Page 17 - CTB N18 - 2017-02

RETREADING
Bridgestone’s Bourne
Identity Continuing to Impress
works off cloud based technology and offers additional reporting benefits for commercial fleets.
In 2016, the largest single investment at Bulldog saw the introduction of the latest generation Bandag extruder builder the 9110ES. This machine, at over £250,000, has the ability to produce more tyres with a greater level of accuracy than the previous equipment. The machine was a key
strategic investment and came to provide extra capacity for the Bandag range of precure retreads. Bridgestone’s retread development manager Terry Salter said: “The retread factory, employing 50 staff, sits within Bridgestone’s Total Tyre Care ethos, where the life of every commercial tyre is maximised through audits, reports and tyre care husbandr y.
Bridgestone’s retreading factory in Lincolnshire is continuing to be developed, through new technologies, significant investment and an ongoing commitment to its ‘Total Tyre Care’ concept. Through Total Tyre Care, Bridgestone provides comprehensive tyre solutions, designed to give the lowest total cost of ownership. Service is provided by the Bridgestone Partner network and includes not only the fitting of tyres but auditing, reporting, full tyre husbandry and casing management. A core aspect of this approach is
Bandag’s worldwide operations. In the UK, Bridgestone supplies fleets with retreads produced at seven independently owned Bandag franchises plus the Bulldog plant. The operation has benefited from a sustained investment programme to make it one of the most efficient in the industry, with up to 300 tyres undergoing the transformation each day. The latest example of this investment is the introduction of the BASys casing and production control system. The BASys system is the result of a global project with Bridgestone’s European, American
High Demand for Logistik Retreads Sees Vacu-Lug Install Fourth Press
In 2005, Bridgestone completed a takeover of Bulldog Retreads
Vacu-Lug has installed a fourth press at their plant to meet the increased Logistik supply
Total Tyre Life. Bridgestone’s truck tyres feature retreading technology being built-into the original tyre design. To realise this potential, Bridgestone’s approach to market includes not only the sale of new and retreaded tyres, but also a comprehensive casing collection service. This approach was reinforced in the UK in 2005 when Bridgestone purchased Bulldog retreads and on a global basis when a year later Bridgestone spent more than a billion dollars to buy
and Japanese strategic business units collaborating to upgrade a key aspect of Total Tyre Care. It provides the ability to track a tyre from the point it is removed from service at the fleet, through the return of the tyre to the production facility, and then through each stage of the production process and finally the return of the transformed product back to service. BASys was installed at Bulldog in February this year and will be in full use later in 2017. This replaces a paper based system,
Any operator hoping for improved fuel efficiency from a retread tyre looks closely at rolling resistance, and that's exactly what Grantham- based commercial tyre retreading specialist Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres did when developing its Logistik platform for heavy commercial vehicles. Vacu-Lug chose not to sacrifice any physical tyre characteristics, but instead achieved improved performance through technological advancements and the use of more sophisticated compounds during the manufacturing process.
“One way to reduce rolling resistance is to reduce both tyre width – crucial for footprint – and tread depth” explains Dave Alsop, Vacu-Lug Sales Director. “At Vacu-Lug, we're using advanced compounds which have been developed over a long period of time to combine good rolling resistance with excellent wear characteristics – simply put, the tyres last longer.”
Vacu-Lug uses the LD01 drive tyre (in size 295/80R22.5) on its own distribution fleet, with the tyres outperforming original equipment by up to 50%. The LD01 combines optimal performance and longevity with the aim of reducing overall operating costs. As well as higher mileage and improved durability, a reduction in tread block movement
helps the Logistik LD01 to deliver better traction and lower acoustic levels, alongside improved fuel consumption. Now available in three sizes - 295/80R22.5, 315/70R22.5 and 315/80R22.5 - the LD01 is manufactured using 12-segment, high pressure tyre presses which employ technology used by the aircraft industry. Furthermore, by utilising an increased curing pressure of 300psi, maximum tread compound performance is achieved. LD01 users throughout the UK are reporting good performance levels and as such, demand has started to outstrip supply. Consequently, Vacu- Lug has installed a fourth Logistik press at the Lincolnshire plant. On top of that, hauliers can now combine the LD01 Logistik drive tyre with the newly released LT01 Logistik Supersingle trailer tyre. This means operators can benefit from high quality premium retread tyres from a British manufacturer.
“Mixed vehicle fleets are already experiencing Vacu-Lug's proven delivery of high kilometre performance and lower rolling resistance” concludes Dave Alsop. “And now, with our fourth press in place, we can match production levels to demand for the Logistik tyre range.”
Around 300 tyres are retreaded each day at the Bulldog Retread Plant
Commercial Tyre Business 17