Tech Rubber buys Italian retread, recycling supplier

JOHNSTOWN, Ohio (Nov. 8, 2016) — Tire repair materials producer Technical Rubber Co. Inc. has acquired Salvadori S.r.l., an Italian supplier of tire, retread and industrial rubber repair products and producer of equipment used in converting scrap tires and plastics to usable products.

The acquisition of Rovereto, Italy-based Salvadori will add rubber recycling to Tech Rubber's business mix, which is in line with the Johnstown-based company's “4r Future” — repair, reuse, recycle and repurpose — growth strategy, according to Tech CEO Dan Layne.

“This acquisition augments our tire repair and wheel service product range and facilitates our entry into the tire recycling industry,” Mr. Layne said. “We expect the businesses will continue to thrive and deliver solutions for our collective customer bases, and provide additional growth opportunities for our team.”

Financial aspects of the deal were not disclosed.

Tech said recycling represents as much as half of Salvadori's business, but to date has little, if any, presence in North America. The company has no immediate plans to establish a sales network for the recycling business, a spokesman said, but the firm's existing sales force will be able to handle inquiries.

Salvadori's retreading and repair business complements Tech Rubber's, the spokesman said, and will strengthen the company's sales potential in Europe.

Salvadori describes itself as a family-run company founded in 1983 by Giorgio and Anna Salvadori and their sons Paolo, Igor and Samuel.

Initially the company focused on building “innovative” retreading equipment designed to reduce processing time, expanding into the design and production of equipment for converting scrap tires to rubber dust and granulate.

The company's activities today encompass both the production of recycling equipment and turnkey design engineering for recycling businesses.