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INTERVIEW
Marangoni has been established for many years in the Russian market
he says. “In Russia, for example, casings are destroyed much more than they are in Europe, not only due to attitudes to tyre maintenance, but also to how the roads are treated in winter. There is also a significant second hand tyre market, which means less casings are coming to retreaders.”
In terms of how the attitude of truck fleets to retreading has changed over the years in the ex-CIS states, especially in terms of the awareness of issues such as Cost-per- kilometre, tyre maintenance issues, environmental benefits etc. Linkesch says there has been some progress, but it is gradual. For many, purchase considerations are still on a short-term basis, and ecology is not an issue. That said, he points out, there are many highly professional fleets, who
can be compared to any top fleet in Europe.
We then asked how retreading has developed in Eastern Europe in recent years and how the various national markets differ. To this Linkesch explains that the background of retreaders is mixed. There are many that have been in retreading for a long
time, but others that are entering retreading from outside the sector. “The tendency for fleets to own retreading plants of their own is disappearing, and independent retreaders tend to operate locally. There is also a growing tendency to connect their business with new tyre sales.
In terms of regional differences, there are big variations in
culture, also in availability of casings, as well as import and currency issues.
The market for equipment is also quite varied, adds Linkesch. Outside of the EU markets most retreaders buy equipment second hand, and indeed second-hand equipment often circulates several times. In the EU there has been some movement in new equipment, particularly in sheargraphy, but also in replacement sales. There has also been several examples in countries such as Slovakia, Hungary and Romania where retreaders have been able to access EC funding for plant investments.
Finally, we asked Leo to talk about Marangoni’s position in Eastern European and ex-CIS states and the company’s aims for the future.
“Firstly,” he says, “Marangoni was not new in Eastern Europe when the precure market started to grow in the 1990s. The company had been well- known for many years, and that has proved an advantage. It is known that Marangoni has a share in the region of 25% in Europe and in Eastern Europe we are trying to achieve the same. In some markets, we have as much as 30%, whilst in others we are not present as yet, but we are trying to cover all Western and Eastern Europe. We believe that there is still a good growth potential for retreading in general in this region. There are lots of opportunities, but there is still much work to be done.”
Romanian retreader Radburg is an example of companies who received EU funding to support plant investments