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Regarding the collaboration between VM Rubber and MAE, Raffae- lli commented that, since the latter has been in the business for 60 years now and has its own distributors in many countries, this colla- boration has been particularly convenient and has helped both com- panies grow, especially with the current rises in the price of materials. The idea behind this is to create a partnership that goes beyond com- petition.
VM Rubber manufactures products like extruder guns, gouges, ro- llers, and stitchers, which are then distributed with the help of brands such as MAE, that are already well-known in the market.
However, VM Rubber is constantly investing and working to develop more products. In fact, the company recently expanded their extru- der gun range, and according to Camilla Raffaelli more products will follow. For instance, they just launched a belt cutter for the conveyor belt business.
To sum up, VM Rubber is currently investing in products, people, and marketing, by trying to be present at as many events as possible.
SASPOL
Dondena, who shared his view on the current situation of the market, Saspol’s positioning on the international market, and his expectations for the show. Dondena pointed out that the company’s situation at the moment is quite good, since they are receiving enquiries from Poland, the US, Germany..., and since they manufacture the biggest press in the world, which they sell to some of the most prominent companies in the market, the prospects can only be good.
commented that it constitutes a good opportunity to increase and inside, so this collaboration can be fruitful for both companies. Co- merio is specialising in calendar mixing, which along with Saspol’s presses, provides a 360 service within the rubber market, which is proving very interesting for customers.
MATTEUZZI
about her expectations from the show, her view on the retreading sector, and the future investments of the company.
where they are not used to meeting with many tyre retreaders, this year has been different, since they were visited by quite a few of them.
tyres. So, on the one hand, they don’t have competitors, but on the technical as this one. However, there was still room for some interes- ting conversations, and potential business too.
EXHIBITION
REPORT
Asian retreading market. In her words, before the pandemic the re- treading business in Asia was not as strong as it is nowadays. Howe- ver, after the pandemic the retreading business in Asia has grown exponentially and the quality of its services has increased.
- range of services. In this regard, they also noticed a shift towards automation of all processes in most of their customers, especially for big production capacities. For instance, their customers are now re- questing to provide in-line hands-off solutions, although it still consti- continuous increase of prices.
However, she commented that the company is currently investing structure which allows them to maintain their position in the mar- ket without having to reduce their employees’ working hours, whilst maintaining a good relationship with their suppliers.
VMI
Finally, we had a chat with Coen Heukshorst, Sales Manager at VMI, who gave us his take on the current development of the tyre retrea- ding business in different parts of the world.
- hing for retreading and there are other factors that are boosting this growth, such as the high costs of logistics, and the trend towards an increase in domestic production.
On an international level, VMI has headquarters in South America, machines for the South American market.
supply of materials, especially the electronics.
Heukshorst also mentioned the effort that VMI is currently making in order to integrate more automated processes in their activities. According to him, VMI is doing a lot of automation. However, integra-
In Heukshorst’s view, they still need to see how the new technolo- gies evolve and then consider which opportunities they bring. In his opinion, that sort of development would require more cooperation between companies, as well as more platforms, since no company can do that by itself.
commented that they already launched version 4 of their well-known RETRAXX retreading system, which is based on an old design, that VMI keeps developing and improving.
Heukshorst concluded that the industry in general is slowly moving towards stronger casings that are suitable for retreading and trying - tainable.
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