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TYREXPO INDIA
Steinbichler Opens Indian Subsidiary
and supplies the well known “AZ cushion to casing applicator” to retreading companies all over the world.
Applicator” on companies that produce more then 1000 retreads per month and that are looking to improve quality.
Cushion to Casing Applicator CTC-SBVII
Steinbichler has opened a subsidiary office in Bangalore, Capital of the Southern Indian State of Karnataka. The Indian subsidiary titled as Steinbichler Vision Systems Pvt Ltd is wholly owned by the German firm, Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH. “It is important to be present here locally in a key market like India. We consider it as a hot market, therefore, we opened the office in Bangalore in January 2011,” said Mario Goldmann, Account Manager, NDT, Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH.
NDT system in India. “We have sold an NDT system to Birla tyres,” informed Raghuram N M, Country Manager, Steinbichler Vision System Pvt Ltd. NDT can be done on tyre dimensions as varied as 1200 (truck tyre), 1600 (truck 7 aircraft tyres), 2800 and 4300 (earthmover). “We can fulfil the requirements of most tyre plants around the world and we can adapt machines according to the speed of the testing,” Mario claimed. But the German company is positive about the adoption
Mario Goldmann flies the flag for Steinbichler in India
For retreading equipment the company is in touch with the leading tread makers in India, according to Coen Heukshorst, Area Sales Manager responsible for extrusion equipment in India. There are hundreds of retreading companies in India. VMI-AZ focuses on the market with its “Cushion to Casing
Retreading is a growing market in India and we also see that tyre companies are getting more and more involved based on the cradle to grave principle for truck tyres.
The Indian subsidiary is promoting vision systems from Steinbichler such as the shearography tyre test system for the Indian tyre industry.
"The technology is an interferometric inspection method which enables the detection of damage or defects on test parts under stress," explained Mario Goldmann, "With this method, even deformations in the micrometre range can be made visible. Thus, unambiguous measurement results can be obtained by applying only a minimum test load which is mandatory for NDT measurements. “The Intact systems have successfully proven their functionality in the worldwide car, truck and aircraft industries as well as in the Formula 1 racing tyre business,” explained Mario.
Steinbichler has already installed an
of the technology in the Indian retreading industry. “The retreading industry is nascent in India, the market is opening up and there is a transformation happening and we here to exploit that opportunity,” said Raghuram.
Meanwhile, the German company hopes that India might in future adopt a standard similar to ECE 108/109 regulations for the retreading of tyres in Europe. “South America is starting this shortly and if that happens in India too, things would really become more favourable for this technology,” Mario believes. Steinbichler is planning to open distribution channels in the Middle East, Africa and Australia. “We will open channels in these markets by September 2011,” informed Mario.
Milestone to Import 100 Tonnes of Midas Tread
Sharjah based Milestone Tyres and Accessories is aggressively promoting Midas tread in the Middle East market. The company is importing between 5 to 7 containers of Midas tread every month to supply in the UAE and the markets of Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “The demand is rising every year. By current trends, we expect to have to import at least 100 tonnes of tread rubber annually to meet our present commitments: Demand has risen sharply this year. Previously, we used to import around 50 tonnes annually,” said James Thomas, Managing Director, Milestone Tyres and Accessories at the Tyre Expo. The Midas distributor based in UAE is catering to the exclusive clientele of Midas in its key markets.
The market is likely to react more positively next year. “We think the demand will further increase in these markets as a lot of construction is again underway here,” Thomas replied. He added, “The demand for Midas tread should increase even further and we are planning to import 150 tonnes of tread in 2012.”
The company has its own retreading plant, RAK Tyres Retreading Factory, in Ras Al Khamiah. “We retread between 750 – 1000 tyres per month, using Midas Tread,” James informed. It also markets Omni patches and retreading accessories.
James Thomas, Managing Director, Milestone Tyres & Accessories
VMI Group Enters Indian Retread Market
The VMI Group was proud to participate in the Tyrexpo India ’11 as it perceives India as an important market for tyres, technical rubber and retreading in this part of the world, according to Aart van der Pol, Area Sales Manager, VMI Holland BV.
VMI is probably the world’s leading supplier of machinery and services for the manufacturers of radial passenger, light truck, all steel radial truck/bus and Off-the-road (OTR) tyres.
VMI, with its headquarters in the Netherlands, has factories in Germany, Brazil and China. The first operation in Yantai started about 15 years ago and it
will open its 3rd factory in September of this year. Wherever our machinery is made the same standards, procedure and quality is guaranteed. “Everywhere we supply equipment with the same performance. This is the kind of reputation that VMI has among its clientele globally,” Aart confirmed. Currently, the Indian market is catered for from the Dutch head office. VMI is among the biggest suppliers of truck tyre building machines in India. “We have already supplied to well known Indian tyre makers” Aart said.
VMI-AZ Extrusion, as a part of the VMI Group, specializes in extruder solutions
36 Retreading Business