The transport and logistics sector is also struggling with increased costs, for example for raw materials and due to stricter environmental regulations. Therefore, truly helpful, cost-reducing measures are welcome. One of the most effective methods is to use wear parts for as long as possible. And even then, repairs can prevent premature replacement. For example, with tires. The globally active specialist Rema Tip Top offers professional repairs of truck and industrial OTR (Off-the-Road) tires, as well as maintenance and plant maintenance. "Professional repair," according to the company founded in Germany in 1923 in its press release, "is a practical and economical alternative to expensive new purchases." The self-proclaimed "market leader in the field of tire repair" offers solutions specifically tailored to the automotive industry for tire repair with its Rema Motion line.
Less Material Usage, Less Cost – Same Quality
Reducing operating costs in any practical way is one of the foremost ambitions, especially in fleet management, as confirmed by Gerhard Hieber, Team Leader Product Management at Rema Tip Top. The manager highlights the benefits of tire repair for the industry with the following words:
"Repairing a truck tire often costs only about
20 to 25 percent of a new tire. Moreover, the recommended axle-wise renewal of the tires is not necessary. In the case of sidewall damage or punctures, professional repair is therefore a sensible option to avoid unnecessary expenses."
The refreshment can be implemented without performance loss according to their own statements – neither quality nor durability would suffer. Result: "A tire cycle can be fully utilized."
Decades of Expertise
How did the development of the repair system come about? For the company headquartered in Poing near Munich, which evolved from a screw dealer over 100 years ago to a current expert for maintenance technologies, the name is its program: The name Rema is derived from the terms Repair Material. This means expertise in the provision of appropriate material and tools has existed for a long time: in the 1930s, they began specializing in tire repair – now known under the Rema Motion brand. The well-known green plastic boxes with Rema Tip Top tire repair kits have also been famous in the bicycle industry for decades.
With success in the automotive industry, the company subsequently diversified and developed numerous other special products related to
repair and maintenance for various sectors – from mining to the chemical industry and energy sector, from the food industry and logistics to heavy industry. For the necessary requirements, the company can provide a correspondingly comprehensive range of repair systems. The Rema Motion services, focused on tire repair, include among others a range of high-quality materials for high-quality repairs.
In addition, trainings and workshops are offered around tire repair, workshop equipment, and vehicle optimizations. As a distinguished expert on the subject, Rema Tip Top is also part of the network "Allianz Zukunft Reifen" (Azur). The initiative founded in 2020 unites around 90 partners from industry, science, and commerce, promotes a "sustainable tire circular economy" and also supports tire retreading.
Truck-Related and Environmentally Friendly
For the specific properties of truck and industrial tires, Rema Tip Top has, for example, introduced its premium patch series M-RCF and RAD "with bimodal bonding layer" and – specifically for puncture injuries – Minicombi.
"The materials are produced in Germany and meet all relevant certifications. This ensures a quick, reliable, and permanent repair and the efficiency of every corporate fleet,"
the report states. But it's not just about pure
cost reduction for fleet operators. In addition, according to Hieber, the ecological footprint would also improve: manufacturing a new truck tire consumes a lot of energy and material. However, with repairs, still usable substance is reused – this reduces raw material consumption and thus the CO2 footprint, argues the company. The ecological impact also affects the repair material used itself: with the M-RCF 400 patch series, the company has succeeded for the first time in developing a 100 percent solvent- and cement-free system. Hieber:
"Our many years of experience, combined with targeted training for specialized companies, ensures that repairs meet the high demands for safety and quality – and are economically convincing to more and more companies."
On the company's website, Hieber also comments on the sometimes-questioned safety of tires patched with patches: the repaired products have been subject "for decades" to the same strict quality requirements according to the UN-ECE regulations 108 and 109: these guarantee complete restoration and compliance with the specified speed and load indices.
Today, Rema Tip Top employs 9,000 people worldwide and has over 200 branches in more than 190 countries. In 2023, the turnover amounted to approximately
