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LATIN AMERICA
ANDELLAC Discusses the Challenges
The ANDELLAC conference 2016 discussed the main challenges facing the tyre industry today. The consensus was that the threats to the sector came from the import of poor quality tyres, especially those low
priced tyres from Asia; the need to meet the demands of the laws of the prevention of waste, which involved creating campaigns to collect end of life tyres and at the same time rebuild the business model for tyre
Brazil is a large country and there are great distances between population centres. The country has developed a large road haulage industry but in some places the development of the infrastructure has not matched that of the industry that uses it.
One such place is in Rio Grande do Sul, particularly the highway that links Caxias do Sul, Farrukhabad, Garibaldi and Bento Gonçalves.
There are 18 km where the road is so severely damaged by ruts and potholes that transporters are paying the cost in damaged good and vehicles on a daily basis.
The conditions result in mandatory speed reductions, it is simply not possible to drive fast, and even with care, vehicle damage is a certainty. LF Transport based at Burratti on the highway in question faces between
R$100,000 and E$120,000 monthly in maintenance.
The company reports tyres damaged beyond repair and tyres that should be retreaded having to be scrapped due to road damage caused by potholes and ruts.
Another operator, bus company, Ozelame, whose buses pass along the road 50 times a day, report that in addition to tyre damage their buses have daily suspension inspections and not a day goes past without some repairs having to be made due to road damage.
The hauliers and bus operators are calling for the road to be renewed but as always, a shortage of money is the excuse for the lack of repairs, the cost has to be carried by the operators in terms of repairs and damaged tyres.
distribution in Mexico.
Outgoing president, Raul Castillo explained that after four years as head of the group he has realised that ANDELLAC has to change the way it does things.
"The world has changed. Everything has changed. And to that extent, we as tyre dealers are also called to change, because if we keep thinking that our business is selling tyres is, our companies will disappear.
“I'm not saying you have to stop selling tyres. On the contrary, that remains the pillar of our business. What I'm saying is that you also have to offer the full service, marketing other products and services that complement the stability and security of the tyre business. "
And although, he added, the task of working with the authorities and other organisations on security, ecology and economic welfare remains an arduous task, the eye must be kept upon the ball..
In this context, Tom Grávalos,
president of the National Chamber of Rubber Industry and CEO of Pirelli Mexico, said the entry of used tyres into the market jeopardises road safety and environmental situation. That was why both the automakers and the authorities should examine the risks of used tyres; for the safety is not only the risk to the transporters but to all road users.
Meanwhile, Martin Rosales, general manager for Goodyear Mexico, said that before the growth being experienced by the automotive industry in Mexico, which is expected, in five years, to build from 3 to 5 million units, the opportunity and the responsibility we have as manufacturers will be essential.
“Not only do we have to produce more tyres”, he said, “but also take responsibility for the challenge, as growth represents an opportunity for making tyres but this also comes with the responsibility for their safe use and disposal.”
Michelin Opens New Retread Facility in Argentina
Michelin has opened a new retread plant for truck and bus tyres in the Argentinian city of San Miguel de Tucuman, adding to the four existing plants in the country.
increasingly brings us closer to carriers across the country helping to reduce operating costs and provide a higher return on their investment in their tyres," said Guillermo
The installation, carried out at the firm JDG Neumaticos, belongs to the network of Michelin Resellers, employs 14 people and will have a production capacity of 14,000 tyres in the first year. Subsequently, it plans to increase its staffing to 48 and seek production of some 60,000 retreads per annum. "Expanding our network of Michelin retreading plants
Crevatin, President of Michelin Argentina.
Most of the machinery installed at this new tyre technology centre in northwestern Argentina was designed and developed by Argentine companies through the exchange of technical and industrial expertise among national SMEs and technology centres located in France.
Rio Grande do Sul Roads Hinder Business Development
Road damage pushes costs up for hauliers
Raul Castillo
56 Retreading Business