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CZECH REPUBLIC
Vladimir Skoupil
Carling trucks, yellow and white
Shearography ITT SFERA 3000
Carling Brno Celebrates 20 Years
the truck tyre segment. Logically, the company is a member of the Truck Force network, using FleetOnline Solutions or operating the Premio tyre service.
Since 2002 mobile services have been part of the company portfolio. It is quite likely that when one calls to an international tyre service provider asking for truck service in the Czech Republic, one of their six mobile services will fix your problem. Today the company operates eight professional truck tyre services known as Profikol located from Prague to Ostrava, including one in Slovakia.
Finally, in 2007 the company activities – both car and tyre business – were concentrated in its own facilities in Brno-Slatina. Carling upgraded the retreading
The owners took action to survive, increasing efficiency and cutting activities and costs not vital for the business. Staff were reduced to two thirds. At the end of the day the company is now stronger than ever, producing more retreads than before the crisis. However, casing quality and availability remain as limiting factors.
Carling covers all the segments of the retreading market, starting with Goodyear Dunlop NextTread and Marangoni Ringtread technologies, and has been using quality Kraiburg materials since the beginning and is now offering its own brand of Profiride retreads for the economy segment.
The tyre and retreading business is managed by Vladimir Skoupil. He participated in the establishment of the Czech retreaders association SVP in 2004 and represents it in BIPAVER. He believes that coming legislation issues are crucial for the near future of independent retreaders and is therefore ready to invest his time and energy here.
Twenty years after its foundation, Carling holds leading position in the Czech Republic in both segments of their activities, related to cars and to tyres and retreading and is focused on developing long term strategies and meeting customer needs.
Carling today operates one of the most advanced precure retreading plants in Central Europe. How did the company get from its beginnings to become the producer of 20,000
managed by Milan Oplatek remains today as one of two main business areas, alongside the tyre business. In the first year 23 cars were sold, in 1994 it was over 100 cars, today the
factor y
for the
third
time,
retreads per year?
A quarter of a century ago, precure retreading was unknown in former Czechoslovakia. Today’s company owners Vladimir Skoupil and Milan Oplatek were students at the local technical university, specialising in the automotive sector and expecting to work in one of the state owned companies. However, the period started by the Velvet Revolution in 1989 offered many more interesting perspectives. The young engineers started their first business attempts in various fields, with varying success. This was a preparatory school for business.
The Carling Limited Liability Company was born in 1992 with the aim of selling cars. Easy to say, difficult to make happen. Finally, arrangements were made with Citroën – and this activity
company is the leading Citroën dealer in the Czech Republic. The retreading idea came in 1995. Help from Hans Endler and Milan Gajdos from Gummiwerk Kraiburg was crucial in starting this new business successfully. The first retreads were produced in March 1996. Demand was growing quickly and soon the small rented facility in Brno-Slatina with the second hand equipment was not able to meet with demand. Consequently the retreading plant was upgraded and moved to a bigger rented building in nearby Modrice.
The year 2000 was characterised by the addition of new tyre activities. Carling started to co- operate with Gooyear Dunlop and soon became their most important business partner in
building a modern plant and having all major
equipment doubled up. Machinery here includes
a ITT STERA 3000 shearographic inspection machine, RAS 90 – DC4 buffer (to be substituted soon), Ringbuilder 2500 (including AZ extruder for cushion gum) and two PLC programmable autoclaves with touch screen computers.
Soon after the inauguration of the newly opened facilities the economic crisis knocked on the door. It has been a difficult time for everybody. The retreading production dropped by 25 per cent.
52 Retreading Business