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plant looking like a new tyre. That is what we know the independent retreader can aspire to.”
What plans are there for expansion for Ironhead? Is there room for another international supplier? “Well, we did look at selling into Europe,” says Ulias, “but our market research told us that the market wasn’t there for what we were offering at that time.”
With the EU refusing to impose tariffs and retreaders struggling in every country in Europe, it comes as no surprise that Ironhead decided to hold back on its offer to
What can we expect to see in the coming year? Ulias responded, “We are looking at an increase in sales in 2017. It should be positive for retreading when the US anti- dumping tariffs are introduced. That should give the industry in North America a pick me-up. “However, this year we have seen a drop of around 10 per cent, and we are not quite sure what the reason is. There is some hypothesis that the uncertainty over the US election may have impacted the economy. Certainly, records show that every time the presidential election comes
the European market. However, the door is not yet closed. “When we are happy with our strategy in North America we will revisit exports.”
Of course, the partnership with Sailun may give some impetus to any future Ironhead strategy towards exporting its retread offer. And what of the market conditions?
around the economy takes a hit – and when the USA gets hit, so too does Canada.
“Ultimately, retreading will come through the current difficulties. It makes sense, the economic argument is always going to fluctuate, and there are going to be hard times for some as China finds ways of disposing of the tyres it is
not going to be selling in the USA, but that will pass, and retreads will have their place.
“I think that we need to sell the message that the retreader and the retailer can make real profits with Ironhead retreads, and in general the retread sector needs to sell the environmental benefits of the retread, better whole life costs,
reduced oil consumption, delays in disposal, better use of virgin materials and so on. We have to wake up to the need to make the most of our resources, and retreading tyres is way up there on the list of positives. So, retreading still has a great future both environmentally and economically.”
Final inspection and finishing before sending tyres to the warehouse
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