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NEWS EXTRA
Vipal Distributor in South Africa Celebrates 10 Years
From Lübz to Casablanca and Cairo
Vipal Rubber takes pride in the partnerships it has established over its more than 40-year history. That is why, as Latin American leader and one of the top worldwide manufacturers of tyre retreading products, it made a point of honouring Tyre & Retread Supplies (TRS), its distributor in South
journey. It is vital to our presence in this region.” Rigon, along with the Commercial Coordinator for the region, Dijan Rigo, were responsible for delivery of the commemorative plaques to TRS’ management, represented by Gavin Wilke and Morne Goosen.
The company distributes tyre
Uwe Mülot started out retreading tyres for Trabants and tractors in what was Eastern Germany. With Unification, Lübzer Mülot went on to become a leading independent retreader in Germany. Currently the plant produces around 20,000 units per annum.
Mülot was an early adopter of the cold process and he has become an expert in the field. Today Mülot retreads are sold throughout Germany and are exported to several overseas markets.
Funded by the aid of the federal government and supported by MV Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Economy, Mülot built up trade to Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Morocco.
"With a lot of patience, we managed to convey the idea of tyre retreading
in the minds of many decision makers in the Arabic-speaking world." We were assisted in this by Professor Abdallah Nassur of the University of Rostock.
“Later, there were containers sent to Cairo and Casablance for testing. In a few years there were the first specialist workshops," says Mülot. “The demand seems immense, because in Casablanca alone, 800 buses are in use daily. The volume of traffic is considered to be as high as the number of accidents. In Morocco, every year an estimated 8,000 people die from traffic accidents, the main cause being claimed to be worn tyres. “Also, in the East African Republic Djibouti we have boosted the training of mechanics in the skills of tyre repairs and vulcanisation,” he added.
Retread Tire Association Adds New Members
The Retread Tire Association (RTA) has now grown to 360 members covering 39 countries. The RTA , led by Harvey Brodsky, is dedicated to improving the understanding of tyre retreading globally.
The new members are:
United States
Latin Expo Group LLC, Miami, Fla.
Ronda Truck Center, Wyoming, Mich.
Australia
Casings Australia, West Footscray, Victoria.
Asia
Jianxin Rubber (Fujian) Co. Ltd., China.
Europe
Color Service Srl, Italy.
For Web sites and contact information on RTA members, or information on RTA membership, email Managing Director Harvey Brodsky at info@retreadtire.org, or visit the organisation's website at www.retreadtire.org.
Africa. TRS, which operates in the tyre retreading product segment, has completed ten years of activity and partnership with Vipal. The commemorative plaques were delivered to the company’s head office in Johannesburg in October. Vipal has been operating on the African continent for 20 years. According to Vipal’s International Business Manager, Leandro Rigon, “We are part of TRS’ story, just as TRS has been present along Vipal’s
retreading and repair products in South Africa and several other countries in the region, such as Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Botswana. The local market is marked by stiff competition and vast territory, which makes successful partnerships like this one between TRS and Vipal, which currently operates in more than 90 countries around the world, even more important.
Carters Tyres Plan New Retread Plant
WELLINGTON RUBBER CO. LTD
Consistent Buyers of TYRE BUFFINGS, BUTYL TUBES BUTYL BLADDERS
Tel: +44 (0)161 223 7181 Fax +44 (0)161 223 0173
Textile Street, West Gorton, Manchester, M12 5DL, United Kingdom
Christchurch, New Zealand’s Carter’s Tyres is planning to open a new retread plant at Temuka that could employ an additional 20 staff within a year.
The initial 10 staff would be employed in the buffing department removing and repairing casings, and rebuilding the retreads using Malaysian sourced treads.
If the business went to plan, a further 10 workers could be hired within 12 months. However, the firm did not "want to get ahead of ourselves", said Josh Compston of Carter’s Tyres.
Carter's was also focusing its efforts on a national contract to supply and fit tyres on dair y company Fonterra's trucks. The plant would supply Carter's Tyres' South Island shops.
It was unlikely to expand into the North Island, as the firm's Auckland retreading plant could make timely deliveries as far as Wellington. Growth at the new plant would depend on demand.
The Auckland-based company did not intend to open any shops in South Canterbury, where it worked in alliance with General Tyres, which also had a local tyre-retreading plant.