Watts and Souza Pinto commenced manufacturing of a limited range of resilient solid tyres in late 2001, and have expanded the facilities product range over the last four years. The initial strategy in setting up the facility was to service the rapidly growing Brazilian market, as well as taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the Mercosur markets. The Brazilian Watts factory and central warehouse is based in Lorena, on the main Rodovia Presidente Dutra highway between Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro, and has grown from a 1,300 square metre facility to its new current size of 4,400 square metres.
According to the companies, Souza Pinto’s in-depth knowledge of the market as well as its previous manufacturing experience in both solid tyres and rubber compounding, was a perfect match for Watts Industrial Tyres, and the brands produced in Brazil now include the “industry’s favourite,” Kargo K2. Watts products are approved by a number of major OEM’s around the world, and Watts/Souza Pinto are the principal supplier of solids and pneumatics to the Nacco Brazil plant, which produces fork lifts under the Hyster and Yale brands, having recently launched the new Hyster Fortis and Yale Veracitor VX models.
Commenting on the expansion, Ernani Souza Pinto Filho, managing director of Souza Pinto, said: “We are very proud of our joint achievement with Watts over the past four years and the expansion will consolidate our position, as well as helping us to secure our future market share expectations. Brazil is also a very important springboard into the other Mercosur markets which are developing at a significant pace.”
Watts Industrial Tyres are the U.K.’s market leader, and exports most of its global production capacity throughout 60 countries, as well as owning subsidiaries in France, Germany and the U.S. The company offers one of the widest ranges of industrial tyre products available including solid, pneumatic, polyurethane, and puncture proofing products. It now has production facilities in Brazil, Sri Lanka, China and the U.K.
