CIO Tyres Private Limited, an established Indian mining tyre retreader since 1952, is expanding its operations in the mining belts of Odisha and Jharkhand.
Serving Critical Regions
CIO’s research in these critical regions revealed that contractors often discard mid-size radial tyres, overlooking the benefits of retreading. “The lack of proper equipment and expertise in retreading radial casings leads to casing damage, which forces the end user to either opt out of purchasing or retreading radial tyres, especially with mid-range OTR”, stated K. Muralidharan, CIO’s chairman and director. CIO has now embarked on a campaign to educate customers on retreading loader tyres such as 23.5R25 OTR multiple times, saving long-term costs. “Our focus is to onboard large private accounts who can meet on-time payment schedules.” CIO targets 40-50 vehicle mining contractors, strengthening relationships to build regional clientele.
An OTR specialist, CIO is among the few with the expertise to retread and repair large earthmover tyres, serving customers in industries like iron and steel, cement, mechanised coal fields, iron ore mines, limestone quarries, copper mines, electricity – hydro and thermal – irrigation dams and canals.
Developed Customised Tread
Interestingly, CIO has worked with leading Kerala-based tread manufacturers to develop a rubber compound specifically for iron ore and coal PCTR applications. “We have received positive responses from the market as our compound offers almost 70-80% life of a new tyre, in some cases even more,” said K. Muralidharan. Rubber prices in the domestic market have stabilised this year compared to last year’s volatility, leaving room for tread producers to invest in R&D improvements.
A New Location
CIO relocated to a new facility in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, in 2019, which became fully operational in 2020 after the pandemic. This new site offers enhanced space utilisation and systematic operations, improving the company’s capacity to handle retreading processes. Vinod Menon, director and CEO of CIO, mentioned the addition of Monaflex technology, enabling the repair of tyres up to 57 inches in size.
The company processes 500-600 precure and 70-80 hotcure OTR tyres monthly. Its plant includes a 63-inch dual-fired curing chamber and advanced machinery, ensuring precise and careful tyre treatment. CIO also utilises mould cure technology for larger earthmover tyres, recently showcasing its capability by retreading the country’s largest OTR tyre, a 40R57, with a payload capacity of 240 tonnes.
Looking to the Future
Looking ahead, CIO is exploring opportunities in tyre management. Menon disclosed ongoing discussions for potential collaborations with tyre OEMs, aiming to offer comprehensive tyre maintenance services. Additionally, the company is considering establishing small retread operations in remote, strategically essential locations. This initiative aims to mitigate the logistical challenges of transporting tyres back to a central hub, bringing retreading services closer to the customers.
CIO’s journey reflects its commitment to innovation, customer education, and technological advancement in tyre retreading. By focusing on strategic expansion and addressing market needs, CIO Tyres is set to strengthen its position as a leader in the mining tyre retreading industry.
Author: Satnam Singh
