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INDIA
Midas Introduces MPORT for Port Applications
Strategically located on major road and rail routes between Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, Solapur provides good transportation infrastructure for trade and industry. Considerable medium and small- scale industries are based in the
cost rubber and services,” he insisted.
Commenting on the long association with Elgi, Patil said, “Elgi pioneered retreading in India, never compromised with quality, and always offers supports to retreaders. These are a few
It has been observed that Indian tread rubber manufacturer Midas has drawn a new growth strategy with focus on identifying niche products for specific applications in the domestic and international market. This was confirmed recently by Paulose Varughese, Director, Midas Tread, who commented; “We have identified newer market segments to grow, although the volumes are not high as they are not catering to mass market, but there is certainly a good opportunity to widen our
According to Midas, the container handling equipment normally turns in place placing a heavy load on the tyres. This leads to fast wear of the tyres and makes retreading especially viable. Each strip is 93 Kg and has a special compound to handle the high abrasion and tear resistance required from this kind of operation.
Apart from the Gujarat port, the new product has been supplied to the port in Maharashtra. The objective is now to market to all
the Indian ports. When asked about plans of exporting to foreign ports also, Paulose agreed, “Yes, there is certainly a plan for this. We are targeting ports in
the Middle East and are in initial discussion with the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, which is the world's ninth busiest port, the largest man-made harbour, and the biggest and by far the busiest port in the Middle- East.
“Although MPORT is not a mass market product, the potential is huge as it has application on ever y port around the world,” said Varughese. “However, these kinds of niche products are not easy to produce as they require special compounds and bigger presses.”
In order to solve this issue, the company has installed a wider press at its Ettumanoor site a couple of years back.
MPORT
range.”
The company introduced a new tread for port applications about three months back. The new product, MPORT for 18.00x25 tyres running in Gujarat port, were previously being retreaded in the hot process. To improve mileage and retreading, however, Midas introduced a precured size for use with a cold process retreading.
district, which is one of the prime centres of the handloom and power-loom industry and cotton mills.
On the subject of projected production levels at the upcoming site, Patil commented, “It is going to be a similar size in terms of production as the existing Osmanabad site.” The plant at Osmanabad retreads more than 2,500 tyres annually. “Our target is to achieve cumulative production to about 6,000 tyres from both plants annually,” he added.
Pragat Tyres remains committed to Elgi and plans to operate the new Solapur site as an extension of the latter’s tread and
machiner y franchisee network. “Although there is lot of competition from retreaders using
parameters that strengthen our bond with Elgi. “
Besides expansion in Solapur, Pragat Tyres is revamping its existing Osmanabad site in a phased manner. The mother unit retreads 2,400 tyres yearly on an average. “Now we are planning to replace the whole plant machinery with the new Elgi line. The revamping would also hike the production levels to 3,600 tyres annually from next year,” said Patil.
The company is planning to install a single four tyre autoclave to replace the current twin two tyre autoclaves. “We will start with the autoclave followed by the latest buffing and tyre building machines along with a compressor in the next six months,” added Patil. The
Elgi Osmanabad Franchisee Expands
The pioneering presence of Elgi’s brand equity in the Indian retread market is undoubted, and the company’s franchisee platform continues to move forward even against the backdrop of the current difficult business scenario. An example of this progress is Osmanabad based Elgi franchisee Pragati Tyres, who is planning the development of a second site about 100 km away in Sholapur.
The 25-year-old franchisee is planning to make the second site operational next year. “Our plan is to make the Sholapur plant operational in the second half of 2022,” said Pradeep Patil of Pragat Tyres.
Solapur is a city located in the south-western region of the western state of Maharashtra, close to the border with the Southern state of Karnataka.
locally produced tread liner, we will continue with Elgi rubber as its tread provides unbeatable mileage over Indian roads. We have decided to win customers on the basis of quality services and products to compete with the unorganised plants offering low-
Pradeep Patil of Pragat Tyres
Osmanabad plant covers a 50 km radius collecting and delivering tyres from fleets based on the NH65 highway from Mumbai to Vijaywada. The plant also offers a tyre repair service and on an average repair about 400 tyres annually.
40 Retreading Business