Marangoni has added two new lines to its Ringtread precure tread range – the Grip series 60 and 70 for central European climatic conditions, and the RSY397 for long distance driving in extreme conditions.
As a response to market changes and the rapid evolution of its manufacturing and distribution arms, Marangoni has decided to merge by incorporation its Marangoni Spa and Marangoni Tread SpA operations into Marangoni Pneumatici SpA. This new company, which came into being on October 1, 2009, will serve as the parent company and will be officially known as Marangoni SpA. This merger, says Marangoni, is part of a medium-term strategic plan aimed at strengthening the group and placing a greater focus on its core retreading business.
Marangoni has teamed up with premier drag venue Santa Pod Raceway and experienced TV production house Pulse 8 Media to create two unique ‘magazine’ style car shows that will be airing throughout the latter half of the year on both Eurosport and Motors TV channels on the digital platform.
Investing significantly in the move, Marangoni and Santa Pod Raceway acquired no less 36 hours of broadcast time for two shows that showcased their ‘Marangoni Fast Show’ and ‘Marangoni Ultimate Street Car’ sponsored events. The programmes show every aspect of the events from the ubiquitous racing, to the nightlife and lifestyle elements that proved so popular with the capacity crowds. Naturally, Marangoni branding, demo cars and products are liberally sprinkled throughout.
The Marangoni Group research centre is located in Rovereto, Italy, at the foot of the Alps, where snow covered and icy roads plus below-zero temperatures are normal for many weeks of the year. According to Marangoni, everyday driving experience in these conditions acts an additional tool available to the engineers who design its winter tyres. As a result, the company reports its expertise and skills in producing tyres that work well in the conditions they were designed for are greatly enhanced. Exploiting their experience, engineers at the Marangoni Car Tyre research centre have designed and developed a range of tyres that covers all car segments. This line-up is divided into series suited for continental European climates and the harsher winters of northern Europe.
Marangoni is celebrating the success of its hill climbing champion, Simone Faggioli, who recently won European Hill Climb Championship for the second time. Faggioli, who drives an Osella FA30 with Zytek 3000-V8 engine and Marangoni Zeta Linea Racing tyres, achieved the feat one race from the end of the 2009 series. The Marangoni sponsored driver last won this European title in 2005, in a similar car again fitted with the Italian company’s race tyres.
Faggioli took the 2009 title after winning six of the eleven stages which make up the European Hill Climb Championship. A slow puncture meant that Faggioli could only manage third place on the fearsome Italian Trento-Bondone stage, but this was won by his Marangoni teammate Davide Baldi.
Following a decade of steady growth in demand averaging 10 per cent, last October the financial and economic crisis pushed European retreading markets into a freefall. The largest decline was listed by market participants in the opening quarter of this year, and according to Marangoni demand for retreaded tyres in Europe reduced by a quarter. Yet at the same time, the market for new truck tyres dropped some 30 per cent. In the second quarter, demand was still some 15 per cent below that of the previous year, while the new tyre industry recorded sales a clear 25 per cent worse – another result reflecting the new tyre industry’s greater difficulties.
According to Marangoni, its Marix range for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles has proven a popular choice for off-road drivers thanks to a series of products designed for extreme use, such as Lion and Puma. Both of these tyres feature substantial tread blocks, and for this reason are sought by those who use their 4×4 for work or in sporting competitions, and want a tyre with good grip and drainage capacity. The latest additions to the Marix 2008 range are the Cruise and Ghepard, the latter a high performance tyre for SUVs that is approved for high performance and available in 17 and 18-inch sizes. Marangoni says the Ghepard ensures comfort and maximum grip in all conditions thanks to the use of high performance compounds.
Marangoni Tread North America has promoted Don Rizzi to be its first national sales manager. Rizzi, who joined Marangoni in 2005, will oversee both the sales and technical groups for Marangoni. (Tire Review/Akron) Related news: Marangoni cuts ContiTread ties in the Americas SmartWay approval for Ringtread pair Marangoni joins the RTA Marangoni’s Marge Connors […]
Demand for larger size OTR and earthmover retreads has been robust over the past couple of years, and Marangoni Tyre Machinery has now introduced a product aimed at this segment of the market. The Trio Super 63” can, as its name suggests, accommodate up to and including 63-inch size radials. Marangoni reports the unit can peel, buff and groove OTR and earthmover tyres rapidly, and as the tyres being processed can be fitted upon flanges and inflated up to 1 bar, the Italian manufacturer is confident the resultant geometric stability is maximal.
Earlier this week Ellerbrock Reifenrunderneuerungs-Technologie GmbH puts its new North Hamburg (Henstedt-Ulzburg) mixing facility into operation. As a result of the six million euro investment, the plant has also taken on a completely new role within the Marangoni Group.
No other tyres are submitted to as much stress as those fitted on earthmovers. As a result retreading these tyres requires specific experience and solutions, especially with regards to the development of the most appropriate compounds and tread patterns, says leading tread rubber, machinery and retread manufacturer Marangoni.
Earthmover and off-the-road tyres require compounds that have high resistance to mechanical stress and atmospheric agents, so as to guarantee the required working life. In many cases cut resistant compounds are needed, but at the same time the compounds must feature low hysteresis/heat generation (two technologically opposing characteristics when obtained using standard materials and processes). Consequently new reinforcing agents with specific characteristics need to be added.
According to Marangoni Meccanica SpA, producer of the Marangoni Tyre Machinery brand, a key company aim is to deliver customised industrial solutions that are quality focused, highly innovative and flexible – and in doing so provide end-users with the best possible solution. The company has been developing production technologies for both new and retreaded tyres since the sixties, and in recent years has invested into developing its proprietary “Alpha R” strip winding equipment.
At present the Italian firm is placing a particular emphasis on the development of innovative equipment and state-of-the-art technological solutions for the manufacturing of large radial tyres, including tailor-made tyre assembly systems serviced by fully automatic Alpha R applicators.
Over on the other side of the North Sea lies the headquarters of one of the largest and fastest growing wholesalers in Scandinavia and Europe, Gripen Wheels. The Swedish based company delivers tyres to more than 20 countries and operates numerous warehouses throughout Europe. Some 18 months ago the UK joined the list of locations where Gripen boasts a presence, and the Cambridge headquartered operation now supplies customers nationwide from its warehouse in Immingham, near Hull. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Gripen’s UK director, Ray Coulson, to find out how the company is progressing in our market.
For Marangoni Retreading Systems, the implementation of a high degree of automation into the retreading process is not the only innovative priority for its Ringtread retreading technology. The Italian based company also bills respect for the environment in compliance with European Commission CO2 emission reduction regulations as a factor worthy of top consideration. This approach to its business has led to the development of what Marangoni calls a new generation of machinery for applying cushion gum – the Black Swan.
According to Marangoni, research shows that each year 13 per cent of trucks and buses experience tyre problems. This is clearly a major issue for the road transport industry, not only in terms of related costs (service, vehicle and driver downtime, wages that still have to be paid, along with a less efficient usage of resources) but also due to the late delivery penalties imposed upon transport companies and the consequent potential loss of customers. When such unplanned stoppages occur abroad, the possibility of language barriers when contacting the breakdown service also exists.
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