Quality Tyres offers top-quality Bandag retread services

This week, My.Na Cars' people’s passenger princess, Diana Master, paid a visit to the Quality Tyres branch in Windhoek, where sales manager Conrad Swart shared insights into tyre retreading and what the company does. As a leading distributor of big-name brands like Bridgestone and Firestone, Quality Tyres offers expertise all over the country, operating from nine branches nationwide.

According to Swart, the business serves clients mainly in regards to truck tyres, bus tyres, mini-bus tyres, passenger carriers and light trucks.

"We are the sole retread manufacturers for Bandag in Namibia. For many years, we used our own rubber, but we have found that Bandag is a superior product," he says.

The high standards demanded by the brand mean Quality Tyres are local experts in giving old truck tyres a second life, he adds.

The benefits extend beyond the cost savings, also helping to protect the environment by ensuring tyres don't end up in landfills but can be used again and still "perform just as well", he says. In fact, "retread tyres are used by major airlines for their commercial aircraft", he says.

Often, on truck tyres, the tread is worn out but the casing is still in excellent condition, making them suitable for retreading and preventing them from ending up in landfills, he says. Not only does retreading use 75% less energy to produce than new tyres, but it also consumes 75% fewer materials. Due to these cost savings, clients can become more competitive, he adds.



The process of retreading tyres at Quality Tyres:



STEP 1 – INITIAL INSPECTION

First, the customers’ casings are thoroughly inspected to ensure they meet our high retreading standards. Our inspectors look for every cut, bruise and puncture, as well as other damage to the tyre body. Tyres with severe damage, structural issues, or worn-out casings that can't be retreaded are discarded.

STEP 2 – BUFFING

The tyre casings are mounted on a buffing machine. The old tread and a thin layer of the remaining rubber are removed from the casing using a rotating buffing wheel with abrasive material.

STEP 3 – SKIVING

During the skiving process, any superficial damage to the casing is carefully cleaned out. The skiving process is used to further prepare the casing's surface by removing any remaining irregularities and ensuring a uniform texture.

STEP 4 – CEMENTING

A layer of specialised bonding cement or adhesive compound is evenly applied to the buffed surface of the tyre casing. The applied cement is allowed to dry or partially cure for a specific period of time. The drying process helps the cement develop tackiness and stickiness.

STEP 5 – TREAD PREPARATION

Measuring and cutting the new tread before applying it to the tyre casing in retreading involves precision and careful consideration to ensure a proper fit and alignment. Tread patterns are selected based on the intended application and the tyre's specific requirements. Tread strips are measured and cut to length, and the ends of the tread strips are often cut at specific angles to ensure proper alignment during application.

STEP 6 – REPAIRS

All repair procedures are an integral part of the total Bandag process. Any visible injuries or damages to the casing are repaired using specialised materials. Additional reinforcement, such as new belt material, might be added to enhance the casing's strength and integrity.

STEP 7 – BUILDING

Uncured tread rubber is applied directly to the casing's surface. The tread preparation process is pivotal in ensuring that the retreaded tyre's tread adheres securely to the casing, providing optimal performance, grip, and wear resistance.

STEP 8 - CURING AND ENVELOPING

Bandag bonds new tread rubber to the customer's casing using a low curing temperature. The tyre is encased in a flexible rubber envelope and placed in a pressure chamber to cure. The process involves curing the tread rubber to the casing, creating a strong bond. The precise temperature and duration of this process are critical to achieving optimal adhesion and tyre performance.

STEP 9 – FINAL INSPECTION

Excess rubber and any flashing from the curing process are trimmed and removed. The retreaded tyre's appearance is refined. Every Bandag retread that Quality Tyres produces is thoroughly inspected before it leaves the factory.

STEP 10 - FINAL PRODUCT

Successfully retreaded tyres are certified for quality and safety. The tyres are then prepared for distribution. Application-specific products are unique Bandag products, compounds, and designs. They are application- and end-user-driven and deliver true tyre value. Measurable quality of application-specific products meets or exceeds ‘best in class’ tyre performance, according to Quality Tyres.

"Bandag and Quality Tyres commitment to serving customers the way they want to be served allows them to think of bandag ‘products’ as a combination of programmes, services, information, and products instead of just tyre performance," says Swart.