Bridgestone Bandag pursuing a “fair share” approach to price increases
Last year Bridgestone Bandag – one of the largest competitors in the European retreading market – only announced minor price increases. In February this year, however, the manufacturer and franchisor needed to raise its prices by an average of six per cent. As Harald Van Ooteghem, Brussels based senior manager for TBR/Retread Business Planning at Bridgestone Europe, explains to Tyres & Accessories, in the event of price increases an attempt is made to implement a “fair share” approach by which both partners – the supplier and customer – share the extra burden.
Continue ReadingDespite Marix, Marangoni’s marketing strategy remains unchanged
A couple of months ago, Marangoni began producing and marketing retreaded truck and OTR tyres under the “Marix” brand, a name previously reserved for passenger car, light commercial and 4x4 tyres. The Italian retreader previously relied upon the strength of its “Marangoni” brand, however it chose to respond to a changing competitive landscape by modifying its brand concept and in future will, according to Brenno Benaglia, pursue a clearer brand concept.
Continue ReadingItalmatic: A long-established full portfolio manufacturer
With a history going back 45 years and more than 7,500 machines in operation around the world, the Italmatic Group is today one of the leading retreading equipment and accessory providers. These days the Milan based machinery manufacturer offers a comprehensive portfolio of products, from passenger car tyres up to and including complete production facilities, for use in the retreading of various types of tyres. “We are probably the only or at least one of a handful of companies able to deliver everything from accessories for bicycle tyres through to facilities for the retreading of 63-inch OTR tyres,” Italmatic vice-president Massimo Ghitturi comments to Tyres & Accessories. Italmatic can also offer its customers turnkey retreading facilities, from the preparation of a layout to installation and startup technical support.
Continue ReadingGraham Simpson appointed director at Truck Tyre Specialists
Graham Simpson has been appointed a as director of Truck Tyre Specialists Ltd (TTS). His primary function remains sales, an area in which has gained over 21 years of experience in in the Retreading industry. Simpson heads up a team of account managers and van sales team alongside the development of new fleet and casing asset solutions. According to TTS, the company will be soon launching a new online “Casing Bank Reporting Suite” where customers can not only track there asset value but get an overview of RTD Removal rate, acceptance rate of casings among other detailed reporting.
Continue ReadingTRIB launches redesigned website
The first phase of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau’s totally redesigned www.retread.org website has gone live, and offers visitors numerous new features including a full resources section including a retread buyer’s guide, studies regarding retreading, a calendar of industry events and a DOT code searcher. A members-only section provides community-based tools to connect members geographically or through similar product interests.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Ecopia truck retreads and rolling resistance
At the launch at the IAA in September 2010 of Bridgestone’s latest range of truck tyres under the Ecopia brand, Europe CEO Mac Ohashi said a range of Ecopia retread patterns would follow for the M749 and R109 drive and trailer tyres. The former was released through the company’s European Bandag dealer network in January 2011 as a replacement for the Qualitread M749, while the company says the R109 Ecopia retread – a completely new product previously unavailable in the exiting Qualitread range – will follow later in the year. Tyres & Accessories spoke to Bridgestone Europe’s TBR/Retread Business Unit about the development of the Ecopia retread range and how it is presented to the market.
Continue ReadingEuropean launch for Bandag mixed service treads
Two new mixed service treads have been added to the European Bandag range, and Bridgestone Europe says both products deliver up to 15 per cent higher mileage, along with a lower cost per kilometre, than their predecessor treads, the BDY3 and BZY2. The treads are the Bandag Drive Mixed Service (BDM1) and the Bandag Rib Mixed Service (BRM1), an all-position tyre for on/off road use.
Continue ReadingRetread Tire Association to discuss safety with SAE
United States organisation the Retread Tire Association has announced that it will be represented at the Society of Automotive Engineers Work Truck Safety Committee meeting in Las Vegas on 24 March. It will discuss the safety, economic and environmental benefits of using retreads on ready mix concrete trucks.
Continue ReadingBridgestone launches first product in Ecopia retread range
The first retread product in Bridgestone’s Ecopia truck tyre range has been released through the company’s European Bandag dealer network. The M749 highway drive pattern was released as a retread in January 2011 and utilises the Ecopia casing, which Bridgestone says contributes around 60 per cent to the tyre’s rolling resistance qualities. In announcing the introduction of the M749 retread, the tyre maker commented that “by making the M749 Ecopia available as a retread, Bridgestone can now offer long-haul operators the double benefit of cost savings over the full tyre life and a reduction in the ecological tyre print of the fleet.”
Continue ReadingMarangoni North America expands supplies and accessories line
Marangoni Tread North America has added Presti, AmerSeal, and Counteract products to its supplies and accessory line, which includes envelopes, sealing rings, cushion gum, envelope lube, J-hooks, tire paint and buffing blades, reports Tire Review. MTNA is also adding new Gaither Tool selections to support fleet tyre maintenance needs with a variety of environmentally-friendly product options.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Continues Qualitread Rebranding
The rebranding of Qualitread retreading products in Europe under the Bridgestone brand name continues in January with the renaming of the M729 drive tread and R168 trailer tread as Bridgestone Retread products. In April the Qualitread M729 EVO regional drive tyre will also join the Bridgestone Retread line-up.
Continue ReadingBrodsky Reports Retread Tire Association Growth
The Retread Tire Association (RTA), formed following Harvey Brodsky’s departure from the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau, reports the addition of another 12 members to its ranks. New member companies include: AME International, Black’s Tire Service, Frasier Tire Service, Jirah Inc., Malerba’s Consulting LLC, Purcell Tire, Tesla Electronics and Tire Stamp, all US-based. New from Canada are Kirk’s Tire and West End Tire, while Earthmover Tyres of Scotland and Makepeace Agencies from Australia also have joined.
Continue ReadingBandvulc Discusses Strategies for the Future at Key Dealer Conference
Before Christmas Bandvulc Tyre Contracts (BTC) the tyre management division of the Bandvulc Group recently hosted a conference for its group of Key Independent dealers working in partnership with BTC. According to the company, the focus of the event was to outline its performance during 2010 and advise of its plans and objectives for next year. BTC reports that its turnover is already in excess of £30 million and has expansive plans for the year ahead. Opening the conference, Patrick O’Connell, group managing director, welcomed all to the event and outlined corporate plans and concerns with tyre and commodity prices along with stressing the importance of service delivery and maintaining quality in every aspect.
Continue ReadingPotato Fleet Trials Vacu-Lug’s Latest Green Retreads
Bedfordshire-based H.E. Payne Transport Limited and its customer, potato merchant Greenvale AP, are trialling a new generation of energy-efficient Duramold retread tyres produced by Vacu-Lug. Unlike other ecologically aware tyres, these products are actually coloured green to reinforce their environmental credentials, the tyres are fitted to a truck and trailer in the Greenvale AP-liveried fleet operated by H. E. Payne Transport on the nationwide distribution of fresh potatoes. A total of ten of the new tyres have been fitted to the H. E. Payne / Greenvale AP Euro 5 440hp 6x2 Volvo FH13 combination.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Expands Middle East Retreading Activities
In recent months, Marangoni Retreading Systems has taken on a number of new partners in the Middle East and signed agreements with a number of important retreaders within the region, including Al Zahem Industries in Kuwait. Through this particular contract, Marangoni Retreading Systems has been able to enter the Kuwaiti market with the backing of the experience and skills possessed by the country’s sole retreader.
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