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It all started for Bandag in Australia when Bill McNichol, founder of Queensland Tyre Retreading Pty Ltd, read about the innovative ‘Bandag process’ in a trade magazine. This milestone celebrates the history of Bandag in Australia, but also points to the continued relevance retreads play in our market, and the role they play in Bridgestone’s vision towards being a sustainable solutions provider,” said Mr Barclay. “Six decades of manufacturing is a huge achievement. Mr Barclay emphasised the significance of the Golden Jubilee milestone, while also looking to a sustainable future for the company. “By focusing on quality, we’ve been able to stay competitive through ensuring that locally made Bandag retreads are comparable to the quality of new Bridgestone tyres.”

“Our success is down to our emphasis on quality and adoption of state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring we remain a viable solution for the local market,” he said.

“No longer is our company selling just products to our customers, we are committed to working with them on long-term solutions that contribute to not only economic, but also environmental and social performance indicators,” said Mr Barclay.īridgestone general manager of retread business Greg Nielsen described Bandag as “punching well above its weight” in terms of navigating the challenges of keeping manufacturing in Australia. The factory, which uses around 30,000 litres of water each day, has also had its water storage capacity increased to two million litres – enabling the harvest and use of more than five million litres of rainwater per year.

Recent investment has seen the upgrade and expansion of the site’s solar array system, adding an additional 140kW system to the existing capabilities, with a second phase of expansion planned for 2023. The manufacturer also shared details of its future focus on sustainable manufacturing, including its ongoing commitment to renewal energy at its Wacol plant. The report found that a retread offers a 34 per cent reduction in carbon emissions compared to a new tyre - the equivalent of 72kg of carbon per unit - and by the third retread of a tyre the carbon saving is as high as 51 per cent. “Now, our customers are turning to us to discuss how we can work together to support them in meeting their sustainability goals.”Ī recent joint Bridgestone and Bandag product report, Retreading for a Better World, highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of retread products compared with replacing tyres. “Environmental and social factors have always been a consideration for our customers, but we have seen it increasingly becoming top of mind in recent years,” said Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand managing director Heath Barclay. The Bandag plant – acquired by Bridgestone Australia in 2000 – is now the last tread production facility of its kind in Australia, but there is a renewed demand for retreads from environmentally conscious customers. The Wacol plant is now responsible for producing pre-cured treads for eight company-operated Bandag factories and 30 licensed dealers across Australia and New Zealand, as well as being the primary producer for the Asia Pacific region. When the last of the tyre manufacturers left Australia more than a decade ago, Bandag held firm, focusing on quality and future-proofed sustainability so that rather than simply surviving, the company thrived. TRUCK tyre specialist Bandag has provided a glimpse into its sustainable future as it celebrates the 60th anniversary of its Australian manufacturing operation at Wacol in Queensland.

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