Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Expands Retreading Options As Fleets Seek Environment-Friendly Tire SolutionsDivision Assumes New Responsibilities for Continuum Brand Retread Materials
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Sept. 23, 2008) – Off-road fleets seeking to use a mix of both new and retread tires now have a one-stop, integrated service solution as Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Company (BFOR), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT), expands its offering with retread tires manufactured with Continuum tread rubber. Company officials today announced at the MINEXPO 2008 show that BFOR will assume marketing, sales and distribution responsibilities immediately for Continuum brand retread materials for the USA and Canada.
“Today’s Off-road fleets are looking to lower their operating costs, but they are also interested in doing that in the most environmentally-responsible manner possible,” said Shawn Rasey, Vice President, BFOR. “By offering fleets Continuum precure retread tires, we’ll be able to help fleets recycle these valuable tire casings, which extends the life of their asset and helps the environment at the same time.”
“We can offer our fleet customers one of the most comprehensive servicing dealer networks in the USA and Canada, and now an integrated new tire and retread solution. We feel this will be very attractive to fleets who want to run highly-efficient and environmentally-friendly tire management programs,” said Rasey.
As part of the BFOR organizational change, two key personnel appointments have been made. Mike Poirier, former North American OTR Sales Manager, Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, joins BFOR as General Manager Corporate Accounts. He will replace Russ King upon his retirement. Also, Wilhelm Brau, former Vice President of Sales and Operations for RDH Tire & Retread Company, joins BFOR as General Manager Continuum Retread and Recycle Solutions.
Continuum brand retread tires are available through an extensive network of OTR retreaders, and Bridgestone and Bandag tire dealers. Continuum retread tires are also available in Mexico, South America and Europe. Continuum retread tire designs are used on a wide variety of equipment in the construction, mining, logging, utility and marine port industries. Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, (BBTS), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT), manufactures and markets Bandagâ brand retread tire materials, and will continue to have responsibility for Continuum research and development, tread mold design, manufacturing, credit and customer service.
About Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company:
Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company (BFOR), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, manufactures, markets and sells off the road (OTR) tires used in heavy duty applications for construction, mining, aggregates and industrial operations. Today, BFOR is a significant supplier to most original equipment manufacturers as well as most major global mining and construction companies, supplying nearly 40 percent of the domestic replacement and original equipment markets. BFOR offers the industry’s most comprehensive selection of radial and bias OTR products; a dedicated sales and engineering staff; sales and distribution through 1,000 dealers as well as the company’s commercial outlets; and the proprietary software, TreadStat Tire and Rim Management System.
About Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions:
Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions (BBTS), a division of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC, manufactures, markets and sells medium and heavy duty truck tires for the original equipment and replacement markets in the United States and in Canada through Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. Bridgestone, Firestone and Dayton brand truck tires are available through more than 2,500 dealers and truck stops across the U.S. and Canada. Around the world, top truck fleets and original equipment manufacturers rely on Bridgestone and Firestone brand tires for long tread life and low cost per mile. In addition, through its Bandag brand, Bandag retreading dealers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise. This combination of new and retread product offerings, combined with BBTS’ commercial retail operations doing business as TDS, GCR Tire Centers and White Tire, provides trucking customers with total tire solutions.