Page 54 - RB-94-20-3

AFRICA
Superdoll, a Tech Solution for the OTR Tyre Segment in Zambia
Mining Exhibition
held at Lubumbashi,
DRC.
Superdoll Zambia is
the only OTR
retreading and
repair plant located
in Zambia, the plant
was certified and
granted by the
Zambian Ministr y of
Mines, the Mine
Safety Department
(MSD).
“I started the
process of certifying
our retreading plant
when the mines,
during our
marketing, asked if
we are certified by MSD.” “I must admit that it was a real surprise finding a certified Engineer who arrived at our plant to learn and understand our process.
Basically, we went through an audit,” said Nachshon.
The OTR retreads manufactured at the plant are now closely monitored by the MSD to prove that they are suitable for the toughest conditions of severe industrial use. Nachshon says the MSD engineers were incredibly surprised to see “our state of the art, non-destructive tyre testing machine, which was manufactured by SDS Systemtechnik GmbH in Germany.”
In addition, the OTR tyre retreading and repair plant, supposedly the largest OTR retreading plant in the world and located in the Ndola Copperbelt, was recently awarded the Certificate in Quality Management System based on ISO 9001-2015. “The Certification audit was conducted by the Zambian Bureau of Standards (ZABS) from
Superdoll Zambia Limited is redefining Africa’s tyre retreading sector with its technologically equipped Off-the-road (OTR) tyre
“Our Superdoll OTR plant is equipped with the latest world technology, state of the art machines, non-destructive
retreading plant in the East African city of Ndola, Zambia. Established in Zambia in 2012, Superdoll has proven to be the “latest world technology” in the business of OTR, according to the company’s country manager, Vick Nachshon.
Formerly established in Tanzania 30 years ago, Superdoll has been the sole distributor for Michelin and BF Goodrich for the last three decades, since 1990.
BF Goodrich is an American tyre company. Originally part of the industrial conglomerate Goodrich Corporation, it was acquired in 1990 (along with Uniroyal, then The Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Company) by the French tyre maker Michelin.
The absence of tyre manufacturers in Zambia makes it difficult for consumers to get hold of suitable premium and budget tyres, except for through an accredited distributor like Superdoll, which is handling direct from Michelin products as Michelin’s sole distributor for all type of new tyres up to small OTR tyres. Superdoll Tanzania was the first company to introduce tubeless new tyres in the East African market. The company’s first achievement was a new Michelin truck tyre 315/80R22.5” coach tyre, designed especially for the African market.
Shearography method, and decades of experience”, Nachshon said.
Unveiled in 2017 and followed by the commissioning of the only OTR tyre retreading and repair plant in the region which is equipped with a Shearography tyre testing machine, Superdoll claims status as the only plant on the African continent capable of handling OTR tyres from 25” up to 63” tyre size.
DRC Congo is currently the largest potential customer for an OTR retreading plant. In 2018, the Superdoll OTR retreading and repair plant participated in the
4 to 5 April 2017,” said Nachshon.
After a three-year construction process supported by the Zambian Government, through the Zambian Development Agency (ZDA), Superdoll now has the capacity to operate and serve the entire Zambian mining industry’s open pit copper mines, underground copper mines, emerald mines and limestone quarries, with most of the tyres mounted on the mine’s equipment being from one of the three key brands of Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear.
The retreading and repair of OTR tyres for the Zambian Mines began in 2017. “We use Strip Rubber Compound, which is produced at Marangoni Retreading System Deutschland GMBH, Located in Henstedt – Ulzburg, Germany.” “Our retreaded tyres cover all ranges of tyres from 25” Up to 63” tyre size,” Nachshon said.
According to Nachshon, the company’s tyres have performed well in fleet tests, having been fitted on a fleet from March 2017.
54 Retreading Business