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TYREXPO INDIA
Kunal Chaudhary, General Manager, Exports & Strategic Planning, Unipatch Rubber Limited
serve them better,” he said. The firm is still working out modalities and is likely to launch the platform in fiscal 2017.
Aryan has also designed Tyre Management Software called ‘Tyre Max’, which is likely to hit the market shortly. “Our idea is to introduce professionalism in the industry, which is highly price- sensitive in nature,” he stressed. In a weak market scenario, companies are forced to make compromises on the quality side by using inferior material and its various verticals would offer cost-effective but quality solutions to the industry.
Aryan has recently launched a new programme called ‘Deals for Wheels’ to sell retreading consumables, raw
materials, tread rubber etc. “We are working towards integrating the industry and to bring together people working in the supply chain direct to the customer,” he explained.
Chattisgarh has around 100 sizeable retread plants making more than 300 tyres per month plus about 200 smaller units. The state has coal and bauxite mines in Bilaspur and Korba and iron ore mines in Raigarh, while the state capital Raipur is a business centre. The state is estimated to have a retread tyre market of around 12,000 units per month compared with a new tyre market in the region of 20,000 to 25,000 units per month.
Unipatch Embarks on Awareness Drive Among Tyre Repair
Outlets
In order to further consolidate its business and strengthen its relationship with the service sector, Delhi headquartered Khemka Group subsidiary Unipatch Rubber Limited, has embarked on an awareness drive among the stakeholders engaged in the whole spectrum of the tyre business. “The awareness drive focuses on the way tyre technology is developing and the way the service sector has gearz ed-up to take on the challenge, as well as on road safety within the improving infrastructure in the country,” said Kunal Chaudhary, General Manager, Exports and Strategic Planning, Unipatch Rubber Limited during Tyrexpo India recently.
The company found during a survey carried out during the May – July quarter that the service sector has yet to get ready for the technological changes. “We found during the survey that there is a lack of awareness towards the kinds of injuries sustained by tyres and the right patch to use. Tyre repair is largely carried out with cheaper products sourced from the grey market,” he observed.
The awareness drive, emphasising the need to use the right patch, targets people in the tyre business, the service sector, vehicle owners, and distribution channels like tyre distributors or tyre shops. “Now people are ready to spend heavily on good tyres, but they hardly care about the right patch, as lots of
accidents happen due to tyres bursting on highways,” he said. The company also has plans to lobby the Ministry of Surface Transport to further tighten tyre repair standards and their implementation in repair outlets.
“Standards for repair procedures in the outlets are there but they are not followed properly. The focus of our drive is to get those standards implemented,” he emphasised.