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GERMANY
The Reifentechnik operation may be small scale but the end product is a quality Kraiburg retread
Peter Schuchardt
week and brings us some casings and takes away new retreads to sell in the market around Rostock.
“Our production stands at around 3,000 tyres this year, it was formerly up at about 4,400 in 2014, but we have been impacted by the same challenge as everyone else in the game.”
Reifentechnik has three vans collecting and delivering in the Rostock – Berlin – Magdeburg areas and the compact nature of the business keeps costs down and enables Steffen Stage to compete in a tight market.
The production at Reifentechnik is almost entirely Kraiburg based. “We have worked with Kraiburg
Reifentechnik supplements the retread operation by selling new Chinese tyres. Stefan Stage is not alone in taking on the competition by selling the very tyres that have damaged his retread operations. “What can we do? We need to survive and if the market is asking for these tyres
since we started and they have always been good to us. They help with technical questions and they have an excellent range of tread patterns at prices that are extremely competitive.” Reifentechnik’s operation is traditional pre-cure. The casings, bought in the local market, come
produce a good end product.”
For sure, the Kraiburg retreaded tyres from Reifentechnik look as good as any from a state-of-the-art plant, and, if the clients are happy with the service and the product, then surely that is all that any producer can ask for.
“I compete in a market where there can be a 50-70 Euro price differential between a retread and a Chinese tyre. We can only compete by delivering the service that our clients want. We have been hit, but not as badly as some, and we will see our way through this, especially if Brussels acts on the dumping of Chinese goods in Europe.
“We are a small business, and we have the ability to diversify quite quickly. I own the property, and I
always can find work for my staff to keep them employed. The key for us is being flexible. When we deal with other small businesses they also need to be flexible and they recognise that we are good partners in the local area. We understand the challenges that they face because we face exactly the same issues every day ourselves.”
To be sure, Reifentechnik is a lifetime away from the larger players such as RuLa or Reifen Mueller, but even so it is clear that with the right strategy there is still room for the smaller business to develop in the high tech German market, if it can survive the current level of competition from the Chinese tyre importers.
then we have to take the opportunity. If that is what helps us stay in business, then that is what we have to do. It is perhaps a benefit of being a smaller retreader, that we can be more flexible than some of the bigger players. I have a small business and that means that I can be more flexible than some of the bigger players.”
into the yard, and prior to retreading they are moved into the warehouse to dry before visual inspection. The whole operation is manual from inspection through to the loading of the autoclave. Stage says, “we have a good team working here and we produce the best quality that is possible. We just have to be precise with our work and
Reifen Schuchardt
Peter Schuchardt runs a service garage, tyre supply and retread operation in Obertopfstedt. A
sleepy traditional village away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
28 Retreading Business