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RETREADING
The Bourne Supremacy: Bridgestone’s Case for Retreading
markets how this system works, so they can adopt the system in conjunction with their own businesses and Bandag franchisees in their own countries.”
In a market, where the supply of quality casings is a continuous struggle, Bridgestone’s casing supply system is a key asset. More than 130,000 casings are received in Bourne each year. The ability to locate and process these is put down by
Point network aims to maximize tyre life by carrying out audits, reports and tyre care husbandry. Bridgestone’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), a sensor- operated system providing real-time pressure data for increased safety, is an extension of this service.
Also significant is Bridgestone’s Bandag franchise network: In addition to Bridgestone’s own manufacturing facility in Bourne, the
Bridgestone’s retreading activities in the UK are focused on their Bulldog retreading factory in Bourne, Lincolnshire. The plant, considered by Bridgestone to be a jewel in the company’s crown, is an industry leading operation and has undergone significant investment and expansion in recent years. It also stands out in the UK market for one crucial reason. In a market, which is traditionally mould cure dominated, the Bridgestone plant’s output is roughly 50:50 mould cure to pre-cure, offering a balance in product range that is not readily available from most other suppliers
Around 250 tyres undergo the retreading process each day in Bourne, each benefiting from painstaking buffing, moulding, enveloping, inflation and shearography testing stages, the latter being an advanced laser inspection
Polish, French and Spanish colleagues visiting Bourne earlier in June, before implementing best practices in their own countries.
Bridgestone’s Retread Development Manager Terry Salter explains; “The
process, derived from the aerospace industry.
Key to the process, though is the company’s casing management system, which is now being adopted across Europe, with Bridgestone’s
casing management system that we use controls the flow of casings back from our fleets and dealer customers, before being taken into our Bulldog production facilities. We were delighted to show other Bridgestone
Salter to the fact that Bridgestone has a range of sources that ensures a good continuity of supply.”
The first of these is Bridgestone’s “Total Tyre Life” package. Bridgestone’s truck tyres, like most premium brands, have retreading technology built-into the original tyre design. To realise this potential, Bridgestone’s approach to the market includes not only the sale of new and retreaded tyres but also a unique and comprehensive casing collection service. This service aims to collect the removed tyres within an average of three days of notification and then track those casings throughout the retreading process, ensuring that maximum value is realised from this key asset.
The next key factor in the ability to manage casing throughput is the company’s Total Tyre Care maintenance programme, by which Bridgestone and the company’s Truck
network of successful Bandag franchisees it inherited when the global purchase of the Bandag retreading business took place in 2007 has made a significant impact. It has not only increased the production capacity and sales of the company’s retreads, but it has also increased the quantity of casing sources.
Last but not least, the company’s European network is also significant. Bridgestone UK has already spread its casing management expertise to the Danish market with the installation of its unique casing management system at the Tobol plant. This has improved casing operations within the Danish market and has resulted in an exchange of casings between these two nations that further helps Bridgestone serve its customers.This expertise is now being spread across many other European countries and will – as this year progresses – result in further improvements in casing management.
Says Terry Salter: “Since the start of the financial and economic crisis that hit Europe in 2008, there has been unprecedented growth in demand for retreads and a restriction on the new tyre sales, with less vehicles being sold into the market.This has changed the normal balance between new and retreaded supply and this is resulting in ever-tighter casings supply just when the market needs it most. Bridgestone’s solution is to look at new and innovative ways with customers to overcome this challenge”.
16 Commercial Tyre Business