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EARTHMOVER
Luca Mai, Executive Sales Manager for Earthmover tyres at Marangoni
Earthmovers: Retreading The Way Forward
In recent years the earthmover/ OTR sector has become particularly valuable as an opportunity for the retread sector. The inability of the new tyre manufacturers to supply sufficient new rubber to the market, and the associated hike in prices drove even the wealthiest of mining operations into the arms of the retread sector.
Having opened the door to retreading on a large scale, mining companies discovered the reality of quality retreads and the huge cost savings that were to be made through retreading not just once but as often as the casings would take the retread process.
Since disposing of OTR tyres is a considerable challenge, putting off the point of disposal by retreading also helps mining companies address an environmental challenge and any pluses in that box score heavily with these companies who are often vilified as the scourge of the environment.
One of the key players in this market has been Marangoni. Since its inception in the 1950’s, Marangoni has understood the great advantages of retreads, both for the end user and for the environment. Over the last 60 years, Marangoni has invested human resources, time and money in the pursuit of excellence as far as the entire retread production process is concerned. The compounds, technologies and machinery used to produce the Marangoni tyres were designed, tested and internally updated at the group’s Research and Development Centre. The extensive range of earthmover tyres, which are produced at the Rovereto plant, represents the synthesis of the intense work done in terms of
development, which is carried out in the laboratory, production and fieldwork, while aiming to better satisfy clients’ needs.
Luca Mai, is the Executive Sales Manager of the Marangoni Group’s Commercial & Earthmover Tyres division, He explained the key elements required in Earthmover retreading.
“When managing EM tyres, being able to maximise both the efficiency and return of the initial investment made at the time of purchase becomes the most important objective. Ultimately, it’s about being able to get the best hourly cost. In order to achieve this, being able to understand when and if a tyre can be retreaded and repaired becomes essential.” Explained Luca. We in the trade all understand the benefits of retreading but in earthmover terms, there is a lot of heavy equipment and high transport costs involved. Is there really such an advantage in retreading in that context?
“Europe’s general economic situation is on ever yone’s mind and the need to save money has become imperative for all users. If correctly managed, even the largest tyre can be retreaded for less than 40 to 50 per cent of the cost of a new, premium tyre. This clearly represents a substantial amount in terms of savings for the users” argues Luca Mai.
The market for tyres is nowadays a global one and we are all familiar with the ability of companies with low labour costs in China and India to produce and sell products at very competitive prices. We are also familiar with the challenges faced by the car and truck sector both in new and retreaded tyres. Is that mirrored
in the earthmover market?
“Some users have been enticed by these offers and consequently started using new, budget-quality EM tyres. This undoubtedly is a cheaper alternative to premium tyres in the short term, but it is not entirely satisfactor y. In fact, a vast majority of those who have tried using such tyres have gone back to using premium brands after having experienced the poor performance they offered and having realised they could neither be repaired nor retreaded.” Explained Luca.
“As I mentioned earlier, reducing the per-hour cost of tyres has now become one of the most important factors for those who work in mines, quarries, construction, and ports; second only to that of worker safety. Marangoni fully responds to every market need in terms of retreading technology and
its users, for the marketing of its retreaded EM tyres.”
Marangoni offers different products for all the applications in which performance is paramount; such as the tyres developed for the loader of the MH Extra series, whose treads are 20% deeper than the standard ones offered. A new product available as of February for the MLD pattern: in a 20.5x25 version. Even in this case, we are talking about a deeper pattern (L4+) than the current ones offered on the market and with a specific compound that is perfectly suitable for tough work sites and waste disposal plants. Marangoni has also developed new products for the underground mining sector; such as the new smooth pattern, with a significantly thicker tread (L5S) and better performing compounds that comes in a 29,5x29 version. Another
46 Retreading Business
compounds by providing a range of 267 different products that are subdivided into 73 different sizes and 38 different patterns. In order to manage this ver y extensive range of products on all European markets, Marangoni relies on a network of specialists, who are able to offer a bespoke service and extremely competent counselling to
important market for us is that of tyres for articulated dumpers, for which we offer the most essential and popular sizes such as the 23.5R25, 26.5R25 and 29.5R25 as well as the MADN pattern; and for more extreme uses, we are able to offer various or specific pattern thanks to our Recaflex production. “For the rigid dumper business,