Retreading specialist Kraiburg Austria has embarked on a significant initiative to source natural rubber almost directly from small farmers in Indonesia. The Austrian firm formalised this development at the German Rubber Conference (DKT) in Nuremberg at the beginning of July, with the signing of a contract between Kraiburg Austria and its long-standing partner, Weber & Schaer.
As managing director Stefan Mayrhofer asserts, Kraiburg Austria believes that “retreading will become even more important in the future.” The company is “proactively preparing” for this future with “targeted measures,” including investments of nearly ten million euros over the next one and a half years.
Stefan Mayrhofer, managing director of Kraiburg Austria, is convinced that environmental protection and sustainability awareness are “topics that we owe to future generations.” This is the reason the retreading specialists strives to act in an environmentally responsible manner, its receipt of the EMAS certificate three years ago serving as evidence of these efforts.
As of 1 July 2023, Stephan Brückner is responsible for Kumho Tire’s original equipment business with all German vehicle manufacturers as Senior Sales Account Manager. He joins Kumho from Hankook Tire Europe, where he most recently served as OE Account Manager.
Kraiburg Austria has launched its redesigned website for its retreading materials business. Marketing manager Ulrike Auer said the new site was designed to “compress” the company’s digital content “down to the essentials” for increased ease of use. Kraiburg has targeted a move away from lengthy searches for information “towards the ‘1-click method’.” The German language site is now live, with an English version to follow shortly. Other languages are also planned.
Kraiburg Austria is expanding its portfolio for construction site applications with the K738, a tread it says is equally at home on the road. With the K738, Kraiburg Austria has found the “optimal solution” for two tasks. The retreading materials specialist says the tread is “designed for the toughest off-road applications” and its durability, traction and resilience “convinces on rough, unsurfaced terrain.” At the same time, it offers “smooth, quiet running characteristics on sealed roads, including high mileage.”
Marcos Guzman, president of B&J Rocket, reports that the retreading equipment specialist has appointed Humberto Karam its key account manager in Europe. Karam succeeds Christian Wolf, who has taken on the role of product manager at Kraiburg Austria.
Retreading specialist Kraiburg Austria has expressed satisfaction with its performance in 2021 and reports pleasing sales growth in all product segments. The company recorded sales of 75.5 million euros, a 13 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
Established in 2020, AZuR is a German-based innovation network for end-of-life tyre recycling with a membership list that includes retreading and recycling firms, academia and state agencies. After receiving financial support from Germany’s government for the first ten months of its existence, AZuR has been self-funded under the patronage of the German Rubber Manufacturers Association (wdk) since June 2021. The network recently began a major study into the ecological and economic aspects of retreading, and reported yesterday that the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) has committed to support this work.
The global struggle to reduce global warming through greater sustainability, conservation of resources and lowering of CO2 emissions is undisputedly one of the key problems our generation must address. Kraiburg Austria stresses that “the time for empty appeals, soapbox speeches and lip service is over,” adding that “coordinated measures need to be taken or introduced immediately to ensure the living conditions of future generations.”
Retreading companies face significant challenges these days due to growing demand upon them to ensure greater operational reliability, workplace health and safety, and environmental protection. This certainly applies to the conventional spraying and coating solutions used in both mould cure and pre-cure retreading. These products contain petrol and are classed as hazardous goods that are subject to strict specifications and restrictions, including in the transportation of these hazardous goods, their storage and the processing and disposal of the empty containers as special waste.
After 36 years with the company, Thorsten Schmidt stepped down as chief executive officer of Kraiburg Austria, effective 1 April. He has been succeeded in this role by Stefan Mayrhofer.
Kraiburg Austria shares that a technical fault caused a fire within the vulcanisation department of its plant in Geretsberg last night, but damage was minor. The retreading materials specialist says the rapid intervention of staff and the fire service limited damage to the immediate area where the fire broke out. Kraiburg stresses that nobody was injured, nor were neighbours or the environment endangered at any point.
The coronavirus crisis represents a challenge for almost all industries and markets in Europe and around the world. But tyres are system-relevant products that ensure, amongst other things, the uninterrupted transportation of goods and supply chain stability. In doing so, they contribute to securing the population’s basic requirements. Kraiburg Austria has adapted to the challenges associated with corona, aiming to guarantee all its partners receive the quality pre-cure and mould cure materials they require on time and with the expected high level of service.
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Kraiburg Austria
Kraiburg Austria