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WORLD NEWS
Recauchudos Rodex Expands
Bridgestone-Bandag in Chaponost Claims Retreading Rising
Neumaticos Rodex has recently opened a new workshop in Coruña. Its first dedicated Bridgestone store.
This follows the company’s 50th anniversary year and it is now in
the third generation of the family.
The company began as a small family business opened by Adonis Porto in 1966 as a workshop in the Galician city. The business grew as a sub agent of Firestone, becoming a full Bridgestone
partner in 1982.
Today the company continues to grow, continues to retread but is now integrated into the Bridgestone First Stop Network.
Taking advantage of the Solutrans fair that was recently held in Lyon- Eurexpo, Bridgestone officials invited some guests to view the Bridgestone Bandag Chaponost retreading operation. An opportunity for Bruno Muret, director of economy and communication of the National Union of Rubber and Polymers / SNCP to take stock of an underrated sector.
For the first ten months of 2017, one million new tyres were sold in France and 608,000 tyres were retreaded, 3 per cent more than in 2016, which hopefully signals the recovery of this market.
The retreading market in France is estimated at 705,000 units (4,284,000 in Europe).
In February 2017, the SNCP and the French Ministry of Ecology signed a commitment for green growth relating to the retreading valorisation for the extension of the lifespan of truck tyres. Valid for three years, it aims to remove the obstacles to the development of the circular economy of the HGV tyre and is integrated
into the ADEME's CO2 road freight charter (a charter signed by 182 companies in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as XPO Logistics, Sotradel, Jourdan, Breger or VIR Transports ...).
To support retreading, it is of course necessary to amplify communication and also to make the eco- contribution of HGV tyres adjustable according to the lifetime of the products. "We must also clarify the interpretation of the decree of 16 January 2004 on the rules for mixing tyres on the same axle and prevent any distortion of competition by a strict respect of EU rules by all stakeholders," said Muret. Bridgestone, a leader in this field, has five retreading sites. The SLBR sites of Chaponost and Delme (Moselle) are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the group. Quimper, Saumur and Moulins complete the scheme. A reflection is underway for a new implant either in the south- west or in the north.
The Lyon site retreads 38,000 HGV tyres a year. It generates 11 million euros of turnover.
Pirelli: There is a Need to Lower Costs
The commercial director of Pirelli Industrial in South America, Fernando Vidal, told Argentinas La Nacion about Pirelli’s dedication to lower costs to its customers.
In an interview that covered all the points of interest to fleet and agricultural clients, Vidal explained that The Pirelli Industrial brand, which now belongs to the Prometeon Tire Group, is focused on the truck, agricultural, bus and OTR business units, and works on the optimisation of products from all market segments, which encompass different services with differential added value. “In the case of transport, we aim to improve the cost per kilometre, which is a very important indicator in the business. On the other hand, through some products of the Premium range, which have the characteristic of being green tyres, with lower rolling resistance, we aim to reduce fuel consumption and improve comfort conditions,” said Vidal.
Asked about how Pirelli’s claimed cost savings would reach the
consumer, Vidal responded: “That saving depends specifically on the transport and the type of cargo. Liquids, grains or cars are not the same. The load on the truck moves differently and that impacts on the tyre. We are going to visit each carrier to see what problems he has. Also, I think there are many improvement opportunities to be achieved in partnership. Not only with the carrier, but also with the suppliers of the vehicles and trailers, from the techniques, maintenance processes and different tests to control methodologies. There is an imperative need to lower costs and improve productivity. Detailed reports are made to our customers, we propose actions to reduce the consumption of tyres or that will allow them to be rebuilt for a second or third life. We always seek to have an impact on the optimisation of costs.”
So, Pirelli is clearly still dedicated to ensuring the retreading of its truck tyres to ensure the best cost efficiency to its clients.
Pirelli’s commercial director of its Industrial Division, Fernando Vidal
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