Bandag celebrates 60 years

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“Now, our customers are turning to us to discuss how we can work together to support them in meeting their sustainability goals.”

A 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.

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. 

The manufacturer also shared details of its future focus on sustainable manufacturing, including its ongoing commitment to renewal energy at its Wacol plant. 

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 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. 

“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. 

Bridgestone 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.

“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.

“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.”

Mr Barclay emphasised the significance of the Golden Jubilee milestone, while also looking to a sustainable future for the company. 

“Six decades of manufacturing is a huge achievement. 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.

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.

The cold cure technique was pioneered by Bernhard Nowak, in Germany, which explains the name: ‘BAN’ from his initials, ‘D’ for his hometown of Darmstadt and ‘AG’, the German equivalent of ‘Pty Ltd’.

After reading about the cost-effective cold cure technique, Brisbane-based Mr McNichol sent his eldest son to Germany to find out if an arrangement could be established.

When the global rights to the process were instead sold to an American businessman in 1961, Mr McNichol flew to Iowa to secure the Australian rights. A year later, he had imported a complete retreading plant and installed it as his former hot-cap retread shop in Brisbane.

By 1970, after almost a decade of success and with plants now established in Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns, the decision was made to consolidate the Bandag operation to one large site. A 20-acre site was purchased in Wacol, Brisbane – which is where the Bandag facility remains to this day. 

Mr McNichol died that same year, and Bandag passed hands several times before being acquired by Bridgestone Australia in 2000.

As Bandag focuses on a sustainable future, the tread manufacturer also plays an integral part in Bridgestone’s wider global E8 commitment. 

The E8 commitment, launched this year, outlines Bridgestone’s focus on creating a sustainable society, with ambitious targets set for the group of companies.

Global environmental targets set under the E8 commitment include carbon neutrality and the use of 100 per cent sustainable materials by 2050, and by 2030 the company is striving for a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions and 40 per cent use of recycled and renewable resources. 

“This milestone celebrates the achievements of every current and former employee of Bandag in Australia, and their commitment to producing quality pre-cured tread and retreads, continuous process improvement, and supporting trucking and bus fleets in reducing their environmental impact through more sustainable product choices,” said Mr Barclay.

“This commitment is the reason why Bandag continues as a strong Australian manufacturer today. We’re proud to mark this occasion and look forward to celebrating many more milestones for Bandag and the role locally made retreads will play in our future.”