Marangoni enters Kuwait through new Ringtread partner
Marangoni’s Retreading Systems business has won Kuwait’s sole retreader as a retreading partner and brought it into the Ringtread fold. The Italian supplier of retreading materials, tread and equipment reports this deal has been reached as part of its expansion strategy in the near and Middle East. Kuwait, with its modern road network and long transport corridor connecting Iraq in the north to Saudi Arabia in the south, is considered a hub for all transport into Gulf countries.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug gains ISO 14001 Environmental Certification
Vacu-Lug Tyres has been awarded ISO14001:2004 status for its Environmental Management System, underlining the green benefits of dealing with the retread tyre manufacturer. The award follows a rigorous external audit, during which the inspectors were said to have been especially impressed with the actions the company has taken to reduce energy its use by 20 per cent and recycle 100 per cent of its non-tyre-related waste.
Continue ReadingLaurent Reifen – “we’ve never sold so many tyres”
Following a crisis related dip in business in 2009, last year Laurent Reifen GmbH was able to once again set its sights on growth. While financial statements for the crisis year show the retreader still managed to sell more than 80,000 retreaded truck tyres and by doing so reduced its stock levels, last year turnover increased by a “clear double figure amount; we’ve never sold so many tyres,” as sales manager Dirk Schierhorn told Tyres & Accessories. Amongst other things, the Michelin Group owned retreader used last year’s business recovery to fine-tune the company for further shifts in the market.
Continue ReadingMarangoni establishes new Corporate Center in Rovereto
For more than a year the Marangoni Group has operated its retreading business out of a central holding company. The Italian retreader also recently established a new corporate headquarters at its Rovereto site and consequently closed its centre in Verona. These actions were taken in response to structural changes within the market that necessitate increased speed and responsiveness. In an interview with Tyres & Accessories, Marangoni Group CEO Massimo De Alessandri explained the company’s current position in terms of its consolidation, the motivations driving it and the future facing those parts of the company not belonging to its retreading business.
Continue ReadingBandvulc exports have tripled since 2009
Over the last two years Bandvulc has seen a consistent demand for its commercial retreads within Europe and especially Germany, but lately the pace of export growth has increased significantly. Not only have sales through existing partners increased by over 50 per cent in some countries, but new customers are reported to have been won – and in additional territories too. Key developments include distribution arrangements with agents as far away from South West England as Greece and Poland.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Bandag pursuing a “fair share” approach to price increases
Last year Bridgestone Bandag – one of the largest competitors in the European retreading market – only announced minor price increases. In February this year, however, the manufacturer and franchisor needed to raise its prices by an average of six per cent. As Harald Van Ooteghem, Brussels based senior manager for TBR/Retread Business Planning at Bridgestone Europe, explains to Tyres & Accessories, in the event of price increases an attempt is made to implement a “fair share” approach by which both partners – the supplier and customer – share the extra burden.
Continue ReadingDespite Marix, Marangoni’s marketing strategy remains unchanged
A couple of months ago, Marangoni began producing and marketing retreaded truck and OTR tyres under the “Marix” brand, a name previously reserved for passenger car, light commercial and 4x4 tyres. The Italian retreader previously relied upon the strength of its “Marangoni” brand, however it chose to respond to a changing competitive landscape by modifying its brand concept and in future will, according to Brenno Benaglia, pursue a clearer brand concept.
Continue ReadingItalmatic: A long-established full portfolio manufacturer
With a history going back 45 years and more than 7,500 machines in operation around the world, the Italmatic Group is today one of the leading retreading equipment and accessory providers. These days the Milan based machinery manufacturer offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, from passenger car tyres up to and including complete production facilities, for use in the retreading of various types of tyres. “We are probably the only or at least one of a handful of companies able to deliver everything from accessories for bicycle tyres through to facilities for the retreading of 63-inch OTR tyres,” Italmatic vice-president Massimo Ghitturi comments to Tyres & Accessories. Italmatic can also offer its customers turnkey retreading facilities, from the preparation of a layout to installation and startup technical support.
Continue ReadingGraham Simpson appointed director at Truck Tyre Specialists
Graham Simpson has been appointed a as director of Truck Tyre Specialists Ltd (TTS). His primary function remains sales, an area in which has gained over 21 years of experience in in the Retreading industry. Simpson heads up a team of account managers and van sales team alongside the development of new fleet and casing asset solutions. According to TTS, the company will be soon launching a new online “Casing Bank Reporting Suite” where customers can not only track there asset value but get an overview of RTD Removal rate, acceptance rate of casings among other detailed reporting.
Continue ReadingTRIB launches redesigned website
The first phase of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau’s totally redesigned www.retread.org website has gone live, and offers visitors numerous new features including a full resources section including a retread buyer’s guide, studies regarding retreading, a calendar of industry events and a DOT code searcher. A members-only section provides community-based tools to connect members geographically or through similar product interests.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Ecopia truck retreads and rolling resistance
At the launch at the IAA in September 2010 of Bridgestone’s latest range of truck tyres under the Ecopia brand, Europe CEO Mac Ohashi said a range of Ecopia retread patterns would follow for the M749 and R109 drive and trailer tyres. The former was released through the company’s European Bandag dealer network in January 2011 as a replacement for the Qualitread M749, while the company says the R109 Ecopia retread – a completely new product previously unavailable in the exiting Qualitread range – will follow later in the year. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Bridgestone Europe’s TBR/Retread Business Unit about the development of the Ecopia retread range and how it is presented to the market.
Continue ReadingEuropean launch for Bandag mixed service treads
Two new mixed service treads have been added to the European Bandag range, and Bridgestone Europe says both products deliver up to 15 per cent higher mileage, along with a lower cost per kilometre, than their predecessor treads, the BDY3 and BZY2. The treads are the Bandag Drive Mixed Service (BDM1) and the Bandag Rib Mixed Service (BRM1), an all-position tyre for on/off road use.
Continue ReadingRetread Tire Association to discuss safety with SAE
United States organisation the Retread Tire Association has announced that it will be represented at the Society of Automotive Engineers Work Truck Safety Committee meeting in Las Vegas on 24 March. It will discuss the safety, economic and environmental benefits of using retreads on ready mix concrete trucks.
Continue ReadingBridgestone launches first product in Ecopia retread range
The first retread product in Bridgestone’s Ecopia truck tyre range has been released through the company’s European Bandag dealer network. The M749 highway drive pattern was released as a retread in January 2011 and utilises the Ecopia casing, which Bridgestone says contributes around 60 per cent to the tyre’s rolling resistance qualities. In announcing the introduction of the M749 retread, the tyre maker commented that “by making the M749 Ecopia available as a retread, Bridgestone can now offer long-haul operators the double benefit of cost savings over the full tyre life and a reduction in the ecological tyre print of the fleet.”
Continue ReadingMarangoni North America expands supplies and accessories line
Marangoni Tread North America has added Presti, AmerSeal, and Counteract products to its supplies and accessory line, which includes envelopes, sealing rings, cushion gum, envelope lube, J-hooks, tire paint and buffing blades, reports Tire Review. MTNA is also adding new Gaither Tool selections to support fleet tyre maintenance needs with a variety of environmentally-friendly product options.
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