How do you see the scope of tyre retreading industry and its future growth?

Our focus is on Europe, and the fact that Europe has a high density of population, the transport infrastructure depends heavily on road transport. Therefore, the potential in tyre demand remains at a high level. This assumption is also proven by the fact that over the past years the number of sold commercial vehicles has increased. And even the retreading market has shown a slight increase during 2018/2019 after many years of decline.  Analyst report there is an approximate share of 20% of truck retreads vs new tyres.

Needless to say, the current Covid-19 crisis has caused an eruption in the world, and nobody knows for sure which total effects this will cause, but one point is definitely sure – especially during the crisis, the key focus is trying to save resources and work most economically. On top we believe, that exactly this mindset will support the retreading industry, as retreading is unquestionably a part of the tyre industry which ensures the sustainability of resources.

We at NEROFORCE remain optimistically during these tough times.

What are your products/services to the sector?

Our goal is to offer the retreaders a full range of consumables, tools and equipment of high quality and performance. We are professionals in buffing & grinding tools and offering the widest range of different grinding tools. We re-develop and improve conventional tools, pushing the boundaries of state-of-the-art engineering. Focus during the production processes is to ensure the best performance & quality of our products and bring them to the market at the most economical and environmentally friendly level as possible.

From my own experience, many traditional companies are simply offering what they have offered for the past decades. Therefore, quite often the potential of modernisation, re-engineering or the upgrading of the tools & manufacturing to meet today’s standards has been missed.

Next to the NEROFORCE branded products, we also offer other brands, which have not neglected the above described evolution and are also able to offer modern and state-of-the-art quality products. With this complete offer, our customers can be assured, that they get the best of the best available in the market from NEROFORCE.

What gives your products the competitive edge in the market?

As mentioned above, it is the simple fact, that we do not offer conventional or “old-fashioned” products, but mainly re-engineered tools in terms of material, production process or improved usage scenarios. At all times, a high level of quality is our main driver.

How did you manage operations during the current pandemic slowdown?

As we are still a young company, we were surely struggling at some point. But since we have not yet built a big and costly organisation with a large overhead, it was probably easier for us than for bigger companies to apply saving processes or work most economically. Today, we have a very economic and healthy structure and surely can and will grow the company at a healthy speed.

 Do you think business operation processes will change in post-COVID times? If so, how?

It will change definitely. COVID forced us to reduce or even stop travelling, attend classic meetings, do sales calls and visits. Therefore, we were all forced to learn other ways of doing our business. And many people, not only in our but many other industries, found that these new ways actually work quite well and they learned that a big part of travelling around can be reduced considerably. We have been using the necessary technology for a long time, conducting online meetings, video conferences and chats, but not only from office to office, but also at a factory level, or to demonstrate something or show issues etc.  A lot of companies have not used these technologies, simply because of their old habits.

The same will also apply for the purchasing. Online shopping for tools and consumables in the B2B area was and is still not common in many areas of the industry. But this will happen, and it has to change now. Therefore, we at NEROFORCE are working at high speed on the introduction of our online B2B-ProShop for the Tyre & Retreading Industry. With this project, NEROFORCE will be a leader in presenting, demonstrating and selling the full range of high-quality products in the most convenient and easiest way.

Some details about your network?

Our base is in southern Germany, the geographical centre of Europe. Next to our office & warehouse team we also run a field engineering dept.

Service is our highest priority. And therefore, we work with a highly educated and very motivated team. Our manufacturers & suppliers from Germany, Italy, USA & Asia are selected carefully to ensure their service and quality complies with our philosophy.

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Indian tyre manufacturer secures top grading for the second time in a comprehensive health and safety audit

Indian tyre manufacturer CEAT Limited has secured a five-star rating from the British Safety Council following a comprehensive occupational health and safety audit at its Halol manufacturing facility, the company announced on Monday.

The audit, conducted by the UK-based British Safety Council, evaluated CEAT’s health and safety policies, processes and practices through documentation reviews, management interviews and operational sampling across more than 50 component elements.

This marks the second occasion the Halol plant has achieved the prestigious five-star grading, having first earned the recognition in 2016. The latest assessment brings CEAT’s total to four facilities holding British Safety Council accolades, alongside plants in Nagpur, Chennai and Ambernath.

“The award of a five-star grading following our occupational best practice Health and Safety Audit is an outstanding achievement and is reflective of a proactive organisation which is committed to continual improvement in its health and safety arrangements and managing risks to workers’ health, safety and wellbeing,” said Mike Robinson, CEO of the British Safety Council.

The Mumbai-based company, which competes in India’s competitive tyre market alongside global manufacturers, has positioned workplace safety as a cornerstone of its operational strategy rather than merely a compliance requirement.

“Earning the Five Star rating from the British Safety Council is a significant milestone that underscores CEAT’s unwavering commitment to occupational health, safety, and wellbeing,” said Jayasankar Kuruppal, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, CEAT. “At our Halol plant, safety is not treated as a regulatory requirement but as a core value embedded in our culture and operations.”

The recognition comes as Indian manufacturers face increasing scrutiny over workplace safety standards, particularly in heavy industrial sectors. CEAT’s achievement demonstrates the company’s focus on maintaining international safety benchmarks across its manufacturing operations.

“Through investments in advanced technologies, rigorous risk management, and active employee engagement, we are creating a benchmark for world-class manufacturing practices,” Kuruppal added.

The British Safety Council’s five-star rating represents the highest tier in the organisation’s occupational health and safety audit framework, reserved for companies demonstrating best-practice standards in worker protection and safety management systems.

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Pirelli celebrated a dominant one-two finish at the Rally of Ceredigion, the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship. Jon Armstrong secured a commanding victory in his Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta, finishing over 29 seconds ahead of fellow Pirelli driver Jürgenson Romet in another Fiesta.

