Vipal, Crowley mark retread supply milestone

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Crowley Holdings Inc., one of the Americas' largest transportation enterprises, recently marked a milestone with Borrachas Vipal S.A., its partner since 2015, for retread-related business.

The milestone was reaching 50,000 retreaded truck tires supplied to Crowley companies in Central America and the Caribbean over the seven years by independent retreaders in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua that are allied with Vipal.

The companies recently renewed their tire management and retread agreement through 2023, supporting both companies' ongoing commitment for high performance with sustainability.

Vipal did not identify any of the individual retreaders supplying Crowley.

Crowley estimates that specifying retreads for its fleets in the region saved around 2 million liters of oil and 300 metric tons of steel versus buying new tires, while at the same time cutting its tire-related expenditures by 60 percent.

In line with Crowley's commitment to reach net-zero emissions throughout its operations—including emissions of carbon and greenhouse gases related to manufacturing new tires—the shipping company sends all tires that can't be retreaded again to recycling companies for reuse in other materials.

Julio Molina, manager, corporate equipment and maintenance for Crowley in Central America and the Dominican Republic, said the partnership with Vipal helps ensure efficiency, reduces costs for operation in multiple markets and supports the company's commitment to supporting the communities and planet.

"Our progress with Vipal has demonstrated that high quality and efficient management of fleets through retreaded tyres can benefit the services that customer rely on—and help reduce our environmental impact as a company."

Jean Barros, Vipal's commercial manager for Mexico and Central America, noted that Crowley is a "company that shares the same concepts of sustainability and concern for the preservation of the environment that we have in our operations.

"We are grateful for the trust and renewal of the partnership with Crowley to manage its fleet throughout Central America and the Caribbean. Everyone benefits from this partnership, especially our planet."

Crowley is a privately held, U.S.-owned and -operated maritime, energy and logistics solutions company serving commercial and government sectors with more than $2.5 billion in annual revenues.