Vipal Signs Joint Venture, Plans Retread Production in Spain

July 27, 2016

Vipal Rubber Corp. is entering into a joint venture with Mezcla Caucho (Mezcla Rubber) of Spain to produce hot tire retreading products under the Vipal brand in Europe. It's the first Vipal production line to be built outside of Brazil.

Mezcla Caucho is part of Grupo Soledad, a manufacturer of rubber composites. They will focus on the production of non-vulcanized rubber strips.

Vipal says it knows investing in new strategies "is essential."

The agreement will ensure more efficient service for a local product line that is highly sensitive as a result of its short shelf life. Non-vulcanised rubber strips will be produced in the city of Aspe in the province of Alicante, Spain. It's expected the joint venture "should already start generating important sales growth this year," Vipal says.

“We have a very close relationship with Grupo Soledad and this opportunity reinforces the existing synergy, with the goal of offering the market high-quality products with the responsiveness required to meet our clients’ needs,” says Leandro Rigon, director of international business for Vipal.

“For some time, we have been studying projects and exchanging information and technologies to ensure our production complies with the standards of excellence established by both companies," says Renan Lima, superintendent director for Vipal. "We’ve invested a lot in this project and in the results we intend to obtain from the local market."

Vipal Europe, located in Valencia, Spain, will be responsible for selling the local production. Marketing of the products has already begun, and clients who already use Brazilian exports will be given priority so they can attest that our quality remains the same.