Platinum 1 International Gear Up for Market Entry

Platinum 1 International is the latest player to enter the market offering professional rubber compounds and technical solutions to the retreading, industrial and new tyre industry. Although they are new to the market, the company claims to have 108 years of combined experience in compounding, retreading and technology. The three main people behind the new operation are Brian Smith, Nick Dimitriadis and Rajamanikam Doraisamy.

Smith's job title is Technical & Business Development Consultant and he brings to the company 55 years of experience in all aspects of the retreading and new tyre business, be it car, truck, OTR or industrial tyres. Dimitriadis, who has 23 years experience in the rubber and tyre retreading sectors, covering precured tread manufacturing and the retreading of passenger, light truck, truck and industrial tyres, is Sales and Marketing Development Consultant to the company whilst Rajamanikam Doraisamy, who spent more than 30 years in rubber compounding, being trained in advanced mixing techniques and quality procedures in Europe, enjoys the role of Compounding and Technical Development Consultant.

Platinum 1 has positioned itself as a one-stop provider for the retreading, industrial and new tyre industries, the company's products and services including technical rubber compounds, masterbatches and tyre retreading materials, technical and retread services, new retreading machinery and the complete Platinum 1 retreading system.

The company offers a wide range of retreading materials including P1 Tread, a range of precured tread liners that are available in various widths and lengths and suitable for all applications including highway, construction sites, industrial, on/off road and specialty vehicles. Also available is P1 Cushiongum, an environmentally friendly roll and Orbi Strip form cushion gum, which is made from pine free compound and supplied as a fast cure, ranging from 99c to 115c curing temperature. Other products in the company's range include P1 Bond camelback, P1 Sidewall, sidewall veneer for bead to bead retreading. P1 Fill, gum cord and P1 Strip, orbistrip rubber for hot process retreading, suitable for passenger and truck retreading.

"Quality is the ultimate factor for success in every level of business and for this reason Platinum 1 International aims to maintain the highest possible quality standards", says Brian Smith. "We make sure that we make our products as user friendly as possible and back them up with premium quality professional services", he added. According to Smith, Platinum 1 International will aim to create a customer base that is looking for high quality added products and service at a reasonable price.

"For new retreaders, we can provide turnkey plants, hands on training as well as other technical support. We are working with several machinery manufacturers locally as well as in other countries such as China and Taiwan, which will allow us to provide retreading equipment as well as our complete Platinum 1 retreading system", says Smith. "We can provide help from initial factory development planning and design layout to manufacturing state of the art retread equipment, with certified materials and with the most modern technologies. Supply, installation, commissioning and training in every stage of the retreading process is carried out by our own technical team. In addition, our system can handle any types of tyres, from light truck and truck to industrial and OTR tyres.

" In addition, according to Nick Dimitriadis, the company is able to assist customers and partners in conducting factory audits, which include thermocouple testing, all aspects of retreading production, the streamlining and optimization of factory processes, the quality and image of retread plant, and business and product advice.

" We also provide an 'End User Development Program' to our customers, which includes working with customers sales team, visits to their existing customers, the development of end user product awareness, and training on tyre maintenance, pressure testing, tread wear monitoring etc." he added.

The company's new plant in Klang is already operational but as there will be extensive product and production testing to be done before full production commences, the first shipments are scheduled to be ready by September. The precured liners are available in approximately 80 patterns ranging 180 sizes. Capacity will initially be 180 tons per month of precured tread liner, although according to Smith, this will double during the second stage of development. "

Apart from selling our products locally, we will be exporting to all Asian areas, Oceanic, the sub-continent and China, " said Nick Dimitriadis. Both Smith and Dimitriadis see good potential for growth in all Asian areas and China, as compared to mature markets such as Europe, USA and Australia.

" Since we are a new player, we hope to shape the future step by step", says Smith. "We believe that by supplying our high quality materials, we will be able to single ourselves out from our competitors and our customers will feel that we have given them the best possible value for money".

Issue 2009/3