Bridgestone Strengthens Retreading Activities

Bridgestone Retread Systems is relatively new to the retreading market, having entered the sector in the past year through a joint venture between Bridgestone and Marangoni/Ellerbrock. The idea behind the new company was to was to bring together and direct Bridgestone’s retreading activities in Europe from a central point; hence its location in Brussels. The joint venture with Marangoni Tread and its German subsidiary, Ellerbrock Tyre Retreading Technology, allows the Japanese manufacturer to cast its retreading net even further; and it can now offer its partners the support and assistance to gain the ECE 109 and the ISO 9001-2000 certifications.

ISO is a quality management system and one of the two conditions that must be met to gain an ECE 109 certificate. The ECE 109 certifies that a retreader manufactures under the same quality criteria as a new tyre manufacturer and ensures a high standard is maintained for the customer. Bridgestone compiles its retreading quality guidelines according to official regulation, and a test laboratory certifies its products. The manufacturer also claims that an ISO auditor also examines its procedure as a ‘double check’ measure and to guarantee its standards.

As a result of the new co-operation Truck Point dealers will now stock Bridgestone, Ellerbrock and Marangoni products providing them with a substantially larger product range for trucks. Original Bridgestone retreads will now be sold under the label “Qualitread” and under the strict quality criteria set up by the tyre manufacturer.

Retreaded tyres are, in terms of their economical and ecological characteristics, an increasingly viable and therefore common option in the commercial vehicle sector. In some European countries retreaded tyres account for 50 per cent of the market. The quality of the carcass determines the result of the retreading process –Bridgestone’s truck tyre carcasses are internationally recognised as a “high value” product offering considerable longevity.

Bridgestone made it clear from the outset that its retreading activities would not centre on mass production. Instead it sought to establish sound relationships with dealers already producing retreaded tyres. The manufacturer intends to create links with existing retreaders in every part of Europe so that these dealers can ten sell its products to the end users, such as fleets, in every region.

By doing this it is, in effect, opening up more sales opportunities to the tyre trade. It believes that dealers involved in truck tyres should be involved in truck tyre retreads. Its sales pitch to both the trade and end user alike follows the ‘substantial cost savings’ route. Bridgestone argues that its retreaded tyres are up to a third cheaper than that of a new one, that they are high quality and that they offer almost twice the mileage thanks to the regrooving process.

There are several new additions to its retreaded tyre range already. The “M 729” Evolution profile is similar to the new tyre “M 730”, and offers strong traction, designed for the drive axle. “M 840” is a tread pattern designed for use on all axle positions, including the second steering axle and the elevator axles. As well as these the “R 168” has been created for trailers, which experience intensive wear.