In April Bandvulc, the UK’s largest independent retreader of truck tyres, introduced its most recent operation, BVF1rst – a new tyre wholesale business only selling products built on what Bandvulc accepts as being a retreadable casing. BVF1rst enables the Group to complement its wide range of retread products with new tyre offerings, providing customers with a one-stop-shop for tyres.
Bandvulc Introduces BVF1rst
The tyre range includes premium, regional and budget options to suit all applications and prices whilst also ensuring they can all be retreaded into the same premium, regional or budget Bandvulc retread.
BVF1RST utilises Bandvulc’s own distribution fleet of 21 vehicles, delivering throughout the UK, Ireland and into Europe. The operation is managed by a dedicated telesales team including Jon Squires who joined the company earlier this year specifically to spearhead this area of the business. Alongside him are Jodi Benney and Birgit Emanuel. They have in-depth knowledge of the full range of tyres on offer as well as experience in customer service. The team takes every opportunity to ensure customers are stocking to the right level to meet their end-user needs and maintain regular contact with both suppliers and end users. While BVF1rst sales are predominantly UK-based, the European market is a key development area alongside Bandvulc tyres and the team are well set for this as Birgit speaks fluent German.
The new tyre ranges available include BOTO and Fulda. BOTO is a Bandvulc retreadable approved Chinese tyre option which has been fully tested by Bandvulc, including its retreadability. This is key for Bandvulc as the company insists many tyre products from the Far East do not prove value for money and do not meet Bandvulc’s strict quality requirements for retreading. Since its launch in April, new BOTO tyres sold through BVF1rst are now starting to come back as casin gs (worn tyres) and are going through Bandvulc’s retreading operation and stringent inspections. BOTO casings are approved for specific Bandvulc products none of which reflects on its premium end market production. An added advantage is that the introduction of new tyres into the supply stream helps to ease the pressure on shortage of suitable casings.
Fulda utilises German engineering and Goodyear technology to deliver a tyre that is widely accepted in its German home market. With BVF1rst developing the brand in the UK customers are already seeing the benefit it brings. Fulda casings are then retreaded into a nominated range of Bandvulc tyres.
