Page 28 - RB-76-16-1

INDIA
facility by streamlining operations, standardising production and the service network,” explained Rajesh V Shetty, CEO, Tyresoles.
The company now has three JVs on the retreading side and one in tread manufacturing. It has formed a JV in Jabalpur to cater to the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, in Hyderabad to serve the southern markets of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and in Ahmedabad for the Gujarat market. “Another JV in pipeline is in Aurangabad to service the entire
prepaid schemes at significantly lower prices and delivering great value through operational efficiency. Tyresoles has a mother plant in Belgaum and has set up a service network in Bangalore and Nashik. The Belgaum plant has the capacity to retread 150,000 tyres annually and the three JV units a further 30,000. “We have retreaded around 180,000 tyres last fiscal and are targeting 225,000 to 230,000 tyres in the ongoing fiscal,” Shetty stated. The company has also doubled its tread making capacity from 150
Rajesh V Shetty, CEO, Tyresoles.
Marathwada region, which is likely to be finalised by the end of fiscal 2015-16,” informed Shetty. The company has also entered Tamil Nadu by setting-up a service partner network in July 2014. Tyresoles continues to look to form alliances in the Central, West and Southern part of India.
Meanwhile, Tyresoles is keen on expanding geographically through partnering with local retreaders with whom it would establish plant, process and service networks as well as scale up volume to 5,000 tyres per month. “Our strategy is to help local retreaders by offering them an opportunity to become our service partners and help them to increase their business,” Shetty added. Tyresoles has been helping transporters by offering them various
tonnes to 300 tonnes each month at its Mangalore plant. “We have added new presses to develop applications for specialised treads, for example patterns for reach stackers for handling intermodal cargo containers in small terminals and medium sized ports. Our products are very much established in a number of ports,” he added. Meanwhile, Tyresoles has now launched a range of premium treads, which are claimed to be as good as new tyres. The treads cost 20 per cent more in price but are claimed to offer 30 per cent more mileage. Emphasising Tyresoles’ focus, Shetty said, “We continue to focus on operational efficiencies at our plants, sales and service network and associated retread plants and pass on the benefits to our customers.”
precure process. The company sources specialised tread rubber customised to its own requirements by Eastern Tread, as well as Omni and Kwik patches for repairs.
Tyre Grip is regarded as one of the largest retreaders in Maharashtra with a trained work force of over 100 people. The company started in Feb 2014 and retreads more than 3,500 tyres per month. The Vashi plant has the capacity to retread 6,000 tyres per month and covers territor y which includes the whole of Mumbai and the western part of Maharashtra. Mohan Kumar, Commercial Director, Michelin India said at the time of the opening of the facility; “We are excited about this new centre in Mumbai. Michelin's new tyre design technology, proven tread designs and new tyre manufacturing standards provide our tyres with multiple lives. Higher retreadability has a direct impact on the financials of a fleet owner, in addition to significantly contributing to a greener environment.”
On joining hands with Michelin, Prasad Mahajan, Director, Tyre Grip said, “Michelin is a well- known radial brand and will help upgrade our retreading process.” Tyre Grip has already installed
new equipment to Michelin standards including a Differentiate Pressure Control (DPC) System, building machine, solution table etc.
The plant is equipped with standard equipment auch as a one-tyre chamber, two buffers, three tyre builders, nine bonders, three moulds, one envelope expander and a spotter. Tyre Grip has a specialised curing process in steam and in electric and also use the conventional hot process for OTR tyres.
When asked whether the Indian market is ready for the premium Michelin product, considering increasing competition and price cutting in the market, Mahajan said, “The customer class is different, the advantages are also different. The Recamic process adds value to the product, hence, the price difference.” The Recamic facility is expected to add 30 per cent to Tyre Grip’s volume in the first year of operation.
Meanwhile, Tyre Grip is also planning further expansion by setting-up a second plant in Maharashtra. The retreader is in the middle of identifying a plant location. “Our second retread plant will most likely become operational in the fiscal 2016-17,” said Mahajan.
Michelin Open Recamic Facility at Tyre Grip
Marangoni Signs Indian JV with GRP
Michelin is expanding its retreading network in India by opening new Recamic plants. The French tyre and retread major has recently joined hands with Tyre Grip to open a certified Recamic tyre retreading facility at the latter’s plant in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, to bring quality retread solutions to truck and bus
customers in Western India. Designed and certified to offer retreads for all casings, the state- of-the-art plant will offer the Michelin brand Recamic tread for use on Michelin casings.
In addition to the Recamic process, Tyre Grip will continue to retread tyres from the same Vashi plant by the standard hot and
Marangoni S.p.a and GRP Ltd, India’s largest rubber recycling company, have established a joint venture to carry on the business of commercial vehicle tyre retreading in India.
The JV leverages the strengths of the two partners – Marangoni as a retreading systems company and GRP in rubber recycling and understanding of the Indian
market – to bring a world class retreading solution to Indian commercial vehicle fleets that will help them extend the life of their tyres and lower their operational costs. As a result Marangoni’s RINGTREAD system will be seen in India for the first time. Speaking on the occasion of the announcement of the JV, Mr. Massimo De Alessandri - CEO,
28 Retreading Business