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Inside Vipal retreader AutoXpress’s retread plant in Nairobi, Kenya
COMPANY
REPORT
its products to countries in West Africa but is more developed in East Africa be- cause of the characteristics of the mar- ket itself.
“Our products also reach Angola; we sell through some European customers due to border and currency challenges. In Nigeria [which is the most populous African country], we sell the repair line which usually goes through a distrib- utor who supplies it to smaller repair shops.” Muller told Retreading Business.
“Our first goal is to make sure that we grow the industry and that retreading business prosper.”
Vipal’s short-term goal is to expand its business with the customers it already has in the region, due to increased de- mands of its rubber materials from re- treaders and distributors. “Our strength is hinged on the work we are doing in Africa, and our aim is to multiply the number of retreaders and distributors within the next five years,” Fabricio Ne-
Rubber Maroc is one of Vipal’s tyre distributor customers in Morocco
deff told Retreading Business. “We are sure we can do this because we have the portfolio, we have the tread designs and are familiar with the market in general. Some countries in the African market are quite like the Brazilian situation in the application such as the roads and size of the tyres. So, we have the knowl- edge.”
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