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BRAZIL
Lukatec Expands through Domestic Demand for More Sophisticated Retreading Equipment
Lukatec, the Sao Leopoldo, Brazil based manufacturer of retreading equipment, is growing rapidly on the back of substantial demand within the Brazilian market for more
aim to exploit.”
This rather unusual market situation has emerged because Lukatec is the only company in Brazil selling this level of machine, and as a result the
equipment available to Brazilian retreaders.
One of the first products to be produced specifically for the retread market was a vulcanisation control system for autoclaves, which can be used in conjunction with any autoclave. However, the product which brought Lukatec to the notice of the global industr y was the company’s patented Rasparobo buffer, which is the world’s only buffer with a robotic arm. The machine is available as a single buffer ARP1 or a dual robotic buffer ARP2. The buffer was the focus of Möller’s attention in 2014. However, this year the company has focused on the development of the ROITREAD dual head extruder system. Möller
frames. Instead, the company focuses on its key strength of designing the machines and assembling them. The basic metalwork is subcontracted to various supplier partners.
In addition to the Roborasp and ROITREAD machines, Lukatec supplies H frame buffers, manual builders, inspection machines and safety cages, as well as a tyre endurance machine, which has been installed in one of the INMETRO testing laboratories in Brazil. The company also sells Bazooka Lukatec in Brazil, manufactured in Taiwan under licence from Gaither Tool.
“Our next step is to supply turnkey plants so we are currently looking at monorail systems etc. We will be initially
Lucas Möller with the ROITREAD extruder
sophisticated machinery with the country’s retreading plants. According to Managing Director Lucas Möller, the company is set to become the market leader for equipment this year as its patented robotic buffer and ROITREAD extruder becomes more popular. The company has already outgrown its current manufacturing facility and is in the process of planning expanded facilities on an adjacent site. Says Möller; “We are looking to stay in our current location for the next two years and then move, once the new facility is built.”
Möller believes the next five years will be very busy in Brazil as existing retread shops invest to upgrade their facilities.
“Less than 10% of retreaders in Brazil have automatic buffers,” explains Möller. “Our argument is that our machines can save substantially on labour costs as well as improve quality, safety and productivity. The automation of curing chambers in Brazil started about 10 years ago, but buffers have largely remained manual until now. As a result there are significant opportunities, which we now
company has rapidly gained a reputation for high quality and innovation. Other key suppliers to the local market such as Ferlex and Tectyres have traditionally sold more basic models, whilst the leading European equipment manufacturers have been stymied in their attempts to enter the market, held back by prohibitive import duties, which have made their equipment too expensive.
Möller’s entry into the retreading sector has been relatively recent, having sold his first machine only 8 years ago. He is the son of one of the brothers who developed the retread materials manufacturer, Tipler, which now operates under the name of Unique Rubber, so his roots are in the retreading sector.
When he set up Lukatec Möller spent the first two years selling only one product, a tyre mounting and demounting tool called Naja, with which he had had considerable success in the USA. However, it was his father who persuaded him of the opportunities offered by the lack of high quality retreading
The Lukatec team with the patented Roborasp buffer
32 Retreading Business
explains; “In marketing our products we emphasise their efficiency as the key selling point. This is important because the retreading industr y in Brazil is ver y competitive at the moment. The ROI in ROITREAD uses the acronym for “Return On Investment”. The systems are built on a modular basis, so the extruder can be supplied with one, two or three buffers depending on requirements. Unlike several other players in the retreading equipment market, Lukatec does not have a metal workshop for manufacturing the machines
using partners for this.”
In terms of exports Lukatec is focusing initially on North America, but understands the need to find a suitable partner. “There is plenty of room for growth in Brazil, so we are concentrating first on the domestic market and the rest of Latin America,” says Lucas Möller. The USA is certainly on the radar, and Europe and Asia are for the future, but we know we need good partners for these regions.”