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Reiff Adds GT Radial to Retreading Program

Reiff Reifen operates a state of the art retreading facility in the German town of Reutlingen. This Bandag franchise operation retreads in excess of 40,000 truck tyres each year, all of which are subjected to strict quality control measures. All casings are inspected with a SDS shearography machine that can detect any minor internal separation, and all inspection data is recorded on the company’s mainframe. Tyre building is performed using a Bandag-AZ builder extruder and curing is carried out in four completely new installed Bandag electrical autoclaves. Reiff operates to ISO 9000 standard and contracts TÜV Automotive in Munich to endurance test its retreaded tyres to confirm compliance with ECE 109 regulation requirements.

21st August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

The Greenest Tyres

Tyre manufacturers have been using recycled rubber in agricultural and OTR tyres for some time, but new research shows that lower rolling resistance passenger and truck tyres could be greener still if they also used ultra fine recycled rubber powder in their compound recipes.

At the end of May, Rice University’s Marc J Epstein and business academic Tamara Bekefi published a fascinating paper entitled: “The Value of Green Tyres to Corporate Pofitability.” The paper looks at the current environmental and economic situation and points out that there is a “real possibility that the supply of virgin rubber will not be able to meet demand in the coming years.” It may not get to this point immediately – research conducted by Deutsche Bank analysts shows that, having gained a huge 40 per cent this year, natural rubber prices are now beginning to level off to their 18 month average and may follow fuel price falls – however, looking to the longer term, Epstein and Bekefi’s point still stands.

19th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Aiming for Zero

OHSAS 18001 is the internationally recognised assessment specification for occupational health and safety management systems developed by leading trade bodies, international standards and certification bodies. The specification enables organisations to establish an occupational health and safety management system and improve performance through eliminating or minimising risk to employees. One tyre industry company that has recently obtained the globally acknowledged OHSAS 18001 for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems certification is Malaysian retreading compound and materials supplier Goodway Rubber Industries.

15th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Green Tyres Mean Business

The tyre industry definition of a ‘green tyre’ is taking on a new meaning. Ever since tyres have been mass produced these two words have referred to the semi-finished un-vulcanised tyre product. Now the tyre industry is taking on an increasingly ecological focus and ‘green tyre thinking’ is giving retreaders the opportunity to ‘sell’ the uniquely environmental benefits they offer over and above new tyres. With this in mind, Tyres & Accessories interviewed Patrick O’Connell, director of one of the UK’s leading independent retreading operations, and learnt that retreads are not only the greenest tyres on the market, but that they make sound business sense too.

Everyone knows that retreads are greener than new tyres, but now it seems retreaders are making a concerted effort to shout about the eco-benefits of their tyres. The first step has been commissioning new research demonstrating, once again, the environmental soundness of retreads. Numerous reports have been conducted by organisations such as WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) and recently Best Foot Forward, who were commissioned by the Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse. This independent life cycle analysis was carried out to compare the relative carbon footprints of new tyres and retreaded tyres and concluded that the manufacture and distribution of a retreaded tyre results in significantly less carbon emissions than the production of a new tyre.

15th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

With Chinese input Prices on the Up Could there be a Retread Renaissance?

International News, Retreading

Raw material price increases affect every part of the tyre production and distribution chain. At the moment all the new tyre manufacturers (from the largest to the smallest) are feeling the raw materials pinch, which has been reflected in a run of less profitable financial reports. Even the Chinese manufacturers that were able to offer the “economic option” for so long are being forced to restructure their prices. Prior to this the low price of new Chinese made truck and bus radials had been hindering sales of quality retreads, so now that the price differential appears to swinging back against the Far Eastern budget producers, will this provide the opportunity for a resurgence in retread sales?

Take Qingdao, Shandong province-based Aufine Group Co Ltd. In August Tyres & Accessories received notification that the company was bringing in a second “unfortunate” price increase in three months, brought on by the “not small” (23 per cent) increase in Aufine’s natural rubber costs. The fact that the Chinese government clamped down on production in regions adjacent to Qingdao during the last quarter has also affected the distribution of these products. Furthermore, in addition to pressures mentioned above, the supply of Chinese tyres is also described as “inconsistent” since the pound’s value has fallen against the Euro. As a result Chinese manufacturers are increasingly ‘cherry-picking’ sales in the most lucrative international markets.

15th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

A Driving Force

As managing director of Malaysia’s Goodway, Alison Wong (Wong Ping Kiong) was seen as instrumental to many of the company’s successes. 2008 sees her assume the role of Chief Operating Officer

Sales at Goodway Integrated Industries have been healthy these last few years, to say the least. In 2007, the company reported turnover of RM209 million (42.2 million euros), 70 per cent of which was derived from its rubber compound products and the remainder from retreading operations. Goodway attributes a proportion of its good fortune during the last few years to its then managing director, Alison Wong, whom the company has called “a driving force behind Goodway’s many successes.”

13th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Robbins Aims to Reduce Cost Per Cure

Alabama-based Robbins LLC is claiming world leadership in its field thanks to its range of Accu-Fit CMT envelopes. CMT stands for Compression Moulded Technology and is designed to eliminate splicing, improve pliability and gauge consistency while extending envelope life – all of which helps bring down the cost per cure.

