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POLAND/NEWS
premium product in a price conscious market.
Additionally, we need to build confidence in the retread itself. We need to convince fleet operators to buy and use retreads. We are selling services and the decision is up to the customer.
The reps have to build awareness through analysing tyre performance, auditing results, educating on tyre use and tyre maintenance. Retreads are not as popular in Poland as they are in Germany, or the UK. Sometimes the idea of retreading is completely new to the client and we have a long haul to convert them to using Bandag technology. It is through the services that we provide that we build confidence and eventually generate new business.
The retread sector today is probably as low as 20 per cent of the replacement market, that gives us a lot of room to grow. We are
interested in tomorrow. We are making a business for the future and we want to expand the group, however, we do not wish to compete on price.”
Opony Przemysłowe has a total staff of 70, of which 15 work in Kleszczele, and 5 of them are involved in the direct retreading operation, which produced around 6,000 tyres last year. So, there is plenty of room for growth even with just one shift, and by doubling or trebling the shifts production could go much higher.
“The production depends upon casing supply. If we get CoC to retread then we can produce the tyres. So the key to growth is more fleets buying into the Total Tyre Care package. If we apply the Total Tyre Care package properly we will see a growth in business. We have a very positive outlook for the future of retreading as part of our group operations” concludes Kaniewski.
Public Fleets in Europe Use Vipal Rubber Products
Emphasising the safety and benefits of tyre retreading is something that Vipal Rubber always strives to do. And this is also recognised in governmental spheres. Public transportation in two European capitals, Istanbul in Turkey and Prague in the Czech Republic, circulates with retreaded tyres using Vipal treads. This confidence in Vipal ensures reduced costs for fleets, offering the same assurance provided by a new tyre. Furthermore, the retreading practice is in line with sustainability policies, highly valued on the European
underscore the importance of tyre retreading for the company.
Another key Vipal partner is Wetest Pneu, a retreader in the Czech Republic with more than 300 customers, including the company responsible for passenger transport buses in Prague. There are more than 1,150 vehicles circulating in extreme conditions, such as the harsh European winter. Another point where Vipal stands out is in that it offers products geared toward the specific needs of the 90 plus countries where it operates, such as special treads for
continent as a whole. This is because the tyre can be retreaded more than twice on average, thus keeping new tyres from being put to work. In Turkey, Vipal’s partnership is with the TATKAP Group, which in addition to Tatko, the company’s dealer in the country, Central Asia and the Ukraine, is also one of Turkey’s top retreaders. This retreader uses Vipal products for customers such as IETT (Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Company), responsible for public transportation in Istanbul and whose fleet uses over 30,000 tyres per year. Moreover, its vehicles usually travel an average of 80,000 km per year. Factors like these
driving on snow.
Vipal develops various initiatives around the world for disseminating and clarifying information about tyre retreading. “We believe in the importance of retreading as a practice that allows fleet owners to make savings, aside from being an activity that is very beneficial for the environment. The fact that passenger transportation companies are using retreaded tyres is solid proof of their quality and safety,” emphasises Alessandro Campos, General Manager of Vipal Europe.
Marangoni and Tatneft
to Establish Joint Venture in Russia
Marangoni and Tatneft Group have agreed to form a joint venture in Russia for tyre retreading of all steel radial truck tyres. The joint venture company will be based in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan. The joint venture will be operated through “KaMaRetread” LLC where LLC “Trading House “Kama”, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tatneft, will own 65 per cent while Marangoni S.p.A. will own 35 per cent.
Marangoni S.p.A. will contribute to the JV with its unique equipment, technologies and experience in tyre retreading, and will provide all necessary training, while Tatneft Group will provide a facility for the retreading, management and personnel as well as local expertise. Once the JV commences its
operations (expected in the first half of 2015), it will provide truck tyre consumers, including consumers of all steel truck tyres manufactured at the Tatneft owned plant in Nizhnekamsk, with a top quality retreading service assured by advanced level of technology aimed at offering a significant increase in the tyre life.
Marangoni and Tatneft Group believe in market potential of the JV and consider it as the first step for the expansion of co-operation in the future.
Tatneft is one of the largest oil and petrochemical vertically-integrated groups in Russia. Tatneft is engaged in production of oil and gas, refining and marketing of oil and refined products, as well as manufacturing and marketing of tyres.
Anwar Fasikhovich Vakhitov, Director of "Tatneft-Petrochim" MC, and Paolo Maria Fincato, Corporate Development Director of "Marangoni Spa"
36 Retreading Business