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NEWS
Obituary: Siegfried Gebel
We are sad to have to announce the passing of Siegfried Gebel, the ex-Gummiwerk Kraiburg
Technical Manager and author of the technical retreading manual “An International View on Tyre Retreading.
Siggi had been suffering with bone and prostate cancer for the past six months and he died on September 19th near his home in Bavaria.
Siggi was well known to many in the retreading sector having spent nearly 50 years in the industry including 22 years with Kraiburg’s technical department, representing the company around the globe.
Siggi Gebel was born in Dresden, Germany on 10 March 1935 and first became involved in retreading as a youngster, helping out in his uncle’s vulcanising workshop. He began work in 1949 as a vulcanisers apprentice at the age of 14 at the Dresden Rubber
Factory, a local retreader. Then followed 3 years (1953-56) working for his uncle and 17 years working for a retread plant in Munich. During this period he also spent several months in 1965 working as a factory manager for the Hi-Ho Retreading factory in Windhoek, Namibia.
Between 1974-76 Siggi followed an alternative career skippering a sailing boat in the Mediterranean. He joined Kraiburg’s Technical Department in May 1976, where he stayed until his retirement in 1998.
Siggi wrote about his life’s work in his book “An International View on Tyre Retreading”, which was both a memoir and a technical manual for retreaders. First published in German in 1998, the book was translated into English by the publisher of this magazine and re-published in English in 2000. The book has proved to be immensely popular
and has sold many copies to retreaders around the world.
Siggi spent his retirement alternating between his German home in Herbertsfeldern in Bavaria and his winter retreat in Rotorua, New Zealand. The publisher of this magazine will always be impressed by the fact that despite his serious illness, Siggi still found the time and energy recently to write to explain his circumstances. He will be sadly missed.
BIPAVER Questions FIA Decision
MRS Announces A Further Increase In Prices
Marangoni Retreading Systems announced, in September, a price increase in all European, Middle East and African markets for the entire range of retreading materials.
The price increase will be by 8 per cent according to country
and product.
Despite the price of raw materials, especially the synthetic rubber one, stabilising the high price level has forced the price increase.
Readers may recall that the Federation Internationale d'Autosport (FIA) snuck in a rule change this year that placed a ban on the use of retreaded tyres in truck racing. BIPAVER wrote and objected at the time, but made little impression. The latest rules on tyres continue to exclude the use of retreaded tyres.
Ruud Spuijbrook, Secretary General of BIPAVER has again written to the FIA recording the association's concern regarding the rule, and once again invited the FIA to share its reasoning with BIPAVER members.
Cooper Tire & Rubber
Shares of Cooper Tire & Rubber have been trading lower and hit a new 52-week low in September of $9.86.
In the past 52 weeks, Cooper Tire
& Rubber share prices have been bracketed by the September low of $9.86 and a high of $27.73.
Retreading Business Now Available in Digital Format
Retreading Business magazine can now be accessed in digital format free of charge via our website. To view the digital version go to: http://www.retreadingbusiness.com
Once you’ve registered as a reader, you’ll be able to view the digital version. What’s more, we’ll e- mail you when the latest issue is about to be uploaded.
So for the latest in retreading news, register now!
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