Army Unit Retreads 10,000 Tyres a Month
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TYRE recovery and the salvage of L rubber in general have reached a high standard in the Middle East. The special unit responsible is known ak Tyre Workshops, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E,M.E.).
At the •beginning of 1942 the tyre situation became serious. There were tens of thousands of military vehicles in the Middle East and every damaged tyre had to be shipped home by the long sea route, via the Cape; to be returned by the same route when reconditioned.
Apart from the enormous amount 'of shipping required for this work, there was always the risk of the cargo being sunk en route. The obvious solution of the problem was to do the necessary work on the spot, and so started one of the most important units in the Army. The tyre workshops commenced retreading work in January,1942, with one recapping machine, for which local labour was responsible, and a second machine, which had been sent out from this country. Within three months the unit was turning out 90 retreaded tyres per month and, to-day, the average monthly output is over 10,000.
Of this total., over 70 per cent, is produced on machines made locally and designed 'by men with no previous experience of the tyre industry. Some idea of the growth of this unit may be gathered from the fact thAt, about 18 months ago, the staff consisted of two persons, whilst, to-day, there are 280 military employees and 350 civiliansengaged on the work.
Every fragment of rubber from such damaged articles as ground-sheets, rubber boots, respirators, and even rubber-soled shoes, is put to a new use by Tyre Workshops. The latest venture of the unit is the installation of a captured Italian rubber mill, which, in . conjunction with a rubber extruder, will enable the unit to make its own "camel-backs " for retreading.