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INDIA
Marangoni Group said, “The evolution of the Indian market provides Marangoni with a great opportunity to expand its global footprint. We have been studying this market for some years now and believe that the time is opportune to propose our retreading system to the country. The expanding road network and the wide acceptance of radials by fast professionalising fleets gives us the confidence that with GRP, we can establish a solid presence in India.”
Mr. Harsh Gandhi, Executive Director, GRP Ltd added, “Our relationship with Marangoni as a supplier to them is more than a decade old and has been built on principles of mutual trust and respect. From our experience in tyre recycling, we believe that the growing pace of radialisation is an
opportunity to bring a world class retreading concept to Indian fleets. Marangoni was the most qualified partner for this.”
The JV intends to establish a pan- Indian network of tyre retreaders able to spread the quality of the Marangoni system to commercial vehicle fleets. These retreaders will have high quality and high- productivity Marangoni equipment, a tyre retreading process standardised and
perfected by Marangoni during many decades of global experience, high quality materials for Marangoni retreading sourced from the JV and professional training in world-class retreading processes and fleet solutions. The JV inaugurated its first flagship store at Indore on November 23, 2015. Indore was chosen as the first location since it is a large trucking centre and the level of radialisation there is
>50% - much higher than the national rate of around 36% currently. In subsequent months, the JV expects to attract entrepreneurs looking to invest in the tyre retreading sector, independent retreaders desiring to upgrade their offering and make it future-proof in a fast changing market and GRP’s present suppliers already operating in the disposal of end-of-life tyres.
The question for India is, does it protect its workers or its companies?
Indian Rubber Sector in Dilemma
India’s domestic rubber supply sector is in crisis, demand has collapsed and plantation workers are finding it difficult to make a living. Rubber has fallen in value, with the price of RSS4 Kottayam diving from Rs 130.45 per kilo on January 1, 2015 to Rs 101 per kilo on December 15, 2015. It had been as high as Rs235 per kilo previously. As a consequence, the rubber tappers are leaving their work and moving to other employment, leaving the Indian rubber producers short of staff and unable to pay a decent wage to
those they have.
The government has placed import duties on imported rubber to tr y and bolster the price of Indian rubber, but the tyre and rubber manufacturers say that in itself is damaging their business and they want the duties reduced or removed.
The All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) and Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) said in the April-Nov period of the current fiscal for which data is available, domestic NR deficit has been 2.8 lakh tonnes
and imports of equivalent amount (2.8 lakh tones) have been contracted by the industr y.
Tolins Upgrades Website and News
Indian tread manufacturer Tolins has quietly updated its website. Its news section carries advance notice of the events that the company will be attending in 2016.
In a campaign to boost exports the company is reaching our and will
be at the North American Tire Retread Expo in New Orleans in April and Reifen Essen in May. The new website has a more modern appeal and should be more readily updates with news and events.
Quality is never an accident.
It is always the result of intelligent effort.
John Ruskin
Come to New Orleans, LA: April 19 - 21, 2016 Booth # 819
Come to Essen in Germany: May 24 - 27 2016, Hall 11, Booth # 11G13 + 11G15
www.bj-rocket.com