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NEWS EXTRA
AIRP Looks to Introduce Retreadability Index and Improve Services to Retreaders
The conference room at the new AIRP headquarters
meeting rooms, a wide convention room, and a large space that will host an experimental car repair shop for demonstrations featuring the most sophisticated automotive equipment for vehicle servicing.
Says Servadei; “In an
The Italian Retreaders Association AIRP is looking to develop a casing retreadability index for retreaders in Italy and across Europe as part of a programme to develop the Association’s services and improve its liaison with other automotive industry associations.
This was revealed by AIRP Director Renzo Servadei during a recent visit to AIRP’s new headquarters at Anzola dell’Emilia near Bologna. According to Servadei, the plan is part of a three point agenda to improve services within the retreading industry and to develop an ongoing win-win relationship with the tyre industry as a whole. Says Servadei; “We want to work together in the spirit of mutual co- operation with the tyre manufacturers in order to improve the quality of premium tyres. Our aim is to create a casing retreadability index, first looking at Italy, but then perhaps looking at wider applications.
“We are also looking to work more closely with the Ministry of Transport to improve the control and therefore the quality of the retreading industry. The third area,” he added, “is labelling, and we are keen to continue to work together with Ruud Spuibroek and BIPAVER to bring the Retyre project to fruition.”
AIRP moved into its new offices last May, sharing with exhibition organisers Promotec
and several trade
associations including the tyre dealers association Federpneus and the garage equipment association AICA. The new building covers an area of over 2,000 square metres and features state-of- the-art green energy appliances. It includes several
increasingly complex and challenging market the wide
automotive world needs to gather, meet, stay up-to-date, discuss and build networks in order to stay competitive and face the future. Hence the need for a real automotive hub, a permanent place for business matchmaking meetings involving the main characters of the supply chain, with international activities playing a leading role in enterprise development. The new offices are a major investment for us. Our aim was to create an association hub similar to the fantastic facilities available at VACO in the Netherlands. We wanted to establish a base for several trade associations, so that we can work together and lobby together for our mutual benefit. It is also a major investment for the next Autopromotec, which is expected to achieve 10 per cent growth in 2015.”
AIRP, AICA and Federpneus are working together with the University of Bologna on a number of fleet management and training programmes. AICA already have plans in place to manage garage equipment training in Anzola dell’Emilia and, according to Servadei, plans are being drawn up to introduce training programmes for the retreading industry. AIRP will be hosting the next General Meeting of BIPAVER during the next edition of Autopromotec.
AIRP Director Renzo Servadei