In terms of the retreading industry, the show maintained its core support from the main South-East Asian suppliers to the sector, with Eversafe, Kartindo, Kayel, Liew Koon, Maxrubber and Sun Rubber all attending, as well as Elgi Rubber from India. The show also seemed to be well attended by regional retreaders as well as a few from further afield. The organisers key task now will be to draw in those South-East Asian suppliers who stayed away and well as exhibitors from further afield.
At Commercial Tyre Business, we had been keen to support the new owners of the exhibition, and we were therefore delighted to be able to organise a retreading conference on day one of the show, featuring in-depth analyses of retreading markets around the world as well as a look at specific topics such as how to improve the cost-efficiency of retreading plants, and the benefits of including retreading as an integral part of a fleet management strategy. Speakers were Chris Bloor from Giti Tire, Karun Sanghi (Tyresoles), Edmund Wong (First Unitex and TRMAM), David Stevens (TRIB), Brian Barron (Vaculug), and Michael Hutt (who until recently was General Manager – Group Marketing at Kit Loong Commercial Tyre Group).
Also featured during the show was the official launch of the 2023 Recircle Awards, with two awards being presented live – the Circular Economy Award to the German AZUR Network, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Retreading Sector to Chen Jet How, the ex-CEO of the Kit Loong Group.