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Gary Bourne, who has also been with G&S for over 30 years, concurs. “The move has given us the opportunity to have new conversations with our customers,” he says. “It’s also allowed us to promote a new quality focused argument, emphasising the technical benefits of the ring, especially, the premium Black Line product.”
Since the decision to switch to Marangoni, things have moved quickly at the Barking factory. The main investment has been the addition of new Ringbuilder 3000 tyre builder, a two-stage machine, which extrudes and applies cushion gum as well as applies a tread ring during the same build cycle without the need for moving the tyre during the process. The system improves efficiency in the plant by 50% as the ring is applied on one side of the machine whilst the cushion gum for the next tyre is being applied on the other. According to Gary Short, the addition of the new machine will eventually allow the current production level of 80 tyres per day to be increased to 120.
Other investments include a new TRM envelope spreader and a new Eagle 2500 buffer, which has been ordered and scheduled for delivery in October. In the meantime, Marangoni has also helped with new signage for the plant, new livery for the vehicles and a brand new product catalogue.
“Our aim all along has been to create a partnership rather than Marangoni simply being a supplier,” stresses Phil Robinson. Another aspect of the new relationship, says Robinson has been G&S’s focus on using 100% Marangoni products, and indeed the company is now using Marangoni cushion gum, Marangoni tyre paint and Marangoni envelopes as well as tread rubber. G&S is also focusing largely on Marangoni’s top-of-the-range tread rubber Black Line, which makes up around 70% of sales.
With the new Marangoni products in place, Gary Bourne’s job is now to increase sales within the company’s catchment area, following the company’s policy of keeping business close and not trading outside
COMPANY
REPORT
The new Ringbuilder 3000 in situ in the retread plant
the area where it is financially viable to do so. “There is plenty of transport business within and outside the M25,” says Gary Short. “We also have a policy of not selling anything through the trade. 100% of our business is direct to the end user.
“Tyres are fitted or delivered by our fourteen 24-Hour Mobile Service Trucks. We have approximately 30-50 Trucks daily, which drive into our covered depot for the fitting and repairing of new and retread tyres. We also offer a commercial tracking service for all HGV vehicles and currently use a 17 tonne Truck for all our other deliveries.”
“We are not on sales targets,” adds Gary Bourne. “We are strong in construction and the waste sector, but we are also targeting other areas such as the regional road haulage companies. We understand it’s a long game.”
Meanwhile, as indicated at the start of this story, G&S Tyres has also become the first retreader to join the NTDA, and the Assoiation’s Director Stefan Hay was on hand to welcome them into membership. Also present was Gary Short’s godson, the ex-premier league footballer and West Ham United legend Mark Noble, who worked in the factory during the period before he made it as a professional footballer.
The NTDA has been very proactive of late in supporting the retreading industry with various promotional actions to the Associations members. Says Stefan Hay: “It is simply not sustainable to continue importing sub-standard new tyre products from the other side of the world. We need to restructure the industry to support those retreading companies who are still active.”
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