Italian retreading specialist Marangoni enters Indian market

Global – Italy’s Marangoni Group has launched a joint venture with India’s leading rubber recycler GRP Ltd involving commercial vehicle tyre retreading. Together, the businesses hope to extend the life of used tyres while lowering operational costs.

The joint venture’s first facility was inaugurated on November 23 and is located at Indore – ‘a large trucking hub’ in central India. Ultimately, the two companies are aiming to establish a pan-Indian network of tyre retreaders capable of ‘spreading the quality of the Marangoni system to commercial vehicle fleets’.

‘The evolution of the Indian market provides Marangoni with a great opportunity to expand its global footprint,’ says its ceo Massimo De Alessandri. ‘We have been studying the market for some years now and believe that the time is opportune to bring our global concept to the country.’ An expanding road network and the wide acceptance of radial tyres by fast professionalising fleets should enable the new venture to establish a ‘solid presence’ in India, it is argued.

According to De Alessandri, radial tyres comprise up to 35% of a total tyre industry which is expected to double in size over the next five or so years. India’s retreading market is estimated to be worth US$ 700 million per year, 50% of which is attributed to the ‘official’ sector.