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INNOVATIVE RETREADING AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: A CONVERSATION WITH ALEXEI NICOLINI At the recent Futurmotive - Expo & Talks in Bologna, we spoke with Alexei Nicolini from Budini, a key player in the Brazilian retreading and software management industry. Our discussion provided valuable insights into how Budini influences the circular economy in the automotive sector. “The focus was not just on retreading but also on educating our clients about efficient tyre usage.” Alexei began by reflecting on the origins of Budini. Initially from a different sector, his father identified a gap in tyre management in the early 80s. “He saw the potential for a more efficient, envi- ronmentally conscious approach,” Alexei recalled something that he puts down to his father coming at the issue with an ‘outsider’s point of view’. This vision led to a partnership with Bandag, posi- tioning Budini as Brazil’s first pre-cure retreader. “The focus was not just on retreading but also on educating our clients about ef- ficient tyre usage, which eventually led to the development of our tyre tracking software,” he explained. The conversation shifted to the evolution of Budini’s software. Starting as a tool for fleet education, it has grown significantly. “With my father’s growing expertise in programming and the addition of skilled programmers, we expanded the software’s capabilities to manage various aspects of tyre life and retread op- erations,” Alexei said. This innovation, predating even DOS, has evolved continually, integrating technologies like RFID for com- prehensive tyre lifecycle tracking. P.20