Page 15 - RB-108-2024-1

INTRODUCING MICHAEL HUTT, RETREADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE’S NEW EDITOR Retreading Business Magazine recently welcomed a new addition to their team, Michael Hutt, who joined as the Editor in January. Michael is British but based in Malaysia, and his previous role was as a General Manager for a leading Malaysian retreader. Michael brings a unique perspective to the magazine. We sat with him to discuss his experience and vision for the magazine’s future. INTERVIEW MICHAEL HUTT Michael’s journey started in publishing and marketing. His foray into the tyre in- dustry is more recent, but he has hands- on experience in a retread operation. “I moved to Malaysia in 2018 and joined Kit Loong Commercial Tyres. I spent five years there, transitioning from Marketing to a General Manager role,” he shared. His time working above a retread factory ga- ve him an in-depth understanding of the retread industry’s operational challenges and market dynamics. His experience ex- tends beyond operations, having engaged directly with clients in demanding sectors like waste management and agriculture. “This experience has given me a strong understanding of retreading. I loved to gi- ve factory tours, and I really enjoyed the educational side of getting more people to understand the value of retreading,” he added. With most of his experience focused on Southeast Asia, Michael shed light on the challenges and opportunities within the retreading industry, a sector that, in Sou- theast Asia, is significantly influenced by its proximity to China. Acknowledging the concerns about the industry’s perceived decline, Michael believes this trend could eventually resonate globally. “We’re at the vanguard here. Proximity matters in glo- bal trade, and I think we see the influence before others, so what’s happening here is likely to happen elsewhere in the next few years”. His insights are shaped by re- search and practical experiences. “If you can present a factual case for your argu- ments backed up by research, then more people pay attention.” Michael emphasises the industry princi- ple of the threew Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, ‘Reuse’ being retreading. “In this industry, we often discuss these princi- ples, but it’s crucial to understand that they cannot be implemented in isolation,” he stated. He advocates for increased collaboration among industry players, stressing the importance of maintaining first-life tyres effectively. This approach, he argues, will ensure more tyres are avai- lable for retreading. A critical issue Michael highlights is the disparity in retread quality between re- gions. “The quality of retreads in the US and Europe is often higher than in other parts of the world due to more stringent regulation”, he observed, pointing out a major area for improvement outside the Western Hemisphere. This challenge un- derlines the need for global standards and practices to elevate the quality of re- treads worldwide. Unlike the larger global markets where tyre manufacturers like Michelin, Brid- gestone, or Goodyear are in retreading, Southeast Asia presents a different lands- cape. “Retreading here has always been a very local affair,” Michael points out, hi- ghlighting the prevalence of smaller, inde- pendent retreaders, “most retreaders are also tyre distributors.” “My experience has given me a strong understanding of retreading. I loved to give factory tours, and I really enjoyed the educational side of getting more people to understand the value of retreading.” P.15