Vipal, the Brazil-based manufacturer of tyre repair materials and pre-cured tread rubber for the retreading industry has become a global supplier of retreading products in recent years with a strong presence in many countries worldwide. Apart from being the Latin American leader in the retreading sector, the company has achieved significant market shares in North America, Europe and Australia as well as achieving a foothold in most other global regions.
To illustrate this, the company has maintained a presence at many tyre industry exhibitions throughout the world in order to introduce its latest innovations. An example of this is the Autopromotec show in Bologna, Italy, where the company showcased treads verified by the European Alpine Symbol, which attests to their performance in severe snow conditions. In addition to these, Vipal’s ECO line fuel efficent treads, and the company’s range of tyre repair products were also featured at the booth.
Recently launched with the Alpine Symbol, one of the highlights was the VT220 tread. Made from a special, high-tech compound and able to withstand low temperatures, the VT220 is recommended for radial tyres, medium and long distance hauls, in snowy or muddy conditions. The tread’s design allows optimal performance on wet or muddy surfaces due to the transverse grooves that give greater stability to the blocks and excellent traction power. Two other Vipal treads, the VT160 and the VDA4, also certified with the Alpine Symbol, meet the same necessary requirements for driving in severe snow conditions.
The quality and performance of Vipal brand treads, already proven in different markets around the world, was also on display at Autopromotec. Such is the case of the VRT3, DV-UM3 and VT110 designs, which also delivered great results in tests conducted in several European fleets. For instance, the VRT3 showed superior performance when compared with a similar competitor model, in a test conducted on paved roads in the city of Puglianello, Italy. The participating fleet achieved 8% better mileage with the Vipal product.
Within this same concept, Vipal has been producing the Vipal ECO tread line since 2009, and some of these designs were also on display at Autopromotec. The result of years of investment and research, the line features state-of-the-art product technology. This is due to the use of special high-tech rubber compounds and the tread design configuration, which is focused on better fuel economy.
Vipal Rubber also took its full assortment of repair products to the trade fair in Bologna. One of these is the Aramid Patch (RA), extremely impact-resistant and at the same time lighter and more flexible than traditional patches, improving application and appearance in the repaired area. The Vipal RA Patch is made with aramid fibre, a reinforced textile used in bullet-proof vests and seat belts, among other extremely resistant products. This material is five times more resistant than steel, which guarantees less interference in tyre balancing.