The success extended beyond the podium as Andrea Mabellini delivered a powerful performance in his Pirelli- equipped Skoda Fabia, winning the Power Stage. This critical result earned him valuable points, moving him into second place in the overall championship standings ahead of the season's final round. The Welsh victory also propelled Pirelli into the lead of the Tyre Manufacturers’ championship.

This outstanding team result was made possible by the exceptional performance and consistency of the complete P Zero range, which was used in its entirety for the first time this season. Crews were equipped with P Zero tyres in hard, medium and soft compounds, perfectly suited to the cool Welsh temperatures. The versatile Cinturato wet tyre also proved indispensable, providing crucial grip on rain-soaked stages.

Pirelli’s winning weekend was further highlighted by a victory in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship, where Jari-Matti Latvala won the Greek round driving a Toyota Celica on Pirelli tyres.

Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager, said, “Our products for both dry and wet conditions once again demonstrated their versatility across all surfaces, in extremely variable and challenging conditions. We are heading for a thrilling championship finale: both Mabellini and Armstrong remain firmly in contention for the title. In Croatia, for the final round of the season, we will undoubtedly witness a fierce battle – and tyres will once again prove decisive. In the meantime, congratulations to Jon for his victory here in Wales: he showed authority and composure, as well as talent. Our congratulations also go to Romet, another promising young driver selected through the FIA Rally Star programme, supported by Pirelli.”

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World-record holder endurance driver Rainer Zietlow embarked on the ambitious ID. Buzz World Tour on 1 July 2025, launching from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' headquarters in Hanover, Germany, with an objective to secure a Guinness World Record by travelling through 75 countries across six continents in a zero-emission vehicle. This eight-month, 80,000-kilometre expedition in a fully electric VW ID. Buzz is designed to demonstrate the capabilities of sustainable mobility on a global scale.

A critical partner in this endeavour is Giti Tire, which is supplying its GitiSynergy H2 tyres for the entire circumnavigation. This collaboration serves as a rigorous real-world test of durability and performance, underscoring the vital role that tyres play in the overall efficiency and success of electric vehicles. The mission aims to prove that clean, long-distance travel is a practical reality when advanced battery technology is supported by high-quality, innovative components.

The journey's initial phase saw the electrified convoy traverse diverse European landscapes. After a ceremonial send-off, the tour commenced, with early stops encompassing cultural landmarks from Shakespeare’s birthplace in the UK to the vibrant streets of Dublin. The route then challenged the team with the formidable snow-capped peaks of the Alps, a passage by Vatican City, and the rugged terrain of the Balkan Mountains. Progress was tested by severe weather, including intense storms in Spain that forced a painstakingly slow crawl through flooded roads. By the end of July, the tour had advanced through Eastern Europe into Turkey, Georgia and Armenia before pushing into the vast expanses of Central Asia, reaching Uzbekistan and the Aral region.

Looking ahead, the expedition faces its most demanding challenges. The upcoming leg will navigate the remote and harsh environments of Central Asia, Mongolia and China, where charging infrastructure is sparse. The journey will then continue through Southeast Asia before moving south to Australia and Oceania. These formidable conditions will push the vehicle and its tyres to their limits, truly testing the resilience of sustainable transportation. With every kilometre, the tour moves closer to its world record goal, delivering a powerful message that the future of global travel is unequivocally electric.

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India’s tyre retreading industry has petitioned the government to slash goods and services tax (GST) rates from 18 percent to 5 percent on retreading services and materials, arguing the move would support environmental goals and the circular economy.

The Tyre Retreading Education Association (TREA), representing over 15 Indian retreading material manufacturers and retreaders serving approximately 10,000 retreaders nationwide, has written to authorities requesting the tax reduction across multiple product categories, including retreading services, retreaded tyres and retreading materials.

The industry body estimates India’s tyre retreading sector generates annual revenues of around INR 50 billion, with tread rubber manufacturing adding another INR 30 billion yearly. Last year, whilst 20,000,000 new truck tyres were sold domestically, approximately 80,00,000 truck tyres were retreaded, alongside smaller volumes of tractor, earthmover and car tyres.

“We are committed to educating and promoting retreading benefits: cost savings, safety, sustainability, and circular economy,” stated Karun Sanghi, Chairman of TREA, in the petition.

The request comes after recent GST amendments that reduced rates for new truck tyres from 28 percent to 18 percent, and cut levies on tractors, tractor tyres and tractor parts from 18 percent to 5 percent. However, conventional tread rubber used primarily for tractor tyres and retreading services for tractor tyres remain at the higher 18 per cent rate.

“We would request you to reduce the rate to five percent in line with other tractor products,” the association said, highlighting the inconsistency in tax treatment.

The industry argues that retreading aligns with government environmental priorities, pointing to the 2022 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy for tyres introduced to reduce environmental impact. The Environment Ministry has recognised retreading as “a very important part of the circular economy on tyres” and continues developing disposal systems for end-of-life tyres.

The association drew parallels with other environmentally friendly sectors that enjoy preferential GST rates, noting that electric vehicles are taxed at five percent, whilst rates for various renewable energy devices and solar water heaters were also reduced to five percent.

“The government recognised the need to support environmentally friendly industries,” the petition stated, emphasising that retreading represents “a critical part of the circular economy of tyres” supported by both the Environment Ministry and Central Pollution Control Board.

The group argued that increased tyre retreading would help India achieve its zero carbon footprint targets by extending tyre lifecycles and reducing waste requiring disposal.

India’s tyre retreading industry serves as a cost-effective alternative to new tyres whilst supporting sustainability objectives through reduced raw material consumption and waste generation.

The association has offered to provide additional information and meet with government officials to discuss the proposal further.

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