Robbins envelopes can be used with all systems and accommodates a wide range of temperatures. The system is said to improve retread appearance and optimise envelope durability. The range is extensive, with envelopes for small industrial tyres, right up to large OTR tyres. Other products include the company’s range of Uni-Tubes and a comprehensive assortment of curing tubes.

12th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Solution Focused – Al Dobowi Group

International News

Formed in 1976, the Al Dobowi Group was established to serve the growing Middle East tyre management industry. From its Dubai base, Al Dobowi Group is now involved in a range of operations (from tyres to equipment) on four continents – they even produce specialized battery components at a factory in the UK. With over 1100 employees all round the world, and some very interesting expansion plans in the offing, Tyres & Accessories recently met with executive director Harjeev Kandhari and found out more about what these will mean for customers.

One of the first things Harjeev Kandhari mentioned in conversation with T&A was that group companies are increasingly focusing on solutions, rather than just products. When you consider the wide variety of related business areas Al Dobowi operates in, this corporate philosophy really makes sense. But in order to explain what this might mean for customers a little background information is required.

7th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Enraged Aussie Footballer Wields Tyre Iron after Red Card

An amateur football match at the Cabramatta Sportsground turned nasty when a 32-year old – it is alleged – lost grip of his sanity after being sent off alongside a scrapping rival. After receiving his marching orders, the man hurried to his car, then – retreading his steps – reportedly attacked his dismissed opponent with a metal tyre lever, breaking his arm and putting him into traction.

The man, who cannot be named, has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence. It is probable that the tyre iron has seen its last action after being used in such an inappropriate application.

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear Makes 2 North American Leadership Appointments

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Stephen McClellan and Joe Copeland to new leadership assignments within the company’s North American Tire business. McClellan, formerly vice president of Commercial Tire Systems, has been named president of the North American Tire Consumer business, replacing Lawrence Mason, who has announced he will leave the company. Copeland, previously vice president of the Off-Highway businesses, becomes vice president of Commercial Tire Systems, replacing McClellan. A replacement for Copeland will be named at a later date.

“Steve and Joe are two proven leaders who have demonstrated the strategic, operational and team building success that will have an immediate impact in their new assignments,” said Richard J. Kramer, president of North American Tire. “They have a track record of exceptional performance at every level and are well positioned to help lead our businesses into the future.”

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Recauchutagem Northena Installs Giant Machinery

2008 has seen Portuguese retreader, Recauchutagem Northena SA, make literally huge investments in new machinery designed to retread a wide range of giant OTR tyres. The company has already installed a new MGT One63 robotic buffer, groover and peeling machine, in order to retread 63-inch tyres. Recently a large autoclave smooth and groove system for 51-inch tyres was added and before the end of the year pre-cured retreading equipment for 57-inch sizes will also be brought in.

“We’ve developed a full new approach for manufacturing cold OTR retreads. Our pre-cured tyres (a few dozen of these) have been running for a year in Portugal and Spain, and a test phase will be complete in September,” Northena representatives explained.

31st July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

MTNA Boosts Production at Madison Plant by 25%

Marangoni Tread North America has increased Ringtread production at its Madison, Tennessee Alpha-Ring manufacturing plant by 25 per cent. The company reports this greater production will accommodate both domestic and global growth. Specifically, 14 per cent more Ring moulds have been installed at the Madison facility in order to handle North American market growth and provide better service to the North American Ringtread dealer network. On top of this, the Madison plant is now shipping Ringtreads to other global markets, and further expansion is scheduled for next year.

23rd July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodway Joins TRIB

Goodway Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd from Malaysia has joined Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) along with Pak Rubber & Retreading Services (Pvt) Ltd. from Pakistan. “We are very happy to welcome both companies to the TRIB family and we know they will enjoy the many benefits TRIB offers to its members worldwide,” said Harvey Brodsky, TRIB’s Managing Director.

17th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Vacu-Lug to Make 15 Redundant in Ops Review

Grantham-based retreading firm, Vacu-Lug is set to make 15 employees redundant in an operational review following difficult trading conditions in the commercial tyre sector. The company, which is Europe’s largest retreader of commercial and industrial tyres, is struggling to retain previous levels of demand in some business areas thanks to current market difficulties in haulage and logistics industries.

A spokesman for the company told local news sources that the review was the company’s response to the slowing economy, while the redundancies do not reflect the expanding nature of other sectors of the business. The company was eager to stress the fact that the move comes as “a restructuring exercise, which will help us continue our growth in other areas of the business.”

17th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Reform Stalled in Raleigh

(Greensboro News-Record) An effort to reform North Carolina’s method of buying retreaded tyres is moving haltingly through the General Assembly amid disagreement over techniques used by the current contract holder.

A bill introduced by state Rep. Nelson Cole of Rockingham County would block the state from paying White’s Tire Service of Wilson for controversial “spot repairs” to about $3.4 million a year in recycled tyres.

Cole’s bill also bans removing the original manufacturer’s trademark and other identification from retreaded tyres. It’s a step White calls critical to its process, but critics say it is unnecessary and voids important warranties. (Tire Review/Akron)

9th July 2008/by Tyrepress Editors