Tyres & Accessories:
According to your understanding what has been the most important
change on the European retreading market during 2005?
Marco Mandrioli:
There are two significant signals: First, after about 10 years, the market of the retreaded truck tyre stopped decreasing; second the
incredible increase of raw material and energy has significantly
affected the profitability of the players in this business, forcing them to
review the pricing up to two or three times per
year.
Tyres & Accessories:
How detrimental are imports of
low-budget truck tyres from the far
east to the European retreading
business?
Marco Mandrioli:
In addition to the poor quality of the majority of those imported
products, the true issue is that they are not
retreadable. This fact increases the lack of casings for
retreading.
Tyres & Accessories:
Do customers make a mistake when they select cheap imports over
European-made retreads?
Marco Mandrioli:
Yes indeed. Many medium, small and very small fleets are not
accurately ana!yzing -or are simply
not analyzing- the cost-per-mile of those imported non-retreadable tyres. They instinctively compare the cost of a cheap, new, imported tyre with a retreaded one, loosing the
opportunity to get a good retreaded tyre
that has characteristics and performance - and mileage - similar to a good
quality European new tyre.
Tyres &
Accessories:
What would be necessary in order to stop and turn this
development around?
Marco Mandrioli:
In my opinion the players in the retreading business should act in two directions: Firstly, by promoting the high quaiity of the products with good Service offered together; and secondly offering strong support and training
tools in order to communicate to the user the true advantages of using good retreaded tyres. Marangoni and
Ellerbrock have promoted Ringtread technology through a network of qualified Ringnet
partners for years - all in compliance with the 109 homologation. All over Europe these
partners are interacting directly with end users in order to support
them in making the right and most valuable choice.
Tyres &
Accessories:
Are there market segments or markets that have been affected
differently from others?
Marco Mandrioli:
In general the issue of cheap imported tyres
is the same all over Europe, including
the eastern countries. As a matter of
fact the quality segment of retreading is not affected by this phenomena.
Tyres &
Accessories:
Is there a future for both pre-cure and hot retreading in Europe?
Marco Mandrioli:
Both are certainly mature and
consolidated technology. Even if we estimate that market does
not significantly increase, l feel that there is a future for both of them, on condition that both maintain a high
level of quality of the retreaded products.
Tyres &
Accessories:
In terms of market share, how has the ratio between pre-cure and
hot retreading changed in Europe during
last year?
Marco Mandrioli:
Basically the total in Europe has not varied. The hot retreading market has slightly increased in the countries with a tradition in this
segment while a significant increase of pre-cure market has been made in the Eastern European Countries. Tyres
& Accessories:
How is your Company reacting to such
changes? Marco Mandrioli:
Marangoni is the only retreader that has exploited both
technologies on a large scale for more than 30 years, This is an important
differentiating factor from other important market players that are focused on only one of the two
available technologies. Tyres
& Accessories:
Does this mean that new tyre manufacturers have an advantage
over other retreading system suppliers? Marco Mandrioli:
Yes certainly when they are dealing with very
large fleets. Marangoni Retreading Systems is directly involved in this business
opportunity because it has a number of international agreements with some leading
new tyre manufacturers, to supply them
with the highest performing products and technology for retreading.
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