Marangoni optimistic about retreading in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba – Based on positive reactions it received through its first-time participation in the Cuba Industria Fair last year, Marangoni Group is optimistic the retreading market in that country may be on the upswing.

In October 2016, President Barack Obama issued a sweeping directive for a new U.S. policy to lift the Cold War trade embargo between the U.S. and Cuba.

Prior to that thaw, retreading materials producer Marangoni, called the second edition of the Cuba Industria Fair, sponsored by the Ministry of Industries of Cuba, “a very important opportunity to take the pulse of the development of the nation and its market” as the long U.S. embargo against the Communist country is scaled back. In a press release, Marangoni said “Cuba can now look toward a future of growth, both quantitatively and qualitatively, with increased optimism.”

 The company said that for some time Cuba and world industry has “awaited the positive effects of the thaw between Cuba and the United States….”

Marangoni collaborated at the Cuban Industry Exhibition last year with its Italian partner, Rovimpex Novaledo S.R.L. That firm's owner, Luigi Pedrini, said his company has done business in the market over the years although, until recently, products marketed by the Marangoni Group concentrated only on precured tread.

The trade fair represented, according to Marangoni, “the ideal opportunity” to present its Ringtread System, a retreading process using spliceless precured tread rings that the company claims enable a tire to be retreaded to “match or exceed” new products in terms of reliability and performance.

The system was demonstrated at the fair to various Cuban companies, including the management of importer Commercial Poligom – a long-time Rovimpex customer of retreading products – along with Comandante Ramiro Valdés, vice president of the government of Cuba and the country's former minister of the interior, according to Marangoni.

Marangoni also participated in a tire retreading conference promoted by Grupo Empresarial de la Industria Química (GEIQ).

Giovanni De Bei , Marangoni marketing manager, said a “wave of optimism and excitement is now inviting us to participate in a market that we have known for years and which is experiencing an important opening.

“Cuba's interest in development and technology can provide important business opportunities,” he added. “Participating at the Cuba Industria Fair, we wanted to signal our willingness and ability to offer quality solutions, thanks to the experience and professionalism of our partner, Rovimpex Novaledo.”