Vipal strengthens retreading partnership in Uganda

Vipal Rubber, one of the world's largest rubber manufacturers for tyre retreading, recently visited its Ugandan partner Mandela Group and tyre retreader, City Tyres in East Africa.

The visit further strengthened the relationship with both partners and included a strategic meeting with fleet operators from the region. City Tyres, part of the Mandela Group, currently operates an almost exclusively Vipal-based product portfolio, consolidating the partnership and trust in the company’s technology.

The event, held in early February, was attended by 15 guest companies, as well as the entire technical-commercial team from the client. The programme also included technical presentations focused on awareness about the benefits of tyre retreading, good maintenance practices, maximisation of operating efficiency, and reduction of CPK (Cost per Kilometre). The meeting was closed with a dinner at the facilities of Mandela Group.

Felipe Henzel, Commercial Director of International Markets and Two-Wheels Division; Fabricio Nedeff, Commercial Manager of Vipal EMEA; and Alfonso Ibañez, Commercial Responsible for the Middle East and Africa region, represented Vipal at the event.

For Felipe Henzel, the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to the sustainable development of the global retreading market and he stated: “Being close to our partners is crucial for us to understand the local demands and support structured business growth.

“Events like this reinforce the strength of the partnership between Vipal and the Mandela Group, promoting technical knowledge, operating efficiency, and concrete results for the fleets.”

Evelyn Tabitha, Manager Truck Sales of Mandela Group, commented that the meeting was strategic for strengthening relations and for the technical evolution of clients, adding: “It was a great moment for us at Mandela Group, City Retread, to reconnect with our clients and our business partners, Vipal from Brazil. We had engaging discussions on tyre solutions, proper maintenance, maximising efficiency and profitability, and ensuring our clients achieve the lowest cost per kilometre (LCPK). Our CEO, Mr. Venkatesh Kumar, also shared valuable insights on the Broken Window strategy, the invisible engine (drivers), and the power of partnerships. We are confident that implementing these learnings will drive growth for both our customers and our organisation.”

Fabrício Nedeff highlights the strategic relevance of the region, stating: “Africa is a market with great potential for expansion in tyre retreading, and the joint operation with solid partners such as the Mandela Group strengthens our long-term strategy. Our goal is to continuously contribute with technology, training, and technical support, ensuring that clients achieve the lowest cost per kilometre with safety and high performance.”

Among the attendees, Moses Ejoku, Workshop Lead at DHL Supply Chain International, highlighted the practical results from Vipal technology, adding: “I also want to extend my appreciation to Vipal for the great improvement in rubber for retreads. I have used this for quite a while now and it has performed very well. I can even share some pictures of the retreads that are coming back for the 3rd life and have gone for more than 50,000 km. Through the training, I learnt that the more you care about your tyres, the more mileage you get.”

The visit reaffirms Vipal’s commitment to working closely and collaboratively with its partners, promoting innovation, technical qualification, and sustainable growth in different markets around the world.