Vipal Rubber was a major participant in the process to ensure commercial competitiveness and fairness for the segment against the import of Asian tyres
A true partner is there in the good and in the not-so-good times. According to Vipal Rubber, this is an apt description of their company, which focuses on maintaining a presence with its market partners. Proof of this is the company’s strong action in the process of fighting dumping and subsidies for the import of Asian tyres into Europe, a threat that began emerging in 2012 and had been severely impairing the tyre retreading market.
The company has a close relationship with retreaders, promoting their value. This was also true when it came to shaping the Anti-Dumping Regulation. In 2016, after an industry mobilization in which Vipal was present from the outset, the Commission Implementing Regulation (CIR) was formed, a group with the purpose of investigating possible trade irregularities practiced in product importing from Asia. In this process, Vipal joined forces with associations and entities to ensure competitiveness and fairness in this market.
The effort paid off. The committee approved a document confirming the irregularity in relation to imports of TBR tyres from China to Europe, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in October 2018. The commercial values of these imported products thus returned to competitive levels, once again balancing prices with buyers. As a result, retreaders have retaken space with their customers, transport companies, re-stimulating the tyre retreading market.
“Throughout the entire period of data investigation and formatting, in addition to actively participating in this Anti-Dumping Regulation movement, we have attended meetings and maintained constant dialogue with industry stakeholders. We also helped by supplying essential market information as the basis for the document approved by the commission, published late last year,” says International Business Director, Leandro Rigon. According to him, the company celebrates the fact that it has been mentioned several times in the commission’s report, along with trade associations, due to its crucial role in the construction and approval of the regulation.
The combined forces are beginning to show the first signs of revamping the retreading industry. According to Rigon, an improvement in numbers in several European countries is already noticeable, as well as optimism on the part of business owners in the sector, who are seeing business prospects again after years of unfair competition with Asian tyres.
“This anti-dumping action with Vipal’s active participation is bringing a new momentum to the tyre retreading market, which will favor many players in Europe, apart from contributing to the sustainability of the business as a whole and being aligned with Circular Economy practices,” he concludes.
In addition to the partnership with retreaders in Europe, Vipal also offers a complete line of products and services for retreading. This can all be seen at the Vipal stand at Autopromotec 2019 – the top automotive trade show in Europe, which will take place from May 22 to 26 at the Bologna Trade Fair Center in Bologna, Italy.
Solutions in products and services
The company will showcase several of the products that make up its complete mix with solutions for a variety of applications and terrain types. The spotlight will be on the new releases. The main one is Eye Control technology, included in the VM540, VT240 and VL160A treads. This technology guide the user to identify the correct level of tread wear to maximize its life cycle.
Among other highlights is the VM540 launch, designed for high adherence on different surfaces. The VL160A, indicated for Super Single or highway segment tyres, ensures good mileage performance and excellent abrasion wear resistance, in addition to incorporating Eye Control technology; the VT540, indicated for drive axles and designed for paved and unpaved roads, also bearing the Alpine Symbol for low temperature and snow driving; the VT110, developed for radial tyres on drive axles, reducing rolling resistance and enabling lower fuel consumption, and which also bears the Alpine Symbol seal; the VT240, offering good abrasion wear resistance and low heat generation; and the DV-MT, with uniform wear and exclusive progressive radius of the model.
As for products, the Green Line, directly connected to the Circular Economy concept, brings products that answer the demand for sustainability in the transport segment, such as water-based paint and cement. Among the products from Vipal’s ecological line, the VT110, DV-UM3 and DV-RM ECO Treads will be on display at the trade show.
Repairs will also be showcased, such as the Aramid Radial patch, extremely resistant to impacts while simultaneously lighter and more flexible than traditional ones, ideal for providing quality repair of a damaged tyre without losing its original characteristics; and the line patches and plates for inner tubes.
For tyre management solutions, the company offers Vipal Fleets. This is a high-tech software developed by the company to control, measure and manage fleet tyres from the beginning to the end of their life cycle. Among other functions, Vipal Fleets provides fast and accurate tyre diagnostics, aiding inventory control. It can analyze and determine the end of the tyre’s service life and reduce the cost per kilometer (CPK).
Technology is also a strong component in tyre retreading equipment. Vipal Machines, with 100% Vipal design and execution, offers machines with proprietary management software. At Autopromotec, the company will feature the VR01 Smart UNO and Smart DUO scrapers, and the VOT2200 Heavy Duty and VOC Cargo extruders.
Vipal in Europe
Vipal has 3 distribution centers in Europe – Valencia (Spain), Felixstowe (UK), and Nova Gorica (Slovenia) – to meet the growth of exports to the European market. Following this strategy, one of the company’s 4 plants in South America is dedicated exclusively to exports. Visit www.vipal-eu.com
Vipal around the world
Vipal Rubber is currently one of the leading tyre retreading companies in the world. With 13 distribution centers in strategic parts of the world, it operates in over 90 countries and is present in every continent. Vipal is a leader in Latin America, with over 300 authorized retreading partners, and the only company with a complete product line for retreading and repairing all types of tyre. It also offers rubber compounds, flooring and mats, products for the industry and manufactures cargo and agro tyre retreading machinery.
To meet the demands of the global market, Vipal counts on 4 plants in South America with installed capacity of over 19 thousand tons a month and 3 thousand employees in a physical structure of 183 thousand squared meters.
Throughout its 45 years, Vipal has combined experience with technical knowledge. It counts on a Corporate University and one of the most robust Research and Technology Centers of the industry worldwide, with 13 laboratories. All this structure translates into excellence products that are a reference of quality all over the world.
