistics business. In a period of expansion that has impressed even the truck and bus market’s leading new tyre manufacturers, in recent years Bandvulc has grown to an influential position in certain segments, particularly to supermarket fleet tyre supply. Along the way the company has developed a reputation for environmental consciousness and recently took on an expanded new tyre distribution role in order to extend the service it can offer its growing fleet customer base. Speaking to Tyres & Accessories, company director and co-founder Richard O’Connell defines three important dimensions for those in the retreading business to consider: environmental, technical and political.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug Signs Royal Mail Tyre Contract
Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres Limited has been awarded a contract to supply all the retreads for Royal Mail Group Ltd’s trailer fleet. The agreement, which runs for two years with an option to extend for a further two years, will see Vacu-Lug Duramold retreads fitted on a rolling basis as replacements for all worn or damaged 385/65 R22.5 tyres on the Royal Mail Group's 22.5 inch trailer fleet. According to a statement detailing the news, environmental concerns were an important factor behind Royal Mail Group's decision to opt for Vacu-Lug Duramold Tyres. As an organisation committed to reducing its environmental impact, Royal Mail Group said it recognises the need to work with suppliers which also regard the environment as a key consideration through out the lifecycle of its product.
Continue ReadingTIA Aids in Removing Retread Safety Standards From Bill
In the USA, the Tire Industry Association recently stepped forward when an attempt was made to mandate retread safety standards equivalent to the new tyre standards in a motorcoach safety bill, reports Tire Review. Senate bill S. 554, introduced by senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), contained the following paragraph:
Continue ReadingFirst Australian Rösler Retread Produced
On January 15 the first precure was manufactured at Rösler’s new retreading facility in Perth, Australia. The retread bearing the serial number RA 001001 was made on a 27.00R49 casing owned by Rio Tinto, and will go into service at one of their iron ore mines in Western Australia.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug Invests in New SIO Buffer
Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres has invested £150,000 in a latest-generation, twin-headed fully-automated buffing machine to ensure the greatest possible accuracy in the preparation of its retread tyre casings. Capable of working to a tolerance of one millimetre, the new Danish-built SI0 buffing machine is reportedly being used in the production of Vacu-Lug's Duramold range of premium quality retread tyres. "Our new machine is fully computer-controlled and has been pre-programmed with data for every tyre in the Duramold range," said Vacu-Lug Plant Manager, Brian Barron. "Our casings typically require between two and three millimetres of rubber above the steel belt and this machine can achieve that with pinpoint accuracy. In practice, this enables us to work to the most exacting quality standards, with a perfect result every time for any retread tyre from 17.5-inch through to the largest super-single."
Continue ReadingVipal to Increase Prices 10%
Vipal Europe has announced plans to increase the prices of its retreading materials and repair products by 10 per cent on 1 February 2010. According to the Brazilian-based company’s European manager, Alessandro Bottesini Campos, the increase is due to market conditions and adjustment of some raw material costs: “Like all other manufacturers Vipal Europe has been impacted by the increases in transport, energy and labour costs.” Vipal Europe’s price increase, applies to all European countries served by the company. Different price increases may apply to other “specific regions or products.”
Continue ReadingVipal Releases New Corporate Identity
Vipal has launched a new logo for 2010. And, according to the company's launch announcement, "a new attitude is arising" along with the company's refreshed corporate identity.
Continue ReadingCollmann Joins TRIB
TRIB, the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, reports the addition of German retreading machinery manufacturer Collmann GmbH & Co to its ranks. The Lübeck based company, which began manufacturing buffers and other retread related machinery more than 70 years ago, is today recognised as a world leader in retread and other tyre related machinery.
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