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INDIA/THE TIRE
Classic to Open Second Plant in April
the price-sensitive market, mainly to smaller fleets in the transport hub. The promoters are assured of in between 200-300 tyres production each month, which is expected to be
increased to 500 by the end of 2018. The second unit will operate on a 7-tyre autoclave with tread rubber sourced from JK Tread.
As part of its expansion in the Northern part of India, JK Treads opened its first concept store in Delhi about a year ago. Classic Tyre Retreads sits on the Ring Road that connects to the highway that in turn reaches out to Northern India. As the retread market is evolving in India, with tubeless radials gaining ground, it had become almost mandatory for the new convert to upgrade the plant, which had been in business for the last five decades. “We thought a brand like JK would bring a lot of positivity to our business, therefore, we decided to convert our retread unit to a modern JK Treads concept outlet,” said Manoj Ahuja of Classic Tyre Retreads. The showpiece plant started operation in February 2017 and is installed with the latest
he said. With volumes going up, JK has even designed a new tread pattern JU1 specifically to tap DTC bus business. “
Moreover, the association with a big tyre brand and the opening of the new retread outlet appears to have brought back volume and margins into the business. “As part of our marketing effort, we invite big fleet owners to our new state-of-the-art plant and explain the difference in getting tyres retreaded at a unit with basic equipment compared to our well-equipped plant. Now customers are willing to pay the price for the service rendered,” explained Rajiv Ahuja.
The company is aiming to double volumes by the end of 2018 as financial reforms by the present government are likely to be in place by the end of the
The Tire, Cologne, May 29th – June 1st
Manoj Ahuja and Rajiv Ahuja of Classic Tyre Retreads
equipment supplied by JK from one of its Coimbatore based vendors, Glisten. The plant has a 9-tyre autoclave equipped with a monorail system.
“After opening the new plant, production has consistently improved despite the slowdown in the market, mainly due to lack of clarity on GST rates. Production has now touched 550 tyres per month,” he said. JK has been instrumental in helping Classic to bring in extra business to the new concept outlet. Among the latest accounts that have come to Classic is the state-owned transport company Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). “Tata buses operating under DTC fleet are retreaded at our unit,”
year. “We believe the market will stabilise soon, as smaller fleet owners cannot afford to sit idle for long, as they have to become part of the new system enforced by the government,” he said.
To further consolidate its business, the company has shifted its old plant to the major transport hub in the suburbs of Delhi as there was no point of selling it off. “This plant caters to the premium tubeless radial sector, and the upcoming second plant with older equipment will retread the bias and nylon tyres from rented premises. Installation is underway, and the plant is likely to be functional from April,” informed Rajiv Ahuja.
The second plant will cater to
The first edition of The Tire will take place at Koelnmesse, Cologne on the 29th May to 1st June 2018. The event is an all new exhibition that aims to replace the long-standing Essen tyre show. The Tire is now Europe’s only dedicated tyre industry event and is supported by German trade associations such as the BRV and the newly formed tyre recycling association ZARE.
The retreading and recycling industries have a dedicated hall in Hall 9 of Koelnmesse. The large exhibition space has allowed the organisers to offer the tyre recycling sector a process display area that will outline the life of a tyre from production to final recycling.
For retreaders and the retread supply sector this is the one big opportunity to present and network with the largest number of tyre industry representatives possible.
One draw for retreaders has to be the Global Retreading Conference organised and supported by the European retreader association BIPAVER and Koelnmesse. The international conference for the retreading industry, the Global Retreading Conference, will take place on the first day of The Tire Cologne. The congress enables a comprehensive look at the decisive trends and
developments of the industry, and at the same time offers all participants the chance to meet the most important players of the industry in one place. The thematic spectrum of the conference ranges from market reports through best cases to technological innovations and political basic conditions. No less broadly based is the list of speakers: partner associations and renowned specialists from the Americas, Europe, India, China and the Southeast Asian region will be on location in Cologne to present participants with a unique global overview of the theme of retreading. An up to date list of lectures and speakers is available at http://www.thetire- cologne.de/tire/die-messe/events- und-kongresse/Kongresse/Global- Retreading-Conference/Die- Referenten/index.php
The Tire will not only be populated by exhibits from the largest tyre manufacturers down to patch repair suppliers, but it is anticipated that thousands of representatives from the fleet and retail sector will visit the show to discuss and discover the latest developments in the tyre industry. The Tire is a window on the future of the global tyre industry.
As retreaders are always looking for ways to improve production and save costs, the exhibitors in
50 Retreading Business