Retreading
Hexpol growth driven by compounding and exports
Almost 10 years after Hexpol embarked on a prolonged growth-by-acquisition strategy, here Tyres & Accessories examines the company’s overall progress as well as the particular example of UK-based Hexpol Group member, retreading compound supply specialist Berwin Polymers.
Vaculug promotes VMS Mobile at CV Show
With the UK commercial vehicle and fleet business congregating in Birmingham for the Commercial Vehicle Show at the start of May, Vaculug took the opportunity to demonstrate the latest addition to its bespoke fleet tyre management system called VMS - VMS Mobile. For the company, which is now the only non-new-tyre manufacture-owned retreader in the UK, fleet growth and retreading business growth go hand in hand. And that’s why having the right fleet tyre management system in place has become more important than ever.
Continental: High retread demand driving 300% production boost at USA plant
Almost 60 ContiLifeCycle partners around the world, including 30 in the USA and Canada, currently retread tyres using ContiTread treads. Demand for these pre-cure treads is growing in North America. For this reason, Continental is raising production this year at its February 2018-inaugurated tread plant in Mount Vernon, USA by 300 per cent compared to 2018 levels. A second shift was added in March to facilitate this.
Vaculug appoints new OTR sales manager
Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader, has expanded its OTR sales team with the addition of Alan Robin to head up off–the–road tyres as OTR sales manager for the South of England.
Marangoni opens 4th Ringtread franchise in India – 4 more on the way
Marangoni’s Ringtread retreading process doesn’t yet have a sizeable footprint within India’s large commercial vehicle sector, but it is growing. The Marangoni GRP Private Limited (MGPL) joint venture that was established in late 2015 recently took on its fourth franchise partner in India. Marangoni says it is also progressing with plans to add a further four franchise partners.
Marangoni: Meeting to discuss future of factories, workforce
This week a meeting took place at Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development to discuss the future of the workforce and production at the Marangoni S.p.A. plants in Rovereto and Ferentino. The meeting was attended by representatives from the retreading specialist, local government, trade unions and Italian bank Medio Credito Centrale.
Finding success in an increasingly complex sector
Michelin has long been a leading player in the truck and bus tyre markets, with customers ranging from some of the largest fleets out there to owner operators. And yet, recent years have been tough for everyone in the commercial vehicle segment as the forces of economic uncertainty combined with a tidal wave of low-cost Chinese tyres have put pressure on businesses. As we approach Brexit, roughly a year after anti-Chinese truck tyre imports were implemented, Tyres & Accessories spoke to Michelin business-to-business sales director, Chris Smith as well as Andrew French (Michelin director services) and solutions in order to find out more.
Marangoni: Changing the world of retreading is our responsibility
The Vipal agreement, the Dmack project, the political storms, the ever-changing retreading market. Vittorio and Giuseppe Marangoni, president and vice president of the Italian Marangoni Group, talk about these industry-related topics and more in an interview with Tyres & Accessories.
Galgo opens new European distribution centre and headquarters
Mexico-based retreading material supplier Galgo Pre-Q Europe recently relocated its European headquarters to a larger distribution centre located in Willebroek, Belgium.
Sly Agri Ltd signs Magna Tyres rubber tracks distribution agreement
Magna Tyres Group has signed a new partnership with UK rubber track supplier Sly Agri Ltd. The strategic agreement enables Sly Agri to purchase and resell the Rubber Track retread for the agricultural sector. The contract was signed by George Sly and Stephan van Leeuwen during the LAMMA Show in Birmingham.
Vacu-Lug’s post acquisition expansion plans
In July 2018 Zenises bought Grantham-based Vacu-Lug – the last significantly sized independent retreader in the UK. Seven months later Tyres & Accessories visited Grantham and met with Zenises chief executive officer (CEO) Harjeev Kandhari in order to find out more.
Armstrong Richardson sign Michelin/Remix fleet tyre deal
Armstrong Richardson, along with its sister company C&C Horse Transport, is moving its 50-strong truck fleet to a 100 per cent Michelin new and Remix tyre policy, after a side-by-side comparison projected savings of more than £60,000 a year.
Conti360° Fleet Services integrated Ivybridge location
Conti360° Fleet Services has opened its newly rebranded suite of offices, at Bandvulc’s Lee Mill site, in Ivybridge. The extended office facilities have been launched after a two and-a-half year integration project following Continental’s acquisition of Bandvulc in 2016. The launch follows the merger of both company’s fleet support networks under the unified Conti360° Fleet Services banner in September 2018, and the relocation of all Conti360° Fleet Services support and 24-hour Breakdown Service teams to Ivybridge.
Carl Zeiss and TRM sign cooperation agreement
TRM Srl. and Carl Zeiss Optotechnik GmbH have signed a co-operation agreement. As a result of the agreement, TRM will add Zeiss Shearography Systems to its portfolio and will be an authorized dealer for this product line. Furthermore, Zeiss will train the technical staff of TRM on Intact machines. This will allow TRM to offer qualified and authorized after sales service to Shearography customers. For Zeiss this will increase the availability of technical service throughout the markets.
Vellco Tyre Control sets sights on European retreading markets to establish growth
Vellco Tyre Control will seek to capitalise on increased optimism in the European tyre retreading market by expanding its casing supply business into new territories. Retreaders of commercial vehicle tyres were given a boost last year when the European Union introduced tariffs on certain new Chinese products in the segment, which have long caused headaches among retreaders due to their low price. The independently owned casing dealer and used tyre specialist from Weaverthorpe, North Yorkshire is engaged in the procurement, grading and sale of tyre casings of all types, including car, van, truck, agricultural, industrial, and earthmover. In addition to targeting selected European clients, Vellco said it would simultaneously consolidate and strengthen its position in key global markets such as South America and Africa.