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LATIN AMERICA
Michelin to Double Retread Capacity in Argentina
Villa Clara
Retreading Modernises
Michelin recently opened its fifth Argentinean retread plant in San Miguel De Tucuman with an investment of 34 million pesos. This allows the company to retread tyres in the Tucuman area to the highest quality and at the most competitive rates. Michelin prides itself on producing retreads that match its original
tyres in quality and performance, thus extending the useful life of the tyre and adding value to the client’s investments.
This fifth plant is another step along the road to Michelin’s target of 10 plants in Argentina, as it aims to double capacity in the coming years. The new facility, developed by the firm JDG Neumaticos, a member of Michelin reseller network will specialiae in premium reconstruction of truck and bus tyres, and aims to "promote the industr y with world-class technologies". During its first year, this plant of 1300 m2, employed 14 people and had a production capacity of 14,000 tyres; now it aims to increase the staffing to 48 employees and targets 60,000 tyres from the second year.
"Expanding the network of retreading brings us ever closer to carriers across the country, helping to reduce costs and provide a greater return on their investment in tyres," explained Guillermo Crevatin, president of Michelin Argentina, after adding, "With this service we offer the possibility of having a new tyre for the second time, with the same features and quality offered by our brand. "
For his part, Joaquín Gargiulo, head of JDG Neumaticos, stressed that, "in times where the transport situation is not
the best, retreading allows carriers to reduce their operating costs."
Crevatin provided clarifications regarding the expansion plans of the company, in a year where many are waiting to see what will happen to the economy in the coming months.
"The decision to invest in this plant was taken a year ago because, as our partners, we think in the long term. However, even if we had to make the decision now, we would still do the same. This is why we are already working towards the next round of openings for 2016, 2017 and so on until we reach our target of 10 retreading plants in
Argentina, "said the manager. “Michelin has been operating in Argentina for 100 years and in that time the company has faced many different scenarios, but it always adapts to each situation, by responding to the needs of its customers. “Clearly, here we meet characteristics that we must explain when we talk to our head office in France, but we understand that in Argentina there is a ver y high brand awareness for Michelin. It's amazing how the Argentine consumer wants our brand, and that drives us to continue to invest in Argentina.
“We Adapt to every circumstance. Sometimes the market gives you some things and sometimes not. We want to work as a multinational company but coupled to the local reality because we feel valued as a national brand in Argentina. Therefore, we have several product lines that, in different ways, reach out to the consumer and that, somehow, they offset each other. “We are pleased with the performance in recent years and expectations for the future are good. And in the case of new tyres, where, if there is an impact, we are just entering the sector; we are not yet major players and we're gaining our share in sales despite the current market downturn.”
Cuban retreader, state owned Villa Clara, is expecting to see a significant increase in production in 2016 thanks to the recent modernisation of the factory.
provinces that benefited most were Villa Clara, with more than 2,900 tyres rehabilitated; Cienfuegos y Matanzas; and to a lesser extent Sancti Spíritus y
For the current year it is expected a significant increase in production, from the upgrading of the equipment use in the production.
David Diaz, the manager of Villa Clara, took in a total of 6,724 tyres over the past year to ensure the development of the recently initiated sugar war, to help ensure the mobility of trucks, tractors and field equipment for the sugar plantations. Pombrol Angel Santos, director of the institution, said that the
Mayabeque, which also brought in casings for repair.
It meant that the Villa Clara plant retreaded a little more than 29,000 tyres in 2015, exceeding the set target by 1,200 tyres. Diaz also stressed that he is expecting a significant increase in production due to the modernisation of the factor y with the entry into operation of a new eight position autoclave, facilitating the development of cold retread manufacture.
Recauchutadora Potosi Praises Retreading
Ignacio Diaza, owner of Recauchutadora Potosi spoke to El Sol du Santa Cruz, in Bolivia about the benefits of retreaded tyres. Diaza explained how retreading made the best use of the casing, which would otherwise be lost to waste. Outlining how the
casing is checked,
buffed, prepared and
rebuilt as a “new” tyre.
He told the press that
around 40 per cent of transporters and bus
operators used
retreaded tyres safely.
In even this, one of the
world’s least wealthy
nations where people
are used to making
savings and recycling, the concept of retreading still needs to be publicised and misconceptions corrected.
Diaza was clear, if a casing did not meet the required standards, then it had to go for another use or recycling.
48 Retreading Business