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BRAZIL
Norte Sul Completes Upgraded Retread and Repair Training Centre
who Norte Sul acquired in 2007. The retreading plant, which at time of our visit had just been installed and was about to commence operation, is planned to manufacture 14 tyres a day, but according to Mori, the idea is not to compete with other retreaders, rather to be a service provider – to provide real world training, allowing Norte Sul to show its machines in operation.
For example, the plant has both a Matteuzzi RAS 98-e Ultra and a Ferlex buffer located next to each other in the plant. The Ferlex machine just does the radius, whereas the Matteuzzi does contouring too – so the customer can try out both options, see for himself what he wants and weigh up the cost benefits.
The training school has also been designed to highlight some of the ways that Norte Sul can help improve the layout of plants – e.g the monorail, airline and electrical lines all follow the same route around the plant. The monorail system is completely modular – all bolted with no welding, allowing it to be rebuilt and rearranged at will. In a separate room next to the plant is the so-called UTI do Pneu – an Intensive Care Centre for tyres – fully equipped with Rema Tip Top
Care Unit is inside the retread shop but separate from the plant itself. This is so it can be audited as a separate unit.”
Every class carried out at the Norte Sul Training Centre starts with a level test – the programme then carries on to theory, then to practical then finally another test. After the training programme is complete, Norte Sul then do a field follow up to check what they’ve learned is being applied in practice. The company generates a report on each student – not just technically but training managers also evaluate the attitude of the student to the job too. This is important, says Mori, because it’s the way the client will get the most out of what he’s buying.
“We have an obligation to the client to help them recover the cost of investment when we sell a machine,” he says, “so we make sure client knows how to use it properly. What we do is complete the responsibility of the commercial department, helping the client to optimise profitability. The report tells the customer if the right person is doing the job.”
“We have a team of highly trained staff,” he adds. Many of our trainers are ex Dpaschoal people who are technically very good. They all
Norte Sul, Brazil’s largest supplier of retreading equipment, has relocated its training centre to newly renovated premises in Guraulhos, Sao Paulo. According to the Centre’s Commercial Manager Mauricio Mori, the relocation to the new premises, which have been rented from retreader NSA, and their renovation, were carried out between April and November last year. This included installation of a new electrical system
centre, both from Norte Sul’s own retreader customers as well as clients of some of the other main players in the South American market, including Vipal, Michelin, Pirelli and Marangoni, who also engage the centre to run training courses on their behalf. The centre is managed by Mori, who is responsible for the management of the centre as a commercial entity, and Edson Pereira, who is the Centre’s Technical
Mauricio Mori and Edson Pereira inside the UTI do Pneu repair centre
The retread plant in the training centre optimises the layout of the monorail, electrical and air lines
into the building and the refurbishment of existing administration offices into a fully functioning training school. The centre also incorporates a fully operating retreading facility which can be used both as a training facility and a showroom, plus a separate tyre repair centre equipped with equipment and materials from Rema Tip Top, who Norte Sul represent in Brazil.
Norte Sul’s training centre was first established in 2012, since when over 500 people have passed through the
Manager.
The aim of the centre is to help upgrade the retreading process, and the company trains anyone who has an interest in retreading and tyre repair. They run a variety of classes according to client requests, but the site also serves as a show room for the equipment that the company sells, including equipment from Matteuzzi, envelopes from MAE, accessories from B&J and repair materials from Rema Tip Top, as well as the full range of autoclaves and retreading equipment from Ferlex,
All of the Norte Sul’s training staff are highly experienced trainers
materials. Technical Manager Edson Pereira explains; “The focus in the UTI do Pneu is on how to protect the value of the casings. It helps the fleet to recuperate the tyres, whilst also acting as a separate profit centre for the retread shop. The Intensive
started as operators, became production managers and then came to Norte Sul. They operate at a superior level, so anyone who comes here knows that they are receiving the very best training available.”
54 Retreading Business
Vacu-Lug Visits
Vipal Rubber in Brazil
Between April 5 and 7, Vipal played host to one of the UK’s leading retreaders, when Tim Hercock, Vacu-Lug’s Managing Director, visited Vipal’s facilities in
Feira de Santana, BA, and Nova Prata, RS in Brazil.
“The strengthening of our relationship with such an important partner from the UK, is