Vipal Rubber expands production in the USA

Nashville, TN – Vipal Rubber is expanding its North American footprint, highlighting increased U.S. production and a broader brand portfolio during its first Independents Day event, held April 8–10 in Nashville.

The gathering brought together independent retreaders from across the U.S. and Canada as the company outlined its strategy to grow local operations and strengthen its position in the region. Central to that push is expanded manufacturing at Vipal’s plant in Madison, part of a broader “Made in USA” initiative aimed at increasing supply security and proximity to customers.

“We have intensified our investments to strengthen Vipal Rubber’s presence in the United States,” said Felipe Henzel, commercial director for international markets and the two-wheels division. He cited ongoing expansion of local production and operations as key to consolidating the company’s leadership in the independent retreading segment.

Vipal said 59% of its tread portfolio is now manufactured in the U.S., with plans to increase that share. All ring tread products under Marangoni are produced domestically, while about 40% of flat treads are made in the U.S. The company’s Madison facility, acquired in 2019, produces roughly 650 tons per month and supplies the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

The company is also integrating Marangoni Tread North America with Vipal Rubber Corp. into a single operation under the Vipal Rubber name. The move is designed to streamline operations, unify customer service and strengthen the brand’s presence in the U.S., Henzel said.

As part of its expansion strategy, Vipal introduced a “house of brands” approach combining Marangoni, Vipal and Ruzi into a unified portfolio. The structure is intended to eliminate overlap and offer tailored solutions across different applications, from high-performance ring systems to cost-focused options.

Company executives said the expanded portfolio and local investments are aimed at helping independent retreaders compete with larger industry players. “Our goal is to support them with full solutions, technology and support while preserving their autonomy,” said Antonio Brito.

The expansion comes as Vipal targets growth in the U.S., the world’s largest tire retreading market, where it sees increased demand but also heightened competition from global manufacturers and lower-cost imports.