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PORTUGAL
São Mamede Battles through Uncertain Times
Portuguese retreader Recauchutagem São Mamede has managed to avoid the severe problems that arrived on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic for most of the world, but the prospects remain vague,
portion of customers has for retreaded tyres.
"Nowadays, retreaded tyres have to match high standards, but consumers are not always aware of this, and many of them have second thoughts," he said,
according to Eugênio da Silva Pereira, the company's owner. "Fortunately, so far, we haven't had a big problem compared with what other business areas have had, and many companies will not be able to withstand. But I want to emphasise 'so far' because I understand that we cannot ignore the fallout of a global pandemic, as is the case with Covid-19, and all the setbacks associated with it. We still have a long way ahead, and it will definitely be a hard path. We live in a climate of great uncertainty," Pereira said.
Like many other retreading factories in this corner of the world, São Mamede Lda, or RSM, was founded as a family business in 1988. These days, the company, among other things, is focused on retreading heavy and commercial tyres and has 40 employees. Having 20 years of experience in the domestic market, it is now engaging into a full international expansion. It has a modern manufacturing unit, with a fully automated production line, including a shearograph.
RSM also represents the best international rubber brands for pre-vulcanised treads such as Vipal and Marangoni and its ring Ringtread System on the local market.
According to Pereira, the retreading business in Portugal has been growing in recent years. The main problem is the prejudice which a significant
adding that nevertheless, the evolution in this field has been enormous in the past few years. Portugal has not been bypassed by the problem of cheap tyres of Asian origin. However, they have been gradually pushed out of the market, not least because of the dubious quality of many of these tyres, but also because it is currently getting more challenging to bring such tyres into the Portuguese market.
Relying on automation
RSM is currently producing roughly 3,000 tyres per month. The company is among the major retreaders in Portugal, and to operate efficiently, it has been working on achieving a high automation level at its factory. "We have a fully automated shop. Software connected to our ERP secures extremely efficient process management. We know in detail all the components used in each tyre that enters the production line," explained Pereira.
"We use a shearograph as the latest and most efficient tool of control available on the market. Concerning the inspection process, our tyres go through three stages - inspection with pressure, visual inspection, and shearography. The buffing is carried out by an automatic machine. We have an Orbicushion machine for the cushion gum, also automatic, and we also have two automatic
building machines," he added.
At the end of 2021, the company acquired several new machines and introduced some adjustments to the production process, looking for an opportunity to optimise available resources and increase production capacity.
"The goal is to progressively increase production capacity, helping the factory with machines and human potential to beat that goal," he added. According to Pereira, RSM is sourcing most of its casings on the foreign markets, mainly in neighbouring Spain. Yet, the internal market also has some importance for the company. "Indeed, there is a great difficulty in getting high-quality casings. There are many of Chinese origin that no one wants," he added.
Hoping for the best
RSM makes no forecasts for the imminent future, but harbours hope the coronavirus pandemic will not severely impact the retreading industry.
"It is sincerely difficult to predict what is coming because of this current situation. A great deal of uncertainty pertains both to the domestic and international markets," Pereira said.
“Above all, we hope that the constraints will be smaller, that there are no disruptions in the raw material supply and no problems with the demand. If this is the case, I believe, and I hope that we can endure the next few years," he added.
48 Retreading Business