Retreading
Maxam Tire, the Luxembourg-based manufacturer of industrial, construction and OTR radial tyres, has announced a key appointment to its management team. Peter Kraus (47) joined the company at the beginning of September as business development manager for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, responsible for the entire Maxam product range.
The English-language version of the Bridgestone Group’s CSR Report 2013 have been released and is now available for download from the company’s website. The 63-page document covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2012 and, in addition to covering initiatives related to Bridgestone’s 22 CSR Focus Points, it broaches the Japanese firm’s CSR activities from three perspectives, which it presents as ‘special features’.
A point of difference between the introduction of Goodyear’s new Kmax and Fuelmax truck tyre lines and that of previous generation tyres is that retreaded versions of the Kmax and Fuelmax will be available from day one. “In the past we made a clear division,” notes Rupert Kohaupt, Goodyear Dunlop’s commercial vehicle tyre sales director for emerging markets. “We introduced a new product and took the approach that the demand for retread versions of the range would first come when the tyres were worn. We would wait a year or 18 months before introducing the retread version into the market.”
Mexican retreading materials supplier Galgo Group recently gained US SmartWay accreditation for one of its Pre-Q products. According to the company, Galgo has always shared the global vision to meet the highest quality standards in each market “And once again we achieved it with our United States Corporate ‘PREQ Galgo’”, company representatives said in a statement announcing the news.
As of 1 January 2014, Nokian Tyres’ Heavy Tyres and Truck Tyres business units will be integrated into a single entity, Commercial Tyres. The Finnish tyre maker says the integration of both operations into a combined business unit will not have any immediate impact on the 280 or so people currently employed in Heavy Tyres and Truck Tyres, and it states the decision to form the Commercial Tyres business unit was taken in order to provide a “better chance to develop operations and improve sales.” Nokian president and CEO Kim Gran also pointed out that the synergies of integration should clearly improve profitability.
Marangoni Retreading Systems reports that it has consolidated the presence of the Ringtread system in the Baltic region and the Ukraine by strengthening its partnerships with two important operators in the truck tyre distribution and service sector.
Brazilian retreading products manufacturer Vipal has launched its VT160 tyre tread, designed specially to improve the traction of heavy vehicles in snow. The tread was first presented at Autopromotec in Bologna, when Vipal said the tread was suited best to heavy vehicles travelling on a variety of surfaces.
Giti Tire has launched its new non-directional, all-position commercial vehicle tyre, the GAM831. Available in 295/80R22.5, the tyre extends the GT Radial mixed service offering, as the tyre has been developed for on and off road applications. It features a robust tread pattern and casing construction, with an extra reinforced sidewall to offer increased performance, even wear and good mileage in the most arduous terrain conditions.
The Al Dobowi Group, UK importer of Linglong TBR tyres, has announced a new distribution partnership with Essex’s G&S Tyre Services. Al Dobowi says G&S has developed a reputation for providing an exemplary level of service to the UK fleet market and demanding vehicle operators, while G&S identified Linglong as a brand with UK market potential.
Italmatic Group has entered into a Joint Venture with Tesco of America Inc., the US based supplier to the automotive and tyre sector. The joint venture will be renamed as Tesco Italmatic LLC, with headquarters in Oakland Park, Florida, USA. According to the company, the partnership will focus on “making a strong statement for the distribution of Italmatic products in the North, Central and South American regions, offering a wide and complete range of products and services.”
Marangoni Group has confirmed that it will end new passenger car and van tyre production at its Anagni factory. The announcement comes amidst local news reports of despondency amongst workers who expected to return to work in September after two postponements in August. Around 400 employees at the Anagni plant will be made redundant. The group said it would “assess possible solutions with relevant organisations and parties in managing this difficult period”. Unions are said to be planning solidarity events in support of workers.
The DC, located in Los Angeles Vipal is opening a new distribution center (DC) in the city of Los Angeles, California in the USA. The company reports that it will serve the Western regions of the United States and Canada. Vipal already has two other DCs in the US – one in Florida and another in Virginia. With the addition of this new investment, Vipal will have a structure with a capacity of 1,500 positions for pallets. The Los Angeles DC is being run by local partner JAS Forwarding (which also operates the Florida DC).Vipal describes the move as a way of boosting its presence in the country, which will enable further growth in the world's largest market for retreaded tyres, the US.
Continental says its tyre management procedures are helping one Northern Ireland transport and logistics business to achieve significant savings. Surefreight, one of the leading logistics companies operating between Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe, turned to Continental for support last year, resulting in its annual spend on tyres falling by £59,000 when compared with 2011.
US retreading association the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau is partnering with the Retread Manufacturers Association to offer a ‘Retread Workshop Practice’ course in the UK, commencing in September 2013. The correspondence based course includes two ‘mock’ exams to monitor progress during the periods of study, extending from September 2013 to May 2014, and a final exam, which can be taken at a local university or technical college.
Truck tyre retreading is an important means by which transport companies can reduce costs per mile. Goodyear Dunlop operates three mould cure retreading facilities in Europe – in Lyon, France, Wolverhampton, UK and the 2011-opened Wittlich plant in Germany – and has built up its mould cure retread portfolio. The company has now extended its range of services; in addition to acquiring and exchanging casings, as of September 2013 it will mould cure retread customer own casings.
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