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NEWS
efficient as possible. The majority of the budget will go on a new buffing line which has been demonstrating its merits since the beginning of the year. The set-up and tooling processes are automated so that short throughput times are guaranteed for the growing variety of products. The buffing machine also produces impressive results in that the pat- tern now appears much more even, both on the underside of the tread and on the tops of the wings thanks to the new manufacturing technology. Furthermore there is an integrated inspection point where pattern lengths identified as rejects are automatically weeded out of the process. The health and safety system was upgraded to the
latest standard during the development of the line, also reducing the noise levels to which the workers are exposed.
"In addition to the buffing line, we are investing in improving productivity and efficiency in all other areas, too. This includes our plant and machiner y, our cycles and processes, and the training of our staff," said Thorsten Schmidt, Managing Director of Kraiburg Austria, "and we are delighted that the technology of the new buffing line is already enabling us to provide our customers, the retreaders, with an even better and more flexible service."
Roline Uses RFID Technology for Retreaders
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging is not a new technology. It’s first use was during the second world war
when aircraft were given RFID tags to enable them to be identified as friendly or otherwise. Indeed, such tagging is in use on all modern aircraft today.
However, today we are probably all familiar with RFID when we buy higher value goods in any high street store, as they will be security tagged with an RFID chip. Early RFID chips were simple transponders that sent back an ID signal. They could be read but not written. They were static tags with a single purpose. However, modern tags can work by holding data that can be updated, so, unlike a barcode, which identifies a tyre to a reader and the computer system holds the data for the tyre, a read/ write RFID tag can hold all the tyre data and be updated as it moves through its life.
Most quality retreaders will use at
least a bar code system to record their tyre stock as it goes through the system, some will use reusable RFID tags that get
placed inside the tyre for the duration of the retread process. However, the tag can take all the retread information for any given tyre and that is tagged onto the tyre at the end of the production process. Anyone managing the fleets that these tagged tyres are used in can note the details of the tyre’s production so long as they have an enabled reader. Read /write tags also allow maintenance staff to update the data on the tag with information regarding pressure, tread wear, mileage and date.
Dutch retreader, Roline, has made good use of the RFID tagging system and customers can now carry out fleet inspections
by walking around the vehicle with a handheld scanner. Extended across a whole fleet, this will save customers hours on each inspection.
Rechapage du Centre Plans to Double Production
French retreader Rechapage du Centre has recently relocated to a new building adjacent to an Intermarche logistics base near Petit Vernats. The company has already increased its staff from 10 to 12 employees and expects to see considerable growth in the coming five years.
15,000 tyres within five years.
On the new site, production has been completely redesigned to follow the Bandag process as closely as is possible. At each stage of the process, waste and other dust produced is recovered by suction pumps and transferred to a recycling process.
Philippe Labonne inspects a casing being checked before being processed
Kraiburg Austria Invests in New Buffing Line
Kraiburg Austria will be investing in its machinery again this year. The retreading specialist has earmarked four million euro for
investment. The aim is to maintain quality at the highest possible level and to keep the production processes as flexible and as
The new location has been designed by architect Stéphane Moulinois Pichon. The new site is both larger and more technologically and environmentally friendly than its former location.
An independent company headed by Philippe Labonne, Rechapage du Centre is a Bandag franchise with a dozen outlets serving the 14 departments of central France, the Paris region and Savoie.
Last year, the company produced 7,500 retreaded tyres for construction equipment, trucks and buses and aims to produce
Rechapage du Centre works with all brands of tyres from the main manufacturers, Michelin, Goodyear and Bridgestone, of course.
At the end of the process, even if their original mark remains on their sides, retreads have become Rechapage du Centre-Bandag Centre. Ever y tyre has a serial number that is the responsibility of the company and not the OEM. Rechapage du Centre is one of only five Bandag franchises or affiliated centres in France
Thorsten Schmidt, Managing Director of Kraiburg Austria
6 Retreading Business