Baake Celebrates 35 Years With Bandag

Headquartered in Heusenstamm, Germany, Baake GmbH & Co. KG is celebrating 35 years as a Bandag franchisee. In recognition of the long relationship, Karl Robert Baake, general manager, was presented with a commemorative plaque by Mike Tirona, vice president and general manager of Bandag EMEA.

Although the franchise contract was signed in 1971, Baake’s proud history stretches back to 1932, when the company began life as a tyre curing shop. The knowledge gained here proved a valuable asset after WW II when it integrated hot-cap retreading of car tyres into the business.

Bandag-precured retreading came as a logical evolution in the early 1970s, when Baake opened a second commercial outlet in Rodenbach in 1973. Baake was one of the founding members of the Partner Handels-Gesellschaft mbH (currently known as Point S).

The ever-increasing demand for Bandag retreads manufactured by Baake led to a thorough modernisation of the retreading shop in 1994 and the introduction of the Bandag NDI ultrasound casing analyser.

In 1999, Baake was granted ECE 109 quality certification for truck tyres, which was renewed in 2004. One year later, the quality management system was extended to all the company’s activities.

As well as offering the full range of wheel and tyre services, the retreading operation has expanded significantly and Baake not only retreads truck and van tyres but has also developed retreading methods for the special tyres fitted on aircraft tractors, as well as industrial and solid tyres.