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DON JULIO LAROCCA’S LEGACY IN THE ARGENTINE RETREADING SECTOR In the vibrant Flores neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, the story of Don Julio Larocca represents a blend of ambition, resilience, and innovation deeply intertwined with the history of Argentina’s tyre industry. Born into the industrious Larocca family, whose roots trace back to Carlos Casares, Don Julio’s destiny in the tyre business seemed predetermined. The family’s venture into the world of tyres began in 1930 with the establishment of “Lorenzo Larocca E Hijos,” a humble tyre shop that laid the groundwork for what would become a significant journey in the tyre and tyre retreading industry. EARLY BEGINNINGS AND THE RISE OF A TYRE LEGACY The young Julio Larocca, armed with the wisdom passed down from his family and his own burgeoning ambition, began his foray into the business at the tender age of 17, shortly after finishing high school. The family’s initial enterprise, a simple tyre shop, soon leapt forward. Under the tutelage of his fa- ther, Antonio Larocca, they expanded into the tyre-retread- ing sector, establishing a state-of-the-art facility in San Jus- to, Greater Buenos Aires. This plant emerged as a pioneer in Argentina, introducing innovative practices in retreading car and truck tyres with advanced moulds and tooling. The 1960s marked a pivotal era for the Larocca family busi- ness as it branched into the retreading off-road tyres (OTR), a strategic move that placed the company as a player in Ar- gentina’s tyre retreading industry. This expansion coincided with Argentina’s construction boom, involving roads, dams, and dykes, requiring durable and reliable tyres. The Larocca enterprise, leveraging machines and tooling imported from Brazil, adeptly met this demand, ushering in a new chapter in the country’s tyre retreading activities. P.30