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ITALY
VA. “The sales and distribution take place locally, and there is also a very skilled team of technicians capable of commissioning new equipment and giving the necessary after sales service, which combined with a stock of spares held in the USA allow to carry out on site maintenance. The US market demands 24/7/365 service and we need our distribution partner in the USA to meet that demand.” Explains Capecchi. “In Europe and the rest of the world, we handle the whole sales and support service, including training from Pistoia.” The company’s sales were limited to the local market in the beginning, but soon grew and expanded starting serious export around 1970, reaching the farthest corners of the world. A few years later, CIMA developed a totally new press, the “RP” (Radial Pneus)
model,
companies and we must thank everyone, staff and customers for helping keep CIMA in its market leading position.”
The retread market is rationalising still and the tyre manufacturers are developing their interests in retreading, is that a challenge for CIMA? “There is definitely a trend,” said Alessandro, “We are part of this trend. It is a marketing choice that the tyre manufacturers are making, to give their customers 360 degree service and confidence in their casings.
“We will be able to serve this market because here the quality of the product is all important. Only those who can be part of the quality system that gives the customers the best possible end product will survive.” Daniela Fanti adds: “We started supplying presses to some of the leading tyre manufacturers about 25 years ago in the US, 10 years later in Europe
and our quality is beyond question.”
“We can develop presses for tyres, tracks, solid wheels
etc... Whatever the issue, show
us what you want to cure and
we either have the solution already available or will develop one for your specific purposes.” Where does CIMA see future markets developing at a time when
These Ecoline presses are the most efficient produced by CIMA to date, they have easy maintenance, one point lubrication, and sufficient insulation to enable operators to touch the outside of the housing without fear from the heat
specifically
conceived to cure
radial casing tyres and this is when the real international growth started. The company now covers the globe with its equipment operating in almost every country in the world. The serial numbers on the latest presses to leave the workshops are close to the 9,000 range.
“In terms of curing presses,” adds Daniela, “We have a clear leadership in the market, with more of our presses in operation than all other manufacturers put together. We are usually the first to introduce new ideas and new technology and today that is why the new tyre manufacturers turning to focus on the retread sector are looking to CIMA for a lead on the best equipment for equipping their plants.”
Alessandro Vignolini adds. “We are proud to say that we have a lot of long term staff and we have a pride in building the business together. Our customers range from the small retreader to the biggest
the tyre manufacturers are moving to dominate retreading in Europe in particular?
“There are booming markets in South America and we expect that to be a very big outlet in the future, particularly in the OTR sector. The problem though is the taxation system making it very difficult for the local companies to buy the latest technology from abroad. However, there is a market there to be developed.
“Closer to home there is the Eastern European market and the CIS states, and then there is the Middle East, all markets that are developing or realising that they need to act to preserve resources. Sometimes these markets are not always easy to reach and building a client base can be a long term project.” Says Massimo.
“Our experience in the market gives us an advantage. We look at areas where after sales is important and
that is where we are well placed and able to support our customers. That is not something that many low cost producers can offer. There is a need to always provide something new, to stay ahead of the competition, to provide constantly improving quality.”
China is a huge market and it has had a magnetic attraction for many western companies expecting to exploit the huge potential there. Has CIMA any plans in that direction?
“Simply, no.” Said Massimo. “We have no plans to have our equipment built in China or anywhere else in the world. We have been told that there are Chinese companies claiming to be our subsidiary production site and pretending to sell people China made Cima equipment. Our reply to these comments is: CIMA equipment is and will remain 100 per cent made in Italy”.