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COMPANY NEWS
to buy retread companies, driven by the need on the part of the new tyre makers to be more integrated in services, but also partly as a reaction against Chinese aggression. This strategy, however, will not help innovation, argues Marangoni, and this is where the idea of an innovation/technology hub in Rovereto comes in.
Although Marangoni did not
the potential benefit of taking advantage of the many synergies between the two companies. “Marangoni and Vipal are the two largest independent players in the sector,” he points out. “Together we will be able to form a formidable partnership.”
Vittorio and Giuseppe Marangoni were unable to elaborate in detail about the Vipal deal because much of it remains confidential,
world. Our two companies are a good fit in terms of factory locations, but also in terms of brand positioning.”
In the early stages of the partnership, the initial aim will be to find synergies in industrial capacity – and procurement – to make both companies more efficient, and in this context, Marangoni confirmed that the companies’ next industrial plan will be made in collaboration. This brings us neatly onto the third main topic – the development of Marangoni’s business on a global scale. The acquisition of a majority shareholding in Leader Tread is an important part of this, not least because it will allow the company to expand the Ringtread system across sub-Saharan Africa.
The Group’s activities in India are also important, and Giuseppe Marangoni expresses considerable satisfaction at progress in that region. “We believe we can grow internally ver y effectively in India. Market growth going ver y well. We believe we in the right place and the right moment in India,” he added.
Of primary importance to the company, however, is being able to exploit the Chinese market if interest is continued next year. “China is changing very quickly,” says Vittorio Marangoni. “The Chinese government is pro- environment, and a great deal of impetus is coming from there. We believe that once it happens the change will come very quickly, and we need to be ready for it. It
is true that at the moment retreads in China are mainly used on bus fleets, but truck fleets are also gradually changing their attitudes. We are now being regularly approached by Chinese fleets wanting to find out more about the cost per km concept.” “The whole world is now looking at retreading from a service point of view,” concludes Vittorio Marangoni. We believe we have to push this kind of concept. It’s not easy, but it’s a completely different approach based on improved data processing and computerisation and constant innovation, whether it be through developments in compounding technology such as the use of graphene in retreads to make them last longer and to allow us to manufacture using thinner treads, or through the development of better machiner y. There is still a big technology gap, as there has been relatively little investment in technology in retreading in recent years, so there are plenty of opportunities for us to do better as an industr y.”
Giuseppe Marangoni
specifically mention this point, there is also ver y obviously the potential of using shared technology for precured treads conjunction with associated partners, which brings us onto Marangoni’s second major announcement, namely that of the global co-operation arrangement with Vipal. This, argues Giuseppe Marangoni, is about global scale and realising
but from Marangoni’s positioning, the Group’s plan is to strengthen core business, confirming independent retreading on a global level. “People may have thought independent retreading was dead, but they’re wrong,” emphasised Vittorio Marangoni. “We want to change the world of retreading, and we believe this is an important move to defend independent retreading in the
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Innovative tools for the retreading needs of tomorrow.
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