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AUTOPROMOTEC PREVIEW
Autopromotec – The Retreading Show
Autopromotec in Bologna is one of the motor trade’s most important trade exhibitions for all areas of the supply chain and service sectors. For some years the retread element had been in decline, but the 2013 edition sees a stronger representation of suppliers and service companies to the retread sector take their place at Autopromotec once again.
AIRP, the Italian retread manufacturers’ association is party to the development and management of the show and AIRP has been working hard to rebuild the retread element of the show.
The key players from the independent retread sector are present in the form of Marangoni who are exhibiting to a home market, aiming to keep the invaders out and retain the loyalty of their Italian customer base. The quiet Italian from ITG will also be present just to keep their name in view, meet old friends and colleagues and do some business into the bargain. Portuguese retread materials supplier EIB has taken a stand at the show and will be making the most of the opportunity to increase product and brand awareness. This Portuguese company has made big efforts in the past 12 months to develop its market share both at home and abroad.
Rubber specialists who have made an impression globally, Vipal, will be in Bologna reasserting their heritage and their global understanding of retreading needs from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, and California to Australia via Dubai and all points in between.
Mexico’s Galgo is maintaining its campaign to build on its foothold in the European market. The Belgian based European operation was established some years ago but with the economic crisis and enforced management changes in Belgium the
campaign lost some momentum. But the Mexican company is determined to make headway and will be doing its best to offer great deals and fantastic products at the show. However, Galgo is not alone, for fellow Mexican precure specialists Hules Banda are at the show with its Bandamatic brand and there will be a wrestling match for those sales between these two Mexican competitors
The Turkish commercial sector is keen to see the country join the EU, and in recent years there has been increasing interest in European shows from Turkish tread rubber suppliers. However, at this event only Rekor Kaucuk is making an appearance. Rekor has had some positive responses to its products in some European markets and will be building on that success to grow its presence within the EU, giving it a head start should Turkey eventually be welcomed into the European trading community.
It wouldn’t be a show without the Indian majors of Elgi and Midas appearing to show their wares. Elgi now being an all
encompassing operation
covering ever ything from
retreading machiner y
through to recycling of end
of life tyres. Midas,
meanwhile, appear content
to gently nudge the market
and grow business naturally
whilst focussing on the
rubber business as its core
interest.
From Malaysia, Eversafe, who
made their European debut
at Essen in 2012, have made
the trip to Bologna with the
hope of opening up new
markets, not only in Europe
but North Africa and the
Middle East.
Marangoni’s Eurorubber will
be there for those looking for
compounding technology and materials both for tyres and for automotive uses. Spain’s Mezclas Caucho too is present, focussing on retread materials, but also involved in recycling and technical rubber applications.
Attending Auropromotec looking to find agents, distributors and outlets for retreaded tyres are of course Marangoni and Malatesta, but also Unigom from Belgium and Insa Turbo from Spain. The market for both commercial vehicle and specialist car and 4x4 tyres has seen some considerable revival across Europe. That does not mean that retreaders are reinvesting and restarting car tyre plants, but rather that those who have focussed and developed and targeted their production over the years are now in the position to produce and sell in volume to export markets – a far cry from the days of locally produced retreads.
German wholesaler and retreader Hammerling will have its now familiar high impact stand selling not only new tyres but its own brand of retreads, which have become very popular in Eastern European markets.
If it is heavy tyres for OTR use, then Perugia-based Carloni are taking a place at the show to exhibit their Earthmover retread operation. The company can offer stock retreads, or can retread customers’ own casings on request. Also present is OBO Banden, which has reorganised in the past year and is taking a more aggressive approach to marketing their retread landscaping and earthmover tyres.
Of course, we must not forget Bandag, who will be present on the Bridgestone stand, promoting the retread option as part of the whole life costs of new Bridgestone tyres. Equipment is at the heart of any good retread operation and in Italy
the buyers are spoilt for choice. Italy, despite huge pressure from India and the Far East remains the source of much of the world’s quality retreading equipment. The list of manufacturers is like a list of market leading brands, from Matteuzzi, perhaps the “Rolls Royce” of retreading equipment, to masters of the art, Marangoni Meccanica – who now focus on new tyre machinery manufacture, and TRM their wholly owned subsidiary, which specialises in retread equipment now found in an increasing number of not only independent retread operations but also in the houses of the large tyre manufacturers such as Goodyear. Hot cure is still an important market in Europe, and key retreaders often hold market share through their ability to produce “like new” hot cure retreads. CIMA, and Saspol, and of course Italmatic offer ranges of moulds and presses, as well as buffers and builders.
From Rovereto, the hometown of Marangoni and TRM, Salvadori too have a presence at the show. Salvadori can offer a wide range of equipment for tyre retreading and recycling, including debeaders, moulds, skiving equipment, inspection machines and more. Also from Rovereto is SD Meccanica, this service engineer also produces equipment, and will be exhibiting its high tech OTR tyre regroover/ buffer. Last, but not least is Pescara-based Marigo, 50 years old in 2014, supplier of retread equipment making a splash and hoping to develop interest in their established brand of retread equipment, which has been sold throughout Europe over the years.
Non-Italian equipment manufacturers are thin on the ground, Akar Makina from Turkey, and Tongli make up the overseas representation at Autopromotec this year. Perhaps because these are two
50 Retreading Business