The Retreader
The financial year of the RMA runs from April 1st until March 31st and with this in mind we would like to dedicate this issue of the Retreader to reporting on the activities of the Association over the past year.
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The RMA at Brityrex
At the start of May last year, the RMA played a significant role at Brityrex, which took place in Manchester. The Association assured that the retreading industry had a major profile at the exhibition by creating an “RMA Retreading Village”. Five supplier members - Bandag, Cooper, Kingsland Robart, Marangoni Tread and Watts supported the Association by taking exhibition space within the RMA Village and the Association is indebted to them for their support.
A number of processing and supplier members visited the village during the show and made use of the lounge area and office to conduct business. The stand also attracted a number of Green Dealers and was successful in emphasising the profile of the retreading industry to the UK tyre trade.
The RMA plans to repeat its involvement at Brityrex 2009, which takes place, again in Manchester, during September next year.
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Market Conditions
Once again, the last 12 months has been a challenging period for the retreading industry as it continues to consolidate.
The closure of two out of the country's three passenger retreading plants have clearly had a major impact on that sector, although ironically, initial production figures received appear to show that sales and production of passenger retreads had been holding up very well in the period leading up to the closures.
The truck tyre sector has also been buoyant during 2007. Although the Association has not yet gathered all members' production statistics for 2007, initial indications are that RMA members produced and sold around 8% more truck retreads during 2007 than during the previous year, with most retreaders showing appreciable increases.
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Promotional Campaign...
Promoting the use of retreaded tyres as a safe, durable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to new tyres.
During the year the WTO trade barrier complaint against Brazil was also successful, an area in which RMA input has provided key impetus.
During the early part of 2008 the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) carried out a campaign to promote the use of retreaded tyres as a safe, durable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to new tyres. The campaign, which involved the RMA as a consultation partner, focused on promoting the use of retreads on light commercial vehicles and produced some tangible benefits for the UK retread industry.
The campaign included a telemarketing campaign, which yielded a high number of concrete sales leads, some of which have already resulted in fleet trials, an active PR campaign and the production of case studies and a promotional leaflet explaining the benefits of retreads.
The RMA would like to express its gratitude to WRAP for its support to the retreading industry by running this programme.
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Training Courses
One of the most successful activities carried out by the RMA over the past couple of years has been the re-introduction of City and Guilds Part 1 courses for retread operatives.
The self-study courses, which begin in September each year and culminate in an April exam, provide a valuable qualification for retreaders. In the 2006-7 year 27 people passed the exam and a further 28 in 2005-6. An additional 31 people are scheduled to take the exam this month. The award for the best paper for the 2006-7 intake was awarded to Steve Holland of Bulldog.
The City and Guilds Part 1 courses have proved extremely popular and have helped to improve the technical knowledge of the workforce of those members who have taken the course. The Association is now actively marketing the courses overseas. This year, three students from Malaysia will take the exam.
The Technical Committee has worked hard this year to produce a new, more concise technical manual for students taking the course as well as for general use by retreaders. The new manual is currently being printed.
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Green Dealer Scheme
The RMA continues to promote its Green Dealer scheme and during the year the Association made available a range of point of sale material that was supplied free of charge to Green Dealers. This included canvas depot banners, car stickers, information sheets and brochure holders. The Association still has plenty of this material left and Green Dealers who would like some of this material are invited to contact the RMA office.
The Association once again presented its Green Dealer Award at the Rubber Industry Dinner, the prize this year going to national tyre wholesaler BITS. For 2008 the RMA has decided to focus on Green Fleets and will instead be presenting a Green Fleet award for retread users. RMA Members and retailers are invited to make their nominations for this award to the RMA office.
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BIPAVER
The RMA has historically played a pivotal role within BIPAVER and until recently actually ran the Secretariat. Technical representatives still make an important contribution to BIPAVER's Technical Committee, thereby allowing the RMA to have an important input into the formation of legislation within Europe.
This year BIPAVER has worked on a number of key issues, particularly in the area of noise, wet grip and rolling resistance.
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Health and Safety
The RMA is an active member of RUBIAC and, as such, has been actively involved in implementing RUBIAC's “Rubbing out Risk” programme within the Association.
Over the past year all members have received a free Health and Safety file containing HSE leaflets on a wide range of topics. The Association has also developed individual members' H&S actions plans that can be implemented by retreader members.
The RMA gathers accident statistics from its members on a six monthly basis and has been pleased to note that the Association's activities relating to RUBIAC have resulted in a reduction in accidents per employee for the last three six month periods consecutively.
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