Page 29 - RB-88-19-1

SOUTH AMERICA
The Vacu-Lug team at Vipal
Accorsi and Paulo Rampon.
For over a decade, according to Frederico Schmidt, Manager of Vipal Europe, the partnership has been highly favourable for both companies, as it enables and encourages the exchange of information. According to Fabricio Nedeff, the Commercial Manager who accompanied Short during the whole visit, the initiative is important for visitors to truly explore the plant structure. For Vacu-Lug, the result was a success, because Jason Short left very satisfied with Vipal’s commitment:
“The commitment to quality was evident, from research to material production.” He also highlighted Vipal’s actions in relation to health, safety and the environment. Vacu-Lug, founded in the mid- 1950s, has partnered with Vipal for over ten years and is one of the top retreaders in the United Kingdom. The company works with hot- and cold-cure tyres and tyres for trucks and OTR vehicles, as well as selling Vipal’s compounds and treads in the region.
and Paulo Moraz, Product Development Manager and Technical Instructor, respectively. The next destination was Plant II, followed by a lunch with the Vipal team. In the afternoon, Short accompanied Marcelo Wathier, the Technical and Quality Manager at the VipalTec company. Tests are conducted there for verification and research on new and retreaded products, with a high-tech laboratory.
Impressed by the structures, Short continued his tour at the Nova Prata facilities. The next stop was the Vivencio Paludo Technical
Center, a retreading school that caters to the regional market and runs tests, where he learned a little more about the company’s technological structure. Also, during the schedule, the visitor was guided by Rodemir Conte to the Research and Technology Center - an extensive laboratory that meets all the needs related to approving raw materials and inputs, product and process improvements, as well as material research and development - after which they departed for a meeting with the Vipal Research and Technology team, formed by Tiago
SL Group Announces Investment Package to Optimise Fleet Service Offering
The SL Group, an independent retreader with its head office in Sao Bernardo near Sao Paulo, Brazil, has announced a 1.5 million Reais investment package focusing on the installation of automated equipment at its main manufacturing facility, as well as in enhanced service operations, aimed at differentiating itself from other retreaders in the sector.
The SL Group is a family run business, founded 22 years ago by Alexandre Levi Cardoso with his father. Today the company is in its third generation with the addition of Alexandre’s son, Felipe to the business.
The company operates two retread plants. The main factory in Sao Bernardo manufactures 6,000 retreads per month under the
FOR A LASTING IMPRESSION
Berwin Retreading Products
Integration of raw materials, recipe, process to arrive at high quality solutions at the best price with minimal impact on the environment. Products available covering applications in Agricultural, Truck, Passenger, Earthmover as well as the ancillary materials to compliment the range.
Call +44 (0)1594 842 224 or email clive.rickards@hexpol.com www.hexpolcompounding.com